Senior Environmental and Social Development Specialist
| Job #: | req35531 |
| Organization: | World Bank |
| Sector: | Safeguards |
| Grade: | GG |
| Term Duration: | 3 years 0 months |
| Recruitment Type: | Local Recruitment |
| Location: | Kampala,Uganda |
| Required Language(s): | English |
| Preferred Language(s): | |
| Closing Date: | 2/15/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
Home to about 700 million of Africa’s people, Eastern and Southern Africa is a geographically, culturally and economically diverse region of 26 countries stretching from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South. Children under 18 make up almost half of the total population. The subregion boasts of some of the world’s richest human and natural resources and, apart from South Africa, the countries are predominantly raw material exporters. • Creating Jobs and Transforming Economies: We are working with countries across Africa to stimulate job creation and economic transformation by leveraging all sources of finance, expertise, and solutions to promote investment. • Making Institutions more Efficient and Accountable: Our support helps governments strengthen public policy processes, manage resources effectively, and reinforce fair and reliable delivery of public services. • Supporting Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: In the face of increasing climate-related risks, we are working with African countries to advance efforts to adopt renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and green infrastructure. • Building Partnerships and Working across the African Continent: We are scaling up our work on regional integration, taking a holistic view of the continent that covers both North and Sub-Saharan Africa. On October 1, 2018, the World Bank launched a new Environment and Social Framework (ESF) to help protect people and the environment in the investment projects that it finances. The effort, now about seven years under implementation, is one of several initiatives, including procurement reform, the gender strategy, and the climate change action plan, undertaken by the Bank to improve development outcomes. The selected candidate will be based in Kampala, Uganda and report directly to the SAEM2 Practice Manager. • Ensure the effective integration into the design, appraisal and implementation of WBG-supported projects of social and environmental matters as defined by the WBG Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), World Bank Operational Policies on Safeguards, WBG Environmental Health and Safety guidelines, etc. • Provide advice and support to clients and counterpart organizations for the preparation and implementation of Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), Livelihood Restoration Plans (LRPs), Biodiversity Action Plans, Environmental and Socia Impact Assessments (ESIAs), including strategic and cumulative impact assessments; Environmental and Social Management frameworks and plans, including plans for monitoring, reporting and evaluation; public consultation plans; and establishment of grievance mechanisms. Such advice will be based on analysis of baseline conditions, project scope, anticipated impacts and proportional mitigation measures, as well as national requirements, and will ensure compliance with ESF and applicable operational policies.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. Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) Region: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 keep people 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. But it also creates an opportunity to work closely with country leaders, civil society, development partners, and young people to chart a brighter course for the future. The World Bank’s Eastern and Southern Africa Region, comprised of approximately 1,200 staff, mostly based in 26 country offices, has been helping countries realize their considerable development potential by focusing on the following priorities:• Building up the Digital Economy: We are supporting Africa’s vision to ensure that every African individual, business, and government is connected by 2030 – a vision that, if realized, can boost growth by up to 2 percentage points per year, and reduce poverty by 1 percentage point per year in Sub-Saharan Africa alone.• Investing in People: We are at the forefront of helping African countries accelerate human capital gains and empower women by improving their access to education and skills acquisition, sexual and reproductive health services, and employment opportunities.• Addressing the Drivers of Fragility, Conflict, and Violence: Given the cross-border nature of conflicts in Africa, we are employing an approach that simultaneously focuses on the drivers of fragility while also supporting well-targeted regional initiatives to create opportunities for peace and shared prosperity. • Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/eastern-and-southern-africa Unit DescriptionThe ESF brings the World Bank’s environmental and social (E&S) protections into closer harmony with those of other development institutions, and makes important advances in areas such as transparency, non-discrimination, social inclusion, public participation, and accountability – including expanded roles for grievance redress mechanisms. The ESF helps to ensure social inclusion, non-discrimination, and explicitly references human rights in the overarching vision statement. As the World Bank Group (WBG) advances with modernizing its ESF approach, a new organizational arrangement has been agreed involving “Makers” (responsible for preparation, implementation support, and monitoring and problem solving) and “Checkers” (responsible for monitoring and risk-based oversight, and identifying and flagging challenges and problems that need to be addressed) to ensure a strengthened approach to risk management on E&S matters. The new arrangements also demonstrate a commitment to promoting “One WBG” and the key role that the Environmental and Social leadership in IDA/IBRD, IFC and MIGA, will play in this effort. The Eastern Safeguards Unit (SAEM2) is