Social Safeguards And Gender Specialist

BACKGROUND
IPMC is part of the Sustainable Development Network of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and is responsible for: a) the quality of the social development aspects of the governments lending and non-lending operations; and b) quality enhancement of the social development portfolio. We seek to empower the poor by increasing their social assets and capacities. It aims to promote inclusive institutions, thereby increasing opportunities for more secure livelihoods, ultimately creating more gender-equitable, inclusive and just societies. IPMC contributes to increased development effectiveness and helps projects, programs and policies better meet their goals and objectives. IPMC is currently implementing an initiative to formulate an operational framework for enhancing development benefits to the Urban Water Sector Reform, facilitate Water supply and Sanitation projects in local communities as part of the wider Sustainable Development Network’s effort to ensure that infrastructure projects are socially and environmentally sustainable. IPMC is recruiting a Social Safeguards and Gender Specialist to support the department’s work on enhancing development benefits to local communities in the Urban Water Sector Reform, integrated water supply management development, sanitation projects, and other similar infrastructure and industry projects. The position is funded by the Nigerian Government.

DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
The Social Safeguards and Gender Specialist will work closely with the Team Leader and Lead Social Development Specialist, Inclusion and Social Safeguards Team. Specific duties and accountabilities will include:
1. Identify, plan and conduct analytical work that assesses development benefits to local communities, taking into account gender and poverty-sensitive aspects in reformed water supply and sanitation project, integrated water management development, and other similar infrastructure and industry projects in close collaboration with the Nigerian water corporation.  
2. Design analytical approaches, general frameworks, and mechanisms that will contribute to the enhancement of equitable development benefits to local communities in close collaboration with the Nigerian water corporation.
3. Prepare discussion notes on particular issues concerning development benefits to local communities.
 4. Review existing practices and past experiences in benefit sharing with local communities in close collaboration with the Nigerian water sector and regional operational colleagues.
5. Assess the efficiency and limitations of benefit-sharing mechanisms including from a gender perspective and make recommendations as to their adaptation to urban water sector reform activities based on lessons learned and good practices.
 6. Lead the preparation of a tool kit to provide guidance and practical assistance for Task Teams preparing gender-sensitive development benefits arrangements.
7. Provide operational support to urban water sector reform, integrated water management development, sanitation projects, and other similar infrastructure and industry projects focusing on developing appropriate and innovative arrangements for providing development benefits to local communities. Assist other team members providing operational support to urban water sector reform infrastructure projects.
 8. Contribute to establishing a network of practitioners in development benefits in the water sector, including borrower government counterparts, civil society, Indigenous Peoples organizations and academia and ensuring gender equity.
9. Review the draft concept note and a draft pre-feasibility study, and in particular, the consultant is expected to
a) Provide expert inputs on the identification of potential environmental and social risks, and
b) Facilitate discussion on related issues during stakeholder consultations;
10. Lead in the identification of (i) potential social and environmental risks; (ii) impact and probability rating; (iii) significance rating; (iv) overall project risk categorization

SELECTION CRITERIA
The selected candidate will have an advanced degree in anthropology, sociology or related social sciences with a minimum of 10 years of experience - preferably but not exclusively in developing countries.
The candidate who has comprehensive and in-depth expertise in designing benefit-sharing arrangements in urban water sector reform and sanitation or similar infrastructure projects will be given priority.
Must be certified as a professional engineer
Minimum requirements include:  
Proven ability to conceptualize, design and implement sustainable and community development projects
Proven ability to conduct culturally sensitive and gender-sensitive consultations with local communities, including Indigenous Peoples, which produce real results and lead to positive outcomes.  
Ability to make principled and balanced decisions and able to operate effectively in a results-oriented culture, combined with an understanding of the cultural diversity, gender bias and political environment in the sub-Sahara region
Demonstrated professional leadership and the ability to coordinate a team of professionals in the implementation of major development efforts  
Ability to work within a highly diverse team and multi-professional environment where financial, technical, environmental and social aspects must be taken into consideration and balanced in the study and decision-making process.  
Ability to work with as well as supervise and coach junior staff
Ability to think creatively in dealing with policy and operational issues while maintaining a strong client focus
Proven ability to prepare complex reports
Strong written and verbal communication skills, demonstrated the ability to make effective presentations to diverse audiences  
Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated the capacity to work effectively in teams with diverse cultural backgrounds
Willingness to travel frequently often to remote rural areas