Position: Social Development Specialist

Organization: The World Bank

Location: Mumbai

Apply: https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=14296&site=1

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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

Sustainable Development Practice Group

The Sustainable Development (SD) Practice Group (GP) supports the WBG’s twin goals by focusing on sustainable and inclusive growth. It consists of give Global Practices and one Global Theme. The Global Practices (GPs) that belong to the SD PG are: Agriculture and Food; Environment, Natural Resources and the Blue Economy; Urban, Resilience and Land; Social Development; and Water. The Climate Change Group forms SD PG’s single Global Theme. In addition, SD is the Bank-wide steward for the newly launched Environment and Social Framework (ESF).

As of July 1, 2019, as part of the Bank-wide realignment of Practice Group management responsibilities, SD’s leadership team includes Regional Directors (RDs) responsible for delivery of SD’s regional and country programs, and Global Directors (GDs) who have a primary role in setting GP strategy, global engagements, promoting the flow of global knowledge, talent management and strategic staffing. The SD PG has four objectives: (i) deliver basic needs; (ii) ensure sustainability; (iii) build social inclusion/cohesion; and (iv) lead on long term issues.

Duties & Responsibilities

The specialist will be responsible for supporting the India SSI portfolio, including ESF/social safeguards related input and direction so that projects comply with the World Bank’s ESF/social safeguard requirements. More specifically, s/he will:

• Work closely with task teams and other colleagues to identify and address social safeguard and ESF related challenges and issues as well as provide support on corporate commitments on citizen engagement and gender;
• Support efforts to build capacity among colleagues and counterparts including understanding and significance of Social Impact Assessment, vulnerability and inclusion, stakeholder engagement/ 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 efforts to reach the corporate requirements on gender by reviewing attention to gender in project documents and providing direct support to operational teams. Support efforts towards management of Gender-Based Violence Risks (especially Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) in Bank operations;
• Provide operational support on social risk management including undertaking regular operational missions to assist task teams to review social safeguard documentation and implementation to ensure that social issues have been adequately addressed and that projects are in compliance with the Social Safeguard Policies or the ESF;
• Prepare Environmental & Social Review Summaries for new projects and relevant social sections of Project Appraisal Documents and complete necessary administrative activities used by the Bank to track and monitor social safeguard implementation;
• Where appropriate, promote and contribute substantively to analyses and efforts to strengthen country systems for social risk management;
• Review and guide the preparation of terms of reference for social assessments and other assessments, and other analytical tools required for investment design and implementation. This will require helping the client to assure the quality of project documentation and supporting analysis and participation in training sessions and other capacity building exercises;
• Undertake analytical work on land acquisition, resettlement, Indigenous Peoples, vulnerability and inclusion, and other social risk management issues;
• Engage in the Bank-wide professional community of staff in social sustainability, social standards and safeguards by participating in thematic groups, exchanging best practices, and drafting technical notes.
• Participate in the broader social sustainability and inclusion work of the team; and
• Perform other ad-hoc duties and support other staff as assigned by the Practice Manager and others in the Unit.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced university degree (Master’s) in a relevant social science discipline (e.g., social anthropology, sociology, human geography, political science, social policy, etc.) or other related discipline.
• A minimum of five years of working experience in social sustainability, social risk management, gender, and social development in the context of development projects, including specific experience working on the above-mentioned topics in India.
• Knowledge and experience in addressing issues covered by social risk management policies (social impact assessments, land acquisition and involuntary resettlement, indigenous people, labor and working conditions, community health and safety, and stakeholder engagement and grievance redress). Experience in reviewing potential social impacts of development projects and promoting social sustainability aspects of operations.
• Ability to develop innovative approaches to mitigate social risks or overcome difficult challenges across a range of investment projects.
• Team oriented professionals with proven ability in managing complex tasks as part of multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ability to operate in a multi-cultural environment, manage multiple tasks, identify and respond to needs as they arise, and remain flexible and self-motivated in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment.
• High level of energy, initiative and self-motivation; willingness to travel extensively.
• Excellent communication skills with demonstrated ability of making effective presentations to diverse audiences.
• Fluency in English and Hindi is a prerequisite. Excellent communications and writing skills in English are essential.

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.