Social Development Specialist job at Investment for Industrial Transformation and Employment (“INVITE”)

JOB DETAILS:
1. Background:
The Government of the Republic of Uganda (GoU) received financing from the World Bank to implement the Investment for Industrial Transformation and Employment (INVITE) project. The Project is complemented and supported by other development partners, including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, through a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) Grant.

The Project Development Objective is to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 on private sector investment and employment and to support new economic opportunities, including refugee and hosting communities.

The Project comprises four components and is being implemented jointly by the Bank of Uganda (BoU) and Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU). The Project Components include Component 1: Mitigating the Impact of COVID-19 with a focus on the Manufacturing and Exporting Sectors Driving Economic Transformation, including Refugee and Hosting Districts; Component 2: Creating New Product and Transformative Assets including in Refugee and Host Districts; Component 3: Enhancing Capabilities in Public Institutions and Private Firms; and Component 4: Implementation Support, Monitoring, and Evaluation.

More details on the project can be found at the World Bank webpage of the project (https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/document-detail/P171607?type=projects).

BoU is implementing component 1.1, Component 1.2, Component 1.3, Component 2.1, Component 2.2 and Component 4b.

Component 1.1 will support loans that have been restructured under the Bank of Uganda COVID-19 response approach, primarily in the manufacturing and exporting sectors by covering part of the added financial cost due to the restructuring, qualifying MSMEs who received an extension of the amortization period on their loans will reduce the MSMEs incremental cost or debt servicing liability. The cost for this rebate will be shared with PFIs to ensure that PFIs.

Component 1.2 will target micro firms, including in RHDs, to enable them to restart or continue their operations as critical units in funding links between producers and aggregators, processors, and distributors. The majority of the micro firms to be targeted will be female owned firms that have been particularly affected. The window will provide a line of credit to Micro Finance Deposit-taking institutions (MFDs), MFIs and SACCOs regulated by the Bank of Uganda and the Uganda Micro Finance Regulatory Authority (UMRA) and in compliance with the project’s eligibility requirements.

Component 1.3 (receivables financing) seeks to provide finance to MSMEs based on security in the form of their receivables. Buyers, which are usually larger formal enterprises, normally pay their invoices with a delay of up to three months, thereby negatively affecting the liquidity of often small, informal enterprise suppliers.

Component 2.1 will target MSMEs with a focus on manufacturing and export supply chains, by setting up a Credit Guarantee Facility (CGF) to share the risks associated with new lending on a proposed 50/50 basis with PFIs and guarantee will be available to those in tier I, II and III institutions that meet the Window’s eligibility requirements.

Component 2.2 will provide long-term financing in the form of subordinated/convertible long-term local currency loans. This instrument targets key economic assets, private and public sponsored projects. It will be available to finance critical projects led by the public sector or the private sector, such as grain storage facilities or collection centers, cold storage, laboratories, SME Centers, industry and manufacturing hubs, etc.

Component 4b will support the establishment of operations systems in the BoU, including the legal advice to set up the INVITE Trust, the environmental and social systems, a management information system, the technical and financial design, risk management framework and the operational support for the financing of components 1 and 2.

BoU under INVITE seeks to engage services of an Environmental Specialist (ES) to be part of the Bank of Uganda/INVITE trust Project Implementation Team (PIT).

2. Objective of assignment
The SDS will ensure that implementation of the INVITE is undertaken in full compliance with the Project’s Environmental, Social Commitment Plan (ESCP); Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF); Project Appraisal Document (PAD); and the Appraisal Environmental and Social Review Summary (ESRS) and Uganda’s legal, regulatory and policy frameworks.

3. Key Result Areas:
a) Supporting processes in social screening and due diligence for the activities or subprojects under components 2.3 and 3 and ensuring their social compliance with the World Bank ESF and national E&S requirements.
b) Reviewing and strengthening existing data and databases on the social at PSFU aimed at ensuring their adequacy for efficient and effective reporting on implementation of the standards as spelled out in ESMF and other E&S instruments prepared for the components to be implemented by PSFU.
c) Monitoring compliance of grant recipients within RHDs in line with social standards documented in the INVITE ESCP
d) Preparation of quarterly E&S compliance reports and consolidated annual reports throughout project implementation.
e) Conduct quarterly monitoring and reporting on compliance of grant recipients with E&S requirements and provide annual E&S reports to the World Bank.
f) Leading INVITE Social Risk Management dialogue and strengthening PSFU knowledge and capacity to implement environmental and social standards. This will include training the relevant PSFU units, Business Development Advisors and other implementers on mainstreaming social issues during project development and implementation.
g) Strengthening the implementations of critical ESMP provisions
h) Ensuring that subproject owners/entities obtain appropriate permits, consents and authorization applicable to the project from relevant national authorities including legal documentation for land ownership, ESIA certificates among others.
i) Lead stakeholder engagements on the social risks associated with influx of labor.
j) Addressing potential exclusion of vulnerable groups including refugees from Program benefits,
k) Mainstreaming a functional grievance redress mechanism for host communities, refugees and lead investor across the project sites, and
l) Supervise third party annual environmental and social audits for verifying the monitoring of social risks and impacts of the project.
m) Strengthen the capacity of key stakeholders in management of social issues among others.

4. Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
• Participate in the review of grant applications to ensure that appropriate E&S clauses are incorporated in all agreements for the grant recipients.
• Participate in the screening of grant proposals for social risks as provided for in the ESMF and provide technical assistance in development of corrective actions plans to mitigate social risks.
• Ensure that the grant recipients have prepared the relevant E&S tools including ESIA and ESMPs for enforcing compliance with the relevant World Bank ESSs including ESS1, ESS2, ESS4 and ESS5.
• Supervise subprojects to ensure that subprojects owners/entities obtain the relevant permits, consents and authorizations applicable to the national laws of Uganda. Undertake compliance visits to cause compliance with the conditions established in the permits, consents and authorizations throughout the project implementation.
• Conduct quarterly monitoring and reporting on compliance of grants recipients with E&S requirements in Refugee Hosting Districts (RHDs) and write quarterly and annual social reports to the components’ lead or project coordinator.
• Work closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the grant recipients have acquired the necessary consents and authorization applicable to private land acquisition guided by the Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF).
• Supervise the implementation of the Grievance Redress Mechanism proposed in the INVITE ESFM in line with ESS 10. This will include support to the establishment of and building the capacity of Grievance Redress Committees (GRCs) in host communities and refugees to receive, screen, resolve, refer, follow up and close-out closure of grievances and issues related to the project including those resulting from private land transactions between host communities and selected lead investor. INVITE grievance redress mechanism will also include online submission and handling of complaints including a wide range of social risks related to the project.
• Carry out beneficiary satisfaction and social accountability/ citizen engagement surveys in host communities and refugee settlements.
• Take part in training of key technical staff of participating agencies in social screening, social management, land acquisition processes, GBV, SEA/SH, HIV/AIDS, child rights, labour rights and gender and vulnerability among others.
• Disseminate good practices in social risk management in the selected supply chains within Refugee Hosting Districts.
• Perform any other related duties as may be assigned from time to time by the components’ lead or project coordinator.

5. Qualifications, Experience, other skills and competencies:
5.1 Academic qualifications
• Applicants should possess a bachelor’s degree from a reputable institution in any of the following areas: Social Sciences, Sociology, SWASA, Anthropology and Social Development Studies or related fields.
• Post-graduate qualification in: Social Development including but not limited to Social Work and Social Administration, Sociology, Women and Gender Studies, or any other related Social Science Discipline.

5.2 Experience:
• Relevant experience in managing social impacts of over 6 (six) years on World Bank or partner funded projects with a demonstrated understanding of similar Social Safeguards policy requirements.
• Experience in dealing with social issues as well as Management of Land acquisition, Resettlements and Rehabilitation and as well preparations of Resettlement Action Plan or implementation relating to infrastructure construction programs and Gender Analysis are desirable.
• Broad understanding of National Environmental Laws, Policies, regulations and World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF).
• Demonstrated knowledge of supporting a comprehensive and balanced approach to social and environmental safeguards management is required including scoping, screening, risk assessment, development of mitigation measures and social compliance monitoring and reporting.
• Experience in preparation and implementation of key Environment and Social Risk Management tools including: Stakeholder Engagement Plan, Grievance Redress Mechanism, LMP, ESMP, ESMF, and ESCP.
• Working experience in refugee settings is an added advantage.

5.3 Other Required Skills and Competences:
• Ability to independently and effectively plan, organize, manage and evaluate important and complex projects for individual and team work
• Ability to make quick and good judgement
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including diplomacy and tact
• High level of honesty, integrity and versatility
• Should be able to work with minimum supervision and deliver under pressure

6. Deliverables:
• Social risk management mainstreamed in project implementation.
• Risk proportionate social management instruments prepared including social risk screening, reporting and other tools and forms
• Social risk management skills and knowledge analysis for INVITE implementing entities and all sub-projects and training undertaken.
• Quarterly E&S compliance reports and consolidated annual reports.
• Quarterly monitoring and reporting on compliance of grant recipients with E&S requirements and provide annual E&S reports to the World Bank.
• The Social Compliance Report within the Project's Implementation Completion Report.

7. Reporting:
The SDS will report to the Project Coordinator-INVITE for overall supervision and day to day technical matters under the contract.

8. Duty Station:
• The SDS will be deployed on a full-time basis and the duty station shall be the INVITE-PIU Office in Kampala with frequent travel upcountry.
• Out of pocket expenses towards work related travel will be reimbursed as per rules and regulations applicable to the staff of INVITE-PIU.

9. Facilities to be provided by the Employer:
The Employer shall provide office space, with connectivity to internet, printer and access to other office amenities during the term of his contract.

10. Duration of Services:
The SDS will be appointed on a contractual basis for an initial period of 24 months, with a possibility of renewal based on performance, business need and budget availability.

Deadline: 07/05/2024


Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 120

Level of Education: Postgraduate Degree