Lead Social Development Specialist

Lead Social Development Specialist

Job #:

req22538

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Social Development

Grade:

GH

Term Duration:

4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English, French

Preferred Language(s):

English, French

Closing Date:

5/21/2023 (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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region

We need the best and brightest talent focused on Sub-Saharan African countries in order to harness the potential and innovation happening across the continent. Africa is a continent on the move, with a young population and a growing market of nearly 1.2bn people. We are committed to making the Africa regional teams into leading innovation hubs.

Yet, these vast opportunities are tempered by persistent gaps in education, health, and skills, which have Africa only reaching forty percent of its estimated potential. Moreover, conflict, food insecurity, population growth, and the disruptive forces of climate change threaten to curtail or even reverse the progress that has been made over the past decades.

In West and Central Africa, the World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio of 350 projects totaling more than $38 billion in areas such as agriculture, trade and transport, energy, education, health, water and sanitation- all to support job creation, gender equality, poverty reduction, and better lives. Across the continent, the World Bank's program has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. By 2030, about 87% of the world's extreme poor are projected to live in Sub-Saharan Africa, so this is where our mission to end extreme poverty and to promote shared prosperity will be achieved.

Are you ready to make an impact? We are looking for dedicated professionals to join our innovative and diverse team to improve people's lives and help countries build back better after COVID.

Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region:

https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa

The Sustainable Development Practice Group

The Sustainable Development (SD) Practice Group (PG) helps countries tackle their most complex challenges in the areas of Agriculture and Food, Climate Change, Environment, Natural Resources & Blue Economy, Environmental and Social Framework, Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience & Land, Social Sustainability and Inclusion, and Water.

Social Sustainability and Inclusion Global Practice

Social Sustainability and Inclusion reflects the World Bank's focus on addressing long lasting barriers to development, strengthening the focus on people who have been excluded from economic and social opportunities, and increasing investment in inclusive growth.

For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/socialsustainability

POSITION

One of the two Africa West and Central Africa Social Sustainability and Inclusion Unit (SAWS4) is looking to recruit a Lead Social Development Specialist (focusing on the Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, and Mali Country Management Units/CMUs) and support the leadership and coordination of the operational portfolio across the three CMUs, with a strong focus on business development and collaboration across SD and other GPs. In addition, he/she will also provide leadership in close coordination with the Regional Safeguards Coordinator for country system strengthening of social risk management in the three CMUs.

Duties and Accountabilities:

Role & Responsibilities:

The Lead Social Development Specialist will be responsible to:

• Lead strategic technical and analytical activities on development responses to fragility/conflict/violence (FCV) including violence prevention and displacement impacts across the three CMUs and regional 'hot-spots' of Lake Chad and the Sahel.

• Lead and/or provide technical guidance to task teams preparing or supervising operations related to Fragility and Conflict responses, violence prevention, displacement impacts, women's empowerment, and locally led climate action, with a strong focus on community-led responses in lagging regions and fragile settings; review and advise on technical documents for operations and analytical work in these areas and participate in dialogue with clients.

• Guide Task Team Leaders (TTLs) on all operational tasks related to lending operations including key technical, fiduciary and safeguards requirements during the preparation, implementation support and completion of operations.
• In close coordination with the Regional Safeguards Coordinator of SAWS4, identify opportunities to address systematically country system strengthening of our clients for social risk management.

• Assist the Practice Manager and TTLs to manage dialogue and joint programming with principal partner agencies working on the agenda including donors, bilateral and multilateral agencies, foundations, and private corporations; co-lead the building of development diplomacy platforms/processes around complex multi-country conflict/recovery/stabilization operations, operations focusing on women's economic and social empowerment, and local climate action.

• Lead contributions to corporate agenda on fragility and community led development, women's empowerment, social cohesion, climate change, dialogue, and documentation; as well as cross-regional and cross-GP collaboration.

• Plays a key role in leading and coordinating internal strategic planning and dialogue with the Sustainable Development Practice Group, the global social sustainability and inclusion unit, the global FCV unit, and the Africa Regional Integration team.

• Support implementation as well as global knowledge sharing around the SSI Global Practice strategy in West and Central Africa, contributing with operational innovations, and strategic direction, as well as operations and analytics on community led development, social cohesion, social dimensions of climate change, inclusion and empowerment.

• Manage the development, maintenance and sharing of knowledge and experience across the AFW region's SSI team and other teams in AFR and across the Bank.

• Coordinate closely with Country Management teams and Task Teams and provide back-up and cross-support where required.

• Respond to ongoing and ad hoc information requests from internal and external parties.

More generally, the Lead Social Development Specialist will be expected to:

• Provide leadership on social sustainable and inclusive development issues in for the sub-region in Africa (social inclusion; fragility, conflict and violence, violence prevention, social risk management, social resilience, community led development and local governance/decentralization, social accountability and citizen engagement), including carrying out relevant policy dialogue and helping to build a robust pipeline of operational engagements with country clients.

