Marit, Climate Change Specialist at the World Bank’s Climate Change Group

Coming from Norway, Marit Hjort has graduated in Environmental Policy >with concentrations in Global Health and Africa. She works as a Climate Change Specialist at the World Bank’s Climate Change Group. 

What is your role and main responsibilities?

My colleagues and I review all new World Bank projects to determine the share of climate finance in each operation, based on an assessment of their contributions to climate change mitigation and adaptation, in line with the Multilateral Development Banks’ joint methodology for tracking climate finance. Our reviews allow the World Bank to track progress against its objective to ensure a share of 35% climate finance across its portfolio, on average over the period 2021-2025. In addition, I support the World Bank’s roll-out of its commitment to align all new operations with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, by preparing communication and engagement products.

How did you secure this role?

Before joining the World Bank, I worked for the UNDP’s Central African Forest Initiative as well as for the OECD’s Environment Directorate, for close to seven years. These experiences provided me with skills and knowledge that strengthened my candidacy in applying for the position at the World Bank.

What is the most fascinating and/or surprising aspect of your role?

It is fascinating to work for such a large and experienced development actor as the World Bank, especially in my area of work, considering that the Bank is the largest provider of climate finance to developing countries and that climate change increasingly is mainstreamed into all operations.

How did your PSIA experience help you with the role?

What I learned at PSIA turned out to be highly applicable to the tasks and challenges I’ve faced in my career. Through exposure to a wide variety of environmental policy areas, a rich selection of professors as well as teamwork and essay assignments, I believe I strengthened my ability to learn fast, conduct a thorough analysis and develop written outputs under tight deadlines. These are skills that have served me well in my professional life.

Furthermore, PSIA gave me an incredibly valuable international network, which I have benefited from – both at a professional and social level – in all the cities where I have lived and worked after my master studies: Paris, Kinshasa, Geneva, and Washington DC.

What advice would you give to others?

Take initiative, seek out new opportunities, and be versatile! Don’t hesitate to reach out to people whom you would like to learn from – networking is both incredibly useful and highly enriching. And finally, remember that well-being is ultimately more important than career growth: make time for activities and people you care for!

• More about the Master in Environmental Policy
• More about the World Bank’s Climate Change Group