Social Development Specialist

Introduction

The Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) is requesting a grant from the World Bank, International Development Association (IDA) to increase equitable access to safe water and sanitation services and to improve service delivery. This objective is expected to be achieved over a 12-year period through a Series of Projects (SoP), of which the operation detailed in this document is the first. The programmatic approach will ensure continuity of the sector engagement and also facilitate a sustained contribution to the Bank’s ongoing support to the water sector in the West Bank and Gaza (WB&G). The proposed Program will have strong links to the water sector interventions co-financed by the World Bank and the Partnership for Infrastructure Development Multi-Donor Trust Fund (PID MDTF) that play a crucial role in addressing the challenges in the sector and critical water services in priority areas under the first project, while also laying the basis for rebuilding better in the long-term.

The Program is expected to consist of three projects that will overlap in time and vary in geography, with a consistent component-level design to facilitate scaling-up. The three projects are expected to commence in 2023, 2026 and 2028, respectively. The anticipated duration of the first project is five years while the duration of subsequent projects is expected to be six years each, with overlapping periods. Overall SoP completion is expected by 2035.

The focus of the proposed SoP-1 will be on improving water services in line with the PWA’s priorities and the water sector’s strategic development plan and desire to improve water services in areas with the lowest water per capita and improve service providers operational and financial performance. In order to address the long-term structural challenges of lack of water supply, and contribute to a resilient and sustainable recovery, the project will also undertake strategic sector reform and capacity building activities supporting water sector institutions, encouraging a robust reform agenda and providing targeted technical support for improved management of O&M toward financial sustainability of the sector and contribute to the improvement and containment of and bolster the water sector’s resilience to future disasters such as COVID-19.

Project Components: The Project will consist of four components:

Component 1 - Improvement of Water and Wastewater service management: the project will finance investments in the water and wastewater facilities. The aim of these investments is to provide safely managed water supply services to unserved population and ensure efficiency of the operation and maintenance of existing wastewater treatment plants. This component will finance the implementation of the water supply infrastructure required to improve access to and quality of water supply in North Jenin including expansion of water distribution networks to remove critical bottlenecks and improve water allocation in selected areas in WB&G and preparation of feasibility studies for the second Project.

Component 2 - Improve performance of Water Sector Service Providers: This component aims at strengthening the capacity of the water institutions and the SPs’ operational and financial efficiency, and their responsiveness emergencies. It will also provide necessary technical assistance and capacity building activities to address sector challenges and sector reform to accelerate the implementation of reform related to the clustering of service providers under the LGUs and establishment of RWUs. This subcomponent will also include interventions to enhance the PWA’s capacity to develop and implement water sector policies, strategies, and sector development plans and will support improved social accountability of service providers. The technical assistance will provide general planning and institution-building support to improve service providers performance in line with the PDO. In particular: (a) Sector Reform and Strategic Planning; (b) Improve Financial and Operational Performance of the Service Providers; (c) Improve Social Accountability of Service Providers.

Component 3 - Project Management and Monitoring: This component will support the Project Coordination Team (PCT) hosted within PWA and Project Implementation Unit (PIU) that will coordinate, implement, monitor and report on the project implementation progress.

Component 4 -  Contingent Emergency Response Component This component will improve the PA’s ability to respond effectively in the event of an emergency in line with World Bank procedures on disaster prevention and preparedness.

2. Environmental and Social Assessment of the Project

The Water Security and Resilience Program will be implemented in compliance with the World Bank new Environmental and Social Framework (World Bank ESF) (http://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/837721522762050108/Environmental-and-Social-Framework.pdf), in addition to applicable Palestinian laws, policies and regulations governing environmental and social issues.

In order to fully comply with Palestinian Environmental Law and the World Bank ESF, as well as to support the sustainability of the expected project outputs and outcomes, the following documents will be developed by PWA, reviewed and cleared by the Bank, and published on the PWA website and the Bank system:

1. Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF)
2. Resettlement Framework (RF)
3. Labor Management Procedures (LMP), including details of workers’ Grievance Mechanism (GM)
4. Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), including details of project GM
5. Community Health and Safety Management Plan (CHSMP)
6. Site-specific Environmental and Social Impact Assessments/Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESIAs/ESMPs)
7. Site-specific Resettlement Plans (RPs)
8. Environment and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP)

A brief description of the project’s potential (but not limited to) social risks and impacts and social risk mitigation instruments/measures, in relation to the relevant ESF Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs), are summarized below:

ESS1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts

Key social issues under ESS1 are related to inequitable distribution or potential exclusion of marginalized groups from project benefits; lack of meaningful engagement and consultation particularly with women, youth and vulnerable categories such as women headed households, persons with disabilities, the poor, people living in Area C, Access Reduced Areas (ARAs) and remote and rural locations, communities more susceptible to climate change etc.; social resistance to improved tariff collection and reduction in Non-Revenue Water (NRW) measures; and continuing lack of or poor water conservation practices among communities.

