Senior Specialist / Specialist in Social Safeguards
Asunción, Paraguay
The IDB Group is a diverse, versatile and passionate community of people, united to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Those who work with us find a purpose and do what they like best in an inclusive, collaborative, agile and rewarding environment.
About this job
The IDB’s Environmental and Social Solutions Unit ( ESG ) aims to identify and manage environmental and social impacts and risks in the Bank’s operations to achieve its environmental viability and long-term social, and promote sustainable development in the region, with the mission of implementing IDB environmental and social policies. In this context, the ESG team in Paraguay aims to support in a dedicated and specific way the Bank and project implementers in that country in the management of environmental and social risks from the project portfolio.
We are looking for a ( a ) local specialist in social safeguards to integrate the team of environmental and social specialists who promote the environmental and social strategy of the Inter-American Development Bank ( IDB ) with the objective to guarantee the sustainability of the Bank’s portfolio of projects in Paraguay. The specialist will work in the IDB Representation in Asunción and will be part of a team of the Unit for Environmental and Social Solutions, dedicated to providing support in the application of safeguards to project teams, the IDB country office, and the executors of IDB operations in Paraguay. The social specialist will be responsible for the preparation of new operations and the supervision of projects in execution with high and substantial socio-environmental risk,and will provide safeguards support and training to project managers, consultants, and executing agencies.
This is what you will do
- Review and pre-classify operations regarding compliance with operational safeguard policies and the Framework for Environmental and Social Policies ( MPAS ).
- Advise internal and external clients on sustainability in the design, preparation and execution of Bank operations with a focus on environmental and / or social risks, including: o Develop and maintain communication and customer relationships.
o Manage and carry out environmental and social due diligence.
o Supervise projects to guarantee the implementation of mitigation measures.
o Support in technical cooperations aimed at assisting clients in the analysis or implementation of environmental and / or social mitigation measures.
- Review technical documents prepared by the executing agencies or by the project operational teams related to socio-environmental issues of the operation;
- Hold control meetings, missions and technical evaluations of the socio-environmental work carried out within the framework of the projects mentioned in this document, using these inputs to guide clients in the continuous improvement of the work carried out and to update socio-environmental risk assessments ( ESRR ) throughout the project execution cycle;
- Participate in synchronous activities ( meetings, trainings, among other remote and / or face-to-face activities ) with the coordinator of the HUB, the ESG team of other HUBs and / or HQ, the IDB operational team or with other public spaces that require their participation;
- Provide guidance on safeguard issues to external consultants hired by project teams or executing agencies;
- Carry out missions as part of the preparation of operations and the implementation of the supervision plan for specific operations in execution financed by the IDB.
- Prepare internal reports ( for example, Summary of Environmental and Social Review, Supervision Reports with its Action Plans ) to mitigate environmental risks and/or social identified during the preparation and execution of operations.
- Support the implementation of the action plans mentioned above;
- Support the HUB coordinator in the participation of the ESG in Portfolio Reviews, preparation of Supervision Plans and other activities requested in the Bank’s Representation in Paraguay, when necessary;
- At the request of the ESG, provide support and follow-up to projects involved in a MICI process ( IDB Independent Consultation and Research Mechanism ).
- Receive training on the IDB’s new Framework for Environmental and Social Policies ( MPAS ) and provide similar training to IDB sector specialists, consultants, and executing agencies.
This is what you need
- Education : Master of Social Sciences, Anthropology, Sociology or Related Careers;
- Experience : minimum seven ( 7 ) or more years of experience as an environmental specialist in the management of social aspects in investment projects in multiple sectors, especially housing and urban planning, water and sanitation, natural resource management, energy, transportation and rural development. Knowledge and work experience in Paraguay are essential; Previous experience with multilateral banks and / or financial institutions is desirable. Ability in managing complex social issues. Experience in initiatives to strengthen institutional environmental and social capacities, in planning and reporting on multilateral development operations and experience in negotiating with teams and clients in complex projects.
- Languages : It will need to be fluid ( spoken and written ) in Spanish. Knowledge of an additional official Bank language ( English or Portuguese ) is valued.
- Travel : availability to travel inside and outside Paraguay.
The selected specialist must have some of the following technical skills:
- Involuntary resettlement: identify the impacts and risks associated with involuntary resettlement processes, both physical and economic, and develop resettlement plans for these cases;
- Social impact assessment: identify direct, indirect and cumulative social impacts on investment projects and define mitigation measures for them;
- Public consultations: support clients in the design and implementation of public consultation processes and in the design and implementation of complaint and complaint mechanisms;
- Sociocultural analysis: develop terms of reference for the development of a social baseline of the project, including the evaluation of potential social and cultural impacts and their mitigation measures in groups with cultural specificities;
- Indigenous peoples: identify the impacts and risks for indigenous peoples, their rights or their heritage, individual or collective.
- Gender: identify proactive and preventive actions to prevent or mitigate adverse project impacts on women or men due to gender issues.
Key skills
- Continuous learning.
- Collaborate and share knowledge.
- Focus on customers.
- Communicate and influence.
- Innovate and try new things.
Requirements:
Citizenship: You are a citizen of Paraguay or have a residence or legal permit to work in Paraguay.
Inbreeding: You have no family members ( up to the fourth degree of inbreeding and second degree of affinity, including the spouse ) who work at the IDB, IDB Invest or IDB Lab.
Type of contract and duration
Contract for national officials, 36 months initially, renewable by mutual agreement.
What we offer
The IDB Group offers benefits that respond to the different needs and moments of an employee’s life. These benefits include: A competitive compensation package
Licenses and holidays: 24 days of paid vacation + 8 personal days + sick leave + parental leave without distinction of gender.
Health Insurance: The IDB Group provides eligible employees and dependents with a robust medical benefit program that covers medical, dental, vision care, preventive care and prescription medications.
Pension plan: defined benefit plan that provides financial security and helps employees plan for their future.
Flexible and hybrid work schedules
Health and Well-being: Access to our Health Services Center that offers employees preventive care and health education.
Development support: We offer tools to improve your professional profile, such as mentoring, individualized professional advice, training and learning opportunities, language courses, mobility options, among others.
Our culture
At the IDB Group, we work for all people to do their best and bring their true selves to work, be willing to try new approaches without fear, be held accountable for your actions and receive compensation for them.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and the Sense of Belonging ( DEIB ) are the pillars of our organization. We celebrate all dimensions of diversity and encourage women, LGBTQ +, people with disabilities, people of African descent and indigenous people to apply.
We will ensure that people with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations to participate in the job interview process. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability, email us at diversity@iadb.org in order to request reasonable adaptations to complete this request.
Our Human Resources Team thoroughly reviews each request.
About the IDB Group
The IDB Group, made up of the Inter-American Development Bank ( IDB ), IDB Invest and IDB Lab, offers flexible financing solutions to its member countries to finance economic and social development through loans and subsidies to public and private entities in Latin America and the Caribbean.
About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank’s mission is to improve lives. Founded in 1959, the IDB is one of the main sources of long-term financing for the economic, social, and institutional development of Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research projects and offers policy advice, technical assistance, and training to public and private clients throughout the region.
Follow us:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/inter-american-development-bank/
https://www.facebook.com/IADB.org
https://twitter.com/the_IDB
Additional Information
- External Opening Date: Aug 28, 2023
- External Closing Date: Sep 11, 2023
- Job Field: Sector
