Social Specialist - Environment & Social Standard (ESS) Makers

Job #: req38277

Organization: World Bank Group

Sector: Social Development

Grade: GF

Term Duration: 4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment

Location: Gaza, West Bank & Gaza

Required Language(s): English, Arabic

Preferred Language(s): French

Closing Date: 9/21/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

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.

Regional Context

The Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan Region serves twenty two countries across different income groups, of which fourteen are active/potentially active IBRD/IDA borrowers (Afghanistan, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Syria, West Bank and Gaza, Tunisia, and Yemen), with a total of 251 projects and over $51 bn in total commitment. Eight are users of the Region's non-lending services, mostly on a reimbursable basis (Bahrain, Kuwait, Libya, Malta, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates). The mission of the region is to foster sustainable growth with a focus on job creation and poverty reduction, economic and social inclusion, and good governance. The region attaches importance to creating a supportive work environment based on the values of teamwork, transparency, trust, and client service, underlined by professional excellence. The region places high value on diversity. The region is organized into seven Country Departments (CMUs), the Office of the Regional Chief Economist, and the Development Effectiveness Unit (MNADE).

With an expanded regional strategy, the World Bank aims to help the region weather the current crises, move from stabilization to transformation, unlock its vast economic potential of youth and women, develop its human capital to adapt to global megatrends, and foster innovation (https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/mena).

POSITION

The MENAAP Environment and Social Standards (ESS)-Makers unit (SMAM1) has a robust work program in West Bank and Gaza (WB&G) and the broader MENAAP region, supporting a wide range of engagements across sectors and financing instruments. The unit is looking to recruit ESS–Social Specialist to lead/support our ES policy, operational and risk management work in WB&G. In line with recent reorganization of the World Bank Group ESS functions, ES Specialist are expected to work across environment and social disciplines.

The Specialist will be based in Gaza and will report directly to SMAM1 Practice Manager. He/she will be expected to work closely with the WB&G Country Management Unit (CMU), Task Teams other country, regional and Global Practice teams.

Duties and Accountabilities

The ESS–Social Specialist will be part of the team responsible for implementing the World Bank ESF policy and managing ES risks across the WB&G portfolio. S/he will

Operational work

• Provide technical leadership and operational support on environment and social impact and risk management for all Bank-financed projects throughout preparation and implementation phases.
• Lead/support the interface with Government counterparts to enhance the environment and social sustainability of WB-supported operations and in resolving issues where such operations have inadvertently impacted the environment and/or local community adversely; develop and evaluate proposed technical solutions and assist in the preparation of project documentation.
• Provide ES risk management support in joint World Bank Group operations that involve IBRD/IDA, IFC and/or MIGA.
• Provide technical guidance and support to government agencies and other entities, including project implementing agencies, on preparation and implementation of project-related social risk management activities and activities to enhance the social sustainability of projects.
• In accordance with the Bank’s ESF and/or IFC Performance Standards (PS), determine the appropriate environment and social risk classification of projects taking into account all relevant information such as the type, location, sensitivity and scale of the project, the nature and magnitude of the potential E&S impacts, the capacity and commitment of the Borrower (and any other entities responsible for project implementation) to manage risks and impacts in a manner consistent with the ESSs.
• Advise government counterpart agencies and undertake policy dialogue with clients on policy options for social sustainability and risk management, particularly involuntary resettlement, labor and working conditions, sexual exploitation and abuse/sexual harassment, Indigenous Peoples, stakeholder engagement plans and institutional development strategies.
• Lead/support effective management of SEA/SH (GBV) risks at project and portfolio levels in close coordination with broader gender and social inclusion work; Lead/support SEA/SH risk screening for investment operations, support borrowers to develop appropriate mitigation measures (SEA/SH Action Plan) and supervise implementation; provide technical solution and guidance to Task Team Leaders to embed GBV prevention and response in project design as relevant.
• For low and moderate risk projects, take full accountability and independent decision making on environment and social risk management.
• Lead/support operational simplification and streamlining of ESF.
• Participate in and contribute to country portfolio review and ES risk watchlists and preparation of CMU/regional risk review meetings.
• Monitor the environmental and social performance of assigned projects in accordance with the Environment and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP); participate in implementation support missions and preparation of Aide Memoires and project action plans.

