La Banque Mondiale recrute un spécialiste principal du développement social, Niamey, Niger

Description :

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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 and promoting shared prosperity. 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 – formerly known as Social Development – 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

Duties and accountabilities :

The Senior Social Development Specialist – Social Sustainability and Safeguards will have the following responsibilities :

• Work with the CMU Social Risk/Safeguards Coordinator, the Regional Safeguards Coordinator and other social safeguard specialists to provide oversight and quality assurance on the project portfolio in Niger ;
• Support the implementation of the OPs/ESF by providing high quality technical support and capacity building for clients in Borrower countries regarding the relevant principles and compliance under ESF and other Bank operational policies ;
• Undertake policy dialogue with clients regarding social sustainability and safeguards issues and advise counterparts on technical options for social development, particularly involuntary resettlement, labor issues, mitigation plans and institutional development strategies and other ways to improve social outcomes for Bank financed projects ;
• Participate in cross-practice teams 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 particularly in the FCV context in the Sahel; develop and evaluate proposed technical solutions and assist in the preparation of project documentation ;
• Manage and provide technical support for complex technical, institutional and program implementation issues regarding social development and lead the related dialogue with counterparts ;
• Provide cross support to other countries in the CMU especially as it relates to regional projects ;
• Participate in comprehensive portfolio reviews on selected social development topics ;
• 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 relevant to Niger in particular and the Sahel more generally ;
• Engage in the Bank-wide professional community of staff in social development and social standards/safeguards by participating in thematic groups, exchanging best practices, and drafting technical notes ;
• Help develop sustainable local and national consultation and citizen engagement mechanisms and strategies in Niger.

Selection Criteria :

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

• Master’s degree or PhD in social sciences (anthropology, sociology, political economy, social development, etc.), and a minimum of eight years of professional experience in social sustainability, social standards/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 ESF and social safeguards policies or similar policies in other international finance institutions in complex and challenging settings, and across sectors. This includes experience with: social assessments and analyzing social risks and impacts for different population groups; involuntary resettlement in different socio-economic contexts and tenure systems; vulnerable groups’ issues; coordination of transparent consultative and stakeholder engagement processes; grievance redress mechanisms, integration of relevant planning instruments such as Resettlement Action Plans in overall project planning and implementation; labor and working conditions; community health and safety; and cultural heritage ;
• Experience in social sustainability and risk management policy development, including dialogue with governments, collaboration in these areas with other international development agencies, corporate reviews and policy development and improvement efforts ;
• Experience in specific areas of social inclusion such as: gender; conflict, fragility, and violence; and disability ;
• Ability to present complex social development and ESF/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 teamwork, and mentor junior staff (if needed) ;
• Excellent oral and writing skills. Ability to write well in English and French is essential ;
• Professional fluency in French and English.

WBG competencies :

• Social Safeguards/ESF – Experience in successfully applying social safeguard and/or ESF policies to both high and low risk projects, with minimal supervision, covering issues of involuntary resettlement, indigenous peoples, labor, community health and safety, stakeholder engagement, etc. ;
• 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 work to support innovative problem solving ;
• 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.

Poverty has no borders, neither does excellence. We succeed because of our differences and we continuously search for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds from around the globe.

Apply here