Senior Social Development Specialist

Job #: req23967

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Social Development

Grade: GG

Term Duration: 4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Location: Washington, DC; Singapore

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 9/7/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

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. Visit www.worldbank.org.

East Asia and Pacific, Social Sustainability and Inclusion:

The Social Sustainability and Inclusion Unit 1 (SEAS1) is one of two units in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region (the other being SEAS2) responsible for: (a) undertaking social analysis 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 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 of 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/region/eap

The World Bank is seeking a Senior Social Development Specialist to work across the EAP region to:

•  provide regional level technical back-up support on complex social risk management issues to country-based social risk management teams;
•  contribute to the role of SSI in emerging Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) frameworks, and strengthen internal and external partnerships in this workstream in EAP;
•  support the EAP social risk management quality assurance processes, including project document review and contributing to ESF streamlining initiatives; and
•  support regional partnerships, dialogues and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen country and sector level social and environmental risk management systems.

The selected candidate will be based in Singapore or Washington DC, and they will report to the SEAS1 Social Development Practice Manager.

Role & Responsibilities:

The main role and responsibilities of the position are as follows: Regional level back-up support to Country Management Unit (CMU) teams

The position will provide additional technical support across the diverse EAP portfolio including:

•  Technical support to country-based SSI social risk management teams to provide back-up as required on substantial and high risk, and/or complex operations. This could include provision of technical and/or sector specific advice or guidance relating to specific lending instruments. This is anticipated to include regular field missions to and within EAP countries.
•  Supporting country-teams in communicating complex issues to CMUs, PLs and TTLs.
•  Identification of opportunities for E&S capacity building through stand-alone analytical activities and/or through Bank-financed projects.
•  Providing guidance as appropriate to SSI and sector teams on the social risk considerations on areas of focus as guided by corporate mandates or respective Country Partnership Frameworks. This could include areas such as the energy transition, climate change, disaster-risk, conflict, gender, ethnic minorities or other issues.
•  Work with country-teams to identify social and sustainability considerations in private sector and private public partnership engagements.
•  Working closely with Environment (ENB) team members on efficient and consistent environmental and social risk management approaches.
•  Contributing to the briefs, blogs, strategy documents, and papers on critical social development issues for both internal and external audiences
•  Other assignments as and when required by the Practice Manager.

Contributing to the role of Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) in socially sustainable and inclusive development

The scale of challenges including poverty reduction and climate change require the private sector to play a significant role alongside the World Bank Group and other development institutions. In this context, the World Bank has an emphasis on scaling transition finance, with an initial sectoral focus on renewable energy and energy infrastructure and is working to address existing barriers and ensure a bias towards ideas that can be implemented quickly. ESG frameworks may play an important role in mobilizing private capital. The role will support EAP-focused internal and external relationships, and the integration of relevant social indicators into existing and future frameworks including:

•  Identification of entry-points and value-add propositions based on the EAP experience for SSI to contribute to the ESG agenda at the regional and country level, including the definition and integration of social indicators into frameworks at the country, sector and project level.
•  With an initial focus on Singapore, strengthen collaboration with both internal stakeholders including the Global Infrastructure Facility, the International Financing Corporation (IFC), Infrastructure GPs, ENB and others, as well as external stakeholders such as other Multi-lateral Development Banks, investment banks, rating agencies, regional bodies such as the EU and ASEAN and others.
•  Drawing upon ESF and ESG frameworks, identify and support initiatives to strengthen country and sector level social and environmental risk management systems.
•  Identification of opportunities to scale-up sustainable investments, attract private capital, and enhance the social and environmental impacts of public and private investment.

Support EAP SSI quality assurance processes

The position will play a key role in assuring the quality of social risk management documents prepared for World Bank supported operations including:

•  Reviewing and providing targeted guidance to teams for Environmental and Social Review Summaries (ESRSs) for projects at various milestones.
•  Reviewing social risk management instruments, provision of targeted guidance to achieve compliance with ESF requirements and recommending these for clearance.
•  Supporting SEAS1 in effectively implementing revised ESF implementation arrangements anticipated as part of the upcoming “EAP Streamlining” process. This may include supporting development of country/regional level protocols, skills assessments, country ESF assessments and other activities.

Selection Criteria

•  At least a Master’s degree in relevant Social Sciences (i.e., Development Studies, Social Anthropology, Sociology, Gender and Development, International Development, Business Sustainability Management, and related subjects).
•  A minimum of 8 years of direct professional experience in managing social and environmental risks in high risk and complex infrastructure projects in energy and extractives sector, transport and roads, urban development, large scale agriculture.
•  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 of projects on different populations, large scale land acquisition and involuntary resettlement, resettlement planning and livelihood restoration, stakeholder engagement, stakeholder engagement and consultation, complaint and grievance redress mechanisms, community health and safety, social investment interventions, etc. Ability to innovate and strategically address these 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.
•  Experience in social risk management issues relevant to mobilization of private capital and familiarity with social dimensions of Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) concepts.
•  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 on a short notice in complex missions and work under challenging circumstances.
•  Acting with integrity to build trust and to create an enabling environment as a team member or lead.

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.