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Work at World Bank Group as a Senior Social Development Specialist based in Nairobi

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Closing Date: 15 May 2025

Work at World Bank Group as a Senior Social Development Specialist based in Nairobi

Description

Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help World Bank clients solve their greatest development challenges. 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 on a livable planet. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, World Bank works with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenge.

The Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) region comprises 11 countries (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eretria, Sudan, Zambia, Tanzania, and Malawi). Together, the region is home to about 700 million of Africa’s population, and includes a geographically, culturally, and economically diverse region, stretching from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South. The subregion harbors some of Africa’s protracted conflicts, rendering many of its countries fragile, while significant gaps in education, health, and skills development continue to constrain people’s capacity from reaching their full potential. This creates a huge development challenge, impacts heavily on the lives and livelihoods of people, and hinders regional integration and trade.

World Bank is looking for dedicated professionals to join its innovative and diverse team to improve people’s lives and help countries build back better after COVID19.

Planet Practice Group

The Planet Practice Group of the World Bank supports the WBG’s vision by focusing on sustainable and inclusive growth and ensuring that the Bank’s work focus on people. The Group comprises five operational units including Agriculture and food (AGF); Climate Change Global (CCG) solutions; Environment, natural resources, and blue economy (ENB), Water as well as the social sustainability and Inclusion (SSI) practices. In addition, the Planet Group leads the implementation of the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), making sure that Bank-assisted projects are sustainably designed and implemented.

Social Sustainability and Inclusion Global Practice

The SSI GP helps countries tackle deep-rooted social problems stemming from fragility, climate change, exclusion, and the digital age with people-centered solutions built 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. The GP prioritizes participatory, multi-sectoral approaches that build on norms and informal institutions to address social challenges and create more inclusive, empowered communities.

Unit Context (SAES2)

The East Africa Unit of SSI (SAES2) provides social development support to borrower countries in East Africa – Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. SAES2 manages a portfolio of SSI operations and analytics across East Africa, supports other global practices in meeting the objectives and requirements of Bank’s environmental and social Framework (ESF) on their operations, and is responsible for quality assurance on all social risk management instruments for the region.

The Position

SAES2 seeks to hire a Senior Social Development Specialist to lead social risk management in the Bank’s operations in Kenya and Somalia, and to provide technical and programmatic support towards enhancing country systems for social and environmental risks management, citizen engagement and social accountability, social inclusion, social resilience and empowerment in World Bank supported operations. The Senior Social Development Specialist will be based in Nairobi, kenya, work closely with the Regional Standards Coordinator (RSC) and SSI CMU Coordinator and report directly to the SAES2 Practice Manager. The Candidate is also expected to work closely with the CMU and task teams in the country.

Duties and Accountabilities:

As a core member of World Bank Task Teams, the Senior Social Development 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 risks whilst enhancing the social development outcomes in East Africa. The specialist will lead and promote social inclusion agenda in the design and implementation of projects in East Africa. The Specialist will have the following key responsibilities:

Advice task teams and clients in the public and private sectors on the Bank’s Environment and Social Framework (ESF) and Operational Policies, especially OP 4.03, social risks management and social benefits optimization across sectors throughout the project cycle.
Provide technical and operational support to clients in operationalizing the Bank’s social standards, focusing on land acquisition and involuntary resettlement, Stakeholder engagement and consultation, grievance redress mechanisms, Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and cultural heritage

Policy and analytical work:

Participate and contribute in cross-practice teams responsible for preparation of Systematic Country Diagnosis (SCDs), Country Partnership Frameworks (CPFs), Development Policy Operations (DPOs), policy notes, sector studies, and research and policy development activities on the full range of social development and social sustainability topics.
Contribute to dialogue on the implementation of the Environmental and Social Framework with government officials, development partners, civil society, and other stakeholders, and coordinate the Bank’s relations with clients on social development.
Make recommendations on strategies and policy options for counterparts in local and central government agencies.
Conduct and contribute to formal and informal analytical advisory activities and research work on key social development issues, notably related to local governance and service delivery, gender mainstreaming, and land property and tenure rights.
Maintain active engagement with a broad range of key stakeholders, identifying potential partnerships and new opportunities for engagement around social development aimed at advancing social development in general and social risk management in particular.
Work at World Bank Group as an active member of the Country Office and Country Team/Unit.

Capacity building:

-Work closely with ENB colleagues to enhance the capacity of the client countries to implement the Bank’s environmental and social framework for handling project risks and enhancing the sustainability of World Bank financed projects, especially in FCV contexts.

Reporting:

Reports to Practice Manager, SAES2.
Works under the under the general direction of the CMU Coordinator, based in Nairobi.

Selection Criteria

This is a challenging position suited to constructive, highly motivated professionals with an eye for detail, strategic and dynamic context of operations, and creative problem-solving abilities. The successful candidate should have extensive demonstrated experience in complex project settings, addressing social risk management throughout the project life cycle – from design, through implementation, to closure. In addition, the specialist is expected to have operational and analytical experience, leading or co-leading work in other areas of the SSI business lines such as citizen engagement and social accountability, gender and social inclusion, community and local development, and social dimensions of climate change. This position requires strong written and oral communication skills in English.

At least a master’s degree in social sciences (i.e., Development Studies, Social Anthropology, Sociology, Gender and Development, International Development, Business Sustainability Management, and related subjects).
A minimum of 8 years of direct professional experience in managing social and environmental risks in infrastructure projects in energy and extractives sector, water sector, finance, competitiveness and innovation (FCI) sector, transport and roads, urban development, large scale agriculture in Eastern and Southern Africa and/or elsewhere in Sub-Sahara Africa.
Knowledge and demonstrated competence in operationalizing the global sustainability frameworks of International Finance Institutions (IFIs) such as the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework, IFC’s Environmental and Social Performance Standards, and standards of other Development Partners. This includes experience in managing the following thematic issues in projects settings: social impact assessment of projects on different populations, land acquisition and involuntary resettlement, stakeholder engagement, consultation and inclusion, community health and safety, social investment interventions, etc. Ability to innovate and strategically address these issues, balancing development imperatives against sustainability challenges, and remaining client focused.
Ability to develop innovative approaches to mitigate social 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.
Strong organizational skills, including the ability to multi-task, prioritize and be versatile enough to deal with frequent and unexpected changes and work within tight project schedules.
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.
Excellent oral and written skills in English in essential, and ability to present complex social risks and sustainability issues to diverse audiences. Knowledge of Kiswahili and other local languages in Kenya is a plus.
Acting with integrity to build trust and to create an enabling environment as a team member or lead.
Demonstrated ability to translate analytical work into policy advice and substantial, practical recommendations.

Professional traits and willingness.

Demonstrated experience in managing teams, mentorship, interpersonal communication, problem solving and change management.
Excellent problem-solving skills, and ability to think innovatively and strategically to find solutions to complex development problems.
Proven ability to work in and actively contribute to teams and champion a positive team dynamic.