Associate Social Development Officer (Safeguards)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

ADB will be rolling-out its operating model which may result in the change of department/group and/or reporting arrangement(s). By proceeding with your application, you acknowledge and accept the possibility of such changes resulting from the new operating model (NOM).

This vacancy is a local staff position. It is open only to nationals and residents of Mongolia.

This is a standard fixed-term appointment for a period of three (3) years.

Overview

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 68 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

ADB only hires nationals of its 68 members.

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

The position is assigned in the Mongolia Resident Mission (MNRM) of the East Asia Department (EARD), which is responsible for maintaining relationships and developing ADB assistance to developing member countries of Mongolia (MON) and People’s Republic of China. MNRM provides the primary operational link between ADB and the government, private-sector, civil-society stakeholders, and with other multilateral and bilateral development agencies and other sources of development finance in its activities. MNRM engages in policy dialogue and acts as a knowledge base on development issues in MON.

Job Purpose

The Associate Social Development Officer (Safeguards) will support ADB’s work in social development and assist MNRM in addressing social safeguards (involuntary resettlement and indigenous people) and non-safeguards social dimensions (social risk analysis, partnering with communities, etc.) in project design, implementation and operation, promote ADB and the government’s policies on social development and safeguard, liaise with project teams and provide guidance. This position reports to the designated International Staff and senior National Staff

Responsibilities

Policy Support Area

• Assists MNRM Country Director, ADB's Headquarters missions, and MNRM staff in policy dialogue with the government on relevant social development and safeguard aspects of ADB Operations in the country.
• Assists with reviewing of country policies on social development, particularly related to poor and vulnerable sections and indigenous peoples and undertaking timely social risk analysis, including poverty and social impact assessments.
• Assists MNRM in the overall implementation of ADB's social protection strategy and policies on building inclusive, resilient, competitive and sustainable communities.
• Acts as the MNRM focal person for involuntary resettlement and indigenous peoples’ safeguards and facilitates the communications among the government, external funding agencies, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), and ADB on the social development, involuntary resettlement and indigenous people’s issues.

Project and TA Processing

• Participates in project processing missions, as needed, and provides relevant inputs on social safeguards, including preparation of terms of reference for social impact assessment and necessary safeguard planning documents related to involuntary resettlement and indigenous peoples.
• Provides technical support to sector divisions (on assignment basis), including review of papers, feasibility studies, appraisal reports and other relevant documents from the perspective of land acquisition and resettlement management, and impacts on indigenous peoples.
• Keeps track of policies, laws, rules and regulations on land acquisition and resettlement.
• Collaborates and liaises with the government, its executing agencies (EA) and implementing agencies (IA) and with other donor agencies on involuntary resettlement and indigenous peoples’ issues.
• Provides technical support to safeguard specialists in sector divisions of EARD in preparation and implementation of technical assistance (TA) projects related to land acquisition and involuntary resettlement, livelihood restoration and capacity building for safeguards implementation.
• Initiates, as required, stand-alone projects to enhance the social development and safeguard results of ADB operations.

Project and TA Administration

• Participates and contributes actively in loans/grants or TA project review or consultative missions to reflect on social development and safeguard issues, contribute to project review reports, mission aide memoire or memorandum of understanding, assess compliance on social safeguard (resettlement, indigenous people) and related project covenants, address implementation issues, and recommend follow-up actions.
• Reviews social safeguard (resettlement, indigenous people) documents during project implementation (e.g., social safeguards monitoring and evaluation reports, social compliance audits, due diligence reports, project progress reports, and project completion reports), assesses the quality of compliance with ADB social safeguard policies, contributes to the safeguards planning documents related to project scope change or additional financing, formulates recommendations, suggests special actions, alternative interventions, and mitigating measures, as required.
• Provides TA to EA/IA and external monitors to improve their monitoring, evaluation, supervision and reporting of resettlement progress.
• Monitors the status of grievance redress mechanism and any compliance or outstanding issues, including agreed actions to ensure compliance, improve safeguard implementation and consulting with affected communities about potential project impacts, and restoring the livelihoods of displaced people. Prepares summary reports and regular updates on the status and outcome of agreed actions. Follows up with the project team on the status, as needed.
• Explains ADB’s policies and procedures related to land acquisition and resettlement to EA/IA and advises EA/IA in resolving problems.
• Maintains the MNRM involuntary resettlement and indigenous peoples safeguard database, analyzes relevant safeguard data to enable periodic compliance reporting, works closely with sector divisions and MNRM staff in updating the Safeguard Tracking System specific to submission and disclosure of safeguards monitoring documents.
• Contributes independently in project completion review missions and country portfolio review missions, prepares inputs to the review reports.

Knowledge Management, Capacity Building, and Communications

• Provides technical inputs to special reports, knowledge products, and studies, to reviews of policy papers and reports sent by other ADB departments or other IFIs on safeguard updates and plans.
• Maintains regular contacts with the government, advises the EA/IA, project sponsors, consultants, CSOPl, and NGOs on ADB's social safeguard (resettlement, indigenous peoples) policies, guidelines, and procedures, and assists in preparing appropriate frameworks, plans and actions to address social safeguard (resettlement, indigenous peoples) issues during project development and implementation.
• Identifies capacity building/development needs for potential ADB’s support in the areas of social development and safeguard, assists in organizing conferences and workshops, maintains a repository of reference materials.
• Conducts training to EA/IAs on ADB’s social safeguards (resettlement, indigenous people) policies and guidelines, assists the focal persons for social safeguard (resettlement, indigenous people) on social dimensions.
• Guides MNRM project officers, assistants, and analysts on safeguard requirements during project processing and implementation, assists in safeguard policy compliance training programs for MNRM staff.

Qualifications

Relevant Experience & Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in applied social sciences (e.g., technical economics and management, migration science and management, sociology, demography, anthropology, etc.) or other related disciplines, preferably with advanced training
• At least 6 years of relevant work experience in involuntary resettlement and/or indigenous peoples/ethnic minorities safeguards (in the context of development projects, research, or NGO initiatives).
• Good knowledge and understanding of project implementation and of environmental and social dimensions in development projects and program.
• Strong capacity to communicate with government agencies, local communities, civil societies, and other stakeholder.
• Experience in facilitation of decision making, planning and conflict management.
• Familiarity with local institutions and government procedures
• Proficiency in computer applications, especially word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to work collaboratively with individuals from different cultural/national backgrounds and diverse teams as a constructive team member
• Strong oral and written communications skills in Mongolian and English
• Ability to work under pressure of tight deadlines and multiple demands
• Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for National Staff Level 1.

General Considerations

The selected candidate, if new to ADB, is appointed for an initial term of 3 years.

ADB offers competitive remuneration and a comprehensive benefits package. Actual appointment salary will be based on ADB’s standards and computation, taking into account the selected individual’s qualifications and experience.

ADB seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities to work in an inclusive environment. ADB encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Please note that the actual level and salary will be based on qualifications of the selected candidate.