Social Development Specialist at World Bank Group

Social Development Specialist

Description

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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) Region

Home to about 700 million of Africa’s people, Eastern and Southern Africa is a geographically, culturally and economically diverse region of 26 countries stretching from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South. Children under 18 make up almost half of the total population. The subregion boasts of some of the world’s richest human and natural resources and, apart from South Africa, the countries are predominantly raw material exporters.

The subregion harbors some of Africa’s protracted conflicts, rendering many of its countries fragile, while significant gaps in education, health, and skills development continue to keep people from reaching their full potential. This creates a huge development challenge, impacts heavily on the lives and livelihoods of people, and hinders regional integration and trade. But it also creates an opportunity to work closely with country leaders, civil society, development partners, and young people to chart a brighter course for the future. 

The World Bank’s Eastern and Southern Africa Region, comprised of approximately 1,200 staff, mostly based in 26 country offices, has been helping countries realize their considerable development potential by focusing on the following priorities:

• Creating Jobs and Transforming Economies: We are working with countries across Africa to stimulate job creation and economic transformation by leveraging all sources of finance, expertise, and solutions to promote investment.

• Building up the Digital Economy: We are supporting Africa’s vision to ensure that every African individual, business, and government is connected by 2030 – a vision that, if realized, can boost growth by up to 2 percentage points per year, and reduce poverty by 1 percentage point per year in Sub-Saharan Africa alone.

• Making Institutions more Efficient and Accountable: Our support helps governments strengthen public policy processes, manage resources effectively, and reinforce fair and reliable delivery of public services.

• Investing in People: We are at the forefront of helping African countries accelerate human capital gains and empower women by improving their access to education and skills acquisition, sexual and reproductive health services, and employment opportunities.

• Supporting Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation:  In the face of increasing climate-related risks, we are working with African countries to advance efforts to adopt renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and green infrastructure.

• Addressing the Drivers of Fragility, Conflict, and Violence: Given the cross-border nature of conflicts in Africa, we are employing an approach that simultaneously focuses on the drivers of fragility while also supporting well-targeted regional initiatives to create opportunities for peace and shared prosperity.

• Building Partnerships and Working across the African Continent: We are scaling up our work on regional integration, taking a holistic view of the continent that covers both North and Sub-Saharan Africa.

• Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/eastern-and-southern-africa

Unit Description

On October 1, 2018, the World Bank launched a new Environment and Social Framework (ESF) to help protect people and the environment in the investment projects that it finances. The effort, now about seven years under implementation, is one of several initiatives, including procurement reform, the gender strategy, and the climate change action plan, undertaken by the Bank to improve development outcomes.

The ESF brings the World Bank’s environmental and social (E&S) protections into closer harmony with those of other development institutions, and makes important advances in areas such as climate change adaptation and mitigation, transparency, non-discrimination, social inclusion, public participation, and accountability – including expanded roles for grievance redress mechanisms.

As the World Bank Group (WBG) advances with modernizing its ESF approach, a new organizational arrangement has been agreed involving “Makers” (responsible for preparation, implementation support, and monitoring and problem solving) and “Checkers” (responsible for monitoring and risk-based oversight, and identifying and flagging challenges and problems that need to be addressed) to ensure a strengthened approach to risk management on E&S matters. The new arrangements also demonstrate a commitment to promoting “One WBG” and the key role that the Environmental and Social leadership in IDA/IBRD, IFC and MIGA, will play in this effort. 

The Eastern Africa Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) Unit (SAEM2) is one of the three units in AFE that manages E&S risks and covers two Country Management Units (CMUs): The Kenya CMU comprising of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Somalia; and the Tanzania CMU comprising of Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Position

The World Bank is seeking a Social Development Specialist to be based in Paris, France. The specialist will report directly to the SAEM2 Practice Manager.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Work with the Practice Manager and Lead Environmental and Social Specialist to monitor the unit’s risk portfolio, focusing on the status of projects included in the Bank’s various corporate risk lists; identifying next steps and bringing the application of innovative solutions to the team.

• Work with the unit’s Environmental and Social specialists to identify systemic issues and propose to the Practice Manager ways to tackle these issues at the portfolio level.

• Serve as a Focal Point for the monitoring and management of Grievance Redress Service (GRS) cases linked to projects in the AFE Region.

• Act as a Social Development Specialist on projects; advising Task Teams and Clients on the Bank’s ESF and Operational Policies, social risks management and social benefits optimization throughout the project cycle.

• Prepare the required ESF instruments for projects and relevant environmental and social section of Project Appraisal Documents, and Project Operational Manual; and adequately track and monitor social and environmental performance of projects.

• Provide technical support to government agencies implementing Bank-financed projects in preparing and implementing social risks management plans in accordance with the Bank’s ESF/policy requirements (e.g., ESCP, SEP, RAP, etc.)

• Participate in project preparation, appraisal, and supervision activities, including operational missions and providing inputs into the mission Aide Memoirs, and support the resolution of emerging issues to ensure results on the ground and project implementation progress.

• Build client capacity on the implementation of the ESF, including the monitoring and evaluation of social development activities and outcomes.

• Actively engage with the other teams in the Paris WBG office to support the knowledge management and exchange for IBRD, MIGA and IFC (e.g., organizing BBLs, liaising with the Paris office Senior Representative, etc.).

Selection Criteria

• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in Social Sciences (i.e., Development Studies, Social Anthropology, Sociology, Gender and Development, International Development, Business Sustainability Management, and related subjects).  

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in managing social risks in projects.

• Ability to present complex social risks and sustainability issues in a simple way to people of different technical backgrounds.

• Professional traits and willingness.

• Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving skills, and ability to think innovatively and strategically to find solutions to complex development problems.

• High level of energy and initiative, and proven ability to multi-task.

• Readiness to travel within the AFE region.

• Proven ability to work in and actively contribute to teams and champion a positive team dynamic.

• Experience working in a multicultural setting.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and in French.

Professional traits and willingness:

• Demonstrated experience in interpersonal communication, problem solving, and change management.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, and ability to think innovatively and strategically to find solutions to complex development problems.
• Proven ability to work in and actively contribute to teams and champion a positive team dynamic.
• Experience working in multicultural settings.

Note: This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

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.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.