Job: Social Development Specialist (Safeguards)

Location: Manila, Philippines
Closing Date: Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Job Purpose:

Support the implementation of Asian Development Bank (ADB)'s Safeguard Policy Statement. Work with broad policies and objectives, working directly with clients, with supervision for critical tasks.

Expected Outcomes

a. Policies, Strategy, and Frameworks

• Promote the implementation of ADB's Safeguards Policy Statement, in close cooperation with the Social Development Specialists focusing on resettlement and indigenous people in the regional departments.
• Assist in policy and strategy formulation for social safeguards, and assess country safeguard systems.
• Prepare guidelines, handbooks, and staff instructions on the social safeguard policies and its electronic and web-based materials.
• Undertake reviews and prepare progress reports on implementation of ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement.

b. Guidance and Advisory Function

• Review project/program preparatory technical assistance (PPTAs) papers and Report and Recommendation of the President (RRPs) to assess the extent to which they address the social safeguard issues related to involuntary resettlement and indigenous peoples, and provide advice and assistance to project teams to address any shortcomings.
• Review resettlement plans and resettlement frameworks to assess compliance with the Safeguard Policy Statement and Operations Manual (OM) F1, support regional departments in meeting compliance requirements, and recommend measures to mitigate and manage any risks.
• Review Indigenous Peoples' plans, Indigenous Peoples' planning frameworks and any specific measures in favor of indigenous peoples to assess compliance with the Safeguard Policy Statement and OM F1, support regional departments in meeting compliance requirements, and recommend measures to mitigate and manage any risks.
• Conduct safeguard implementation review missions to support the implementation of Safeguard Policy Statement, particularly for the review of project quality and compliance with the Safeguard Policy Statement and OM F1.
• Participate, on a selective basis, in operation support missions to assist project teams to address safeguard issues in complex and sensitive projects.

c. Knowledge Sharing

• Conduct safeguard training and capacity development for ADB staff and executing agencies.
• Prepare knowledge products on social safeguards to promote best practices.
• Participate in and contribute to relevant internal and external training and conferences and other activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building.

d. 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 ongoing learning and development of reporting staff.

Educational Requirements:

A university degree in an applied Social Science, e.g., Sociology, Anthropology, Development Economics, Human Geography or other related fields; preferably at post-graduate level or its equivalent

Relevant Experience And Other Requirements:

• Suitability to undertake the responsibilities mentioned above at the required level
• At least 8 years of relevant experience in involuntary resettlement and indigenous peoples' planning and implementation
• Good working knowledge in the operations of multilateral development organizations and executing agencies
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of social and cultural environments and of issues related to involuntary resettlement and indigenous peoples in several Asian or Pacific countries
• Strong interpersonal, team, and negotiation skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• International experience working in development 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:

The position reports to Director, Environment and Safeguards Division (RSES)

The following staff positions report to the Social Development Specialist (Safeguards): National Staff and Administrative Staff

Women are encouraged to apply.

More Info and Application