Senior Social Development Specialist
Apply NowCompany: The World Bank Group
Location: Washington, DC 20011
Description:
Senior Social Development Specialist
Job #:
req32112
Organization:
World Bank
Sector:
Social Development
Grade:
GG
Term Duration:
2 years 0 months
Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment
Location:
Washington, DC,United States
Required Language(s):
English
Preferred Language(s):
French or Spanish
Closing Date:
3/19/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our 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, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. 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. Visit www.worldbank.org.
To support the implementation of the Social Development strategy, and to continue to support Social Development's programs in contexts of fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV), the Social Development Global Unit is looking for a Senior Social Development Specialist. The Senior Specialist will work across two Global Support Groups (GSGs) - on Community and Local Development (CLD) and Social Cohesion and Resilience (SCORE).
The Senior Social Development Specialist will support the work of the Global Lead on CLD and SCORE, and the team in the Global Unit working on these themes, on how to strategically and effectively use CLD approaches to address key developmental issues including poverty, exclusion, inadequate accountability, diminished trust, climate change, and fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV). The CLD portfolio currently stands at US$ 52.7 billion, financing 347 projects in 94 countries. CLD involves a range of approaches, driven by community participation, to provide, amongst other things, local infrastructure and livelihoods support, while building citizen-state linkages. The CLD GSG shapes the World Bank's CLD work by refining approaches in frontier areas of practice, disseminating lessons to increase impact across the portfolio, and developing and delivering customized technical staff training.
A large share of the Bank's CLD work operates in countries and regions affected by FCV. The Social Development Department's lending portfolio in FCV contexts has grown rapidly in recent years with FCV-related operations accounting for around 88 percent of Social Development's financing portfolio by value. This includes frontier analytic and operational work on areas such as working in politically estranged settings, subnational conflict, reintegration of combatants, reinforcing social cohesion, promoting resilience to conflict and other shocks, interpersonal violence, and forced displacement. Working in such environments often requires different ways of working. The SCORE GSG shapes the direction of the Social Development Department's FCV work through leading global and country analytics, trialing innovative approaches through operations, and building linkages with other departments to push forward the FCV agenda.
Duties and Accountabilities
Analytics and measurement
Develop a program of analytic work on operational approaches to service delivery, including through CLD approaches, in FCV contexts.
Lead the development of portfolio reviews to unpack the different CLD methods and approaches that are being used (including in FCV contexts) and their comparative efficacy.
Contribute to global analytic work including on the intersection between climate financing, social sustainability, and FCV.
Co-lead work on the identification of indicators and measurement strategies for social cohesion including through the use of digital tools.
Provide support to other analytic work within the Global Unit and country level analytic work, including close work with FCV on the broader research agenda.
Coordinate with partners on fundraising for the CLD evidence and learning agenda.
Operational support
Develop a workstream on violence prevention.
Lead the implementation of Peace and Inclusion Lenses and other tools for promoting conflict sensitivity in project designs and implementation.
Support teams in Social Development working on forced displacement and develop partnerships with other departments within the Bank on this.
Prepare guidance materials and operational resources for CLD task teams, in particular those working on FCV issues.
Knowledge sharing
Co-lead the knowledge sharing and connecting activities of the CLD global public solutions group.
Share cutting edge knowledge about global experiences, evaluations, and lessons learned on CLD and work in FCV settings.
Coordinate and foster partnerships with internal and external actors working on FCV issues.
Contribute to the SCORE and CLD global teams' training events, knowledge exchange activities, corporate briefs, portfolio monitoring, newsletters, and presentation materials.
Prepare materials for learning activities, including those at the Planet Forum, the learning week that follows, the potential Africa CLD workshop, and other deep dives and webinars.
Other
Respond to ad hoc information requests from internal and external clients.
Any other tasks as requested by the SCORE/CLD Global Lead or Practice Manager.
Collaboration
The work program will involve close collaboration with other GSGs and departments working across the different dimensions of social sustainability including: with the inclusion team and the FCV Group on peace and inclusion lenses; with the FCV Group and other departments on the violence prevention work; and with the analytics and data team on diagnostics and measurement;
Time
The assignment is for an initial two years (term).
Reporting
The Senior Social Development Specialist will report to the Social Development Global Unit Practice Manager, with a dotted line of reporting and accountability to the Global Lead for Social Cohesion and Resilience and Community and Local Development.
Selection Criteria
Master's (preferably PhD) with a minimum of 8 years' experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience in a related social science (e.g., Sociology, Anthropology, Social Studies, Gender Studies, Political Science, Economics, etc.)
Strong research background with proven experience conducting research on/in FCV contexts.
Experience working on projects that promote social cohesion.
Strong knowledge of Bank CLD programs and operations especially in FCV environments.
Deep knowledge of the frontiers of the literature around conflict-sensitive development and drivers of FCV.
Enthusiasm for, and commitment to, poverty alleviation, socially sustainable development, and addressing the needs of the most vulnerable.
Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, and team skills, and ability to think innovatively and strategically to find effective "best fit" solutions to development problems, with a strong client focus.
Ability to work independently with minimum supervision and to meet tight deadlines.
Willingness to travel regularly to different regions.