Social risks and impacts will be assessed, and requisite mitigation measures (commensurate to the severity of risk) will be included in the E&S instruments including the ESMF and site-specific ESIAs/ESMPs that will used during the design, construction and operational phases of the project. The ESMF/ESMPs/ESIAs will also include (but not limited to) an assessment of potential gender based violence/sexual exploitation and abuse/sexual harassment (GBV/SEA/SH) risks and preventive measures, proportionate to the level of risks.

A Social Assessment will be undertaken while identifying optimal tariff setting under the Technical Assistance. Robust and contextually appropriate citizen and stakeholder engagement systems and a communication strategy that also focus on women and vulnerable groups will need to be developed and implemented as part of the project design to address risks and impacts of social resistance to tariff collection and poor water conservation strategies among communities.

An ESMF for the project and site-specific ESIAs/ESMPs for the sub-projects whose alignment/location is known by project appraisal will be prepared, consulted on, cleared by the Bank and publicly disclosed by project appraisal. For other sub-projects site-specific ESIAs/ESMPs will be prepared, during project implementation and once their locations are finalized. Finally, PWA will prepare an ESCP for the project which will be included in the legal agreement between the Bank and The Palestine Liberation Organization (for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority). The ESCP will also be prepared, finalized, cleared by the Bank and publicly disclosed by project appraisal.

ESS2 Labor and Working Conditions

The project activities will involve direct workers (PMSU staff); contracted workers engaged in construction (hired by contractors and subcontractors) and consultancy services (e.g. for preparation of E&S documents); and primary supply workers (i.e workers of suppliers who, on an ongoing basis, provide directly goods or materials essential for the core functions of the project). An assessment of project workers will be made during project preparation.

Large labor camps are not anticipated for the project. The project will be divided into small packages to be implemented by local contractors and joint ventures; hence, a small number of foreign experts and highly skilled labor might also be involved. The project involves a range of construction activities such as pipeline trench excavation, new pipe and connection laying and joining, connection with existing pipes, trench backfilling, roadway reinstatement along the pipeline route, formworks for the building, foundations and retaining walls, mechanical work and fittings for the pump buildings and pipe yard, electrical work for lighting and instrumentation, and well borehole excavation, etc. to be implemented in Jenin and Hebron Governorates in the West Bank. Therefore, there will be labor management issues such as (but not limited to) OHS, working terms and conditions, equal opportunity, and SEA/SH. Risks of child and forced labor are not anticipated under the project. There might be some small-scale labor influx due to employment of workers from other governorates; however, this risk is currently assessed as low. A determination of the type and scale of labor risks and impacts, and relevant mitigation measures will be made during project preparation.

The project LMP will be prepared, cleared by the Bank and disclosed by appraisal and PWA will draw on its experience of preparing the LMP for the WMS project for this purpose.

The workers’ GM for other World Bank projects are functioning and these will be adapted and augmented, as required, and used for the Water Security Development Program. Details of the workers’ GM will be included in the project LMP.

ESS4 Community Health and Safety

The safety of communities living and working in areas where civil works will be conducted, e.g. digging of trenches for underground pipelines, foundations for the booster pumping stations, retaining walls and water reservoirs etc., will be also investigated and measures to mitigate any identified risks during construction will be included in the site-specific ESIAs/ESMPs. Wherever construction activities require route detours, safety measures to minimize the impact of construction activities and any related increase in traffic on nearby communities and road users, and measure to ensure road and traffic safety and prevent potential road accidents will be put in place and enforced in accordance with acceptable norms and as per the World Bank’s EHS guidelines. Additional community health and safety risks are related to the transmission of COVID-19 (during any future surge in infections) and potential exposure to communicable diseases from project workers; and risks associated with potential SEA/SH. PWA will prepare and implement a CHSMP that will be consulted on, cleared by the Bank, and disclosed by project appraisal.

