Description
WBG Pioneers, the World Bank Group’s Internship Program, offers undergraduate and postgraduate students a high impact learning experience at the heart of global development. Participants gain hands on experience in a diverse and dynamic environment, contribute fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, and connect with international professionals working to end poverty on a livable planet.
WBG Pioneer
Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org
Specific Unit Description – Environment Global Practice in Latin America and Caribbean Region (LCR)
Sustainable environment and natural resources management are at the heart of the WBG's poverty and jobs agenda. Biodiversity and natural resources constitute the social safety net of the poor, representing a food bank and often their only source of livelihood. Sustainable environmental and natural resources management promote a green, clean, and resilient world where natural resources – from forests to fisheries, freshwater, oceans, coastal zones, and ecosystems – are managed to support livelihoods and strong economies. Sustainable Environmental and Natural Resources Management builds a world better prepared for shocks and global challenges, helping countries limit their exposure to resource scarcity, more-volatile weather patterns, and the long-term consequences of climate change.
The Environment Natural Resources & Blue Economy Global Practice (ENV GP) has four key business lines consisting of lending and non-lending services in (1) Forests, Watersheds and Sustainable Landscapes (Green business line); (2) Marine, Coastal, Aquatic Resources and Ocean Health (Blue Economy business line); (3) Pollution Management and Environmental Health (Pollution Management business line); and (4) Environmental Economics, (Policies and Institutions Business line).
Regional context:
The Caribbean Sea covers less than one percent of the world's ocean surface — approximately 2.75 million square kilometers — yet it is the economic and ecological lifeline of 34 coastal and small island states and territories, home to roughly 40 million people. It is one of the most ocean-dependent regions on earth. A World Bank study estimated that Caribbean waters generated US$407 billion in gross revenue in 2012, equivalent to nearly 18 percent of Caribbean GDP when including mainland coastal countries. This figure, already significant, is likely an underestimate, since it does not fully capture the value of ecosystem services such as coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity.
The region's ocean assets span some of the world's most biodiverse marine ecosystems: the largest barrier reef in the Americas (in Belize), extensive mangrove forests, seagrass beds, sandy beaches, and rich pelagic fishing grounds. These natural assets underpin the three pillars of the Caribbean economy: tourism, fisheries, and shipping. Tourism alone accounts for 50 percent of GDP in parts of the Eastern Caribbean and supports some 40 percent of employment, making it the most tourism-dependent sub-region in the world. Marine fisheries, though representing a smaller share of GDP, are a critical source of food security, protein, and livelihoods for coastal communities throughout the archipelago.
The Blue Economy framework offers a fundamentally different approach to managing these assets. Rather than treating the ocean as a resource to be extracted, it promotes the sustainable and integrated use of marine and coastal resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and job creation — while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems. This integrated vision spans both traditional sectors like fisheries, tourism, and shipping, alongside emerging ones such as mariculture, marine renewable energy, blue biotechnology, blue ports, and blue finance.
The World Bank has been a leading partner in the Caribbean Blue Economy agenda since at least 2014, when it supported Grenada's Blue Growth Strategy — one of the first such national strategies in the region. The Bank's engagement spans analytical work (the Toward a Blue Economy flagship report; marine pollution, Blue Ports, and marine spatial planning studies), trust-funded technical assistance through PROBLUE, and lending operations including UBEC (P171833, US$86 million, covering Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the OECS Commission); Belize Blue Cities and Beyond (P181064); SVG-Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Strengthening Project (P172980) and Leveraging Eco-Tourism for Biodiversity Protection in Dominica (P170846). The Bank has committed to deepening this engagement, recognizing the Caribbean Blue Economy as both a regional development priority and a model for SIDS globally.
The Pioneer will contribute to the analytical, operational, and knowledge work of the ENV Practice Area team supporting the Caribbean’s Blue Economy agenda. The assignment aims to:
Strengthen the knowledge base underpinning Blue Economy policy and investment in the Caribbean.- Support implementation oversight and results monitoring for the regional UBEC project.
- Contribute to stakeholder engagement and communications on Blue Economy themes.
Duties and Responsibilities
More specifically, the WB Pioneer will provide support to the preparation and implementation of the Caribbean Blue Economy Program and the proposed projects, including, inter alia:
Knowledge, Data, and Analytics:
Conduct literature reviews and desk research on priority Blue Economy sub-sectors (sustainable fisheries, marine tourism, coastal infrastructure, blue finance, and marine spatial planning) to inform project design and implementation.- Collect, analyze, and synthesize quantitative and qualitative data to support project activities, monitoring surveys, and the results framework.
- Synthesize findings into accessible briefs, policy notes, or data visualizations for internal and external audiences.
Project Implementation Support:
Support the Task Team Leaders and project team in monitoring implementation progress across countries, including tracking results framework indicators, reviewing procurement and activity progress, and flagging bottlenecks for team discussion.
- Contribute to the development and operationalization of the regional Blue Economy data-sharing platform.
Stakeholder Engagement and Communications:
Liaise with government counterparts, NGOs, and other stakeholders under TTL guidance to gather information and facilitate project activities.
- Support coordination and organization of consultations, webinars, and working group meetings with regional counterparts, the OECS Commission, government officials, and civil society.
- Prepare and distribute event materials including agendas, presentations, and workshop handouts.
- Assist to develop communications products such as blog posts and social media content related to the Caribbean Blue Economy work program.
Cross-Cutting Issues
Contribute to analysis on gender inclusion, climate resilience of coastal assets, Blue Ports, and private sector mobilization for blue finance and Blue MSMEs.
Selection Criteria
Experience
Candidates must be currently enrolled in, or in the final year of, a postgraduate (master’s/PhD) program
Bachelor's degree (required) in Environmental Science, Marine Science, Economics, Public Policy, Sustainable Development, Natural Resource Management, or a closely related field.
- Candidates must have 0–6 years of relevant professional experience
At least one to three years of relevant work or research experience related to ocean/marine resources, environmental management, sustainable development, or development finance (internships and graduate research may be considered) would be an asset
Demonstrated interest in development work and the World Bank Group’s mission
Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills
Effective written and verbal communication skills
Ability to work effectively in diverse, team-based environments
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities within tight deadlines
Proficiency in English (written and spoken); Knowledge of French or Spanish would be an advantage given the multilingual nature of the Caribbean region.
Note: Please limit your applications to a maximum of three positions. Applications exceeding this limit will not be considered.
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.
The World Bank Group values diversity and encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of World Bank Group member countries to apply, regardless of gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. Sub-Saharan African nationals, Caribbean nationals, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
