World Bank recruits 01 Social Development Specialist

Social Development Specialist

Job # : req13460

Organization : World Bank

Sector : Social Development

Grade : GF

Term Duration :  3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type : Local Recruitment

Location : Abidjan,Cote d’Ivoire

Required Language(s) : English, French

Preferred Language(s) :

Closing Date : 11/18/2021 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

 Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region

We need the best and brightest talent focused on Sub-Saharan African countries in order to harness the potential and innovation happening across the continent. Africa is a continent on the move, with a young population and a growing market of nearly 1.2bn people. We are committed to making the Africa regional teams into leading innovation hubs.

Yet, these vast opportunities are tempered by persistent gaps in education, health, and skills, which have Africa only reaching forty percent of its estimated potential. Moreover, conflict, food insecurity, population growth, and the disruptive forces of climate change threaten to curtail or even reverse the progress that has been made over the past decades.

In West and Central Africa, the World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio of 387 projects totaling more than $44.1 billion in areas such as agriculture, trade and transport, energy, education, health, water and sanitation- all to support job creation, gender equality, poverty reduction, and better lives. Across the continent, the World Bank’s program has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. By 2030, about 87% of the world’s extreme poor are projected to live in Sub-Saharan Africa, so this is where our mission to end extreme poverty and to promote shared prosperity will be achieved.

Are you ready to make an impact? We are looking for dedicated professionals to join our innovative and diverse team to improve people’s lives and help countries build back better after COVID.

Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region:

https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa

Duties and Accountabilities

Work with the CMU Social Risk/Safeguards Coordinator, the Regional Safeguards Coordinator and other social safeguard specialists to provide oversight and quality assurance on the project portfolio for Ivory Coast and the CMU.Support the implementation of the OPs/ESF by providing high quality technical support and capacity building for clients in Borrower countries regarding the relevant principles and compliance under ESF and other Bank operational policies.Undertake policy dialogue with clients regarding social sustainability and safeguards issues and advise counterparts on technical options for social development, particularly involuntary resettlement, labor issues, mitigation plans and institutional development strategies and other ways to improve social outcomes for Bank financed projects.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.

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 with preference for a candidate with six years of relevant 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 sectors. This includes experience with: social assessments and analyzing social risks and impacts for different population groups; involuntary resettlement in different socio-economic contexts and tenure systems; vulnerable groups’ issues; coordination of transparent consultative and stakeholder engagement processes; grievance redress mechanisms, integration of relevant planning instruments such as Resettlement Action Plans in overall project planning and implementation; labor and working conditions; community health and safety; and cultural heritage.Experience in social sustainability and risk management policy development, including dialogue with governments, collaboration in these areas with other international development agencies, corporate reviews and policy development and improvement efforts;Experience in specific areas of social inclusion such as: gender; conflict, fragility, and violence; and disability.

Core Competencies

Ability to present complex social safeguards and social development issues in a simple way to people of different technical backgrounds;Demonstrated ability to work in and actively contribute to teams and foster a positive team dynamic;Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving skills, and ability to think innovatively and strategically to find solutions to complex development problems;Very high level of energy and initiative;Experience conducting social development analyses, deriving results that resonate with the client;Demonstrated ability anticipating needs in the field and conducting independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners to develop strategies to meet these needs.Demonstrated ability to 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.

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.