Senior Facilitation Specialist

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Close relatives¹ of ADB staff, except spouses of international staff, are not eligible for recruitment and appointment to staff positions. Applicants are expected to disclose if they have any relative/s by consanguinity/blood, by adoption and/or by affinity/marriage presently employed in ADB.
¹Close relatives refer to spouse, children, mother, father, brother and sister, niece, nephew, aunt and uncle

Staff on probation are not eligible to apply. Applicants for promotion must have served at their position for at least one year and must have normally served at their personal level for at least two years immediately preceding the date of the vacancy closing date. Applicants for lateral transfer must have served at their position and personal level for at least one year immediately preceding the date of the vacancy closing date (reference A.O. 2.03, paragraphs 5.8 and 5.9).

In the event that the staff appointed to a new category (i.e. from AS to NS, or from NS to IS) is rated at 2 or lower in the first two performance reviews after appointment at the new level, they will return to the level occupied immediately prior to their appointment in the new category.

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.

The position is assigned in the Office of the Special Project Facilitator (OSPF). OSPF is responsible for the problem-solving function of the ADB’s Accountability Mechanism (AM).

People who believe they have been adversely affected by an ADB-assisted project can use the problem-solving function regardless of whether ADB operational policies and procedures have been violated. However, complainants must first make a good faith effort to resolve their problems by working with the concerned ADB operations department.

Project-affected people are at the core of the problem-solving function, however, OSPF does not assume that ADB operations departments, the government, or private project sponsors are less sensitive to project-affected people’s concerns. In seeking solutions to problems, OSPF seeks to establish a clear understanding of the facts and conditions of the case, often requires independent assessment, and secures an agreement of the concerned parties on a way forward- facilitation, mediation or other conflict resolution methodologies. OSPF is supported at the DMC level by several national consultant facilitators/mediators.

The problem-solving function also aims to strengthen the internal complaint avoidance (risk management) and dispute resolution/problem-solving processes of ADB’s operations departments and carries out activities designed to improve the overall internal problem-solving functions of ADB.

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

Job Purpose

The Senior Facilitation Specialist will (i) support the Special Project Facilitator (SPF) in planning and carrying out activities for managing and resolving complaints from ADB project-affected people, in reviewing problem-solving experiences and feeding these back into ADB’s operations, in conducting outreach programs, and in providing generic support and advice to operations departments in problem-solving; (ii) collate and integrate lessons from internal and external experiences of problem-solving and feed these back into ADB’s operations, and provide advice as needed; (iii) work within general policies, principles and goals, working directly with clients; and (iv) serve as Officer-in-Charge of OSPF in the absence of the SPF.

The incumbent will report to the Special Project Facilitator, OSPF, and will supervise national staff, administrative staff, and national consultants.

Responsibilities

a. Strategy and Planning

• Provides inputs and active support in the planning of OSPF’s strategy and work program and to preparing OSPF’s operational, administrative, and ad hoc procedures.

b. Complaints Management

• Manages complaints under the problem-solving function of the ADB Accountability Mechanism
• Conducts the problem-solving function process for specific complaints by reviewing their eligibility, visiting project sites, explaining the problem-solving function to stakeholders, preparing Review and Assessment Reports, facilitating agreement among stakeholders on a course of action to solve the problems raised by complainants, assisting the stakeholders to draft agreements, monitoring implementation of the agreed course of action, and preparing related reports
• In handling specific complaints, assesses and applies informal, flexible, cost-effective, and consensus-based methods to resolve disputes and address the problems of complainants. These include:
  • Listening to complainants describe their problems caused by ADB-assisted projects,
  • Discussing the problems with concerned stakeholders, and
  • Reviewing the circumstances under which the complaints arose and how they were addressed by the operations department concerned. In the process, identify the real cause of the complaints and assess how they can be approached, with a view to facilitating the resolution of the complaints by the stakeholders
• Oversees, engages, and supervises consultants to assist OSPF in its complaint handling

c. Knowledge Management

• Collates and integrates lessons from internal and external experiences of problem-solving and feed these back into ADB’s operations, and provide advice as needed
• Contributes substantially to the planning, drafting, and publication of OSPF’s Annual Report
• Prepares monitoring and other reports for the President, Board, and other stakeholders on the progress of problem-solving activities
• Oversees the registry of complaints and the events in the OSPF website that are updated regularly by OSPF staff and Complaint receiving officer (CRO).

d. Outreach

• Identifies audiences for outreach activities
• Designs and conducts outreach programs and orientation sessions to familiarize executing agencies, NGOs, ADB staff, management, and other stakeholders with the Problem-Solving Function of the Accountability Mechanism
• Provides advice to prospective complainants
• Provides supervision for the preparation of materials describing the Problem-Solving function.

e. Generic Support and Advice in Problem-Solving to Operations

• Designs and conducts training sessions, workshops, and programs on complaint handling for ADB staff and other stakeholders
• Organizes and presents feedback sessions on lessons learned from complaints to the operations department

f. Internal Coordination

• Coordinates OSPF activities with CRP, operations departments, and other stakeholders in carrying out information dissemination and outreach within ADB and in member countries and ensure that these activities are integrated with ADB’s activities designed to promote interaction with project beneficiaries or stakeholders including civil society groups

g. Staff Supervision

• Takes the role of coach to develop capabilities/potential of reporting staff
• Supervises the performance of reporting staff with oversight from more senior staff, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance
• Plans and ensures the ongoing learning and development of reporting staff

Qualifications

Relevant Experience & Requirements

• Master’s degree, or equivalent, in Economics, Environment, Law, Social Sciences, or related fields. University degree in Economics, Environment, Law, Social Sciences, or related fields and at least 5 years specialized experience in similar organization/s, may be considered in lieu of a Master’s degree
• At least 10 years of professional experience in working with developing member countries, particularly in social sectors, infrastructure, power, or private sector
• Knowledge and experience in facilitation. Handling problem/conflict situations as a neutral third party would be an advantage.
• International experience working in several countries
• Experience in applying appropriate safeguard policies and other related policies of development projects
• Proven application of expertise within a specific area of ADB’s operations (economic, sector, or thematic), or breadth across multiple areas with in-depth knowledge within one area
• Ability to utilize and share relevant knowledge to benefit the broader ADB community
• Familiarity with the objectives and functions of multilateral development and financing agencies
• When required, able to act as a mission leader/team lead, exercising supervision coordination, and planning responsibilities over the assigned team, with oversight from the Director or a more senior team leader
• Experience in mentoring and coaching junior team members
• Strong mediation and facilitation skills and the ability to design and implement consultation processes
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to carry out an effective dialogue with stakeholders, including government officials, civil society, and non-government organizations
• Excellent diplomatic skills to liaise and work effectively with staff, Management, Board of Directors and with external clients, member governments, other international organizations, and comparable institutions, civil society, and non-government organizations
• Ability to make sound, impartial and fair judgments
• Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for International Staff Level 5

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.