28 January 2016

World Bank RCIP Social Scientist Job Placement - National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U)



Organisation: National Information Technology Authority-Uganda

(NITA-U)


Project Name: Regional Communication Infrastructure Program

(RCIP)


Funding Source: World Bank


Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda


Reports to: RCIP Programme Coordinator


The

National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U) was established as a

statutory body under the National Information Technology Authority, Uganda Act,

2009 as one of the key players in the Information and Communications Technology

Sector. Its mandated is to coordinate, promote and monitor IT development

within the context of national social and economic development, with a vision

as “a facilitator of a knowledge-based, globally competitive Uganda where

social transformation and economic development is supported through IT enabled

services.”


About World Bank RCIP Program:


The

Government of Uganda has secured funding from the International Development

Association (IDA) to finance various activities under the Regional

Communications Infrastructure Program (RCIP). The Regional Communication

Infrastructure Program (RCIP) Uganda will complement existing country ICT and

e-government Infrastructure initiatives by helping boost the already existing

e-government infrastructure and bridge the financing and technical gaps. The

project will be implemented by the National Information Technology

Authority-Uganda (NITA-U). The beneficiaries will be the Ministry of

Information Communications Technology (MoICT) and Public Procurement and

Disposal of Public assets Authority (PPDA).


Job Summary: The Social Scientist on a retainer basis with a

primary objective of ensuring  that the

projects meet the necessary international standards including that of the World

Bank with regard to safeguard compliance (and other social issues such as

inclusion of vulnerable and marginalised groups, child protection, labour laws

compliance, gender and HIV/AIDS mainstreaming), but also that they reflect

current good practice in terms of social sustainability during design and

implementation of programme activities. The incumbent will support knowledge

development and management within NITA-U to grow internal skills and knowledge

of social impacts of ICT projects. Specifically, the Social scientist will keenly

monitor and assess the implementation of resettlement process, inclusion of the

vulnerable and marginalised groups, undertake social impact assessments and

develop social mitigation programs, as appropriate, to mitigate any negative

social impacts of the Project; and to establish and manage a social monitoring

program, encompassing the grievance handling mechanism. The Social Scientist is

also expected to support the broad policy discussion on ICT in promoting

communication and people participation, and community involvement, gender and

HIV/AIDs mainstreaming, and ICT in poverty reduction, amongst others.


Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

  • Provide conceptual and operational leadership

    on the core social development themes pursed in the project and ICT

    sector.

  • Act as the focal point person on social

    issues including land acquisition/resettlement and vulnerable and

    marginalised groups who may be affected by the project and work closely

    with implementing teams to address any challenges.

  • Actively participate in projects

    implementation of all social issues including safeguards; facilitate the

    preparation of action plans and review implementation social issues

    documentation required by the funding agencies to ensure that social

    issues have been adequately addressed and that the project is in

    compliance with the Safeguard Policies, particularly those on Involuntary

    Resettlement and social inclusion.

  • Where appropriate promote and contribute

    substantively to analyses of strengthening social aspects such as gender,

    child protection, HIV/AIDs, social inclusion, land acquisition and compensation

    of the project.

  • Advise and/or provide quality operational

    support on safeguards and non-safeguards related social development issues

    at both the design0design review and implementation phases, including

    advice on identification of social impacts associated with the

    environmental assessment process in close collaboration with Environmental

    Officer.

  • Guide management of NITA-U on major or

    sensitive matters relating to social impacts and risks during

    implementation

  • Advise and/or participate on project teams in

    the design and implementation of operational mechanisms that take into

    account social opportunities, impacts, constraints and risks of individual

    projects implemented by NITA-U.

  • In charge of coordinating the mainstreaming

    of social issues in project design and implementation in accordance with

    agreed safeguard instruments (Environmental and Social Management

    Framework (ESMF), Resettlement Policy Framework/Plan (RPF/P) and

    Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups Framework (VMGA).

  • Offer technical support in facilitating

    stakeholders including district and community members in identification,

    prioritisation and mitigation of social, equity and gender issues during

    the project design and implementation, as well as monitoring and

    evaluation of social impacts of the projects.

  • Take lead in identifying potential sources of

    grievances, design and implement appropriate grievance redress mechanisms

    with special attention to land related matters.

  • Continuous monitoring of social, equity and

    gender issues concerning the programme and participate in assessment and

    evaluation of the social impact of programme interventions.

  • Conducting awareness creation and

    sensitisation of the communities on social, equity and gender dimensions

    of the programme along with suggested safeguards.

  • Advise and/or provide quality operational

    support on safeguards and non-safeguards related social development issues

    at both the design review and implementation phases, including advice on

    identification of social impacts associated with the environmental

    assessment process in close collaboration with Environmental Unit.

  • Advise and/or participate on project teams in

    the design and implementation of operational mechanisms that take into

    account social opportunities, impacts, constraints and risks of individual

    projects implemented by NITA-U

  • Prepare and review Terms of Reference for

    social assessments and other analytical tools required for investment

    design/review and implementation. This will require working the funding

    agencies to assure the quality of project documentation and supporting

    analysis;

  • Ensure that all social issues including

    safeguard implementation are assessed and reported in the periodical legal

    reports and by the Midterm Review and Project Completion Report.

