Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, January 29 2025, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
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 Bank’s social risk management requirements on their operations and is responsible for quality assurance on all social risk management instruments for the region. The unit is seeking an experienced Senior Social Development Specialist to play a key role in social risk management.

Duties and Accountabilities
• The Senior Social Development Specialist/CMU Social Development and Social Risk Management Coordinator for AECE1 (Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe)) provides direct support to the CMU, Bank clients and Bank teams regarding social sustainability, social risk management and stakeholder engagement and works to ensure compliance with the Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and maximize social impact of Bank financed projects. Main responsibilities include:
• Lead the social development interface with the CMU and Governments of Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe in order to provide technical expertise to address and resolve implementation and compliance challenges as they relate to social risk management and social development;
• Actively participate in project teams and provide high quality technical support to Borrowers and Clients regarding the identification, preparation and implementation of social risk management measures, ESF compliance and other efforts to enhance the social sustainability of projects;
• Support the design and implementation of activities designed to manage the social risks especially for high and substantial risk projects in close collaboration with the assigned country based social development specialists and consultants; and
• Provide cross-support as required to the various teams across the CMU to share knowledge and experience, problem solve and support compliance with the World Bank Environmental and Social Standards.

Policy work:
• Proactively carry out dialogue regarding the implementation of the ESF with policy makers and government officials, international development partners, civil society, and other stakeholders and coordinate the Bank's relations with clients regarding social development;
• Lead regular CMU portfolio reviews on social sustainability, social development and social risk management in close collaboration with the country based social development specialists and consultants. Maintain portfolio lists and update specialist assignments as needed;
• Actively participate in PSIA, SCDs, CPFs, DPOs and other corporate products as relevant;
• Advise government counterpart agencies regarding policy options for improving social risk management, particularly on resettlement, labor, social risk mitigation planning and institutional capacity development; and
• Work closely with environment colleagues to enhance the capacity of the client to implement the Bank’s ESF.

Analytical work:
Initiate and lead innovative studies, formal and informal analytical advisory activities and research work regarding key social development issues, notably related to stakeholder engagement, grievance management, gender and SEA/H.

Capacity building:
• Participate in developing sustainable local and national consultation mechanisms and strategies;
• Work with country based social development colleagues and project teams to strengthen client capacity, deliver regular ESF training on specific social standards and tailored to individual projects and sectors.

Social Risk Quality Assurance and Coordination:
• Lead Category “A”/High/Substantial risk projects in CMU portfolio;
• Identify ways to improve overall quality, consistency and due diligence across the portfolio;
• Provide guidance for management of project related complaints and work directly with the GRS and OPCS for their resolution;
• Help identify, hire and supervise consultants and work with country-based colleagues on assignments and quality assurance of deliverables;
• Regular coordination/review meetings with RSCs, RSAs, Global Leads and CCSAs as needed;
• Coordinate capacity building for PIUs, project teams, consultants and lead social risk management BBLs on key topics especially related to AECE1 specific issues and lessons learned;
• Coordination of joint quality reviews with ENV colleagues.

Other:
• Identify potential partnerships as well as new opportunities for engagement around social development aimed at advancing social development in general and social risk management in particular at HQ, regional and country level;
• Participate as an active member of the Country Management Unit and Country Teams;
• Serve as a mentor to the SSI team in AECE1, and within SAES2, and
• Work independently under general direction of the Practice Manager, Regional Standards Coordinator and provide guidance and technical support for country based social development colleagues and mentor junior staff.

Selection Criteria
• Advanced degree in relevant social science (social anthropology, sociology, political science, law, human geography, etc.) with at least 8 years of relevant work experience in social risk management in East Africa and/or elsewhere in the region;
• Extensive knowledge and experience in addressing the wide range of issues covered by the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) in complex and challenging settings and across operational sectors;
• Demonstrated ability to translate analytical work into policy action and practical, operationally relevant recommendations;
• Recognized expertise in involuntary resettlement and physical relocation, land acquisition and in the analysis, assessment and monitoring of resettlement plans and livelihood restoration;
• Experience with community consultation and the preparation, implementation and monitoring of Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEPs);
• Ability to present complex social safeguards and social development issues in a simple way to people of different technical backgrounds;
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with Government, private sector, project beneficiaries and civil society;
• Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving skills and an ability to think innovatively and strategically to find solutions to complex development and compliance challenges;
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate needs in the field and to conduct independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners to develop strategies to meet these needs;
• Demonstrated ability to lead and work as part of a team to develop innovative solutions to complex social risk management problems;
• Achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for the client;
• Demonstrated ability to create, apply and share knowledge from a range of sources to strengthen internal and or external client solutions;
• Demonstrated ability to work in and actively contribute to teams and foster a positive team dynamic;
• Experience working in a multicultural setting;
• Experience deploying technology innovations for key social development themes would be an asset;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Demonstrated ability to translate analytical work into policy action and practical, operationally relevant recommendations;
• Recognized expertise in involuntary resettlement and physical relocation, land acquisition and in the analysis, assessment and monitoring of resettlement plans and livelihood restoration;
• Experience with community consultation and the preparation, implementation and monitoring of Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEPs);
• Ability to present complex social safeguards and social development issues in a simple way to people of different technical backgrounds;
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with Government, private sector, project beneficiaries and civil society;
• Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving skills and an ability to think innovatively and strategically to find solutions to complex development and compliance challenges;
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate needs in the field and to conduct independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners to develop strategies to meet these needs;
• Demonstrated ability to lead and work as part of a team to develop innovative solutions to complex social risk management problems;
• Achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for the client;
• Demonstrated ability to create, apply and share knowledge from a range of sources to strengthen internal and or external client solutions;
• Demonstrated ability to work in and actively contribute to teams and foster a positive team dynamic;
• Experience working in a multicultural setting;
• Experience deploying technology innovations for key social development themes would be an asset;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

Job Experience: No Requirements

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months:

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

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