Recruitment of Social Development Specialist — Regional Digital Integration Project (FGS Somalia)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI)

COUNTRY: Federal Government of Somalia (FGS)

NAME OF PROJECT: Regional Digital Integration Project (EA-RDIP)

PROJECT ID: P176181

ASSIGNMENT TITLE: Social Development Specialist

REFERENCE NO.: SO-MOCT-FGS-417015-CS-INDV

PLACE OF ASSIGNMENT: Mogadishu, Somalia

APPLICATION DEADLINE DATE: July 20, 2024, at (3.00pm, Local Time).

Project Background:

The Federal Government of Somalia has received a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank toward the cost of the Regional Digital Integration Project (EA-RDIP). The Ministry of Communications and Technology (MoCT) intends to apply part of the proceeds of these Grants to finance for the position of Social Development Specialist.

The Ministry of Communications and Technology is looking to hire a qualified Social Development Specialist to provide technical expertise on social safeguards compliances under the National and World Bank Framework (ESF) guidelines. The Social Development Specialist will be part of the environmental and social risk management team of the Project Implementation Unit and will be responsible for overall social safeguard management under the project.

The Regional Digital Integration Project (EA-RDIP) addresses connectivity needs for countries in the Horn of Africa region. The program aims to advance the regional integration of digital markets in Eastern Africa through supporting cross-border connectivity, harmonization of data and e-commerce regulations and policies, and removal of trade barriers, with the vision of establishing a Single Digital Market (SDM). The EA-RDIP project has four components, as briefly described below:

• Component 1. Connectivity Market Development and Integration.

• Component 2. Data Market Development and Integration.

• Component 3. Online Market Development and integration.

• Component 4. Project Management and implementation.

Scope of Work:

The Social Development Specialist will be responsible for the implementation and supervision of all aspects related to implementation of social risk management instruments including Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), Labour management procedure (LMP), Social Assessments, and grievances redress mechanism (GRM). She/he will monitor the implementing partners’ teams to ensure that all social safeguard commitments are incorporated into the project activities and work processes. The Social Development Specialist will report to the Project Coordinator. The assignment will be conducted with substantial engagement with Federal Government of Somalia, Federal Member States (FMS) and institutions, including the project implementing entities with substantial participations by local experts, the private sector, NGOs and development partners. For more details refer to the Terms and Reference (ToR).

Qualifications and Experiences:

Selection Criteria

The Social Development Specialist should have the following minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Anthropology, Law, Community Development or relevant social science fields, Master’s degree or above in these fields is desirable .

• At least seven (7) years of experience in the social development field with a focus on stakeholder and community engagements, inclusion, complaints and grievances management, vulnerable and minorities, disability, displaced populations and refugee/returnee influx.

• Broad understanding of the national policies, laws and regulations on social issues above and familiarity of World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and commitment to develop skills in social risk management.

• Fluency in Somali and English, with the ability to produce good quality written products in both languages.

• Good experience of managing grievance and complaints systems within a public or private-sector programme.

• Excellent understanding and commitment to social inclusion, conflict mitigation, labour management, stakeholder engagement and participatory development.

Duration of the Assignment: The Social Development Specialist will be engaged for a period of one (1) year subject to renewal on an annual basis based on satisfactory performance certified by MoCT and availability of funds.

The Ministry of Communications and Technology now invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested Individual Consultants must submit their Curriculum Vitae (CV) and cover letter indicating that they are qualified to perform the services.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) can be found at the following website: https://moct.gov.so/en/jobs/ or it can be forwarded to the applicant upon written request to the project generic email address indicated below.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers: Procurement in Investment Financing - Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services dated July 2016 and revised in November 2017, August 2018, November 2020 and September 2023, (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

The selection will be conducted in accordance with the procedures for selection of Individual Consultants set out in the World Bank Procurement Regulations for Investment Project Financing (IPF) Borrowers dated September 2023 (Procurement Regulations).

Interested Consultant may obtain further information in a written communication to the below project generic email address during office hours from 8:30am to 3.30pm local time (Excluding public holidays).

A Complete application of Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Cover letter should be submitted electronically (by e-mail) to the address below on, or before July 20, 2024, at 3.00pm, (Local Time) marked clearly as “Expression of Interest for Social Development Specialist; SO-MOCT-FGS-417015-CS-INDV)”

To: Procurement Office, EA-RDIP

Project Implementation Unit (PIU)

The Ministry of Communications and Technology (MoCT)

E-mail: [email protected]

Jamhuuriya road, Boondheere district,

Mogadishu, Somalia

Copy to: The Office of the Director General

Ministry of Communications and Technology (MoCT)

Federal Government of Somalia

E-mail: [email protected]

Jamhuuriya road, Boondheere district,

Mogadishu, Somalia.