As part of comprehensive approach to supporting human capital investment, the Social Protection & Jobs Global Practice delivers operational approaches and evidence-based solutions to help individuals and families manage risk, cope with chronic/transitional poverty, and access better livelihoods and jobs.
These include:
Strategy, analysis, financing and design of programs delivering social safety nets/social assistance in the form of cash transfers, public works programs, and fee waivers;
Advisory and analytical services on design and delivery of contributory transfers (including old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, disability and survivor benefits), and their fiscal sustainability (including budget support for transitions);
Analysis, design and delivery of labor market and youth employment programs (with a focus on supply side interventions and intermediation policies), as well as policy advice on labor market regulations and interventions; and
Strategy, analysis, financing and design of integrated social protection delivery systems (e.g., payments, identification, registries, systems assessments) as underpinnings of effective social programs that can help cope with climatic shocks or underpin fiscal reforms.
The SPJ Global Practice has a large and growing portfolio in West and Central Africa, which includes both long-standing engagements on safety nets and more recent innovations around jobs for youth and digital delivery systems. The portfolio includes low- and middle-income countries as well as fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
The successful candidate will play a critical role in the social protection and jobs engagement in Gabon and be a key member of the Gabon SPJ team. S/he will focus on the effective implementation of ongoing analytical and technical assistance work, while working to broaden the engagement with clients. The selected candidate will be based in Libreville.
S/he will be a member of the West and Central Africa Unit of the Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice and report to the Practice Manager for the unit. The position will involve frequent interaction with government counterparts and other donor agencies. The position will also require close interaction with colleagues from the CMU, from other GPs, and with colleagues within SPJ and across units of the World Bank.
Major responsibilities include:
Support high-level policy dialogue on social protection and social policy, with a focus on non-contributory social assistance and system building with key sector ministries as needed;
Participate in technical meetings on the ongoing targeting reform, including on the GEF enumeration and recertification as well as the issuance of related decrees and regulations;
Support the Team Task Leader in preparing a new safety nets operation by participating in broad government consultations, conducting assessments and other analytical work, and contributing to the preparation of documents for the internal review and approval processes;
Provide day-to-day supervision support during project implementation, including oversight of risk management issues in collaboration with relevant World Bank specialists (e.g., financial management, procurement, social and environmental safeguards);
Ensure strong coordination with other Global Practices working on related objectives, especially Poverty, Digital Development, Health, and Education, as well as with development partners active on social protection in Gabon;
Participate in missions and support internal operations and processing, including the preparation of mission-related documents and reporting on implementation progress; and
Contribute to country-level studies and analytical tasks addressing SPJ and human capital issues.
Selection Criteria
Graduate degree and minimum of Masters’ level qualification in economics, human development (social protection, education, health), social policy or related sector;
Minimum of five years of relevant experience in analytical and/or operational work, social protection and jobs, community-driven development, and/or safety nets;
Experience working with clients to build capacity and engage in dialogue on social protection and service delivery;
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and French;
Experience in World Bank operations as demonstrated through being team member for lending operations is a plus; similarly work with other large international organizations, NGOs and/or Government agencies specializing in social protection.
