Social Development Specialist job at Ministry of Lands Housing and Urban Development

Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

The incumbent will be responsible to the Operation Manager for performing the following duties:-

Responsibilities or duties

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Experience needed

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

• Review project planning and procurement procedures to ensure social safeguard requirements are accurately reflected and adequately costed within contract documents: (i) the social requirements are properly reflected and costed in contract documents, (ii) social risk management milestones are included in the contractor’s certificates for payment, and (iii) conditions of approval on the NEMA certificate and coordination with MoGLSD and other statutory approvals are well considered and advise MLHUD and sub-national entities accordingly.
• Provide recommendations to mitigate risks related to land acquisition including proper implementation of Resettlement Action Plan and related grievance management
• Embed explicit social risk management milestones into contractor payment certificate approvals. Partner with project managers to evaluate the performance of the Supervising Engineer in enforcing social contractual compliance prior to clearing payments.
• Evaluate social impact reports and design aspects for infrastructure sub-projects under the UCMID operation to ensure all potential social risks are identified and fully integrated into robust mitigation plans.
• Provide strategic recommendations and oversight to mitigate risks associated with land acquisition, ensuring the proper implementation of Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs).
• Supervise the preparation, implementation, and operationalization of a comprehensive Grievance Management Plan. This includes assisting sub-national entities in establishing functioning complaints handling mechanisms—including worker-specific GRMs—to track and resolve grievances related to involuntary resettlement, injurious affection, and environmental issues.
• Partner closely with the Environmental Safeguards Consultant to supervise social impact assessments and oversee the preparation and execution of the Contractor’s Social Management Plan (C-SMP).
• Work closely with the Environmental Safeguards Consultant and Supervise the social impact assessments as well as preparation, and implementation of the Contractor’s Social Management Plan, including the STD/ HIV/ AIDS prevention and mitigation plans. The latter will include support to the development of Terms of Reference for service providers, ensure input to ToR from the Uganda AIDS Commission and support to the establishment of necessary linkages to relevant Local Government units and related HIV/AIDS points of care.
• Lead the development of ToRs for HIV/AIDS/STI prevention service providers, incorporating technical inputs from the Uganda AIDS Commission and establishing direct linkages to Local Government units and points of care.
• Monitor the social impacts of program activities to actively promote social inclusion, gender equity, child protection, and the protection of vulnerable or minority groups.
• Participate in regular site inspections and supervision of works to verify contractor compliance with statutory Ugandan labour laws, occupational safety and health (OSH) policies, and MLHUD guidelines.
• Collaborate with key government actors to enforce a zero-tolerance workplace policy against sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse. Ensure contractors comply with the Uganda Employment Act by educating workers on their rights, displaying key policy provisions, and maintaining operational prevention programs.
• Ensure seamless alignment with NEMA certificate conditions, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD), and other statutory approval bodies.
• Design and deliver training and awareness campaigns for ministry staff, sub-national entities, contractors, and local communities on the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) requirements, project rights, obligations, and the prevention of negative socio-economic externalities.
• Provide hands-on technical support to program sub-national entities to maintain compliance with the Operation Implementation Manual and fulfill the social management Minimum Access Conditions during annual performance assessments.
• Review progress reports from safeguards service providers, compile regular monthly and quarterly social risk monitoring updates, and contribute to developing new tools or methodologies for addressing social risks in infrastructure projects. Provide ad-hoc support to the broader Project Implementation Unit (PIU) and Ministry projects as required.

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and Administration, Sociology, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Gender Studies, or related field.
• Master's Degree in any of the above fields or related discipline.