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Job Position- Senior Social Safeguards Specialist

Friday, August 3, 2018 to Monday, September 17, 2018
ToR Snr Social Safeguards Specialist

 Senior Social Safeguards Specialist

Our client, the West African Power Pool (WAPP), is an institution established by the mandate of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to, among others, develop a sustainable regional electricity supply system in order to promote the economic growth of the ECOWAS sub region. To achieve this objective, there is the need for WAPP to establish a regional electricity market in West Africa through the appropriate development and implementation of key infrastructure so that all ECOWAS member states are given access to economic energy resources.

Within this framework, the Governments of Nigeria, Niger, Benin, Togo and Burkina are collaborating to develop a sub-regional interconnection project referred to as the 330 kV WAPP North Core Project. The project involves the construction of approximately 875 km of 330 kV transmission lines from Nigeria to Burkina Faso, through Niger, and Benin. As a social mitigation measure, the project also envisages the electrification of rural communities located within a 5 km radius on both sides of the line, as well as the implementation of other environmental and social mitigation measures.

An Implementation Management Unit (IMU) with one central office in Abuja and local offices in the other countries is being established as part of the project’s institutional framework to, among others, assist in the preparation and physical implementation of the North Core project.

Blueprint Consult Company Limited, on behalf of WAPP, is recruiting for the following six (6) key positions of the Implementation Management Unit (IMU) and invites qualified professionals to submit their applications for consideration.

The Senior Social Safeguards Specialist will review social safeguards instruments such as Resettlement Policy  frameworks and Resettlement Action Plans in collaboration with relevant government agencies and local beneficiary groups. S/he will be responsible for compensation processing, monitoring of ESMP and implementation of RAP. The Specialist will also oversee the grievance redress mechanisms and continuous communication with the affected communities. The jobholder will also ensure safeguards policy compliance of the project.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Enforce social safeguards measures of the project as stipulated in the RAP and ESMP.
  • Monitor the enumeration and valuation of land, crops and property and other assets and facilitate prompt processing and timely and accurate payment of compensation by relevant institutions,
  • Coordinate community interactions and activities with the Project Affected Persons (PAPs) and other stakeholders;
  • Oversee the grievance redress mechanisms to ensure any issues are resolved in a timely manner;
  • Conduct and facilitate outreach programs to educate affected persons on the social benefits of the project

Requirements:

  • Masters degree and above in a relevant field of Study such as Anthropology, Sociology, Applied Social Science, Environmental Science or other related fields with at least eight (8) years of professional experience as a Social Safeguard Specialist on a similar Development project OR
  • Bachelors degree/HND in Anthropology, Sociology, Applied Social Science, Environmental Science or other related fields combined with specialized experience of a minimum of fifteen (15) years as Social Safeguards Specialist on a similar project, may be considered in lieu of a post graduate degree.
  • International or regional experience in coordinating and working with multi-disciplinary teams and project stakeholders in similarly complex regional energy sector projects is essential for this position.
  • Knowledge of World Bank guidelines and procedures on social safeguards, social assessment, social analysis, effective stakeholder engagement and grievance redress systems etc.
  • Knowledge of practices and cultures of communities affected by the project

Skills and competencies:

  • Ability to work in a team, supervise and motivate a project team.
  • Demonstrated capacity to lead operational and analytical tasks
  • Experience in facilitating consultations and setting up grievance mechanisms
  • Field experience is highly desirable

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

  • With the exception of the Senior M&E Specialist and the Senior Financial Specialist, jobholders for the remaining positions are required to be fluent in French and English. Ability to use relevant computer software (MS Word, Excel, Power Point) as well as the internet is also a key requirement for all positions.
  • These are full time positions, envisaged for a term of approximately 36 months. Successful candidates will be stationed at the IMU Head Office in Abuja, Nigeria but will be required to make frequent visits to the field offices of the IMU and/or project sites located in any of the following countries: Nigeria, Niger, Benin, Togo and Burkina Faso.
  • Shortlisted candidates must be ready to travel for interviews within two (2) weeks from the date of notification.

HOW TO APPLY:

ToR Snr Social Safeguards Specialist