Senior Social Development Specialist

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Description

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Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. 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. 

East Asia and Pacific, Social Sustainability and Inclusion:  

The Social Sustainability and Inclusion Unit 1 (SEAS1) is one of two units in of the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region responsible for: (a) undertaking social analysis and safeguards policies relevant to social risk management; (c) undertaking Advisory Services and Analytics in the form of thematic studies on social sustainability and inclusion issues; (d) leading the preparation and supervision lending operations that promote inclusion of vulnerable groups including ethnic minorities, women and youth, and (f) facilitating partnerships and dialogue with civil society through outreach and engagement. For more information regarding World Bank in East Asia and Pacific region, visit:  https://www.worldbank.org/en/ during project preparation and implementation to mainstream social development and inclusion issues throughout the Bank’s work in the region; (b) ensuring compliance with the Bank’s Environment and Social Framework standards region/eap

SEAS1 is seeking a Senior Social Development Specialist to be the Social Sustainability and Inclusion (SSI) to support social risk management activities in the Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao (VCL) CMU, as well as to coordinate social risk management team for the Thailand and Myanmar Country Management Unit (CMU). Due to current program priorities, the position will be based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and will support the SSI CMU Coordinator for the Vietnam, Cambodia, and Lao PDR (VCL) CMU (based in Hanoi), with day-to-day ESF risk management issues in the Cambodia and Lao PDR programs as required. The incumbent will also serve as the SSI social risk management coordinator for the Thailand and Myanmar CMU.

The selected candidate will report directly to the SEAS1 Social Development Practice Manager based in Singapore; day to day coordination and support in the Cambodia and Laos will be provided by the VCL CMU social risk management coordinator based in Hanoi.

Responsibilities:

• The selected candidate will have the following key responsibilities, as agreed with the Practice Manager, and based on annual Results Agreements: 

Support the SSI Coordinator for the VCL team on Cambodia and Lao PDR social risk management issues:

• Provide direct operational social risk management support to operations, review ESF/social safeguards documentation, and support clients, consultants and technical specialists during preparation and implementation to ensure that social issues have been adequately addressed in compliance with WB ESF/Safeguards and policies.  
• Providing senior-level technical support to more junior social risk team members, particularly for substantial risk operations.
• Guiding borrower/project implementation agencies in preparing project instruments and reviewing them for quality.
• Supervise the work of consultants and technical specialists to ensure consistency and conformity to Bank standards and requirements.  
• Ensure timely reporting on SSI activities, including ESF for the CMU, proactive monitoring, management, and preparation of relevant management briefs. 
• Lead and contribute to discussions regarding portfolio on social development and inclusion topics including land acquisition and involuntary resettlement, stakeholder engagement and consultation, grievance redress mechanisms, Indigenous peoples, cultural heritage and other social development and inclusion topics.
• Lead and manage in partnership with the Environment Global Practice (ENB) the ESF Capacity Building Plans and activities.
• Leading and/or providing input into ongoing and emerging analytics in Cambodia and Laos.
• Support, mentor, and coach a team of Social Safeguards Specialists, Extended-Term/Short-Term Consultants (ETCs/STCs) in handling complex technical, institutional, and program implementation issues regarding social risk management and social development.

CMU COORDINATOR – Thailand and Myanmar CMU:

• Lead and play a key role in discussions regarding portfolio on social development and inclusion topics including land acquisition and involuntary resettlement, stakeholder engagement and consultation, grievance redress mechanisms, Indigenous peoples, cultural heritage and other social development and inclusion topics.
• Contribute to cross-practice teams responsible for preparation of Systematic Country Diagnosis (SCDs), Country Partnership Frameworks (CPFs), Development Policy Operations (DPOs), policy notes, sector studies, and research and policy development activities.    
• Provide direct operational social risk management support to operations, review ESF/social safeguards documentation, and support clients, consultants and technical specialists during preparation and implementation to ensure that social issues have been adequately addressed in compliance with WB ESF/Safeguards and policies.  
• Ensure timely reporting on SSI activities, including ESF for the CMU, proactive monitoring, management, and preparation of relevant management briefs. 
• Lead or contribute to SSI-led analytical and operational engagements including engagements with internal and external clients on SSI business opportunities in areas such as ESG, Indigenous Peoples, Benefit Sharing, etc.  
•  Lead and manage in partnership with the Environment Global Practice (ENB) the ESF Capacity Building Plans and activities.  
• Supervise the work of consultants and technical specialists to ensure consistency and conformity to Bank standards and requirements.  
• Support, mentor, and coach a team of Social Safeguards Specialists, Extended-Term/Short-Term Consultants (ETCs/STCs) in handling complex technical, institutional, and program implementation issues regarding social risk management and social development; and 
• Lead and maintain engagement/dialogue on issues of social sustainability and inclusion with civil society organizations and institutions (Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), academia, the private sector, media etc.  
• Work closely with regional focal point on Citizen Engagement to ensure, at a minimum, the portfolio remains compliant with corporate requirements. 
• In addition, the senior social risk management specialist will, under the guidance of the Practice Manager:
• Support the EAP social risk management quality support processes, including project document review and contributing to ESF streamlining initiatives; and
• Support regional partnerships, dialogues and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen social and environmental risk management systems.

Selection Criteria:

• At least a Masters degree in relevant Social Sciences (i.e., Development Studies, Social Anthropology, Sociology, Social Science, Gender and Development, International Development, Business Sustainability Management, or related subjects).  
• A minimum of 8 years of direct professional experience in managing social and environmental risks in high risk and complex projects. 
• 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 leading and/or managing the following thematic issues in projects settings: social impact assessment, large scale land acquisition and involuntary resettlement, resettlement planning and livelihood restoration, stakeholder engagement and consultation, complaint and grievance redress mechanisms, community health and safety, social investment interventions, etc. 
• Demonstrated ability to innovate and strategically address social issues, balancing development imperatives against sustainability challenges, and remaining client-focused.
• Familiarity with social sustainability concepts and efforts to strengthen country social and environmental  risk management systems is required.
• Familiarity with the social dimensions of carbon finance is desirable.
• Familiarity with working in states and areas affected by Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV), including working with indigenous peoples in relation to land management, forestry, infrastructure and other sectors is desirable.
• Demonstrated track record of integrity and behavioral skills to build trust and to create an enabling teamwork environment. 
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to multi-task, prioritize and be versatile enough to deal with frequent and unexpected changes and work within tight project schedules. 
• Ability to operate in a multi-cultural environment, manage multiple tasks, identify and respond to evolving project contexts, and remain flexible and self-motivated in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment. 
• Excellent oral and writing skills in English are essential, and the ability to make effective presentations to diverse audiences.
• Initiative and self-motivation; flexibility and willingness to travel frequently, including to remote locations. 

Source: https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=27795&site=1

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