Jobs in Zambia and Zimbabwe

World Bank Recruiting Now In Zambia – Deadline 23-Jan-2017

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The Africa Social Development Unit II (East and Southern Africa) is looking to recruit a (Senior) Social Development Specialist for the World Bank Office in Lusaka to support work related to social safeguards and social risk management. The (Senior) Social Development Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Social Development Practice Manager for East and Southern Africa.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 3 year term appointment.

Job Title: Social Development Specialist

Duties and Accountabilities

The Social Development Specialist – Social Safeguards and Social Risk Management will have the following responsibilities:

  • Work under the coordination of the regional focal point for safeguards on the social safeguards portfolio, providing oversight and quality assurance. This will include direct operational support to high risk and complex operations, and advising management and staff on responses safeguards related complaints including Inspection Panel cases.
  • Serve as social development focal points for 1-2 countries and engage actively and regularly with country units and teams, and identify business opportunities for the social development team in consultation with clients and country units.
  • Participate in cross-practice teams responsible for the preparation of policy notes, Systematic Country Diagnostics, Country Partnership Frameworks, sector studies, and research and policy development activities on the full range of social development topics.
  • 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.
  • Undertake policy dialogue with clients on social sustainability and safeguards issues and advise counterparts on technical options for social development, particularly resettlement, indigenous peoples, mitigation plans and institutional development strategies.
  • Handle complex technical, institutional and program implementation issues regarding social development and lead the related dialogue with counterparts.
  • Participate and play a leading role in portfolio reviews on selected social development topics.
  • Lead or participate in analytical studies, support other analytical work on different social development topics, and stay abreast of developments in social development globally and on cross-cutting issues.
  • Manage projects mapped to the regional Social Development team.
  • Support the Bank-wide professional community of staff engaged in social development by participating in thematic groups, exchanging best practices, and drafting technical notes.
  • Help develop sustainable local and national consultation mechanisms and strategies.
  • Supervise the work of consultants and technical specialists to ensure consistency and conformity to Bank standards

Selection Criteria

This is a challenging position suited to constructive, highly motivated team players with an eye for detail, understanding the bigger picture context of operations, and creative problem-solving abilities. The successful candidate should have strong analytical skills, have practical experience with participatory processes of stakeholder engagement, and be able to integrate social development considerations in an operational context. This requires strong technical competency on social issues and safeguards, with demonstrated ability to contribute to project management. Experience working in complex and challenging settings is highly desirable.

  • Master’s degree or PhD in social sciences (anthropology, sociology, political economy, social development, etc.), and a minimum of 5-8 years of professional experience in sustainability, social 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 social safeguards policies or similar policies in other international finance institutions in complex and challenging settings, and across practices. This includes experience with involuntary resettlement in different socio-economic contexts and tenure systems; extensive experience with analyzing social risks and impacts on different population groups; coordination of transparent consultative processes; and integration of relevant planning instruments such as Resettlement Action Plans and Indigenous Peoples Plans in overall project planning and implementation. Experience with grievance redress mechanisms. Policy level experience on social safeguard policies, including high-level dialogue, corporate reviews and complex projects.
  • Experience in areas of social inclusion such as gender; conflict, fragility, and violence; and disability.
  • Strong operational (task management) and analytical skills and demonstrated ability to translate analytical work into policy advice and actionable, practical recommendations.
  • Ability to present complex social development and safeguards issues to task teams and Bank audiences, and to engage effectively with government counterparts, the private sector, project beneficiaries and civil society.
  • Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, and team skills, and ability to think innovatively and strategically to find balanced solutions to complex development problems, with a strong client focus.
  • Acting with integrity at all times to build trust and to create an enabling work environment, whether as team leader or team member.
  • Very high level of energy, initiative and self-motivation; willingness to travel and work under challenging circumstances.
  • Ability to work across practices, work in cross-thematic teams, foster team work, and mentor junior staff.
  • Excellent oral and writing skills. Ability to write well in English is essential.

Competencies

  • Social Safeguards – Experience in successfully applying social safeguard policies to both high and low risk projects, with minimal supervision.
  • Social Development implications on policies, institutions, and operations –Solid understanding of the implications of social development on policy, institutions, and operations.
  • Participation and Consultation – Extensive experience conducting social development consultative and participatory approaches, deriving results that resonate with the client; ability to coach others in the application of the interventions.
  • Analytical Tools for Social Sustainability – Extensive experience conducting social development analyses, deriving results that resonate with the client; ability to coach others in the application of the tools.
  • Integrative Skills – Understand relevant cross-practice areas and how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-practice work in lending and non-lending operations.
  • Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena – Translate technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interact with clients at the policy level.
  • Policy Dialogue Skills – Anticipate needs and requests in the field and conduct independent policy discussions with representatives of government and non-government partners.
  • Lead and Innovate – Develop innovative solutions with others.
  • Deliver Results for Clients – Achieve results and identify mission-driven solutions for the client.
  • Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries – Initiate collaboration across boundaries and broadly across the World Bank Group, and bring differing ideas into the forefront.
  • Create, Apply and Share Knowledge – Create, apply and share knowledge from across and outside WBG to strengthen internal and or external client solutions.
  • Make Smart Decisions – Recommend and take decisive action.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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Closing date:23-Jan-2017