Social Protection Specialist
Job #: | req19131 |
Organization: | World Bank |
Sector: | Social Protection |
Grade: | GF |
Term Duration: | 3 years 0 months |
Recruitment Type: | Local Recruitment |
Location: | N'Djamena,Chad |
Required Language(s): | English and French |
Preferred Language(s): | |
Closing Date: | 10/12/2022 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
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
The Social Protection and Jobs (SPJ) Global Practice delivers analytical and operational approaches and evidence-based solutions to help individuals and families manage risk and cope with chronic/transitional poverty. It also undertakes work on labor, migration and remittances. These include:
• Strategy, analysis, financing and design of programs delivering social safety nets/social assistance in the form of cash transfers, public works programs, and fee waivers.
• Advisory and analytical services on design and delivery of contributory transfers (including old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, disability and survivor benefits), and their fiscal sustainability (including budget support for transitions).
• Analysis, design and delivery of labor market and youth employment programs (with a focus on supply side interventions, as well as policy advice on labor market regulations and interventions.
• Strategy, analysis, financing and design of integrated social protection delivery systems (e.g., payments, identification, registries, systems assessments) as underpinnings of effective social programs that can help cope with climatic shocks or underpin fiscal reforms.
The Social Protection and Jobs (SPJ) Global Practice has a large and growing portfolio in West and Central Africa, which includes long-standing engagements supporting Governments to strengthen their safety net programs as well as promoting innovations around jobs and, increasingly human capital investments. In the Sahel region, SPJ projects span engagements in safety nets, including for internally displaced people, refugees and host communities, service delivery for investments in human and productive capital, interventions in humanitarian and disaster-response, and youth skills and employment.
SPJ’s Sahel ASP Program (SASPP), which covers Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, supports countries in strengthening their adaptive social protection (ASP) systems with enhanced support for households to become more resilient to shock, including those related to climate change and forced displacement. They include analytical and financing activities to support the development of shock-responsive safety nets that can address such shocks, as well as programs to support households increase their resilience to such shocks. Conceptually, the SASPP is organized around four key building blocks with multiple sub-components that provide a holistic view of the ASP ecosystem: institutional arrangements; data and information; finance; and programs and delivery systems.
The World Bank’s SPJ program in Chad is focused on building a strong adaptive social protection system, building on a small safety nets pilot project. The Bank’s Chad program currently includes its flagship PARCA project of some $140mn which will provide social protection programs to refugees and host communities in 7 provinces. The project will also provide emergency transfers for COVID-19 emergency response in several large urban centers. The project is supported by a programmatic analytical and advisory task which supports Government in developing adaptive social protection systems.
The World Bank is seeking to recruit a Social Protection Specialist to contribute to the technical and operational aspects of the Social Protection country program in Chad, with particular focus on adaptive social protection. The selected candidate will be a member of the West and Central Africa Unit of the Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice and report to the Practice Manager of the unit (based in Senegal). The selected candidate will be based in N’Djamena, Chad.
Duties and Accountabilities
The successful candidate will support the World Bank’s engagement in the design and implementation of the SPJ program in Chad, as a key member of the team, based in Chad. The successful candidate would focus on the effective implementation of the ongoing project and analytical and technical assistance work, while working to broaden the engagement with clients and development partners in-country. Prior experience or readiness to work in FCV settings will be essential.
Major responsibilities include:
• Support Task Team Leaders /Co-Task Team Leaders with implementation support for operations currently under implementation and with preparation of new projects.
• Carry out responsibilities for a variety of operational tasks, e.g. technical analyses, design of technical assistance interventions, participation in loan negotiations, briefings, etc.
• Provide Technical Assistance to Government, including technical inputs and guidance to counterparts on appropriate scope, technology, costs, etc., and serve as the day-to-day interface with government counterparts on social protection operations.
• Help shape the high-level policy dialogue on social protection, with a focus on social protection system building with key sector ministries and development partners.
• Ensure high quality implementation support to the Government implementation team and oversight of risk management issues working with relevant safeguards experts.
• Ensure strong coordination and teamwork within the SPJ program and liaise across Human Development and other Global Practices to support joint programming and analytical activities to strengthen program delivery in both countries.
• Serve as a core member of the Chad Country Team, providing inputs into strategic country work and liaising closely with the CMU.
Selection Criteria
• Minimum of MSc degree in Development, Economics, Social Sciences, Public Policy, or relevant discipline with at least 5 years of relevant work experience in social assistance interventions and programs that promote the income-generating capacity of poor households and their resilience.
• Demonstrated experience with World Bank operations and key aspects of program management and with operational implementation of development programs in the field. Experience with large scale, multi-sectoral programming and multiple partners, including within low-capacity environments is an asset.
• Strong operational track record in delivering results in challenging and low-capacity contexts, including program monitoring & evaluation.
• Demonstrated strong understanding of issues related to social protection policy and adaptive social protection, especially related to the ASP building blocks. Understanding of relevant cross-sectoral areas connecting across Human Development and other sectors and how they are interrelated; ability to undertake issues and assist in building systems and institutional linkages to promote effective delivery.
• Strong analytical skills and proven ability to conduct and oversee policy-relevant research, translate theory into practical applications, and adapt professional knowledge and technical skills to analyze, diagnose and propose solutions to policy issues and challenges.
• Ability to convey analysis in easily communicable and compelling fashion, and on often short turnaround times. Demonstrated ability to capture knowledge and communicate main messages in knowledge briefs and policy notes, as well as power point presentations for high level audiences.
• Fluency in French and English (written and verbal) is required.
• Ability to maintain client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
• Evidence of strong interpersonal skills, judgement and with proven ability to work in a team and intercultural environment, with minimal supervision.
• Proven track record of multi-tasking, managing competing demands and effectively time-manage tasks.
Competencies:
• SPJ Sectoral Knowledge and Experience - Analytical and operational expertise in SPJ. Priority will be given to candidates with demonstrated experience in Social Safety Nets and adaptive social protection.
• Data Collection, Processing and Analysis – Demonstrates ability to contribute to the analysis, possess knowledge of the sector strategy, programs and portfolio issues. Capable of i) gathering and compiling data from various non-digitized and digitized sources, ii) organizing and analyzing them using computerized spreadsheets (e.g. MS-Excel), and iii) preparing succinct narratives based on the analysis.
• World Bank procedures, work-flow and internal division of labor – understands and follows World Bank Policies and Procedures, including those for Knowledge Management products and Trust Fund management.
• Client Orientation - Record of developing strong internal and external client relationships. Capacity to interact effectively with a range of stakeholders within and outside the Bank. Good interpersonal communication and diplomacy skills.
• Drive for Results - Takes ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results and has the personal organization to do so.
• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Collaborates with other team members and contributes productively to the team's work and output, demonstrating respect for different points of view. Proven ability to work in teams and intercultural environment, with minimal supervision.
• Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Actively seeks knowledge needed to complete assignments and shares knowledge with others, communicating and presenting information in a clear and organized manner. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English required.
• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Analyzes facts and data to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others' work.
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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