The World Bank Group (WBG) is a family of five international organizations that make leveraged loans to developing countries. It is the largest and most famous development bank in the world and is an observer at the United Nations Development Group. The bank is based in Washington, D.C. and provided around $61 billion in loans and assistance to "develop...

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Senior Environmental and Social Development Specialist

Job Type

Full Time

Qualification

MBA/MSc/MA

Experience

8 years

Location

Nairobi

Job Field

Project Management

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Senior Social and Environmental Specialist will have the following key responsibilities:

As a core member of World Bank Group Task Teams, the Senior Social and Environmental Specialist will advise teams and clients in various sectors, and support project designs and implementation, making sure that Bank-assisted projects are inclusive and present clear and implementable measures for addressing social and environmental risks while enhancing development outcomes in East Africa. The specialist will lead and promote environmental sustainability and social inclusion agenda in the design and implementation of projects in East Africa, in particular Kenya and Somalia. The specialist will have the following key responsibilities:

Ensure the effective integration into the design, appraisal and implementation of WBG-supported projects of social and environmental matters as defined by the WBG Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), World Bank Operational Policies on safeguards, WBG Environmental Health and Safety guidelines, etc.

Provide guidance to clients and counterpart organizations in their preparation of project documents in accordance with the ESF and World Bank Group operational policies, including Environment and Social Commitment Plans (ESCPs), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEPs), Biodiversity Management Plans (BMPs), Waste Management Plans (WMPs), Labor Management Procedures (LMPs), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRMs), and Project Implementation Manuals (PIMs). Assist with handling timely and accurate disclosure procedures and public consultation requirements for all required environmental assessment and management instruments.

Provide advice and support to clients and counterpart organizations for the preparation and implementation of Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), Livelihood Restoration Plans (LRPs), Environmental and Socia Impact Assessments (ESIAs), including strategic and cumulative impact assessments; Environmental and Social Management frameworks and plans, including plans for monitoring, reporting and evaluation; public consultation plans; and establishment of grievance mechanisms. Such advice will be based on analysis of baseline conditions, project scope, anticipated impacts and proportional mitigation measures, as well as national requirements, and will ensure compliance with ESF and applicable operational policies.

Organize and provide needs assessments, capacity building and technical training on social and environmental risk management for national agencies and local governments, as well as public and private sector trainers and practitioners, with a particular focus on building national training capacity in these areas. Collaborate closely with other WBG teams to integrate the development of social and environmental risk management capacity into sectoral programs.

Support, mentor, and coach other Social and Environment specialists in handling complex technical, institutional, and program implementation issues regarding social and environmental risk management and development in Kenya and Somalia.

Selection Criteria

This is a challenging position suited to constructive, highly motivated team players with an eye for detail, understanding the bigger picture context of operations, and creative problem-solving abilities. The successful candidate should have strong analytical skills, have practical experience with participatory processes of stakeholder engagement, and be able to integrate social development considerations in an operational context. Experience working in complex and challenging settings is essential. It is expected that the successful candidate will meet the following selection criteria.

At least a master’s degree in social or environmental sciences (i.e., Development Studies, Environmental Sciences, Social Anthropology, Sociology, Environmental Engineering, International Development and similar qualifications).

A minimum of 8 years of full-time relevant professional experience in social and environmental risk management, with experience in the management of social, environmental, community health and safety risks of large infrastructure projects, extractive or industrial activities, and the application of WBG ESF and safeguard policies, including in the preparation of WBG social and environmental safeguard/risk management documents.

Technical experience in the management of the social, environmental, community health and safety risks of large infrastructure, e.g. roads and highways, dams, irrigation schemes and large water conveyance systems, would be highly beneficial.

Demonstrated project management/operational skills, including community health and safety management and experience working with contractors with weak implementation capacity.

Ability to work well with a range of stakeholders, including project-affected parties, government officials, non-governmental organizations / civil society, as well as project investors and their staff.

Extensive knowledge and experience of WBG operations, including experience as task team member and task team leader of WBG projects.

