Social Development Specialist
Job #: |
req29402 |
Organization: |
World Bank |
Sector: |
Sustainable Development |
Grade: |
GF |
Term Duration: | 4 years 0 months |
Recruitment Type: |
Local Recruitment |
Location: |
Nairobi,Kenya |
Required Language(s): |
English |
Preferred Language(s): |
English |
Closing Date: |
10/2/2024 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
Working at the World Bank Group
provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest
development challenges. The World Bank
Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing
countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending
extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity on a livable planet. With 189
member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and
private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data,
research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global
challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.
The Eastern and
Southern Africa (AFE) region comprises 11 countries (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda,
Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eretria, Sudan, Zambia, Tanzania, and Malawi).
Together, the region is home to about 700 million of Africa’s population, and
includes a geographically, culturally, and economically diverse region, stretching
from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South. The
subregion harbors some of Africa’s protracted conflicts, rendering many of its
countries fragile, while significant gaps in education, health, and skills
development continue to constrain people’s capacity from reaching their full
potential. This creates a huge development challenge, impacts heavily on the
lives and livelihoods of people, and hinders regional integration and trade.
But it also creates an opportunity to work closely with country leaders, civil
society, development partners, and young people to create and sustain
conditions for ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity on a livable
planet. Realizing prosperity in the region requires operational leadership and technical
support and working with relevant partners.
We are looking for dedicated professionals to
join our innovative and diverse team to improve people’s lives and help
countries build back better after COVID19. For more information on Eastern and
Southern Africa (ESAFR) Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/eastern-and-southern-africa
Planet Practice
Group
The Planet
Practice Group of the World Bank supports the WBG’s vision by focusing on sustainable
and inclusive growth and ensuring that the Bank’s work focus on people. The
Group comprises five operational units including Agriculture and food (AGF);
Climate Change Global (CCG) solutions; Environment, natural resources, and blue
economy (ENB), Water as well as the Social sustainability and Inclusion (SSI)
practices. In addition, the Planet Group leads
the implementation of the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF),
making sure that Bank-assisted projects are sustainably designed and
implemented. The Planet leadership team includes Vice Presidency (VP), Regional
Directors (RDs) responsible for the delivery of regional and country programs
and Global Directors (GDs) who have a primary role in setting GP strategy,
global engagements, promoting the flow of global knowledge, talent management,
and strategic staffing. The Planet Group has four objectives (i) deliver basic
needs; (ii) ensure sustainability; (iii) build social inclusion and cohesion;
and (iv) lead on long term development issues.
Social
Sustainability and Inclusion Global Practice
The
SSI GP helps countries
tackle deep-rooted social problems stemming from fragility, climate change,
exclusion, and the digital age with people-centered solutions built on local
values and institutions. The GP engages with citizens, communities, and
governments to deepen resilience, build inclusion, and empower vulnerable and
marginalized groups to have influence and voice. The GP prioritizes
participatory, multi-sectoral approaches that build on norms and informal
institutions to address social challenges and create more inclusive, empowered
communities. It also works across the Bank’s portfolio to implement the
Environment and Social Framework (ESF) standards, strengthen inclusive
development, and promote sustainable development outcomes. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/socialsustainability
Unit Context (SAES2)
The East Africa
Unit of SSI (SAES2) provides social development support to borrower countries
in East Africa – Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Somalia, South
Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. SAES2 manages a portfolio
of SSI operations and analytics across East Africa, supports other global
practices in meeting the objectives and requirements of Bank’s environmental and
social Framework (ESF) on their operations, and is responsible for quality
assurance on all social risk management instruments for the region.
This position is based
in Nairobi, Kenya and will involve supporting the World Bank’s engagement in Kenya,
Somalia, and other countries in the region. The incumbent will be part of a
team of six social development specialists across the Country Management Unit (CMU),
overseeing one of the Africa region's largest International Development
Association (IDA) portfolios.
Duties
and Accountabilities:
As a core member
of World Bank Task Teams, the Social Development Specialist will advise Task
Teams and clients in various sectors, and support project designs and implementation,
making sure that Bank-assisted projects are inclusive and present clear and
implementable measures for addressing social risks whilst finding opportunities
to enhance the social development outcomes of Bank financed operations in East
Africa. The specialist will lead and promote social inclusion agenda in the
design and implementation of projects in East Africa. The Specialist will have
the following key responsibilities:
Advice task
teams and clients in the public and private sectors on the Bank’s ESF and
Operational Policies, especially OP 4.03, social risks management and
social benefits optimization across sectors throughout the project cycle
Provide
technical and operational support to clients in operationalizing the
Bank’s social standards, focusing on land acquisition and involuntary
resettlement which includes where applicable, livelihood restoration,
stakeholder engagement consultation and inclusion, grievance redress
mechanisms, Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and cultural heritage.
Undertake
social due diligence and prepare Environmental and Social Risks Review
Summaries (ESRS) for new projects and relevant social section of Project
Appraisal Documents, Project Operational Manual and/or Environmental,
Social, Health and Safety Risk Management Manual, and complete necessary
administrative activities used by the Bank to track and monitor social and
environmental performance of projects.
Contribute to SSI-led
analytical and operational engagements, policy dialogue in Kenya, and
social risk management, including engagements with internal and external
clients on SSI business opportunities.
