Senior Social Development Specialist

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients tackle their greatest development challenges. The WBG 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.
The WBG consists of five specialized institutions: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). IBRD and IDA are commonly known as the World Bank, which is organized into six client-facing Regional Vice-Presidencies, several corporate functions, and – as of July 1, 2014 – has introduced fourteen Global Practices (GPs) as well as five Cross-Cutting Solution Areas (CCSAs) to bring best-in-class knowledge and solutions to regional and country clients. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.
The SSI (formerly Social Development) GP helps countries tackle deep rooted social problems stemming from fragility, climate change, exclusion, and the digital age with people centered solutions that build 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. It prioritizes participatory, multi-sectoral approaches that build on norms and informal institutions to address social challenges and to build more inclusive, empowered communities. It also works across the Bank’s portfolio to implement the environmental and social framework (ESF) strengthen inclusive development. Cross-GP collaboration is critical for the ESF and for the direct operational work of the staff.
The SSI Unit 2 (SEAS2) in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region is responsible for: (i) undertaking social analysis during project preparation and implementation, to mainstream social development and inclusion issues throughout the Bank’s work in the region; (ii) ensuring compliance with the Bank’s social safeguards policies and the implementation of the ESF; (iii) undertaking Advisory Services and Analytics (ASA) in the form of thematic studies on social development issues, country social analysis, and Reimbursable Advisory Services; (iv) leading the preparation and supervision of lending operations that promotes inclusion of vulnerable groups including women and youth often through a community-driven development approach (CDD); and (v) facilitating partnerships and dialogue with civil society through outreach and engagement.
The SEAS2 Unit is seeking a Senior Social Development Specialist/Senior Social Safeguards Focal Point to lead social analysis and social risk management in the Bank’s operations in the Philippines Country Management Unit (CMU), which also covers Malaysia, Brunei, and Thailand. The Senior Social Development Specialist would serve as the CMU Coordinator for social risk management and also provide technical support in the areas of gender, citizen engagement and social accountability, indigenous peoples, social resilience, and empowerment in World Bank supported operations.
The Senior Social Development Specialist will be based in Manila, Philippines and work closely with the Regional Safeguards Advisor (RSA) in Washington DC, the Lead Social Development Specialist for social risk management based in Singapore and is also expected to work closely with the CMU and task teams in the countries. They will report directly to the SEAS-2 Practice Manager and will help supervise and coordinate the social safeguards team for the Philippines CMU.
Duties & Responsibilities:
The selected candidate will have the following key responsibilities, as agreed with the Practice Manager, and based on annual Results Agreements: