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Home > Jobs > Employment Opportuni... > Professional/Technical

This is a country office position in Bangladesh subject to local recruitment under the Bangladesh compensation plan. The World Bank offers a locally competitive package and is committed to attract and maintain a diverse, highly qualified and dedicated workforce.  Equally qualified women and members of disadvantaged groups are encouraged to apply.
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The Social, Environment and Water Resources Unit (SASDI) of the Sustainable Development Department (SASSD) in the South Asia Region (SAR) is responsible for the development of lending operations, supervision of the existing portfolio, preparation of analytical work and delivery of policy advice and technical assistance to clients in 8 countries (Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) in the region. SASDI offers customized knowledge and innovative financial products to effectively address the challenges on social development, environment, climate change, and water resources. 

The Bangladesh portfolio consists of a large number of active operations.  A large part of the pipeline for the coming years consists of multiple operations in energy, transport, urban development, agriculture and rural development, environment, and social development. Compliance with social safeguards, especially on land acquisition, involuntary resettlement and Indigenous People is not only required in all the Bank’s operations but also highly relevant for Bangladesh given its high population densities and concomitant land scarcity.  Experience has shown that land conversion leading to involuntary resettlement has been a critical issue in many infrastructure development programs in Bangladesh, often manifested in prolonged development delays or social disturbances. 

SASDI is seeking to recruit a Social Development Specialist to join its Bangladesh team to work on social development issues, with an emphasis on involuntary resettlement. The position will be based in the World Bank Country Office in Dhaka and will primarily focus on working in Bangladesh, but may also include work elsewhere in the South Asia Region. Frequent travel in-country will be required.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year renewable term appointment.  

Note:  A potential candidate has been identified and intends to apply for this position.  However, this remains a competitive process and interested candidates are encouraged to apply.

Duties and Accountabilities

The selected candidate will provide cross-support assistance on the application of social safeguards to projects in all sectors of the Bangladesh Program. He/she will provide technical expertise and policy guidance on involuntary resettlement, and indigenous peoples to Task Team Leaders (TTLs) working on projects in different sectors. As warranted, he/she will also provide support with regard to project-level social assessment, and on incorporating broader social issues into the design of Bank-supported lending and non-lending activities.
The Social Development Specialist is also expected to work on lending operations and/or Analytic and Advisory Activities (AAA)  in SASDI for up to a third of his/her time, including in the areas of gender and demand for good governance. Specifically, the selected candidate will:

•     Ensure effective integration of social safeguards and due diligence as defined by World Bank safeguards policies into the design, appraisal, loan negotiations and implementation of Bank supported projects and respond to disclosure requirements;

•     Provide expertise and assistance in technical analyses, design of technical assistance interventions, preparing terms of reference for project or sector related work and conducting social assessments;

•     Provide conceptual, operational and technical support on involuntary resettlement with regard both to client obligations and Bank procedures (BP4.12);   

•     Provide conceptual, operational and technical support for projects involving or affecting Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP4.10);

•     Participate in task teams in preparation of social safeguards planning documentation and supervising their implementation; 

•     Assist Bank’s South Asia Region (SAR) Quality Unit in the review of social safeguard documents such as Resettlement Policy Frameworks, Resettlement Action Plans and the Indigenous Peoples Development Plans to ensure that they  meet all requirements of the Bank’s policies;

•     Prepare and review terms of reference for social assessments and other analytical tools intended to improve project design and performance;

•     Advise clients and TTLs on requirements of safeguard policies and guide them in their efforts to enhance the quality of social safeguards project documentation and supporting analysis;

•     Support analytical and policy work on land acquisition and resettlement and other relevant social development issues in the Bangladesh context.

•     Participate in SASDI operations and/or AAA, with a focus on gender and demand for good governance activities;

•     Facilitate and maintain effective communication with government counterparts, civil society, academia, the private sector and other international organizations, as well as counterparts within and across sectors, networks and country management unit.

The Social Development Specialist is expected to play an integral role in delivering the SASDI work program and is expected to work independently, seeking guidance on complex projects or issues from the senior specialists.

Selection Criteria

•     Advanced degree in one of the social sciences (economics, anthropology, sociology, human geography or political science);

•      Minimum of 5 years relevant experience in social development sector and a solid background in land acquisition and resettlement issues in the context of development projects, particularly in Bangladesh;

•     Knowledge of World Bank social safeguards policies (OP 4.12 and OP 4.20 in particular);

•     Knowledge of Bangladeshi legal frameworks and processes for land acquisition, resettlement;

•     Demonstrated relevant experience in a social development discipline in the World Bank and/or context of other multilateral organizations;

•     Analytical and operational experience in the areas of gender and/or demand for good governance;

•     Experience in working with a wide range of stakeholders, international organizations, development agencies and NGOs would be desirable;

•     Proven experience in conducting and reviewing Social Impact Assessments, Resettlement Action Plans, Indigenous People Development Programs and other social analysis tools;

•     Strong interpersonal skills relevant to the context of providing technical advice and conducting policy dialog with government officials;

•     Demonstrated ability to work in multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural teams and ability to build effective working relations with the government, clients and colleagues;

•     Excellent report writing skills and communication skills in English and fluency in Bangla (oral and written);

•     Understanding of Bank policies and practices related to environmental agenda would be desirable.

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