• Lead and/or oversee analytical, advisory, and technical assistance activities with a focus on issues related to stability, peace and security, social cohesion, social resilience, and social inclusion.

• Proactively contribute to the regional and global social development agenda, in collaboration with colleagues within and across global practices.

• Lead and/or participate in complex operational activities.

• Provide strategic direction and innovation.

• Oversee preparation or produce a range of key policy papers, practice/technical reports, etc.

• Monitor practice work and investment operations to ensure overall quality of products.

• Lead and contribute to the mobilization of and implementation of trust funds for building social sustainable and inclusive development interventions in the sub region.

• Play a lead role in global knowledge sharing, including learning and exposure visits, workshops and seminars, and in producing knowledge products.

• Serve as focal point or spokesperson on sector issues to clients and other external constituencies and expert groups.

• Develop and build client relations at senior levels and play a promotional role in generating new business for the Bank.

• Play a key role within the practice in terms of guiding/mentoring other staff and contributing to the design of professional and operational training or development activities in the Social Sustainability and Inclusion Global Practice.

• Contribute to management and oversight of the SSI SAWS$ unit, including: contributing to unit team building; supporting/occasional acting for Practice Manager; and coaching/mentoring/supporting teams, especially less experienced TTLs, in addressing complex analytical or implementation issues.

• Provide social sustainable and inclusive development inputs for country strategies, analytical work and other country operations.

• Develop opportunities to improve social impacts across the portfolio.

• Mentor junior staff on community led development and other social development themes.

Selection Criteria

This is a challenging position suited to a constructive, highly motivated leader and team player with an eye for detail, understanding the bigger picture context of operations, and creative problem-solving abilities. The successful candidate should have strong demonstrated operational and analytical skills, strategic vision, to be able to integrate social sustainable and inclusive development considerations in operational and policy contexts. Proven experience in managing and leading complex projects and programs in challenging settings and demonstrated ability to motivate and facilitate the work of other specialists in the field, are essential. Proven record of business development and resource mobilization. In addition, we seek the following:

• Advanced degree in a relevant social science (anthropology, sociology, political economy, social development, etc.) with a substantive professional experience (a minimum of 12 years in the case of a PhD or 15 years in the case of a Master's degree) in community led development, sustainability, social safeguards and/or social development (voice and participation, gender, citizen engagement).

• Proven ability to lead complex operations, especially multi-country regional operations, and demonstrated ability to undertake or oversee high-quality analytical work.

• Excellent leadership skills and proven track record in leading staff, programs, and budgets and in delivering quality results in a timely manner.

• Demonstrated ability to mentor and guide less experienced staff, providing assistance in setting priorities and identifying training needs.

• Demonstrated multi-regional experience and knowledge of Bank operations or similar operations in other international finance institutions
• Extensive operational leadership experience with Community Led Development type projects in fragile and conflict-affected settings is essential.

• Knowledge and past experience Africa region is highly advantageous.

• Experience and ability to dialogue with senior government officials, and other stakeholders including the private sector, donor community and civil society. Demonstrated experience with coordination and 'development diplomacy' around complex multi-country programs addressing regional conflict/fragility is valuable.

• Fluency in English and French, along with excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Excellent time-management skills and ability to juggle numerous competing demands and priorities, and to respond quickly to government, donor and management requests.

• Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, and teamwork skills and ability to think innovatively and strategically to find balanced and practical solutions to complex social development challenges.

• Very high level of energy, initiative and self-motivation; willingness to travel frequently and work under challenging circumstances.

Competencies

• Integrative Skills - Possess in-depth understanding of Bank resources in all areas of work in the network, and proven fungibility.

• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Influence the design and execution of major policy and/or research initiatives; conceive and promote innovations in development policies, project design, organization and management to improve operational and sector work.

• Policy Dialogue Skills- Track record of conducting effective policy dialogue with country counterparts; communicate and defend difficult issues and positions to senior bank management and government officials.

• Social Development Implications on Policy, Institutions, and Operations - Comprehensive understanding of the implications of social development on policy, institutions, and operations.

• Participation and Consultation - Expert at facilitating consultative and participatory approaches and interpreting and representing the Bank's view internationally.

• Analytical Tools for Social Sustainability - Expert at applying different research and analytical tools, and in interpreting and applying the results to policy dialogue, institution building, and operations.

• Lead and Innovate - Inspire and influence others to drive innovation.

• Deliver Results for Clients- Act as a trusted, strategic advisor, partnering with clients to deliver results.

• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries - Lead collaboration across WBG and with partners drawing on robust professional networks.

• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge - Establish an environment where knowledge is created, applied and shared.

• Make Smart Decisions - Make timely decisions that have a broad impact.

Note: If the selected candidate is acurrent World Bank Group Staff Member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment,they will retain their Regular or Open-Ended appointment. If the selectedcandidate is a current World Bank Group Staff Member with a Term appointmentthat expires later than the end date of this appointment, they will retain theduration of their current Term appointment.

This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

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.