Social Development Specialist (Safeguards) - Asian Development Bank

Reference #: ADB-HR-13-0235

Position Title: Social Development Specialist (Safeguards)

Department: Central and West Asia Department

Division: Portfolio, Results, Safeguards and Social Sector Unit, CWRD

Location: Manila, Philippines

Recruitment Type: International

Date Posted: 15 April 2013

Closing Date: 29 April 2013 , 5:00 p.m. (1700 Manila Time, 0900 GMT)

Job Purpose:

Contribute to CWRD-wide operational compliance with Asian Development Bank (ADB) social safeguards (SS) policies [i.e., involuntary resettlement (IR) and indigenous peoples (IP)] in assigned projects. Contribute to the development of policy and strategies addressing social development and protection in the assigned sector in developing member countries (DMCs). Work with broad policies and objectives, working directly with clients, with supervision for critical tasks.

Expected Outcomes

a. Policies, Strategies and Frameworks
- Provide SS advice to sector Divisions, Resident Missions, project teams, and country teams.
- Provide SS-related inputs to the development of project documents, strategic frameworks and work-plans to ensure CWRD-wide operational compliance with ADB SS policies.
- Supervise as needed SS-related tasks to the formulation, processing and implementation of selected projects and to country strategy planning.
- Represent CWRD in ADB-wide initiatives and contribute to ADB’s policies development as needed.
- Conduct SS policy dialogue with ADB’s clients and in the development of SS country systems with them.
- Prepare country safeguards framework.
b. Project Processing and Implementation
- Provide as project team member key SS inputs to project concept, processing and implementation tasks, including preparing Terms of Reference (TOR) for SS consultants, supervising land acquisition and resettlement (LAR) and IP plan preparation, and contributing to project document writing.
- Provide SS clearances for IR and IP B category projects.
- Provide key inputs in identifying opportunities for the development of new social development approaches for programming and project development/implementation that may fit the interest to CWRD and clients.
- Develop and implement TAs for the development of sound SS country systems.
- Develop and supervise specific projects or programs with high social development content and sensitivity.
- Conduct country safeguards review.
c. Capacity Building
- Carry out assessment of SS capacity at departmental, divisional and resident mission level and provide key-inputs to capacity building activities as needed.
- Plan, participate and contribute to internal and external training on SS issues and advocacy activities.
- Assess capacity buildings needs among CWRD clients and plan/provide key inputs for ensuing capacity building activities.
d. Policy Review
- Contribute in ADB-wide policy/Operations Manual (OM) formulation related in particular to the Safeguards Policy Update (SPU), the Country Systems Policy, and the Poverty Reduction Policy.
e. Knowledge Sharing
- Participate in and contribute to internal and external training and conferences on SS, social development, and social protection particularly on themes related to IR and IP, participatory/community-driven planning and to advocacy and knowledge dissemination and building.
f. Staff Supervision
- Provide leadership and support to reporting staff.
- Supervise the performance of reporting staff, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance.
- Ensure the on-going learning and development of reporting staff.

Educational Requirements:

• Master's Degree, or equivalent, in Sociology, Applied Social Science, Development Economics, or other related fields. University degree in, Applied Social Science, Development Economics, or other related fields , combined with specialized experience in similar organization/s, may be considered in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Relevant Experience And Other Requirements:

• Suitability to undertake the responsibilities mentioned above at the required level.
• At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in social development and protection including social safeguards, participatory planning and poverty-related issues across social sectors, or related area as well as in project administration.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• International experience working in several countries

Core Competencies:

Application of Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Regularly shares knowledge on new international best practice trends in comparator situations
• Proactively applies relevant international best practices to own work
• Convinces others to adopt international best practice by explaining the situational relevance and benefits

Client Orientation

• Helps colleagues work effectively with clients in different contexts and from diverse backgrounds and country situations
• Adapts own approach and style when interacting with clients, as opposed to requiring them to adapt
• Draws upon international best practice in exploring solutions with clients
• Confirms the clients’ understanding and agreement before progressing

Achieving Results and Problem Solving

• Draws on own and others’ multi-country experience to identify viable courses of action when conducting analyses
• Helps internal and external clients achieve quality results beyond presenting problems and precedent
• Highlights possible solutions for project issues based on relevant multi-country and/or multi-client experience
• Regularly contributes insights and experiences to colleagues in the Division to help them achieve quality results
• Overcomes unexpected difficulties and challenges to produce desired outcomes

Working Together

• Maintains collaborative relationships within the Department
• Works effectively with diverse colleagues in own and other Divisions and Departments
• Flexibly alters positions and adjusts previously stated points of view to support the group consensus
• Follows through on team priorities in the absence of a team leader

Communication and Knowledge Sharing

• Checks the audience’s level of understanding and awareness of required follow up actions
• Consistently seeks and addresses feedback on own performance
• Creates knowledge products endorsed for wider distribution based on lessons and multi-country experience
• Independently amends and clarifies messages and documents

Innovation and Change

• Actively supports work improvement and/or organizational change by work and deed
• Develops and adopts change plans to support Division initiatives on which one works
• Considers current and future client needs in proposing ideas
• Vocalizes early support for change
• Recommends inputs to new policies, systems and processes in immediate work area

Immediate Reporting Relationships / Other Information:

• Supervisor: Advisor and Head, Portfolio, Results, Safeguards and Social Sector Unit
• The following staff positions may be supervised by the incumbent:
• Administrative Staff
• National Staff
• Women are encouraged to apply

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