  • Operationalize the social safeguards

    instrument including Resettlement Policy frameworks and support

    preparations of the resettlement actions plans including instituting

    appropriate mechanism of consultations and information relay on rights and

    legislation on involuntary land acquisition, stakeholder engagement,

    complaint handling mechanisms, etc.

  • Ensure relevant government agencies,

    including Ministry of Finance, stakeholders and partner agencies are well

    informed on issues related to the implementation of RAPs and required

    support for timely implementation

  • Undertake project site visits to assess

    compliance and make the necessary remedies

  • Any other duties as will be assigned by the

    Supervisor from time to time.


Key Performance Indicators:

  • Continuous risk assessment reports for the

    project to identify all risks and impacts

  • An inception report by end of the third month

    that would include a status report of progress in the Specialist area of

    the Consultant, a detailed personal work plan for the next 9 months to the

    end of the assignment plus the subsequent annual work plans.

  • Comprehensive Resettlement Action Plans

    (RAPs) developed and implemented according to PPF guidelines.

  • Environment and Social Management Plans

    developed with clear social actions included.

  • Vulnerable and Marginalised groups

    plan/Indigenous Peoples Plans as guided by the IPPF/VMGF

  • Reports on the location and socio-demographic

    characteristics of the project affected persons for each of the

    sub-projects

  • A skills gap analysis report for the

    environment and the social development team to ensure adequate skills is

    available for the project and other related projects.

  • Coaching and mentoring programme for staff

    under implemented.

  • An effective communication and community

    engagement strategy and plan that will support the ICT project(s) in

    people participation and social accountability, information sharing and

    feedback

  • Address social issues as identified during

    project preparation, mentioned in the Project Appraisal Document, RPF/ESMF

    or identified in the Social assessments.

  • End of assignment report


Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 

  • The ideal candidate for the World Bank RCIP Social

    Scientist should hold an advanced university degree in sociology or other

    related field of Social Sciences from a recognized University/institution.

  • Additional training in land management,

    acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation, and social inclusion is an

    added advantage.

  • At least five years’ experience in the

    application of social development skills to evaluate and address social

    issues such as resettlement , HIV/AIDS, gender and social inclusion in the

    context of development projects.

  • Five years’ experience in handling cross

    cutting issues of in development projects.

  • Significant experience in design and

    implementation of Grievance Redress Mechanisms and Resettlement Action Plans

    will be added advantages.

  • Familiarity with the World Bank social

    safeguard mechanisms will be added advantage

  • Strong community engagement and training in

    land management, acquisition and resettlement or forced displacements is

    desirable

  • Excellent track record on dealing effectively

    with policies that have to do with social inclusion (focusing on gender

    and region) and on Involuntary Resettlement.

  • The applicant must be a good team-player,

    experienced in working collaboratively in a broad range of cultural and

    social contexts.

  • Broad knowledge and understanding of social

    inclusion, poverty reduction and land management institutions and land

    tenure systems.

  • Working knowledge of World Bank social

    performance standards is desirable.

  • Familiarity with multi-disciplinary

    approaches for addressing the needs of persons displaced from their land

    and/or homes.

  • Broad knowledge and understanding of the issues

    affecting ethnic minorities in the countries of the sub-region.

  • Previous experience in undertaking social and

    institutional analysis and familiarity with participatory methodologies

    and techniques would be desirable.

  • Social Safeguards Knowledge of and ability to

    apply social safeguard policies.

  • Demonstrated ability to employ strategies to

    help minimize involuntary resettlement and adverse impacts on indigenous

    peoples, potentially displaced persons and other vulnerable groups.

  • Ability to integrate social inclusion (with

    respect to gender, age, ethnicity or any other relevant factor) into

    analysis, policies, institutions and operations.

  • Ability to design operations that focus on

    strengthening inclusion.

  • Excellent written and verbal communications

    skills.

  • Excellent analytical skills.

  • Communications: Very good communication skills

    (spoken and written), including the ability to communicate effectively with

    diverse audiences on environmental related matters, good negotiation

    skills and to prepare a variety of written documents, contracts, reports,

    etc. in a clear, concise style.

  • Teamwork: Very good interpersonal skills and

    ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people

    in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect

    for diversity.

  • Integrity: Must be a person of proven honesty

    and does not tolerate corruption and unethical behaviors in all its forms

    and manifestations.

  • Innovation: Must be a person with ability to

    seek new ways of doing things efficiently to deliver value to our

    customers.

  • Customer Centricity: Must be a person who strives to

    satisfy customers and clients. Should be able to understand what the

    customer wants and delivering it flawlessly.

  • Quality: Must be a person who thinks of quality and

    continuous improvement in his/she our work.


All

candidates who meet the job requirements/specifications and with the right

personal attributes are invited to complete and submit their application form, download

here
, with a cover letter, supported by curriculum vitae, copies of

certificates and testimonials, and must specify day time telephone contact,

postal and email addresses of both the applicant and three referees, to the

address below.


National

Information Technology


Authority

– UGANDA (NITA-U),


Palm

Courts, Plot 7A, Rotary Avenue (former lugogo bypass)


P.O.

Box 33151, Kampala-Uganda


Or via email: rcip@nita.go.ug (application must not exceed

10MBs)


Applicants

must also submit with their application verifiable evidence supporting previous

relevant appointments such as appointment letters and employment contracts.


Deadline: 9th  February 2016

(Not later than 17.00 hrs. Local Time).


NB: No application will be accepted without a duly

completed and signed standard application form (refer to above).




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