Analytical, Policy, Country System strengthening work

• Support/lead dialogue on the implementation of ESS with policy makers and government officials, international development partners, civil society, and other stakeholders, and coordinate the Bank's relations with clients on the same.
• Lead/Evaluate studies on ES impact and risk management and make recommendations on strategies and policy options for counterparts in local and central government agencies.
• Contribute to formal and informal analytical advisory activities and research work on key ES issues, notably related to labor and working conditions, land acquisition and resettlement, social risk mitigation planning, community health and safety, occupational health and safety (OHS), and institutional capacity development.
• Lead/support country system strengthening support and client capacity building on environment and social risk management.
• Participate in developing sustainable local and national ESS systems and strategies.
• Deliver ESS training on specific social standards and tailored to individual projects to strengthen client capacity.
• Provide training on the ESSs and their provisions and implications for project preparation and implementation to World Bank Clients, WBG staff and other interested / relevant parties (e.g. NGOs, academia).

Other

• Actively contribute to collaboration with IFC/MIGA including through operations and advisory support.
• Actively contribute to the creation of regional/global knowledge on ESS.
• Supervise the work of consultants to ensure consistency and conformity to Bank operational policies.
• Contribute to the Unit's briefs, blogs, strategy documents, and papers on critical social development issues for both internal and external audiences.
• Support and actively participate in the Bank-wide professional community of staff engaged in E&S thematic initiatives.

Note: The specialist may be expected to take other assignments as and when required by the Practice Manager.

Selection Criteria

This position is suited to constructive, highly motivated team players with an eye for detail, an understanding of the bigger picture context of operations, and creative problem-solving abilities. The successful candidate should have strong operational and analytical skills, have practical experience handling complex/sensitive social development issues through participatory processes of stakeholder engagement, and be able to integrate social development considerations in an operational context.

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in social sciences (gender studies, anthropology, sociology/social development, political science, law, public policy, international affairs, conflict/violence prevention, etc.).
• A minimum of five (5) years of directly relevant professional experience in social development and inclusion.
• Demonstrated experience and leadership in addressing issues covered by the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and social safeguards policies or similar policies in other international finance institutions in complex and challenging settings, and across practices. This includes experience with environment and/or social assessments and analyzing E/S risks and impacts on different population groups; involuntary resettlement in different socio-economic contexts and tenure systems; coordination of transparent consultative and stakeholder engagement processes; grievance redress mechanisms, integration of relevant planning instruments in overall project planning and implementation; labor and working conditions (in particular child labor); occupational health and safety (OHS); community health and safety; sexual exploitation and abuse/harassment (SEA/SH); cultural heritage; Environment and Social Governance (ESG) in private sector; client capacity building and support to strengthen national E/S systems.
• Demonstrated experience and operational skills in broader social development issues including, gender/GBV, social inclusion, citizen engagement, local economic development, migration, displacement, fragility, conflict, and violence in low- and middle-income countries.
• Proven experience with World Bank IDA and/or IBRD (or other comparable international organizations) lending operations, policies, and procedures; experience in leading design and implementation of social development programs.
• Extensive experience working in highly fluid FCV context, with direct experience in West Bank and Gaza and deep understanding of contextual, sectoral and institutional challenges and opportunities.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize, deal with frequent and unexpected changes, work within tight timeframes and under high pressure; Experience working on complex multi-sectoral development challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and translate analytical work into policy advice and actionable, practical recommendations; Experience in collecting, analyzing, and effectively using data for evidence-based decision making.
• Experience in contributing to high-level strategic decisions and technical support to government counterparts, policymakers, beneficiaries, community-based organizations, and development partners on effective approaches to close gender gaps.
• 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.
• Outstanding interpersonal, communication, problem-solving, and team skills, and ability to think innovatively and strategically to find balanced solutions to complex development problems, with a strong client focus.
• Proven track record in communicating complex issues in a clear and concise manner to different stakeholders.
• Acting with integrity at all times to build trust and to create an enabling work environment, whether as team leader or team member.
• Very high level of energy, initiative and self-motivation; willingness to travel and work under challenging circumstances.
• Demonstrated ability to work across practices, work in cross-thematic teams, foster teamwork, and mentor junior staff.
• Excellent oral and writing skills in English and Arabic is required; ability to present and facilitate sessions; French language skill is a plus.

Note: This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

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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