Reference Number: 230394

Position Level: NS 2

Department: Office of Safeguards

Division: Office of Safeguards

Location: Georgia Resident Mission

Date Posted: Friday, July 7, 2023

Closing Date: Friday, July 21, 2023 11:59 p.m. (2359 Manila Time, 0800 GMT)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This is a special fixed-term appointment for a period of three (3) years following Section 3.1 (c.) of Administrative Order No. 2.01 (“Recruitment and Appointment’). This appointment is not convertible to a regular appointment. It may be extended on exceptional basis for a further fixed period at the option of ADB. This appointment is open to internal and external applicants.

Overview

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 68 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

ADB only hires nationals of its 68 members.

The position is assigned in the Regional Operations Services 2 within the Office of Safeguards (OSFG) but will be strategically placed in the Georgia Resident Mission (GRM) within the Central and West Asia Department (CWRD). OSFG provides leadership, innovation, and knowledge sharing for ADB’s sector and thematic work. The Regional Operations Services 2 provides policy oversight and technical guidance and provides training and capacity support to ADB operations and ADB clients on the implementation of the ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS).

CWRD is responsible for maintaining client relations and delivering ADB assistance to countries in the Central and West Asia region. GRM is responsible for country partnership and strategy, policy dialogue and client relationship, business development, knowledge management, project quality assurance, sector analytic work, and loan and technical assistance processing and administration in Georgia.

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

Job Purpose

The Social Safeguards Officer will support and coordinate the planning and development of ADB’s safeguards policies on the involuntary resettlement and/or Indigenous Peoples. Lead and provide operational coordination and specific inputs to ADB projects to ensure compliance with safeguards policies during project preparation and implementation. Contribute to the evaluation, improvement, and dissemination of ADB’s safeguards policies. Support ADB’s goal of poverty reduction and sustainable development and provide assistance as needed for applying safeguards knowledge to the development of tasks.

The position will report to the Director, Safeguards Division and/or designated International Staff, and operationally to the Regional Unit Head who will both provide supervisory inputs to the incumbent’s annual workplan and performance review.

Responsibilities

Overall Coordination

•  Support the review of country programming and portfolio management documents from a social safeguards’ perspective.
•  Support and coordinate the department safeguards team’s efforts in providing advice, building capacity, and advancing the development of safeguards policies within developing member countries (DMCs) and on an ADB-wide context.
•  Liaise with clients, non-government organizations (NGOs), development partners, and within ADB, including coordinating responses to NGOs.
•  Liaise and coordinate on safeguard policy issues between operations department and the wider ADB safeguards office.
•  Monitor the maintenance of project level grievance databases and coordinate the responses to and resolution of grievances directly received by ADB.
•  Conduct regular visits to project sites and participate in project processing and review missions to compile relevant project data and provide other inputs to missions.
•  Work closely with gender, environment, climate change, and procurement specialists.
•  Take charge of public information and disclosure initiatives.

Safeguard Policy Compliance Monitoring

•  Guide operation line divisions in developing, structuring, and monitoring social safeguards policy compliance of projects during processing and implementation.
•  Contribute to the review and quality assurance of project social safeguard documentation including social safeguards assessments and frameworks and livelihood and resettlement plans.
•  Support the design and implementation of stakeholder engagement activities and social initiatives envisaged under projects and technical assistances.
•  Lead, identify, and report on projects with high safeguards sensitivity.

Capacity Building

•  Support efforts to build capacity among colleagues and counterparts including understanding and significance of social impact assessment, vulnerability and inclusion, stakeholder/citizen engagement, grievance redress, labor and working conditions, community health and safety, cultural heritage, and other requirements for management of social sustainability and inclusion issues in relation to projects.
•  Support and administer as needed technical assistances and other training programs for capacity building and project development assistance.
•  Work with safeguards team to identify areas of work beyond safeguards where safeguards and environmental sustainability may be catalyzers for new lending products.
•  Work with safeguards team to develop projects or programs with a specific safeguards’ focus.
•  Implement a wider coordination approach to safeguards knowledge sharing and capacity building with wider ADB safeguards office.

Policy Review and Knowledge Sharing

•  Support operations department participation in safeguard policy/Operation Manual formulation and review; and
•  Contribute to analytical work, activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building relating to ADB’s safeguard policies and their effective application.

Qualifications

Relevant Experience & Requirements

•  Bachelor’s degree in social sciences or other relevant fields, preferably with advanced training on social safeguards.
•  Minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience.
•  Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English is required.
•  Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of social development and cultural issues, and experience in land acquisition and involuntary resettlement and social safeguards.
•  Experience in public and private project operations and knowledge on both social development and environment safeguards is preferred.
•  Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multicultural, multidisciplinary environment.
•  Proficiency in using Microsoft Office suite.
•  Ability to work independently, in a team and collaboratively with partners and stakeholders in GRM and ADB Headquarters.
•  Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for NS2.

General Considerations

The selected candidate, if new to ADB, is appointed for an initial term of 3 years.

ADB offers competitive remuneration and a comprehensive benefits package. Actual appointment salary will be based on ADB’s standards and computation, taking into account the selected individual’s qualifications and experience.

This vacancy is a local staff position. It is open only to nationals and residents of Georgia.

ADB seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities to work in an inclusive environment. ADB encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Please note that the actual level and salary will be based on qualifications of the selected candidate.