By: Seyon Koo, KGGTF 2025 Youth Intern
On February 18, 2025 (KST), Min-Ji Sohn, Environment Specialist at the World Bank Group (WBG), provided comprehensive insights into the organization's environmental operations, project implementation methodologies, and career pathways within international organizations.
The World Bank Group operates through a sophisticated matrix structure that effectively integrates technical expertise with regional challenges. As a development finance institution, WBG supports projects through three distinct financing mechanisms: Investment Project Financing based on development potential, Results-Based Programs tied to performance indicators, and Development Policy Financing supporting policy reforms.
Within its environmental portfolio, the WBG Environment Sector focuses on critical areas including blue economy, biodiversity, pollution, natural capital, marine plastic pollution, forests, and terrestrial ecosystems. Projects advance through a structured cycle from identification and preparation to appraisal, approval, implementation, and evaluation. This process incorporates extensive government engagement, thorough feasibility assessments, and adherence to Environmental and Social Framework standards to ensure sustainable development practices.
Sohn shared several illustrative case studies from her professional experience. In South Africa, she worked on biodiversity and post-mining land restoration, focusing on rehabilitating degraded mining sites through soil pollution assessment, ecosystem revitalization, and alternative land use development. This initiative successfully balanced biodiversity conservation with economic opportunities for mining communities.
For the Climate Change and Development Reports covering Comoros, Mauritius, and Seychelles, Sohn contributed to comprehensive climate risk assessments that evaluated vulnerabilities, adaptation strategies, and policy frameworks. These reports have become valuable resources for government decision-making on climate resilience and economic planning.
During the pandemic, Sohn participated in COVID-19 response projects focusing on health infrastructure and waste management. Her role involved environmental risk assessment for medical waste disposal, infection control protocols, and healthcare worker safety in resource-limited settings.
In discussing career development within international organizations, Sohn emphasized the importance of first developing strong technical expertise before transitioning to the development sector. She noted that language proficiency, particularly in French, Spanish, or Portuguese, offers significant advantages for professionals interested in African and Latin American projects. Professional resilience, adaptability, and strategic networking were highlighted as essential components for career advancement in global development.
The lecture provided valuable firsthand perspectives on the World Bank's environmental initiatives and project frameworks while offering practical guidance for professionals aspiring to contribute to international sustainable development efforts. Through her presentation, Sohn effectively demonstrated how environmental expertise shapes sustainable policies and infrastructure development across diverse global contexts.