JOB DETAILS:
1. Background
The Government of the Republic of Uganda represented by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, in collaboration with the International Development Association (IDA) and other development partners including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Sweden is implementing the Industrial Transformation and Employment (INVITE) project. The Project is financed by IDA and by a Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF).

The Project Development Objective is to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on private sector investment and employment and to support new economic opportunities including refugee and host communities. The Project comprises of four (4) components and is being implemented jointly by the Bank of Uganda (BoU) through the INVITE Trust and Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU). The Project Components include Component 1: Mitigating the Impact of COVID-19 with a focus on the Manufacturing and Exporting Sectors Driving Economic Transformation, including Refugee and Hosting Districts; Component 2: Creating New Product and Transformative Assets including in Refugee and Host Districts; Component 3: Enhancing Capabilities in Public Institutions and Private Firms; and Component 4: Implementation Support, Monitoring, and Evaluation.

BoU through the INVITE Trust is implementing Component 1.1, Component 1.2, Component 1.3, Component 2.1, Component 2.2, and Component 4b.

Component 1.1 will support loans that have been restructured under the Bank of Uganda COVID-19 response approach, primarily in the manufacturing and exporting sectors by covering part of the added financial cost due to the restructuring, qualifying MSMEs who received an extension of the amortization period on their loans will reduce the MSMEs incremental cost or debt servicing liability. The cost for this rebate will be shared with Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs).

Component 1.2 will target micro firms, including in Refugee Hosting Districts (RHDs), to enable them to restart or continue their operations as critical units in funding links between producers and aggregators, processors, and distributors. The majority of the micro firms to be targeted will be female owned firms that have been particularly affected. The window will provide a line of credit to Micro Finance Deposit-taking institutions (MFDs), MFIs and SACCOs regulated by the Bank of Uganda and the Uganda Micro Finance Regulatory Authority (UMRA) and in compliance with the project’s eligibility requirements.

Component 1.3 (receivables financing) seeks to provide finance to MSMEs based on security in the form of their receivables. Buyers, which are usually larger formal enterprises, normally pay their invoices with a delay of up to three months, thereby negatively affecting the liquidity of often small, informal enterprise suppliers.

Component 2.1 will target MSMEs with a focus on manufacturing and export supply chains, by setting up a Credit Guarantee Facility (CGF) to share the risks associated with new lending on a proposed 50/50 basis with PFIs and guarantee will be available to those in tier I, II and III institutions that meet the Window’s eligibility requirements.

Component 2.2 will provide long-term financing in the form of subordinated/convertible long-term local currency loans. This instrument targets key economic assets, and private and public-sponsored projects. It will be available to finance critical projects led by the public sector or the private sector, such as grain storage facilities or collection centers, cold storage, laboratories, SME Centers, industry and manufacturing hubs, etc.

Component 4b will support the establishment of operations systems in the BoU, including the legal advice to set up the INVITE Trust, the environmental and social systems, a management information system, the technical and financial design, risk management framework, and the operational support for the financing of components 1 and 2.

The implementation of INVITE has social impacts which will require management in line with the relevant policies, laws, regulations, and guidelines of the Republic of Uganda and the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework. All the 10 World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) are triggered by the components implemented by INVITE Trust. The potential social risks associated with (i) land acquisition and physical/economic displacement, (ii) influx of labor into project sites, (iii) exclusion of vulnerable groups from project benefits, (iv) and the risk of social tension in the community due to lack of access to a functioning grievance redress and limited community engagement.

The PSFU now invites suitably qualified individuals, with qualifications and experience as detailed below, to apply for the position of Social Development Specialist (SDS)-INVITE Trust.

2. Objective of assignment
The SDS will ensure that implementation of the INVITE project is undertaken in full compliance with the Project’s Environmental and social Commitment Plan (ESCP); Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF); Project Appraisal Document (PAD); and the Appraisal Environmental and Social Review Summary (ESRS), Uganda laws, regulations and policies.

3. Key Result Areas:
a) Implementation of procedures for E&S due diligence on PFIs’ Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) as well as specific activities financed under INVITE Trust components;
b) Strengthen the implementations of INVITE Trust E&S instruments;

c) Preparation of quarterly E&S compliance reports;
d) Undertake monitoring on compliance of E&S standards;
e) Capacity building and knowledge transfer on environmental and social standards. This will include training the relevant entities and PFIs on mainstreaming social issues during project development and implementation;
f) Strengthen the implementations for critical ESMF provisions;
g) Provision of guidance on procedures of land acquisition as stipulated in the project Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF);
h) Sensitization and community engagement on the social risks;
i) Address potential exclusion of vulnerable groups from project benefits and;
j) Mainstream functional grievance redress mechanism for the INVITE Trust.

4. Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
a) Take the lead in the implementation of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF)
b) b) Monitor compliance and identify emerging project-related social risks and support implementation of related social risk management actions;
c) Support the PFIs in the development and implementation of their ESMSs;
c) d) Support E&S screening of lending or other forms of financial support provided by the PFIs to their borrowers from the proceeds of the IDA funds under INVITE;
d) e) Support the project to comply with World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and ESS9;
e) f) Detail INVITE Trust’s procedures for E&S due diligence on PFIs’ ESMS and PFI ESMS requirements as well as specific activities financed under INVITE;
f) g) Providing specific time-bound actions and practical steps for integrating Social Risk Management into the activities supported by INVITE, including the specific tools to be integrated into the deal flow for each financial transaction type supported under INVITE;
g) h) Prepare specific tools for implementation by PFIs to screen and mitigate social risks in transactions supported by the World Bank;
i) Supervise PFI to ensure that subproject sponsors prepare and disclose all risk assessment and management instruments (ESIA/ESMPs, ESA, etc.);
k) Ensuring that PFIs conduct adequate screening and monitoring of MSME support they provide from the INVITE Trust proceeds in accordance with national legislation and ESMF;
l) Guide the PFIs on land acquisition procedures in line with the RPF;

m) Support the preparation and operationalization of the INVITE Trust/PFIs Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRMs);
n) Sensitize staff and other Stakeholders on the Social standards requirements for INVITE; including the rights and obligations of all the parties involved;
o) Ensure inclusion and access of project benefits for vulnerable groups;
p) Support the dissemination of information regarding addressing the social impact;
q) Participate in site meetings and provide technical guidance on the above-mentioned areas among other social-related concerns;
r) Prepare regular and ad hoc Social reports for management action;
s) Contribute to the development of new tools and methodologies for addressing social risks
t) Take part in the training of key technical staff of participating agencies and PFIs in the environment and social screening, social management and Resettlement Policy Framework management, Child Protection, and gender responsiveness;
u) Disseminate good practices in social risk management;
v) Perform any other related duties as may be assigned from time to time.

5. Qualifications, Experience, and other skills and competencies:
5.1 Academic Qualifications: Applicants should possess:
(i) Master’s Degree in any of the following disciplines Sociology, Anthropology, Public Policy and Administration, Development Studies, Gender Studies or other relevant Social Science fields from a recognized institution;
(ii) a Bachelor’s degree in either Social Work, Social Sciences, Gender Studies or Development Studies;
(iii) Membership in a related professional association(s) will be of added advantage.

5.2 Experience:
(i) At least eight (8) years demonstrated experience in the field of Assessment and management of Social Impacts;
(ii) Experience in dealing with national experts and institutions related to Social Risk Management;
(iii) Experience in dealing with social issues, Management of Land acquisition, Resettlements, and Rehabilitation, as well as preparations for a Resettlement Action Plan and Gender Analysis are desirable;
(iv) Broad understanding of National Environmental Laws, Policies, regulations, and World Bank Environmental and Social Framework;
(v) Demonstrated knowledge of supporting a comprehensive and balanced approach to environmental and social safeguards management is required including scoping screening, research, risk assessment, planning, project development and implementation, monitoring, and reporting;
(vi) Experience in preparation of key project documentation including Stakeholder Engagement Plan, LMP, ESMF, ESMP, and ESCP;
(i) Familiarity with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF)
(ii) Experience of having worked in refugee settings is an added advantage.

5.3 Other Required Skills and Competences:
(i) Ability to independently and effectively plan, organize, manage, and evaluate important and complex projects for individual and teamwork;
(ii) Ability to make quick and good judgment;
(iii) Excellent communication skills (verbal and written);
(iv) Excellent interpersonal skills, including diplomacy and tact;
(v) High level of honesty, integrity and versatility;
(vi) Should be able to work with minimum supervision and deliver under pressure.

6. Deliverables:
(i) Risk proportionate instruments prepared including social risk screening, reporting, and other tools and forms;
(ii) Coordination mechanism for social safeguards initiated;
(iii) A functional GRM for INVITE Trust;
(iv) INVITE Trust Quarterly E&S compliance reports and consolidated annual reports;
(v) Quarterly monitoring and reporting on the compliance of PFIs with E&S requirements and providing annual E&S reports to the World Bank;
(vi) The E&S Compliance Report within the Project's Implementation Completion Report at the end of the project.

7. Reporting:
The SDS will report to the INVITE Trust Manager for overall supervision and day-to-day technical matters under the contract.

8. Duty Station:
(i) The SDS will be deployed on a full-time basis and the duty station shall be the INVITE Trust - Office in the Bank of Uganda;
(ii) Out-of-pocket expenses towards work-related travel will be reimbursed as per rules and regulations applicable to the INVITE project.

9. Facilities to Be Provided by The Employer:
The Employer shall provide office space, with connectivity to internet, printer, and access to other office amenities during the term of his contract.

10. Duration of Services:
The SDS will be appointed on a contractual basis for an initial period of two (2) years, with a possibility of renewal based on performance, business needs, and budget availability.