Safeguards Specialist (Social)

Job Posting Organization:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution established to foster economic growth and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Founded in 1966, ADB has grown to include 68 member countries, with 49 of these from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB's mission is to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development through financial assistance, knowledge sharing, and partnerships. The organization is headquartered in Manila, Philippines, and employs a diverse workforce dedicated to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific. ADB is committed to eradicating extreme poverty and has a strategic vision outlined in its Strategy 2030, which emphasizes the importance of finance, knowledge, and partnerships in achieving its goals. ADB values diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all employees are treated with respect and given equal opportunities regardless of their background, gender, or abilities. Women are particularly encouraged to apply for positions within the organization.

Job Overview:
The Safeguards Specialist (Social) position is a critical role within the Office of Safeguards (OSFG) at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). This position is designed for individuals who are passionate about making a significant impact on social safeguard policies and practices in the Asia-Pacific region. The specialist will be responsible for supporting the implementation of social safeguard requirements, which include policies related to land acquisition, resettlement, indigenous peoples, and labor. The role involves providing technical support for ADB-financed projects, both sovereign and non-sovereign, and developing good practice guidance for ADB staff, borrowers, and clients. The specialist will work closely with various teams within ADB to ensure that social safeguards are effectively integrated into project planning and execution. This position requires a proactive approach to engage with clients and stakeholders, ensuring that social safeguard policies are adhered to and that the needs of affected communities are addressed. The specialist will also contribute to the periodic review of ADB's safeguard policy and support knowledge generation and sharing on social safeguards within ADB and with external partners.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Safeguards Specialist (Social) will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including but not limited to: assisting with the application of social safeguard policies related to land acquisition, resettlement, indigenous peoples, and labor; providing technical support for the preparation and implementation of ADB-financed projects; developing good practice guidance and delivering capacity-building and training activities for ADB staff, borrowers, and clients; contributing to the periodic review of ADB's safeguard policy; providing technical guidance to ensure the implementation and monitoring of ADB's social safeguards policy; participating in safeguard due diligence and supporting borrowers and clients during project preparation and implementation; guiding the quality-at-entry of social safeguard documents; collaborating with safeguards and project teams to ensure meaningful partner engagement; supporting the management of project complaints and grievance management; assessing and advising on country safeguard systems; generating and sharing knowledge on social safeguards; strengthening ADB's safeguard monitoring and information systems; contributing to cross-departmental projects; and providing leadership and support to reporting staff.

Required Qualifications:
To be considered for the Safeguards Specialist (Social) position, candidates must possess a Master's degree in applied social sciences or a related field. Alternatively, a university degree combined with at least five years of specialized experience relevant to the position may be considered. Candidates should have a minimum of 6 years of work experience or relevant professional experience, with international experience working in several countries. Demonstrated experience addressing cross-cutting environmental and social issues, such as gender, poverty and social analysis, partner engagement, and grievance mechanisms, is essential. Candidates should also have experience applying a commercially informed approach to implementing safeguard requirements in developing country contexts, along with a strong ability to negotiate complex outcomes across multiple levels and partners. An established track record in delivering capacity-building projects and training on safeguards-related topics is also required, as well as experience working with multilateral development banks and solid knowledge of their partner engagement and grievance redress policies. Strong communication skills to convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences are necessary.

Educational Background:
Candidates for the Safeguards Specialist (Social) position should ideally hold a Master's degree in applied social sciences or a related field. In cases where candidates possess a university degree, they must also have at least five years of specialized experience relevant to the position. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of social safeguards and their implementation in various contexts.

Experience:
The position requires at least 6 years of relevant professional experience, with a strong emphasis on international experience working in multiple countries. Candidates should have a demonstrated history of addressing environmental and social issues, particularly in relation to gender, poverty, and social analysis. Experience in negotiating complex outcomes and delivering capacity-building projects is also essential, as is familiarity with the operations of multilateral development banks.

Languages:
While the job posting does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential given the international nature of the organization and the need to communicate complex technical concepts. Additional languages relevant to the Asia-Pacific region may be considered advantageous but are not explicitly stated as requirements.

Additional Notes:
This appointment is open to both internal and external applicants and is a fixed-term appointment for an initial period of 3 years. At the end of this period, the appointment may be extended for up to 2 years, converted to a regular appointment, or ended based on ADB's needs and the staff member's performance. ADB offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package, including housing and education allowances (if applicable), expatriate benefits (if applicable), relocation assistance (if applicable), a retirement plan, medical and health benefits, paid leave (including parental leave), and life and other insurance plans. ADB is committed to creating an inclusive work environment and encourages all qualified candidates to apply.