Consultancy services for Sr. Social Development Specialist — Regional Climate Resilience Program (RCRP) for Eastern and Southern Africa (P180171) i…

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN

MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES AND IRRIGATIONS

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI)

COUNTRY: Republic of South Sudan

NAME OF PROJECT: Regional Climate Resilience Program (RCRP) for Eastern and Southern Africa

PROJECT ID: P180171

Assignment Title: Senior Social Development Specialist

Reference No.: SS-MWRI-333610-CS-INDV

Place of assignment: Juba, South Sudan

Closing Date: 14th April 2023

1.Background Information

The Government of South Sudan, through the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI), is preparing a key project to address key water sector challenges in South Sudan: the Climate Resilient Flood Management project that is integrated in the Phase 1 of the Regional Climate Resilience Program (RCRP) for Eastern and Southern Africa (P180171).

The Phase 1 of the RCRP aims to improve the management of water-related climate impacts in Eastern and Southern Africa with South Sudan as one of the focus countries. This initial project is meant to help South Sudan prepare for the long-term flood and drought protection measures and investments. It focuses on non-structural measures, including climate resilient water resource management planning, early warning, improved monitoring and forecasting capacities, flood risk mapping, and community level interventions, rehabilitation of existing flood protection and water retention and storage infrastructure, including potential support to natural-capital based livelihood activities in flood-prone areas. Total potential project financing for South Sudan RCRP Phase 1 is US$ 215M for a period of 5 years (2023 – 2028).

The RCRP project is a led by the government, through the MWRI, and financed by the World Bank through grants from the International Development Association (IDA). Particularly for the case of the RCRP, IDA financing comes from the national allocation to South Sudan and several other windows: i) regional integration (RI), ii) crisis response windows (CRW), and iii) the window for Host Communities and Refugees (HRW). The MWRI has established a Project implementation Unit (PIU) to manage the preparation and implementation of the project where technical assistance under the project management component is needed to leverage opportunities for capacity building and to support aspects such as compliance with Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) and the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), fiduciary capacity building, M&E, third-party monitoring (TPM), etc.

A Project preparation Advance (PPA) has been approved for the RCRP Phase 1 – South Sudan and the MWRI intends to apply part of the PPA proceeds towards recruitment of experts who will work alongside with the National staff drawn from the Ministry of Water resources and Irrigation to support the PIU smooth implementation of the RCRP project.

A Project Management Unit (PMU) shall be established within the MWRI for RCRP with the primary task of project implementation and overseeing service providers, stakeholder outreach and communications, fiduciary and procurement management, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), community engagement, and risk management related to social and environmental safeguards, fiduciary oversight as well as maintaining infrastructure quality and standards.

The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation intends to apply part of the proceeds of the grant to fund the position of a Senior Social Development Specialist to ensure that all activities, particularly civil works and other related activities under the Project are undertaken in full compliance with the Project’s Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) freely available for consultation at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/environmental-and-social-framework/brief/environmental-and-social-standards

He/she will be based in the Project Implementation Unit.

• Scope of Services and Responsibilities: The scope of services for the position includes but not limited to the following duties and responsibilities:

• Ensure that all activities, civil works related activities, under the project particularly the RCRP including the PPA, are undertaken in full compliance with the Project’s Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF).
• Provide overall social management oversight during the implementation of the project, support and advise the Project Manager and the project team in addressing social issues at all the stages of the implementation.
• Provide guidance and technical support for screening activities under the project for social risks and impacts and vulnerabilities, identify impact and risk management opportunities/strategies, and prepare the required E&S instruments (ESIA/ESMP/RAPs).
• Lead on the implementation of stakeholder engagement activities as per the Project’s Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEPs), including the implementation of information dissemination and stakeholder consultations.
• Contribute to the preparation of the project implementation manual (PIM) with focus on social standards and social risk management aspects.
• Lead on the implementation and administration of the Project’s Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM).
• Support the implementation of the Project’s Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) / Sexual Harassment (SH) Action Plans.
• Ensure compliance of all Project workers with the Project’s Labor Management Procedures (LMP).
• Guide the project implementing partners/works contractors in preparing the necessary E&S instruments (ESIA/ESMP/RAP) and review them for quality assurance.
• Maintain regular dialogue and assist with enhancing implementing partners/works contractors’ capacity to comply with World Bank environmental and social standards.
• Monitor compliance of project-financed activities with World Bank social standards and mitigation measures as laid out in the Project’s E&S instruments by participating in project technical discussions and field visits, reviewing project reports and recommending adequate measures.
• Assist the PIU in liaising with the World Bank social specialists.
• Administer the reception and review of implementing partners’ and contractors’ regular reports, including the preparation of reporting templates.
• Prepare E&S compliance inputs on social issues, the SEP, the GRM, the SEA/SH Action Plan, and other topics as part of the regular Project Progress Reports to the World Bank.
• Selection Criteria: Selection shall be based on qualification and experience of the candidate and followed by an interview. The qualification and experience required for short listing will include:

(i) university degree (MA or PhD) in social sciences, including Sociology, Social Anthropology, Development Studies or similar subjects is required; (ii) minimum of 8 years of full-time relevant professional experience in social development and social risks management; (iii) Exposure to the development work with international organizations and a range of stakeholders is an advantage; (iv) experience in stakeholder engagement required; (v) demonstrated experience conducting social assessment and management of social risks and impacts in a development/humanitarian organization, Government agency and/or private firm; (vi) good interpersonal and communication skills; (vii) demonstrated ability to work in a team; (viii) fluency in English is required (writing, speaking, listening and reading); and (ix) computer literacy (MS Office) and good quantitative analytical skills.

The shortlisted candidates will be invited for oral interview. Consultant will be required to possess the skills, concepts, knowledge, and principles required to carry out the job tasks.

Government officials or civil servants will not be considered unless: (i) they are on leave of absence without pay or have resigned or retired six months prior to the date of the advert; and (ii) their employment will not create Conflict of interest.

• Duration: Duration of the assignment is 24 months, renewable based on satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

• The attention of interested individual consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s ‘Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers’ July 2016 revised November 2017, July 2018 and November 2020 [Procurement in investment Project Financing; Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services], setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest

• A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultants Selection method set out in the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations.

• The MWRI now invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the above-mentioned services. Interested Consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services and furnish their EOI and Curriculum Vitae (CV).

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Submission of Applications and deadline:

A signed Expressions of interest (EOI) and CV with 3 reference persons must be sent to MWRI by Friday 14th April 2023 at 16:00 hours (Juba local time). The packages must be clearly marked as “Application for Senior Social Development Specialist” and submitted to:

Directorate for Planning and Programs

Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation

Juba, Republic of South Sudan

Located at Hai Cinema near World Relief

Or by Email to;

Email: [email protected]