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The South Asia Region Context
The South Asia Region comprises eight countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) that range in size from India (with a population of about 1.4 billion) to Maldives (with about 0.5 million people). The region has experienced a long period of robust economic growth, averaging about 6% a year over the past 20 years. It was the second-fastest growing region in the world in the aftermath of the global crisis. This strong growth has translated into declining poverty and impressive improvements. The percentage of people living below the poverty line fell in South Asia from 56% to 16% between 1981 and 2013. Still, the region remains home to a third of the worldโs poorest, with large number of people living below $1.9/day.
The South Asia Region:https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar
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, Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience & Land, Social Sustainability and Inclusion, and Water.
Social Sustainability and Inclusion GP
The Social Sustainability and Inclusion Global Practice (SSI GP) helps countries tackle deep rooted social problems stemming from fragility, climate change, exclusion, and the digital age with people-centered solutions that build on local values and institutions. The GP engages with citizens, communities, and governments to deepen resilience, build inclusion, and empower vulnerable and marginalized groups to have influence and voice.ย The GP prioritizes participatory, multi-sectoral approaches that build on norms and informal institutions to address social challenges and to build more inclusive, empowered communities.ย
One of the key responsibilities of the SSI GP is to provide professional expertise and operational support to other GPs to implement the WBG operational policies (the WBโs safeguard policies and the IFCโs Performance Standards) and Environment and Social Framework (ESF) standards. This enables inclusive development and delivers sustainable development results to ensure that any adverse impacts of WBG interventions are limited and mitigated.
SSI in South Asia:
The South Asia region (SAR) has two SSI units (SSAS1 and SSAS2) which are responsible for: (i) undertaking social analysis during project preparation and implementation, to mainstream social development and inclusion issues throughout the Bankโs work in the region; (ii) leading and facilitating partnerships and dialogue with civil society through outreach and engagement; (iii) ensuring compliance with the Bankโs social safeguards policies on Involuntary Resettlement and Indigenous People and the implementation of the ESF; (iv) undertaking Advisory Services and Analytics in the form of thematic studies on social development issues and country social analysis; (v) leading the preparation and supervision of lending operations that promotes inclusion of vulnerable groups including women, youth and Indigenous Peoples; and (vii) ensuring corporate commitments are met in the areas of gender and citizen engagement.
In South Asia, the World Bank has a rich and diverse portfolio in Pakistan with more than 80 projects under preparation and implementation. Among these projects, a large number of projects are Category A and B (under safeguards) and High and Substantial Risk projects (under ESF). These projects are being implemented in dynamic and complex contexts in different provinces in Pakistan. In Sindh province (particularly Karachi), there are multiple issues that require focus for implementation of the SSI agenda including a complex social, political and institutional context; government capacity-related issues for implementation of the Bankโs safeguards policies and the ESF; access to and use of land and public spaces (e.g. for housing and economic activity), particularly for the poor and informal sector; issues related to labor, particularly child labor; weak institutional systems for public consultation, citizen engagement, and grievance redress; significant risk of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA)/Sexual Harassment (SH) and Violence Against Children (VAC), including from labor influx; and other broader issues related to social sustainability and inclusion. Civil society in Sindh and particularly in Karachi is very active and vocal. This context requires focused engagement of the Bank with the government and civil society so that Bank-supported operations are designed and implemented in accordance with the Bankโs policies and standards, and the requisite focus is maintained on social sustainability and inclusion across the Bankโs engagements in Karachi and Sindh.
The SSAS1 unit is recruiting a Senior Social Development Specialist to be based in Karachi, Pakistan to support the above core agenda of SSI with a focus on Karachi in particular and engagements in Sindh and Balochistan provinces more broadly. The position holder will report to the SSI Practice Manager for SSAS1, and will collaborate with and be supported by other SSI team members based in Islamabad and elsewhere.
Role & Responsibilities:
โข Work with the Social Risk Management Coordinator, the Regional Standards Coordinator, task teams and other colleagues to provide high quality technical support for social development and social risk management for the project portfolio in Sindh and Balochistan.
โข Work on the Karachi Platform/portfolio and select operations in Sindh and Balochistan to ensure that the development of Bank supported technical solutions, plans, policies, strategies etc. is done in accordance with good practice and fulfilling the Bankโs requirements for citizen engagement;ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
โข Lead and maintain proactive and effective engagement/dialogue on issues of social sustainability and inclusion with civil society organizations and institutions (Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), academia, the private sector, media etc.);
โข Provide direct operational support to high risk and complex operations, review ESF/social safeguards documentation, and support clients, consultants and technical specialists during preparation and implementation to ensure that social issues have been adequately addressed in compliance with WB ESF/Safeguards policies;
โข Work with SSI colleagues on policy dialogue with clients and the government on social sustainability and inclusion and ESF/safeguards issues and advise and support counterparts on technical options for social development, particularly land acquisition and livelihood restoration, involuntary resettlement, labor issues, inclusion of vulnerable/marginalized groups, mitigation plans and institutional development strategies;ย
โข Support clients and closely monitor project-level grievance redress mechanisms (GRMs) and implementation of stakeholder engagement plans (SEPs), Labor Management Procedures (LMP), and other ESF/safeguards instruments;
โข Lead and maintain proactive and effective engagement/dialogue on issues of social sustainability and inclusion with civil society organizations and institutions (Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), academia, the private sector, media etc.);
โข Work closely with the Pakistan Focal Point on Citizen Engagement to ensure, at a minimum, that the portfolio is in compliance with corporate requirements;
โข Lead or participate in analytical studies on different social sustainability and inclusion issues, particularly for the Karachi/ Sindh and Balochistan context;ย
โข Engage actively and regularly with country units and teams and identify business opportunities for the SSI team in consultation with clients and country units;
โข Work closely with the Pakistan Gender and Social Inclusion Platform to ensure that the Karachi platform and Sindh/ Balochistan portfolio address requirements and/or targets for gender, prevention of SEA/SH, inclusion of marginalized and vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities etc.;
โข Work closely with the task teams and other SSI colleagues to address ESF/social safeguards challenges especially for the Karachi Platform and across the Sindh and Balochistan portfolio;
โข Contribute to Project Appraisal Documents and complete activities related to Environment and Social (E&S) management and reporting in the Environmental and Social Management system (ESMS);
โข Engage in the WB-wide professional community of staff in the social sustainability and inclusion practice group and social standards/safeguards by participating in thematic groups, exchanging best practices, and drafting technical notes;
โข Supervise the work of consultants and technical specialists to ensure consistency and conformity to Bank standards;
โข Support or participate in other assignments as and when required by the Practice Manager.
Selection Criteria
โข Advanced post-graduate degree in social science (e.g. Sociology, Development Studies, Social Anthropology, Human Geography, Demography, Statistics, and Political Science) or related fields;
โข Minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience;ย
โข Experience in participatory processes of stakeholder engagement with the government as well as civil society organizations and ability to integrate social development and inclusion considerations in an operational context;ย
โข Technical competency on social issues and safeguards and the ESF, with demonstrated ability to contribute to project management. Work experience in complex and challenging settings is highly desirable;
โข Understand relevant cross-practice areas and how they are interrelated and ability to undertake cross-practice work in lending and non-lending operations;ย
โข 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;
โข Ability to apply knowledge solutions for internal and/or external clients;
โข Ability to interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward; and,
โข Excellent oral and written communications 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.
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