Esg Credit Senior Specialist

Job Purpose:  To support the Credit Appraisal and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Head in the assessment of climate and ESG risks across all Zanaco credit requests; identifying, measuring, mitigating and reporting these risks across the credit portfolio. Additionally, the role focuses on independently monitoring the credit portfolio pertaining to ESG issues by undertaking Environmental and Social due diligence (ESDD) via desk reviews or site visits and completing ESG questionnaires/checklists. It requires a deep understanding of the regulatory landscape, sustainability principles, and credit processes, and their impact on the business.

Job Responsibilities:

Strategic Focus

· Ensure the development and maintenance of Zanaco’s Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS), including policy and procedures, capacity building, monitoring, reporting, audit and external communication mechanisms.

· Assess/Appraise and recommend to Credit Appraisal & ESG Head the environmental, social and human rights impacts and risks of Zanaco investments, considering local E&S regulation and international standards such as the IFC Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability (IFC PS) and the UNGP on Business and Human Rights.

· Contribute to Zanaco’s Sustainability Programme in environmental, social and human rights impact and risk management, including enhancement of Zanaco’s internal Management Information System.

· Enhance Zanaco’s corporate knowledge base by analysing and disseminating lessons learned and best practices from Zanaco’s investments.

· Support the development and periodic review of the Bank’s Credit Risk Appetite Statement, incorporating Environmental and Social risk parameters in line with regulatory requirements and international best practice.

· Support Commercial Division in categorizing loan requests according to their E&S impact.

· Engage with partner financial institutions, shareholders and financiers on E&S related topics.

· Work with Human Capital to prepare and deliver training.

Leadership and People Management Focus

· Build E&S risk management capability across business units through training, guidance and ongoing knowledge-sharing.

· Act as an internal subject-matter advisor on E&S and climate risk matters, providing practical and professional support to relevant stakeholders.

· Communicate E&S risk insights, recommendations and mitigation requirements clearly and confidently to business, credit and governance stakeholders.

· Represent Zanaco in E&S engagements with external stakeholders and apply a holistic, analytical and solutions-oriented approach to emerging risk matters.

· Independently execute environmental, social and human rights appraisal and monitoring of private sector E&S performance.

· Analyse and synthesize diverse environmental, social, commercial and business information to support sound credit risk decisions.

· Day-to-day implementation of the ESMS including confirming eligibility of potential transactions based on ESMS policy/ framework.

MIS Reporting

· Prepare monthly and quarterly MIS reports on E&S and climate risk exposure across Zanaco’s Wholesale and Retail credit portfolios, including screened volumes, risk categorisation (high/medium/low) and flagged accounts.

· Monitor and report Key Risk Indicators (KRIs), covenant compliance and the status of outstanding E&S action plans or conditions attached to specific credit facilities, escalating exceptions to the HCA and relevant governance committees.

· Maintain and update the ESMS database and E&S risk register, including client assessments, categorization history, monitoring visit outcomes and corrective action status, ensuring it always remains audit ready.

· Compile and quality-assure data for external and regulatory submissions, including Bank of Zambia returns and periodic E&S performance reporting required by IFC, investors and external funders under loan covenants.

· Any other duties as assigned by superiors.

Internal/External Contact:

·  Internal:  All business units, all relevant Governance Committees.

• • External:  Consultants, Central Bank of Zambia, External Auditors, Investors, External Funders.