Sustainability Specialist (Loan Book) at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Job Description    

• Lead the integration and implementation of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles across the Bank’s investment activities by applying robust safeguard policies and procedures. The role is responsible for appraising, structuring, and monitoring transactions to ensure alignment with the Bank’s Environmental and Social Safeguard Standards (ESSS) and international best practice.
• It further supports the Bank and its partners in delivering sustainable infrastructure and financing solutions that drive longterm developmental impact, strengthen institutional governance, and contribute to inclusive and resilient economic growth.

Key Responsibilities    
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Advisory, Transaction Support and Oversight

• Support the development and implementation of sustainability policies, strategies, financing instruments, and products aligned with international best practice, sustainable infrastructure delivery, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Ensure consistent application of the Bank’s Environmental and Social Safeguard Standards (ESSS) across the project lifecycle, from origination to exit.
• Lead ESG due diligence for investment transactions, including identification of environmental, social, governance, and climate-related risks and opportunities; define mitigation measures and value-creation actions.
• Present ESG findings and recommendations to internal decision-making structures (e.g., Investment Committees and Board Credit Committees), ensuring ESG considerations are embedded in investment decisions.
• Integrate cross-cutting priorities such as gender, climate resilience, biodiversity, and social inclusion into project appraisal through tools such as the Gender Marker System and climate risk screening methodologies.
• Provide ongoing portfolio monitoring of ESG compliance and performance, including tracking of covenants, action plans, and development outcomes; recommend corrective actions where required.
• Support clients and investees with ESG advisory services to strengthen environmental and social performance, institutional governance, and sustainable infrastructure delivery.
• Contribute to the structuring of sustainable finance solutions (e.g., green, social, sustainability-linked instruments) to enhance development impact and crowd in private capital.
• Conduct research and apply global best practices and emerging trends (e.g., climate finance, just transition, nature-based solutions) to continuously strengthen ESG integration.
• Mentor and support junior staff and graduates, building institutional ESG capability and technical depth.

Impact Measurement, Reporting & Portfolio Analytics

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the Bank’s Impact Framework, including indicators, methodologies, and tools to measure development effectiveness.
• Assess and track environmental, social, institutional, and governance outcomes of investments to evaluate overall development impact.
• Produce high-quality ESG and impact reports for internal governance structures and external stakeholders, including development partners and platforms such as the International Development Finance Club (IDFC).
• Monitor portfolio-level ESG risks, trends, and performance metrics; generate insights to inform strategic decision-making and portfolio optimisation.
• Ensure alignment of reporting with international frameworks and standards (e.g., impact measurement, climate disclosure, and sustainable finance taxonomies where applicable).
• Strengthen data quality, integrity, and consistency in ESG and impact reporting systems.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations to enhance sustainability integration in strategic and investment planning.

Bank-wide Capacity Building and Integration

• Design and deliver ESG and sustainability training programmes tailored to investment teams and operational units.
• Promote awareness and consistent application of ESG principles, safeguard standards, and sustainability frameworks across the Bank.
• Embed sustainability considerations into processes, tools, and decision-making frameworks to support a culture of responsible investing.
• Facilitate knowledge-sharing and learning initiatives to drive continuous improvement in ESG practices.
• Stay abreast of global developments in sustainability, climate finance, and regulatory frameworks, ensuring institutional relevance and thought leadership.

Stakeholder Engagement and Thought Leadership

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with investors, lenders, development partners, and technical experts to strengthen ESG integration and co-financing opportunities.
• Represent the Bank in technical forums, industry platforms, and sustainability networks to promote thought leadership and collaboration.
• Support engagement with clients, regulators, and industry bodies on ESG-related matters, including policy alignment and best practice adoption.
• Contribute to positioning the Bank as a leader in sustainable infrastructure and development impact.

Key Measurements of Outputs

• Number of policies, financing products and services developed and applied to promote sustainable financing and GIIP.
• Quality and effectiveness of ESG due diligence including risk identification, mitigation, design and influence on investment decisions.
• Contribution to structuring bankable, sustainable transactions, including integration of climate, gender and impact considerations.
• Proportion of portfolio compliant with ESSS, effectiveness of monitoring, and resolution of ESG non-compliance issues.
• Measurable environmental, social, and institutional outcomes achieved across the portfolio, aligned with strategic targets.
• Number and quality of sustainability-linked products, instruments, or frameworks developed and implemented.
• Timeliness, accuracy, and credibility of ESG and impact reports aligned with international standards and stakeholder expectations.
• Quality of ESG data management, analysis, and insights generated to inform decision-making.
• Effectiveness in building strategic partnerships and contributing to co-financing and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Reach and effectiveness of training programmes and evidence of ESG integration across business units.
• Contribution to research, policy development, and positioning the Bank in sustainability and development finance discourse.

Expertise & Technical Competencies    
Minimum Qualification

• A relevant postgraduate qualification (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Development Studies, Economics, Finance, Engineering, or a related field.

Minimum Experience

• A minimum of 8 years’ experience in preparing and appraising projects for investment, quantifying development outcomes, identifying and mitigating environmental, social/governance risks.
• The experience must include a minimum of 4 years’ experience in assessing climate-related risks at a transaction/investment level.
• Extensive experience in the development and/or infrastructure sectors (sustainable infrastructure, social infrastructure, biodiversity, water, energy, transport or similar).
• Demonstrate experience/ understanding in the application of good international industry practice principles in ESG, such as but not limited to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, UN Global Compact, the IFC Performance Standards, the Equator Principles, and relevant national legislation such as the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the rule of law, justice, applicable environmental and social legislative requirements, and their application to investment processes in Africa.
• Demonstrate knowledge of corporate governance and its principles (particularly within a public sector, municipal and utilities context), ESG, and responsible investing.
• Working knowledge of BBBEE and gender considerations.
• Innovative approaches/experience on how to improve sustainability within development finance institutions and the financial services sector.
• Good knowledge of financial markets and ESG considerations in the development finance, financial services, and investment sector.
• Proven ability to undertake research, analyse, and synthesise diverse ESG-related data (especially climate-related) and information to deliver independent, high-quality professional reports.
• Proven ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently, and present ideas to clients and industry partners.
• Must be able to travel for business purposes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Understanding of ESG reporting requirements and frameworks such as TCFD, Sustainability frameworks/assessments, Green House Gas Protocol, etc.
• Basic knowledge of carbon footprinting, carbon footprinting tools and the ability to apply the tools
• Understanding of gender mainstreaming and grievance redress mechanisms.

Desirable Requirements

• Professional registration with a relevant professional body.
• Professional certifications in sustainability or ESG (e.g., ESG investing, environmental and social risk management, climate finance).

Deadline:8th May,2026