one of the three units in AFE that manages E&S risks and covers two Country Management Units (CMUs): The Kenya CMU comprising of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Somalia; and the Tanzania CMU comprising of Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. SAEM2 is responsible for providing technical support and oversight to all investment projects to meet these obligations. The PositionThis position will focus on implementing the World Bank Group’s environmental and social risk management policies and standards, and support efforts towards enhancing national systems and capacity in this regard. As such, the candidate will ensure that the objectives and requirements of the ESF are considered across the lifecycle of projects. Duties & Responsibilities: The Senior Social and Environmental Specialist will have the following key responsibilities: As a core member of World Bank Group Task Teams, the Senior Social and Environmental 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 and environmental risks while enhancing the development outcomes in East Africa. The specialist will lead and promote the ESF agenda in the design and implementation of projects in East Africa, in particular in Uganda. The specialist will have the following key responsibilities:• Provide guidance to clients and counterpart organizations in their preparation of project documents in accordance with the ESF and World Bank Group operational policies, including Environment and Social Commitment Plans (ESCPs), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEPs), Biodiversity Management Plans (BMPs), Waste Management Plans (WMPs), Labor Management Procedures (LMPs), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRMs), and Project Implementation Manuals (PIMs). Assist with handling timely and accurate disclosure procedures and public consultation requirements for all required social and environmental assessment and management instruments. Assist with the management and resolution of the complaints submitted under the relevant projects. • Organize and provide needs assessments, capacity building and technical training on social and environmental risk management for national agencies and local governments, as well as public and private sector trainers and practitioners, with a particular focus on building national training capacity in these areas. Collaborate closely with other WBG teams to integrate the development of social and environmental risk management capacity into sectoral programs. • Support, mentor, and coach other Social and Environment specialists in handling complex technical, institutional, and program implementation issues regarding social and environmental risk management in Uganda.
Selection Criteria
• At least a master’s degree in social or environmental sciences (i.e., Development Studies, Environmental Sciences, Social Anthropology, Sociology, Environmental Engineering, International Development and similar qualifications). • Technical experience in the management of the social, environmental, community health and safety risks of large infrastructure, e.g. roads and highways, dams, irrigation schemes and large water conveyance systems, would be highly beneficial. • Ability to work well with a range of stakeholders, including project-affected parties, government officials, non-governmental organizations / civil society, as well as project investors and their staff. • Experience in capacity building for social, environmental and community health and safety risk management would be beneficial. • Demonstrated ability to work across practices, work in cross-thematic teams, and foster teamwork. • Skilled in maintaining a diplomatic approach and performing effectively in high-pressure environments. • 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, fast-paced work environment. • Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving skills, and ability to think innovatively and strategically to find solutions to complex development problems • Readiness to travel extensively in Uganda, including to remote rural areas.This is a challenging position suited to constructive, highly motivated team players with an eye for detail, understanding the bigger picture context of operations, and creative problem-solving abilities. The successful candidate should have strong analytical skills, have practical experience with participatory processes of stakeholder engagement, and be able to integrate social and environmental considerations in an operational context. Experience working in complex and challenging settings is essential. It is expected that the successful candidate will meet the following selection criteria.• A minimum of 8 years of full-time relevant professional experience in social and environmental risk management, with experience in the management of social, environmental, community health and safety risks of large infrastructure projects, extractive or industrial activities, and the application of WBG ESF and safeguard policies, including in the preparation of WBG social safeguard/risk management documents.• Demonstrated project management/operational skills, including community health and safety management and experience working with contractors with weak implementation capacity.• Extensive knowledge and experience of WBG operations, including experience as task team member and task team leader of WBG projects.• Ability to develop innovative approaches to mitigate social and environmental risks or overcome difficult challenges across a range of investment projects. • Experience working in East Africa, understanding the institutional and political context of Uganda. • Acting with integrity to build trust and to create an enabling environment as a team member or lead.• Proven ability to engage effectively with Government, private sector, project beneficiaries and civil society.• Excellent oral and written skills in English in essential. Knowledge of Swahili is a plus
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.
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.
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