Social Development Specialist
Location: Kinshasa, DRC
The World Bank, a leading multi-lateral institution in global economic development, is looking for a highly organized, energized and experienced person capable of operating effectively in a very demanding fast-paced environment to serve as a Social Development Specialist. The Sustainable Development Practice Group helps countries tackle their most complex challenges in the areas of Agriculture, Climate Change, Environment and Natural Resources, Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience, and Water.
Duties and Accountabilities
The Social Development Specialist – Social Sustainability and Safeguards will have the following responsibilities:
• Work under the coordination of the regional focal point for ESF and social safeguards and the CMU coordinator for ESF and social safeguards providing oversight and quality assurance on the project portfolio. This will include direct operational support on social safeguards and ESF.
• Participate in the regional roll-out of the ESF and its future application within the region and with clients in borrower countries.
• Undertake policy dialogue with clients on social sustainability and safeguards issues and advise counterparts on technical options for social development, particularly involuntary resettlement, Indigenous Peoples, labor issues, mitigation plans and institutional development strategies.
• Participate in cross-practice teams responsible for the preparation of policy notes, Systematic Country Diagnostics, Country Partnership Frameworks, sector studies, and research and policy development activities on the full range of social development topics.
• Advise and participate in project teams to help develop operational designs and mechanisms to assess social opportunities, impacts, constraints and risks related to Bank supported operations; develop and evaluate proposed technical solutions and assist in the preparation of project documentation.
• Handle technical, institutional and program implementation issues regarding social development and lead the related dialogue with counterparts.
• Participate in portfolio reviews on selected social development topics.
• Participate in analytical studies, support other analytical work on different social development topics, and stay abreast of developments in social development globally and on cross-cutting issues.
• Contribute as task team member to projects mapped to the regional Social Development team.
• Engage in the Bank-wide professional community of staff in social development and social standards/safeguards by participating in thematic groups, exchanging best practices, and drafting technical notes.
• Help develop sustainable local and national consultation mechanisms and strategies.
• Supervise the work of consultants and technical specialists to ensure consistency and conformity to Bank standards.
Selection Criteria
• Master’s degree or PhD in social sciences (anthropology, sociology, political economy, social development, etc.), and a minimum of five years of professional experience in social sustainability, social standards/safeguards and/or social development (voice and participation, gender, community-driven development, citizen engagement).
• Knowledge and experience in addressing issues covered by the World Bank’s ESF and social safeguards policies or similar policies in other international finance institutions in complex and challenging settings, and across practices.
• Experience in areas of social inclusion such as gender; conflict, fragility, and violence; and disability.
• Strong operational (task management) and analytical skills and demonstrated ability to translate analytical work into policy advice and actionable, practical recommendations.
• Ability to present complex social development and ESF/safeguards issues to task teams and Bank audiences, and to engage effectively with government counterparts, the private sector, project beneficiaries and civil society.
• Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, and team skills, and ability to think innovatively and strategically to find balanced solutions to complex development problems, with a strong client focus.
• Acting with integrity at all times to build trust and to create an enabling work environment as team member.
• Very high level of energy, initiative and self-motivation; willingness to travel and work under challenging circumstances.
• Ability to work across practices, work in cross-thematic teams, and foster team work.
• Excellent oral and writing skills. Ability to write well in English is essential.
• Fluency in English and French required. Lingala and/or Kiswahili also desirable.
Applications: For the full position description and complete selection criteria and required competencies, qualified candidates are requested to submit an on-line application at www.worldbank.org/careers. The World Bank is committed to achieving diversity of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Closing date for receipt of applications is My, 31st 2019. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.
