Senior Social Development Specialist

As a Senior Social Development Specialist at Sheladia Associates, you will be responsible for overseeing social development initiatives related to the Great North Road Upgrade project. This includes ensuring compliance with international guidelines on involuntary resettlement, assessing economic displacement implications, engaging with local stakeholders, and contributing to the overall project strategy to enhance road safety and resilience against climate change.

To be considered for the Senior Social Development Specialist role at Sheladia Associates, you should have a Bachelor’s degree in social sciences or a related field, with a postgraduate qualification being a plus. You must also have a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in social development, including at least 3 years in sub-Saharan Africa and 5 years related to linear infrastructure projects, ideally in the road sector.

The ideal candidate for the Senior Social Development Specialist position at Sheladia Associates should possess significant experience in social development, particularly with linear infrastructure projects. You will need around 10 years of experience in this field, with at least 5 years focusing specifically on road sectors. Familiarity with IFIs guidelines on involuntary resettlement and economic displacement is also crucial.

Yes, fluency in written and spoken English is a strict requirement for the Senior Social Development Specialist role at Sheladia Associates. Effective communication is vital for engaging stakeholders, reporting project progress, and ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks, making proficient English skills essential.

Sheladia Associates ensures sustainability through robust resource management, engaging all project stakeholders, and promoting practices aligned with environmental and social governance. As a Senior Social Development Specialist, you will be pivotal in implementing these strategies, thereby enhancing the longevity and impact of the Great North Road Upgrade project.

In your response, highlight specific projects you’ve worked on, emphasizing your role, the challenges faced, and how you contributed to the success of those projects. Showcasing clear outcomes related to stakeholder engagement and compliance with social policies will demonstrate your expertise in this area.

Discuss various methods you employ, such as public consultations, collaboration with local leaders, and utilizing feedback mechanisms. Emphasize the importance of building trust and ensuring that stakeholders feel heard, which can lead to more successful project outcomes.

Explain your understanding of involuntary resettlement policies and provide examples of how you've navigated these challenges in past projects, ensuring compliance and minimizing negative impacts on affected communities while maintaining project timelines.

Describe assessment tools you’ve employed such as stakeholder interviews, social surveys, and demographic studies. Emphasize your analytical skills and how these assessments inform project planning and execution.

Discuss your approach to engaging communities from the outset, employing participatory methods to understand their needs and incorporating their feedback into project design. Mention any partnerships with local organizations that help bridge gaps in understanding.

Share specific guidelines or frameworks you’ve worked with and how they informed your work. Provide examples of projects where you successfully integrated these policies to achieve project goals while respecting community and environmental concerns.

Mention resources such as professional networks, journals, conferences, and continued education courses that you utilize to stay informed about best practices and emerging trends in social development, particularly in infrastructure.

Explain your understanding of cultural sensitivities and how you have adapted communication styles to engage effectively with diverse groups. Provide instances where your cross-cultural communication skills have led to better stakeholder relations and project outcomes.

Detail a project that achieved its objectives, discussing the key factors such as strategic planning, effective team collaboration, stakeholder involvement, and adherence to social safeguards that led to its success.

Articulate the metrics you use to evaluate social interventions, such as surveys, community feedback, and long-term impact studies. Discuss how this data informs future projects and enhances program effectiveness.