Experience in capacity building for social, environmental and community health and safety risk management would be beneficial.

Ability to develop innovative approaches to mitigate social and environmental risks or overcome difficult challenges across a range of investment projects.

Demonstrated ability to work across practices, work in cross-thematic teams, and foster teamwork.

Experience working in East Africa, understanding the institutional and political context of Kenya. Knowledge and experience of working in the context of Somalia is a plus.

Skilled in maintaining a diplomatic approach and performing effectively in high-pressure environments.

Acting with integrity to build trust and to create an enabling environment as a team member or lead.

Ability to operate in a multi-cultural environment, manage multiple tasks, identify and respond to evolving project contexts, and remain flexible and self-motivated in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment.

• Ensure the effective integration into the design, appraisal and implementation of WBG-supported projects of social and environmental matters as defined by the WBG Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), World Bank Operational Policies on safeguards, WBG Environmental Health and Safety guidelines, etc.
• Provide guidance to clients and counterpart organizations in their preparation of project documents in accordance with the ESF and World Bank Group operational policies, including Environment and Social Commitment Plans (ESCPs), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEPs), Biodiversity Management Plans (BMPs), Waste Management Plans (WMPs), Labor Management Procedures (LMPs), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRMs), and Project Implementation Manuals (PIMs). Assist with handling timely and accurate disclosure procedures and public consultation requirements for all required environmental assessment and management instruments.
• Provide advice and support to clients and counterpart organizations for the preparation and implementation of Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), Livelihood Restoration Plans (LRPs), Environmental and Socia Impact Assessments (ESIAs), including strategic and cumulative impact assessments; Environmental and Social Management frameworks and plans, including plans for monitoring, reporting and evaluation; public consultation plans; and establishment of grievance mechanisms. Such advice will be based on analysis of baseline conditions, project scope, anticipated impacts and proportional mitigation measures, as well as national requirements, and will ensure compliance with ESF and applicable operational policies.
• Organize and provide needs assessments, capacity building and technical training on social and environmental risk management for national agencies and local governments, as well as public and private sector trainers and practitioners, with a particular focus on building national training capacity in these areas. Collaborate closely with other WBG teams to integrate the development of social and environmental risk management capacity into sectoral programs.
• Support, mentor, and coach other Social and Environment specialists in handling complex technical, institutional, and program implementation issues regarding social and environmental risk management and development in Kenya and Somalia.

• Strong analytical skills
• Practical experience with participatory processes of stakeholder engagement
• Ability to integrate social development considerations in an operational context
• Experience working in complex and challenging settings
• Technical experience in the management of social, environmental, community health and safety risks of large infrastructure
• Demonstrated project management/operational skills
• Community health and safety management
• Experience working with contractors with weak implementation capacity
• Ability to work well with a range of stakeholders
• Extensive knowledge and experience of WBG operations
• Experience in capacity building for social, environmental and community health and safety risk management
• Ability to develop innovative approaches to mitigate social and environmental risks or overcome difficult challenges
• Demonstrated ability to work across practices, work in cross-thematic teams, and foster teamwork
• Skilled in maintaining a diplomatic approach
• Performing effectively in high-pressure environments
• Acting with integrity
• Ability to operate in a multi-cultural environment
• Manage multiple tasks
• Identify and respond to evolving project contexts
• Remain flexible and self-motivated in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment

• At least a master’s degree in social or environmental sciences (i.e., Development Studies, Environmental Sciences, Social Anthropology, Sociology, Environmental Engineering, International Development and similar qualifications).
• A minimum of 8 years of full-time relevant professional experience in social and environmental risk management, with experience in the management of social, environmental, community health and safety risks of large infrastructure projects, extractive or industrial activities, and the application of WBG ESF and safeguard policies, including in the preparation of WBG social and environmental safeguard/risk management documents.
• Experience working in East Africa, understanding the institutional and political context of Kenya. Knowledge and experience of working in the context of Somalia is a plus.