Provide
technical support to government agencies implementing Bank financed
projects in due diligence, preparing and implementing social risks
management plans in accordance with the Bank’s ESF/policy requirements. These
include legal documents such as the Environmental and Social Commitment
Plan (ESCP), social assessments, stakeholder engagement plans (SEP), labor
management procedures (LMP), plans for inclusion of historically
underserved traditional local communities,
resettlement action plans (RAP), livelihood restoration plans (LRP), environmental
and social impact assessments (ESIA), gender based violence risk
assessment and action plan with a focus on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
(SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH), and environmental and social management
plans (ESMPs) as determined by the needs and impacts of a project, and
Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM).
Provide timely,
expert technical reviews of social assessment products and other E&S instruments
prepared by clients for other Bank Global Practices, such as energy and
infrastructure, Water, Health, Urban Development, private sector
development, and others as needed. In this regard, provide timely feedback
and suggestions to clients on measures for ensuring such instruments are
in line with the Bank’s Environmental and Social Standards.
Participate
in project preparation, appraisal, and supervision activities of project
implementation, including operational missions and providing inputs
related to social performance of projects into the mission Aid Memoirs
(Ams), and support the resolution of emerging issues to ensure results on
the ground and project implementation progress.
Advise task
teams in integrating gender considerations in the project design and
implementation.
Ensure timely reporting on
SSI activities, including ESF, proactive monitoring, management, and
preparation of relevant social risks management briefs.
Policy and
analytical work:
- Contribute
to dialogue on the implementation of the Environmental and Social
Framework with government officials, development partners, civil society,
and other stakeholders, and coordinate the Bank's relations with clients
on social development.
- Participate
in portfolio reviews on social sustainability and social risk management
as required.
- Make
recommendations on strategies and policy options for counterparts in local
and central government agencies.
- Contribute
and provide support to practice teams responsible for the preparation of
policy notes, Systematic Country Diagnostics (SCD), Country Partnership
Frameworks (CPF), Country Policy and Institutional Assessments,
Development Policy Lending (DPL), sector studies, and research and policy
development activities.
- Conduct and
contribute to formal and informal analytical advisory activities and
research work on key social development issues, notably related to local
governance and service delivery, gender mainstreaming, and land property
and tenure rights.
- Maintain
active engagement with a broad range of key stakeholders, identifying
potential partnerships and new opportunities for engagement around social
development aimed at advancing social development in general and social
risk management in particular.
- Work as an
active member of the Country Office and Country Team/Unit.
Capacity
building:
- Work closely
with ENB colleagues to enhance the capacity of the client countries to
implement the Bank’s environmental and social framework for handling
project risks and enhancing the sustainability of World Bank financed
projects, especially in FCV contexts.
- Supervise
the work of consultants and technical specialists to ensure consistency
and conformity to Bank standards.
Reporting:
Reports to
Practice Manager, SAES2.
Works under
the mentorship of Senior Social Development staff based in Nairobi, Kenya and
under the general direction of CMU country coordinator, based in Nairobi.
Selection Criteria
- At least a Master’s degree in Social Sciences
(i.e., Development Studies, Social Anthropology, Sociology, Gender and
Development, International Development, Business Sustainability
Management, and related subjects).
- A minimum of 5 years of direct professional
experience in managing social and environmental risks in infrastructure
projects in energy and extractives sector, water sector, finance,
competitiveness and innovation (FCI) sector, transport and roads, urban
development, large scale agriculture in Eastern and Southern Africa and/or
elsewhere in Sub-Sahara Africa, .
- Knowledge and demonstrated competence in
operationalizing the global sustainability frameworks of International
Finance Institutions (IFIs) such as the World Bank’s Environmental and
Social Framework, IFC’s Environmental and Social Performance Standards,
the Asian Development Bank’s Safeguards Policies and Standards and standards
of other Development Partners. This includes experience in managing the
following thematic issues in projects settings: social impact assessment
of projects on different populations, land acquisition and involuntary
resettlement, resettlement planning and livelihood restoration,
stakeholder engagement, consultation and inclusion, complaint and
grievance redress mechanisms, community health and safety, social
investment interventions, etc. Ability to innovate and strategically
address these issues, balancing development imperatives against
sustainability challenges, and remaining client-focused.
- Experience in working in Fragile
and Conflict and Violence (FCV) affected areas is an added advantage.
- Demonstrated ability to translate
analytical work into policy advice and substantial, practical
recommendations.
- Ability to present complex social
risks and sustainability issues in a simple way to people of different
technical backgrounds.
- Proven ability to engage
effectively with Government, private sector, project beneficiaries and
civil society.
- Professional traits and willingness.
- Excellent interpersonal,
problem-solving skills, and ability to think innovatively and
strategically to find solutions to complex development problems.
- Very high level of energy and
initiative, and proven ability to multi-task.
- Readiness for frequent travel
within Country duty station and the AFE region.
- Proven ability to work in and
actively contribute to teams and champion a positive team dynamic.
- Experience working in a
multicultural setting.
- Knowledge of the local
language(s) in- Kenya or Somalia.
- Excellent oral and written
communication skills in English and Kiswahili.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.