Excellent oral and written fluency in English is required. French and/or Spanish would be advantageous.
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.
Job #:
req32112
Organization:
World Bank
Sector:
Social Development
Grade:
GG
Term Duration:
2 years 0 months
Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment
Location:
Washington, DC,United States
Required Language(s):
English
Preferred Language(s):
French or Spanish
Closing Date:
3/19/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our 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, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. 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. Visit www.worldbank.org.
To support the implementation of the Social Development strategy, and to continue to support Social Development's programs in contexts of fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV), the Social Development Global Unit is looking for a Senior Social Development Specialist. The Senior Specialist will work across two Global Support Groups (GSGs) - on Community and Local Development (CLD) and Social Cohesion and Resilience (SCORE).
The Senior Social Development Specialist will support the work of the Global Lead on CLD and SCORE, and the team in the Global Unit working on these themes, on how to strategically and effectively use CLD approaches to address key developmental issues including poverty, exclusion, inadequate accountability, diminished trust, climate change, and fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV). The CLD portfolio currently stands at US$ 52.7 billion, financing 347 projects in 94 countries. CLD involves a range of approaches, driven by community participation, to provide, amongst other things, local infrastructure and livelihoods support, while building citizen-state linkages. The CLD GSG shapes the World Bank's CLD work by refining approaches in frontier areas of practice, disseminating lessons to increase impact across the portfolio, and developing and delivering customized technical staff training.
A large share of the Bank's CLD work operates in countries and regions affected by FCV. The Social Development Department's lending portfolio in FCV contexts has grown rapidly in recent years with FCV-related operations accounting for around 88 percent of Social Development's financing portfolio by value. This includes frontier analytic and operational work on areas such as working in politically estranged settings, subnational conflict, reintegration of combatants, reinforcing social cohesion, promoting resilience to conflict and other shocks, interpersonal violence, and forced displacement. Working in such environments often requires different ways of working. The SCORE GSG shapes the direction of the Social Development Department's FCV work through leading global and country analytics, trialing innovative approaches through operations, and building linkages with other departments to push forward the FCV agenda.
Duties and Accountabilities
Analytics and measurement
Develop a program of analytic work on operational approaches to service delivery, including through CLD approaches, in FCV contexts.
Lead the development of portfolio reviews to unpack the different CLD methods and approaches that are being used (including in FCV contexts) and their comparative efficacy.
Contribute to global analytic work including on the intersection between climate financing, social sustainability, and FCV.
Co-lead work on the identification of indicators and measurement strategies for social cohesion including through the use of digital tools.
Provide support to other analytic work within the Global Unit and country level analytic work, including close work with FCV on the broader research agenda.
Coordinate with partners on fundraising for the CLD evidence and learning agenda.
Operational support
Develop a workstream on violence prevention.
Lead the implementation of Peace and Inclusion Lenses and other tools for promoting conflict sensitivity in project designs and implementation.
Support teams in Social Development working on forced displacement and develop partnerships with other departments within the Bank on this.
Prepare guidance materials and operational resources for CLD task teams, in particular those working on FCV issues.
Knowledge sharing
Co-lead the knowledge sharing and connecting activities of the CLD global public solutions group.
Share cutting edge knowledge about global experiences, evaluations, and lessons learned on CLD and work in FCV settings.
Coordinate and foster partnerships with internal and external actors working on FCV issues.
Contribute to the SCORE and CLD global teams' training events, knowledge exchange activities, corporate briefs, portfolio monitoring, newsletters, and presentation materials.
Prepare materials for learning activities, including those at the Planet Forum, the learning week that follows, the potential Africa CLD workshop, and other deep dives and webinars.
Other
Respond to ad hoc information requests from internal and external clients.
Any other tasks as requested by the SCORE/CLD Global Lead or Practice Manager.
Collaboration
The work program will involve close collaboration with other GSGs and departments working across the different dimensions of social sustainability including: with the inclusion team and the FCV Group on peace and inclusion lenses; with the FCV Group and other departments on the violence prevention work; and with the analytics and data team on diagnostics and measurement;
Time
The assignment is for an initial two years (term).
Reporting
The Senior Social Development Specialist will report to the Social Development Global Unit Practice Manager, with a dotted line of reporting and accountability to the Global Lead for Social Cohesion and Resilience and Community and Local Development.
Selection Criteria
Master's (preferably PhD) with a minimum of 8 years' experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience in a related social science (e.g., Sociology, Anthropology, Social Studies, Gender Studies, Political Science, Economics, etc.)
Strong research background with proven experience conducting research on/in FCV contexts.
Experience working on projects that promote social cohesion.
Strong knowledge of Bank CLD programs and operations especially in FCV environments.
Deep knowledge of the frontiers of the literature around conflict-sensitive development and drivers of FCV.
Enthusiasm for, and commitment to, poverty alleviation, socially sustainable development, and addressing the needs of the most vulnerable.
Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, and team skills, and ability to think innovatively and strategically to find effective "best fit" solutions to development problems, with a strong client focus.
Ability to work independently with minimum supervision and to meet tight deadlines.
Willingness to travel regularly to different regions.
Excellent oral and written fluency in English is required. French and/or Spanish would be advantageous.
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.