Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.
Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region
We need the best and brightest talent focused on Sub-Saharan African countries in order to harness the potential and innovation happening across the continent. Africa is a continent on the move, with a young population and a growing market of nearly 1.2bn people. We are committed to making the Africa regional teams into leading innovation hubs.
Yet, these vast opportunities are tempered by persistent gaps in education, health, and skills, which have Africa only reaching forty percent of its estimated potential. Moreover, conflict, food insecurity, population growth, and the disruptive forces of climate change threaten to curtail or even reverse the progress that has been made over the past decades.
In West and Central Africa, the World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio of 387 projects totaling more than $44.1 billion in areas such as agriculture, trade and transport, energy, education, health, water and sanitation- all to support job creation, gender equality, poverty reduction, and better lives. Across the continent, the World Bank’s program has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. By 2030, about 87% of the world’s extreme poor are projected to live in Sub-Saharan Africa, so this is where our mission to end extreme poverty and to promote shared prosperity will be achieved.
However, despite significant efforts to stabilize the West and Central Africa region, the security situation in the Sahel remains dire and Sahel-based terrorist groups progressively threaten northern parts of these as well as other coastal West African countries. Moreover, political instability in several Sahelian countries and tensions between Mali and its neighbors have undermined cooperation among all G5 Sahel countries. In this increasingly complicated context, Bank financing has been steadily increasing with a strong and diverse portfolio in all countries in the region.
Are you ready to make an impact? We are looking for dedicated professionals to join our innovative and diverse team to improve people’s lives and help countries build back better after COVID.
Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region : https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa
The Sustainable Development Practice Group helps countries tackle their most complex challenges in the areas of Agriculture and Food; Climate Change; Environmental and Social Framework (ESF); Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy; Social Sustainability and Inclusion; Urban, Resilience and Land Development; and Water.
SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND INCLUSION GLOBAL PRACTICE
The SSI Global Practice (GP) helps countries tackle deep rooted social problems stemming from fragility, climate change, exclusion, and the digital age with people centered solutions that build 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 SSI GP prioritizes participatory, multi-sectoral approaches that build on norms and informal institutions to address social challenges and to build more inclusive, empowered communities. It also works across the Bank’s portfolio to implement the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and strengthen inclusive development.
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/socialsustainability
POSITION
The Africa West and Central Africa Social Sustainability and Inclusion Unit is looking to recruit a Senior Social Development Specialist, Security Risk Management to provide high quality security risk technical support and analysis for the West and Central Africa Country Management Units (CMUs). The selected candidate will be based in the region (location TBD) and will report directly to SAWS4 Practice Manager. Potential locations include Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon. S/he will be expected to work closely with the CMU and task teams in the countries as well as with other Global Practice teams, Global Solutions Groups and Global Theme teams specializing in Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV) and including Corporate Security (GSO).
Duties and Accountabilities
The Senior Social Development Specialist – Security Risk Management will have the following responsibilities:
• Lead the preparation of high-quality security threat analysis, threat assessments, risk analysis, conflict maps, operational tools and analysis and security briefs at the portfolio and project level in close collaboration with the E&S team and country teams;
• Provide specialized technical assistance to Borrowers, project management units and consultants to prepare, review and finalize the Security Risk Assessments (SRAs) and Security Management Plans (SMPs) as part of ESF instruments ;
• Provide specialized technical assistance to task teams including E&S teams at the project level related to security impacting regular access to project sides and safety and protection risks: (i) project beneficiaries, (ii) implementation support by PIUs, (iii) contractors (impacting procurement processes), (iv) delaying resettlement processes, and (iv) Bank staff ;
• Provide specialized technical assistance for Security Due Diligence Assessments (SDAs) at the project and portfolio level;
• Integrate and operationalize lessons learned from country vulnerability assessments (RRAs for example) in SDA, SRM and provide advice on how to integrate country vulnerability assessment in project design and implementation;
• Provide technical training on security risk threat assessment, preparation of security risk tools and analysis for Bank teams and Borrowers;
• Support the units to develop, pilot and scale-up innovative, technology-enabled solutions to enhance effectiveness in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
• Facilitate ongoing dialogue with Government counterparts and other security actors including humanitarians (possibly security officials, local government and local communities) in collaboration with the E&S team, Bank task team and other specialists;
• Coordinate security risk support for the SSI Africa West teams including managing consultants, supervising the work of consultants and technical specialists to ensure consistency and conformity to Bank operational policies, regular monitoring of the portfolio, preparing reports and identifying gaps in coverage as needed;
• Contribute to knowledge sharing, dissemination and awareness raising activities with both Bank staff and clients.
• Work independently under the general direction of the Practice Manager, seeking guidance on complex projects/issues from Lead Specialists; guide and mentor more junior staff.
• Support and actively participate to the Bank-wide professional community of staff engaged in social sustainable and inclusive development by participating in thematic groups, exchanging best practices, and drafting technical notes.
• Other tasks related to security risk management as required by the hiring unit.
Selection Criteria
This position is suited for a constructive, highly motivated team player with an eye for detail, understanding of the bigger picture context of operations, countries in fragile and conflict affected environments and creative problem-solving abilities. The successful candidate should have strong operational skills and experience in fragile and conflict affected settings and be able to integrate security risk considerations in an operational context.
• Master’s degree or PhD in field related to International Security, Social Sciences, Political Science, Security, Conflict and Violence Prevention;
• At least 8 years of demonstrated experience in the security sector, security planning or international security standards;
• At least 8 years of operational experience with leading the development and implementation of project security risk management plans and procedures encompassing multiple stakeholders;
• Proven knowledge of security best practices in field locations, including compliance processes for contractors and consultants, civilian-military engagement, crisis management, re-engagement or withdrawal;
• Understanding of the application of the security risk management cycle for development projects covered by the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) or similar policies in other international financial institutions;
• Experience in coordination and liaison with contractors/consultants and State level armed security elements deployed to site, community representatives and project level management structures as relevant;
• Extensive experience in low capacity, fragile and conflict-affected environments, and working on complex multi-sectoral development challenges;
• Strong organizational skills, with ability to prioritize, deal with frequent and unexpected changes, and work within tight deadlines.
• Proven capacity to work with a wide range of stakeholders, international organizations, development agencies, government counterparts, beneficiaries of Bank projects, and civil society organizations; ability to effectively negotiate and build consensus to achieve constructive outputs.
• High level of energy, initiative and self-motivation; willingness to travel extensively and work under challenging circumstances.
• Outstanding interpersonal, communication, problem-solving, and team skills, and ability to think innovatively and strategically to find balanced solutions, with a strong client focus;
• Experience working on security risk management in West Africa a strong plus;
• Willingness to travel extensively and work under challenging circumstances essential
• Excellent oral and writing skills in English and French essential.
Competencies
The successful candidate is expected to exhibit the following core competencies:
• Lead and Innovate – Develops innovative solutions.
• Deliver Results for Clients – Proactively addresses clients’ stated and unstated needs.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries – Collaborates across boundaries, gives own perspective and willingly receives diverse perspectives.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge – Applies knowledge across WBG to strengthen solutions for internal and/or external clients.
• Make Smart Decisions – Interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.
This vacancy is archived.