Join a high-impact international panel driving accountability and sustainability in development finance—shape global ESG standards, resolve complex disputes, and engage with diverse stakeholders, all on a flexible, independent contractor basis.
Your role
You will be a member of the Independent Expert Panel, on independent contractor (self-employed) basis, which will consist of the Panel Chair and two international experienced Independent Expert Panel Members. The core tasks of an Independent Expert Panel Member are:
- Responsibility for the whole process from complaint admissibility to monitoring of and reporting on individual cases publicly and towards senior management;
- Carrying out compliance reviews and leading dispute resolution processes, this includes e.g. to effectively engage with civil society, private companies, members of governments, and to travel to countries of complaint origin;
- Enhancing the day-to-day work and the overall development of the mechanism, e.g. lessons learnt, annual reports, outreach activities and other related activities.
Our offer
The assignment concerns a replacement hire, due to an Independent Expert Panel Member reaching the end of the 5-year term in April 2026, which is also the indicative start date. Commitment of at least 5-10 days a month, for a term of 5 years, on independent contractor basis.
Your team
The development finance institutions FMO, DEG and Proparco together offer the Independent Complaints Mechanism (ICM) to complainants who feel affected by operations financed by one or more participating institutions. The ICM is a member of the International Accountability Mechanisms Network (IAMnet). For more information on the ICM, please see Independent complaints mechanism - FMO.
Your background
- Relevant academic qualifications (at least a Master’s degree) in law, social sciences, environmental studies, sustainability, or related fields);
- Deep understanding of and affinity for international environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards in lower- and middle-income countries (e.g., IFC Performance Standards);
- Practical expertise in environmental management, impact assessment, or sustainability, including engaging with local communities;
- Experience of working with private sector companies, development finance institutions, financial products;
- Proven strong ability in gathering, analysing and synthesizing information from multiple sources and presenting it orally and in writing in a concise and clear manner;
- Highly developed communication and diplomatic skills;
- Strong project management skills;
- Business fluent command of English, business-level command of Spanish, Arabic, and/or French is an asset;
- For efficiency purposes, it is preferred that the candidate is located in, or within short travel distance of, the Netherlands, Germany or France; however, applications from candidates outside this area are welcome and will be considered.
Disqualifier: To ensure ICM’s independence, credibility and integrity, candidates must be external to the development finance institutions and may not have been employed by the institutions in any capacity, including as consultants, for at least four years prior to their appointment and five years after the end of their term. Candidates not meeting this requirement will not be considered.
About FMO
A recruitment committee, consisting of equal representation of the development finance institutions and the Independent Expert Panel Members, will handle the recruitment.
FMO is leading the hiring process on behalf of the development finance institutions. Please send your application ultimately on or before 2 November 2025 via the FMO application portal. For more information, please contact Dieter Hoenke (d.hoenke@fmo.nl, phone: +31 628 53 20 26).
Please note, if we make you an offer to join FMO, you will need to work through the screening process with our screening partner. The process is designed to check your integrity and reliability.
