Social Development Specialist

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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. 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. https://ww.worldbank.org.

East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) Region:

EAP is a large and diverse region, ranging from Small Island States of the Pacific to the Philippines and China! Despite substantial economic growth and poverty reduction, the EAP region faces huge development challenges. Growth has been uneven across and within countries, institutions still need strengthening, and most countries are heavily affected by climate change. The Bank plays a significant role on global public goods, including climate, biodiversity, water pollution, and health. The World Bank Group is seen as a premier development institution in the Region, with a leadership role on analytical and advisory services as well as financing.  (East Asia and the Pacific Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eap)

East Asia and Pacific Environment and Social Risk Management Unit:

The Environment and Social Framework (ESF) unit 1 (SEAM1) in the EAP region is responsible for environmental and social risk management; and essentially ensuring compliance with the Bank’s Safeguards policies and the implementation of the ESF.

The Unit is seeking a Social Development Specialist to be based in Honiara, to provide ESF/safeguards support to project preparation and implementation of the World Bank’s Pacific portfolio in Solomon Islands. The World Bank’s Pacific program has some 100+ projects covering social development, energy and infrastructure, health, education, fisheries, agriculture and natural resource management, rural development, social protection, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation.  The program in Solomon Islands includes projects across a range of sectors including social development, energy, fisheries, transport, health and water.

The selected candidate will report directly to the SEAM1 Practice Manager based in Singapore; work under the day-to-day supervision of the social risk management focal point based in Sydney; and be part of the overall ESF team in the Pacific, and the candidate will work closely with task teams they support

Duties and Responsibilities:

As a member of task teams supporting the preparation and implementation of projects in the Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific region, the Social Development Specialist will be responsible for advising on the effective assessment and management of the project induced social risks by client counterparts. The main objective of the assignment is to ensure that the projects meet the necessary Environmental & Social standards of the World Bank, regarding compliance with its environment/social safeguards and ESF, and that they reflect current good practice in terms of social risk management.

This role provides support to project teams during both project preparation and implementation, requiring the specialist to build strong relationships with implementation units and regular monitoring activities.  To that end, it is anticipated that the Social Development Specialist will also contribute to building the capacity of client counterparts, and others involved with World Bank financed projects and thus raise their awareness of social risk management requirements and good practice.

The Specialist, with the support from the CMU social risk focal point as necessary, will apply their technical expertise to a broad range of social development themes and policy issues.  More specifically, they will:
 
• Under the guidance of the Pacific social risk management focal point provide advice to clients on social risk management in World Bank-financed projects.

• Specifically, prepare inputs for internal documents including the Environmental and Social Review Summaries (ESRSs), Project Concept Notes (PCNs), Project Appraisal Documents (PADs), Implementation Status and Results Reports (ISRs) Mid-Term Reviews (MTRs), Implementation Completion Reports (ICRs) and others as needed.

• Review and advise on client-developed terms of reference (ToR) and deliverables for social assessments and social risk management instruments; e.g. Resettlement Plans (RPs), Ethnic Minority Development Plans (EMDPs), Labor Management Procedures (LMPs), Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEPs).

• Social risk areas of focus will include, but not be limited to, project related involuntary resettlement and adverse impacts on ethnic minority communities, labor and working conditions on projects, engagement with project stakeholders, gender-based violence due to project induced labor influx, discrimination and exclusion of vulnerable project beneficiaries etc. 

• Participate in portfolio reviews and briefings for World Bank Management on social risk management. 

• Support efforts to build capacity among colleagues and counterparts including understanding of Social Impact Assessment and stakeholder engagement as it relates to projects.  Where appropriate promote and contribute substantively to analyses and efforts to strengthen country systems.  

• Contribute to analytical and advisory tasks on gender and social inclusion as well as institutional and policy environment in the Pacific for improving social inclusion and social risk management.

• Other assignments as and when required.

Selection Criteria

 It is expected that the successful candidate will meet the following selection criteria:

• Master's degree in relevant social sciences (e.g., Sociology, Anthropology, Geography, Development Studies, Political Science, etc.)

• Minimum of five (5) years’ demonstrated skills and experience in the management of social risks (social impact assessment, resettlement, labor and working conditions, gender based violence, stakeholder engagement, community liaisons, discrimination and exclusion etc.) in investment projects is preferred.

• Demonstrated skills and experience (operational or applied research) with at least one or more of the following topics: community development, gender, social inclusion, and social dimensions of climate change including

• Working knowledge of World Bank’s (or other International Finance Institution’s) operations, particularly the ESF and social safeguard policies on involuntary resettlement and Indigenous peoples.

• Demonstrated analytical capacity, through written work and dialogue, knowledge of social issues, including social assessment and consultation/participation methodologies, working with vulnerable groups.  

• Proven capacity to work with a wide range of stakeholders, development agencies, government counterparts, community groups/project affected persons, and civil society organizations.

• A proven team-player who actively seeks guidance and support where necessary. High level of energy, initiative, and self-motivation; willingness to travel in Fiji and in the Pacific as necessary.

• Demonstrated ability to apply a practical approach to problem solving, produce high quality work outputs, effectively prioritize, and adapt to competing and unexpected demands.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

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.

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