Social Development Specialist (Gender and Development)

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 Director General (EAOD) of East Asia Department (EARD). EARD is responsible for relationships concerning ADB operations with Developing Member Countries (DMCs) in the East Asia subregion, with other multilateral and bilateral development agencies and other key stakeholders on matters relating to the subregion. EAOD provides overall support to the EARD management in terms of development of country strategies and work programs, programming of loan, grant and technical assistance, project administration, mobilizing cofinancing, knowledge management work, strengthening gender aspects in country strategies, programs and projects, ensuring safeguards compliance, coordinating with other ADB departments and with external development partners, and overseeing operations of ADB’s resident missions in People’s Republic of China and Mongolia as well as 4 sector divisions.

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

Job Purpose

The Social Development Specialist (Gender and Development) will provide technical support to the division gender focal points and resident mission gender officers to apply gender mainstreaming processes and standards across the East Asia Department (EARD), to ensure compliance with ADB’s Policy on Gender and Development (GAD) 1998, and to effectively implement ADB’s Strategy 2030 Operational Plan for Priority 2: Accelerating Progress in Gender Equality, 2019-2024 (Gender OP). She/he will also identify, develop, implement and administer technical assistance (TA) projects, policy dialogue and knowledge products and services (KPS) related to advancing gender equality in operations and related emerging issues in East Asia. She/he will work within general policies, principles and goals, working directly with clients. She/he will provide technical support to the division and resident mission social development specialists on stakeholder engagement, labor, and other social dimensions. She/he will participate as part of a bank-wide Gender Equality Thematic Group (Gender TG) and Social Development Thematic Group to promote cross-departmental collaboration and knowledge sharing, including contributing to the implementation of the Gender TG and Social Development Work Plans. The incumbent will report to Advisor, EARD and will supervise National Staff and Administrative Staff..

Responsibilities

Strategy and Planning
• Supports EARD divisions and Resident Missions (RMs) in the overall implementation of ADB’s Policy on GAD and ADB-wide Gender OP; reports on EARD’s implementation of the Gender OP.
• As EARD’s regional gender anchor, provides leadership and technical advice for EARD’s gender work across all sector divisions and RMs.
• Leads, coordinates and provides guidance to RM Gender Officers and sector division focal points on best practices in gender mainstreaming, work plan development and progress.
• Reviews, monitors and assists EARD’s pipeline of projects to ensure meeting gender commitments under ADB’s corporate results framework.
• Prepares country gender assessments and country gender strategies, including gender inputs to sector assessment summary reports and results frameworks.
• Prepares periodic reports required for measuring EARD gender mainstreaming performance and gender results against corporate targets. Maintains databases on EARD gender mainstreamed projects and results of project gender action plans (GAPs).
• Engages in knowledge work, policy dialogue, advisory support, capacity development, and monitoring of gender equality and women’s empowerment results in DMCs, in collaboration with the Gender Officers in ADB RMs and EARD social development specialists.
• Builds strategic partnerships in East Asia with women’s national organizations and related government agencies, other multilateral and bilateral development partners, women’s non-government organizations (NGOs), private sector, and academic institutions on GAD issues and knowledge work.
• Provides leadership and technical advice on NGOs and stakeholder engagement, labor, and other social dimensions policies and strategies. Acts as EARD’s focal for NGO and Civil Society Center (NGOC) and on labor issues,

Project Management
• Assists project teams and divisional Social Development Specialists to incorporate and mainstream gender concerns into relevant EARD investment projects and programs through preparation of project-specific gender action plans and other measures.
• In collaboration with the EARD gender focal points and RM specialists, develops EARD monitoring guidelines and assists executing agencies (EAs) and implementing agencies in implementing and reporting on project GAPs, and provides guidance to Project Team Leaders, Social Development Specialists, and RM-based Gender Officers in assisting government staff or project consultants involved with GAP implementation.
• Tracks and reviews ongoing projects to ensure implementation of GAPs so that intended gender equality results are achieved at project completion.
• Provides GAD capacity building assistance to EARD DMCs especially EAs
• Processes and administers TA or projects which address GAD in East Asia.
• Helps develop and administer gender activities financed by TAs, Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction grants and other non-Asian Development Fund grants in East Asia region.
• Assists project teams to ensure that civil society organizations (CSOs) and stakeholder engagement, labor and other social dimensions plans and strategies are incorporated in the project design through review of technical assistance reports, poverty and social analysis, and social development action plans.

Policy Dialogue and Knowledge Sharing

• Develops, publishes, and disseminates knowledge products on gender issues in East Asia region, in collaboration with EARD Social Development Specialists and RM-based Gender Officers.
• Develops knowledge sharing events and initiatives on GAD for audiences from EARD, the DMCs and other regional partners in collaboration with EARD Social Development Specialists and RM-based Gender Officers
• Supports ADB-wide knowledge management initiatives with respect to GAD, including preparation of project case studies for website and social media.
• Supports GAD training and capacity development initiatives in EARD.
• Coordinates EARD’s contribution and participation in ADB and regional knowledge networks on GAD, labor and other social dimensions.
• Liaises, coordinates and collaborates with the Gender Equality Thematic Group Secretariat in the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department to ensure bank-wide coherence for advancing the corporate gender agenda.
• As part of the Safeguard Policy Statement Review and Update, participates as member of the technical working groups and provides inputs to the technical notes and analytical studies related to CSOs and stakeholder engagement, labor, and other social dimensions.

Staff Supervision
• Provides leadership, technical guidance and support to EARD RM Gender Officers and divisional Social Development Specialists.
• Regularly liaises with RM-based Gender Officers and respective Country Directors on GAD matters.
• Supervises the performance of reporting staff, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance.
• Ensures the on-going learning and development of reporting staff

Qualifications

Relevant Experience & Requirements

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in gender or development studies, anthropology, sociology, economics, applied social science or other related fields; or University degree in gender, anthropology, sociology, economics, applied social science or other related fields, and at least 5 years specialized experience relevant to the position may be considered .
• At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in gender and development, planning and implementation, social development including poverty-related issues across sectors, or related area as well as in project administration.
• Demonstrated capacity to develop knowledge products and services including leading research, writing reports, organizing conferences and implementing training.
• Experience in application of multilateral development bank’s policies and procedures for gender mainstreaming and social development
• International experience working in gender and development in several countries, preferably with demonstrated experience at the field level in the East Asia region.
• Proven application of expertise within a specific sector, or breadth across multiple areas with in-depth knowledge within one sector.
• Able to utilize and share knowledge to benefit the broader ADB community.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for International Staff Level 4

General Considerations

The selected candidate 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.