Social Development Specialist

BACKGROUND:

Pakistan Vision 2025 has set an ambitious target for Pakistan to revive economic growth and become among the world’s top 25 economies by year 2025. Knowledge economy has been identified as one of the key pillars for growth. Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) will contribute directly to knowledge economy by addressing these issues through the higher education system in Pakistan. This project will directly support selected areas of HEC Vision 2025. This project will support interventions aimed at improving quality and relevance of second and third tier higher education institutions and encouraging research and innovation in tier 1 Universities of the country.

1.     PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The project supports the implementation of a subset of activities from the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC’s) Vision 2025, which is in line with the broader development framework for Pakistan as envisaged in the Government’s Vision 2025. The project will be implemented over a five-year period of 2019/20 – 2023/24.

In essence the objectives of the project are to support research excellence in strategic sectors of the economy, improve teaching and learning, and strengthening governance, in the higher education sector. More information on HEDP can be found here: http://projects.worldbank.org/P161386?lang=en.

2.     CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Social Development Specialist will be a part of the Project Coordination Unit (PCU), and will be responsible for screening, and identifying social risks associated with the project, and for effective implementation of the mitigation and management activities at field and office level. Together with the Environmental Specialist, Social Development Specialist will provide expert support to the executing agencies in the office as well as in the field on social safeguards related issues. The Social Development specialist will work for PCU, which has been established to support the implementation of the project. She/He will report to the Project Coordinator.

Under the direct supervision of Project Coordinator, the key responsibilities of the Social Development Specialist (SDS) shall include, but not limited to the following:

• Work as the focal point for World Bank within the project PCU to provide assistance, guidance and counsel on necessary requirements of social compliances and gender within the project as per World Bank guidelines
• Support the implementation of social risk mitigation and management as per Project’s Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF).
• Ensure that the project remains compliant to the World Bank Social Safeguard policies and guidelines.
• Implement the recommendations of the Social Assessment carried out for the Project. Advise the PCU on operationalizing the same
• Serve as the focal point for the Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework (IPPF) implementation and reporting. Design and conduct relevant sessions on fundamentals of IPPF for primary stakeholders with advice from the World Bank
• Provide support/advice to the concerned stakeholders in addressing the abovementioned social risks, and in addition, on any such issues which are likely to create or exacerbate conflict within communities or have significant impacts on vulnerable and/or marginalized/indigenous groups at all stages of the implementation of the Project
• To further mitigate and avoid adverse social impacts, with the help of Project coordinator, ensure that no investment shall be funded under the program that: involves land acquisition, resettlement, physical or economic displacement, forced evictions or involuntary movements of any community, and/or physical investment focusing on indigenous people
• Ensure that exclusion list/criteria have been explained to all stakeholders/partners/executing agencies of the project, and provide explanatory sessions on it as and when required
• In discussions with the World Bank Gender Team, ensure that the project implements the gender tagged actions, and reports on the same
• Design and impart training/awareness raising sessions in tandem with the Environment Specialist and assist in coordination activities. This will include developing resource material, commissioning and conducting required assessments to fill information gaps, etc.
• Together with the Environment Specialist, develop Environment and Social screening checklist, mitigation measures, and monitoring checklist as prescribed in the ESMF of the Project for each subproject type and activities under the project
• Assist in carrying out social screening of subprojects (grants) and activities (including small works), and help to prepare grants/subproject/activity specific award/selection criteria as per recommendations of the Social Assessment
• Assist the Environment Specialist in preparing subproject specific Environmental Management Plans (EMPs)
• Carry out site supervisions during implementation of project activities, and provide feedback to the Project Coordinator
• Help design citizens engagement strategy for the project and ensure regular feedback by project beneficiaries. Accordingly, report on the Beneficiaries Feedback Indicator for the project
• Develop and maintain a practical, relevant, and effective Grievances Response and Redressal Mechanism as per World Bank guidelines and policies
• Communicate with grantees, universities, communities / sstakeholder’s, vendors, contractors, and subcontractors for necessary environmental and social compliance
• Ensure the HSE compliance in the grant proposals and during small civil works during construction at specific sites
• Review/revision of documents and ensuring timely delivery of outputs as agreed between World Bank and the Government
• Preparing quarterly progress reports (ESMF ccompliance) for submission to the World Bank
• Prepare the social inputs for the project final report.

3.     COMPETENCIES:

• Bachelor’s/Master’s degree (16 years of education) in social sciences/development studies.
• At least 03-5 years of experience in social management and gender related tasks/activities. Previous experience in working with World Bank safeguard policies or equivalent international standards is required
• Previous experience in conflict and citizen engagement will be considered an asset
• Strong written and oral communications skills
• Proven report writing skills
• Proficiency in the usage of computers desktop application MS Office (Word, Excel, and Power Point) and office software packages (word processing, spreadsheet etc.) and experience in handling of web-based data and information management systems
• Must be able to work with people of different backgrounds and be a good team member
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, commitment to teamwork and to be able to work across disciplines
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills in substantive and technical areas
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
• Excellent writing, editing and analytical skills and capability of working independently
• An ability to work effectively, take initiative and deliver results, even under pressure, and willing to visit sites in remote areas.

4.      SELECTION PROCESS:

• An individual consultant will be selected in accordance with process stipulated in accordance with “World Bank: Procurement Regulations for Investment Project Financing Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services” (July 2016) revised November 2017 & August 2018.