Contractors might need to engage private security guards to protect construction sites, materials, equipment etc. The need for security arrangements at civil works sites will be determined according to the contextual and security requirements of each sub-project site and requisite risk mitigation and monitoring measures, as appropriate, will be included in the site-specific ESIA/ESMPs.

ESS5 Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement

No large-scale private land acquisition or resettlement is proposed for the project. However, there may potentially be some small-scale private land acquisition needs, for example, for the drilling of four groundwater wells and to expand ROW, if required, for the construction of the water supply systems. PWA has identified six locations in the West Bank that are suitable for the drilling of the groundwater wells in the Hebron, Bethlehem and Jericho governorates.  However, a final determination about the specific locations for this intervention will be done during project preparation and will be based on identified needs and priorities and requisite approvals from the Israeli authorities. PWA and/or local government authorities will be responsible for the requisite private land acquisition. No physical resettlement or removal dwellings is expected as the locations and land that has been identified for potential interventions is being used for grazing and/or agricultural purposes.  However, there may be some small-scale livelihood impacts that will need to be assessed and, if required, compensated.  

A RF will be prepared for the project, consulted on, cleared by the Bank and publicly disclosed by appraisal. Site specific RPs will be prepared once the technical designs and locations/alignments of interventions are available. RPs will be consulted on, reviewed and cleared by the Bank and publicly disclosed. RPs will be implemented before commencement of construction. For sub-projects whose technical designs and locations are available during project preparation, site specific RPs, if required, will be prepared, consulted on, cleared by the Bank and publicly disclosed by project appraisal. A commitment to prepare and implement RPs during project implementation will be included in the project ESCP.

ESS10 Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure

Project affected parties include (but are not limited to) people living in the project areas of influence such as project direct beneficiaries, community members and other parties that may be subject to direct impacts from project activities such as landowners, and land users and encroachers (if any). Other interested parties include (but not limited to) institutional actors such as PWA, the National Water Company, local government authorities, the Palestinian Land Authority and Ministry of Local Government. Disadvantaged and vulnerable groups may include (but are not restricted to) people living in remote and rural locations as well as Areas with Ristricted Access (ARAs), the poor, women headed households, persons with disabilities, youth, , etc. Other interested parties may include the Environmental Quality Authority, local media, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community Based Organizations (CBOs).

A SEP will be prepared for the project and PWA will draw on the experience of preparing and implementing SEP/stakeholder engagement activities for other projects for this purpose. The SEP will include a comprehensive identification of various categories of stakeholders and a methodology for information sharing and disclosure and for ongoing consultation with all stakeholders, including marginalized groups, to ensure that all stakeholders are engaged throughout the project. The SEP will be prepared, consulted on, cleared by the Bank and publicly disclosed by project appraisal.

PWA has already established GMs to support Bank financed projects that are functional. The existing GMs will be adapted and augmented, as required, and used for the Water Security Development project and relevant details will be included in the project SEP.

Individual Consultancy Service for a Social Development Specialist

The PWA intends to engage an individual consultant in the West Bank as a Social Development Specialist (SDS)

Main Tasks, Responsibilities and Scope of Work

The SDS is expected to monitor and follow up on the social development/social risk management aspects of the Water Security and Resilience Program, within all components of the project, as follows:

1. In collaboration with the Environmental Specialist, lead and coordinate the PWA team’s efforts in providing advice, building capacity, and advancing the development and implementation of the Donors’ (such as World Bank, AFD, KfW) social development/social risk management policies and procedures (e.g. the Bank’s ESF) during project preparation and implementation.
2. Support and supervise, and as required collaborate with the Environmental Specialist for, the preparation and implementation of the project’s RF, SEP, CHSMP, LMP, ESMF and other relevant E&S instruments, plans etc.
3. Update any relevant project E&S instruments, for social management aspects, during project implementation as required and/or in accordance with the project ESCP.
4. Ensure that all relevant E&S documents are publicly consulted on, reviewed and cleared by the Bank, and disclosed in-country in accordance with the project ESCP.
5. In collaboration with the Environmental Specialist, prepare and develop site-specific ESIAs/ESMPs, including requirements for (but not limited to) stakeholder engagement, labor management, community health and safety etc., in accordance with the terms of the ESMF and other relevant E&S instruments to monitor the implementation of each mitigating measure corresponding to a negative impact of the project.
6. Prepare and implement site-specific RPs in accordance with the project RF.
7. Prepare any impact evaluations, as required, of resettlement activities in accordance with the RF and the project ESCP.
8. In collaboration with the Environmental Specialist, supervise the implementation of the project LMP and ensure effective implementation of the workers’ GM established in accordance with the LMP.
9. In accordance with the project SEP, ensure effective engagement with the project’s stakeholders and people living/working close to or within the project area and timely disclose the project Environmental and Social information during stakeholder’s meetings and the related documentation on predesignated communication channels.
10. Follow up with stakeholders (throughout the project and as required by the project SEP and other relevant E&S instruments, project strategies and plans etc.) to ensure that the voice and needs of diverse and/or vulnerable individuals and groups (e.g., women, people living in rural/remote areas, people living in access reduced areas, communities vulnerable to climate change, persons with disabilities, the poor etc.) are focused on in the planning and delivery of project schemes/interventions/subprojects and that, in particular, these individuals and groups have equitable access to project benefits.
11. Maintain good community relations and address community concerns as they arise and develop measures to respond to grievances in liaison with the wider project team and develop measures to promote community and workers’ safety and awareness.
12. In collaboration with the Environmental Specialist, monitor the implementation of the project ESCP.
13. In collaboration with the Environmental Specialist, ensure the inclusion of specific environmental and social instruments in relevant bidding documents
14. Periodically carry out field visits and conduct monitoring of social management activities and provide timely advice as required
15. In collaboration with the Environmental Specialist, prepare and submit periodic environment and social monitoring reports to the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) Manager. 
16. In collaboration with the Environmental Specialist, prepare and submit regular environmental and social progress reports to the World Bank as required by the project ESCP.
17. Participate in relevant meetings especially during the donors’ missions and prepare all reports for the mission on social management.
18. Ensure functionality and monitor the implementation of the project GMs, including for beneficiaries and workers (in accordance with the SEP and the LMP). Prepare and update, as required, the complaints procedures manuals; prepare a database for grievances and follow up, document and report all complaints received from affected parties within different components of the project.
19. Ensure proper handling and addressing of potential gender-based violence/sexual exploitation and abuse/sexual harassment (GBV/SEA/SH) grievances in accordance with the project SEP and LMP. Liaise with other members of the team (e.g. gender specialist) in this regard.
20. Conduct capacity assessment and identify what capacity building is needed for different stakeholders in terms of social management aspects. Ensure capacity development in accordance with the project ESCP.
21. Provide support in conducting training on social issues, public awareness campaigns and timely information disclosure, including website inputs, pamphlets, newsletter, public meetings, workshops, local TV and radio programs.
22. Work in close collaboration with other members of the project team e.g. Environmental Specialist, Gender, M&E, Communication etc., for implementation of requirements outlined in the ESMF/ESMPs/RF/RPs/SEP/LMP/CHSMP etc.
23. Undertake other duties as per the requirements of the project or as directed by the PIU manager at PWA.

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

1. At least a bachelor’s degree in a social science discipline (sociology, anthropology, development studies etc.)
2. Minimum 5 years relevant work experience including working according to the requirements of international/donor institutions.
3. Relevant experience in preparing environmental and social reports for donor financed projects (e.g. The World Bank).
4. Experience of being active/working in the field such as for monitoring, community mobilization, community development etc.
5. Experience of working in teams at different levels.
6. Good management skills, particularly for organizing and moderating workshops and stakeholder/community consultation etc.
7. Proven ability to communicate effectively, understand community and stakeholder perspectives and vulnerabilities and to engage with project affected people and project management teams positively and constructively
8. Languages: Fluency in Arabic and good English skills (written and spoken)

The contract will be for 1 year extendable as demand necessity, on a full-time basis. The expected start date for the position is 01st of December 2022. 

Interested consultants shall submit her/his applications including (Cover letter, CV describing similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills, etc.) must be delivered by email addressed below no later than 10/10/2022.

[email protected]

For more clarification, please do not hesitate in contacting us during working hours (8:00 am-15:00pm).

Tel: 02 2987665