Details of Social Safeguarding Specialist

1.         BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

The Bulsho Project – Strengthening Community Institutions for Social Cohesion, Inclusion and Resilience (P508408) is under the lead of the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation – MoIFAR of the Federal Government of Somalia and responsible for the national program called Bulsho, the Somali word for society. The Bulsho Program puts citizens and communities at the center of the government’s action.  The Bulsho Program is a Somali government-led initiative designed to strengthen community and local institutions, fostering social cohesion, inclusion, and resilience. As Somalia continues its recovery from two decades of civil war, the program places a strong emphasis on enhancing service delivery, rebuilding the social contract, and promoting community-centered governance. This uniquely Somali-owned and -driven initiative underscores government ownership and leadership at federal, member state, and district levels, ensuring institutional sustainability and the realization of key policy outcomes.

The Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation of the Government of Somalia has established the Bulsho Program Steering Committee (PSC), chaired by the FGS Minister of Federal Affairs and Reconciliation. The PSC is composed of senior level representatives (ministers or deputy ministers) from relevant FGS ministries (i.e. Finance, etc.) and FMS MoI. The PSC’s primary role is to make strategic decisions related to the program planning and implementation, including approving this project operations manual (POM) and subsequent substantial revisions (POM approval can be exercised virtually) and addressing disputes related to district eligibility, participation and suspension.

MoIFAR, FGS has established a Project Coordination Unit – PCU headed by a National Project Coordinator, which has the overall responsibility for the day-to day management of the WB-funded Bulsho project. FMS MoI have established Project Implementation Units - PIUs, headed a State Project Managers, which have the responsibility for the activities that take place in their states.

The Project Coordination Unit - PCU is responsible for: (i) preparing procurement plans, including consolidating procurement plans from FMS; (ii) carrying out procurement for FGS-level activities and overseeing FMS procurement; (iii) preparing quarterly narrative and financial reports for the overall project, based on inputs from FMS; (iv) providing quality assurance and technical backstopping to FMS (this includes preparation of training curricula and training of trainers); (v) preparing and implementing the E&S plan (this includes verifying FMS E&S appraisal of local investments); (vi) consolidate FMS sustainability plans; (vii) preparing security management plans and oversees FMS security management (this includes reporting security incidents directly affecting project staff, contractors and assets) and (viii) carrying out general oversight, supervision and field monitoring (this could be joint monitoring mission) at all project locations with the support of the MoIs FMS..

The MOIFAR, FGS is seeking to use a portion of the Bulsho Project to finance the recruitment of a Project Social Safeguarding Specialist as a part of National Project Coordination Unit - PCU.

2) Responsibilities: For Social Safeguarding activities, the Social Safeguarding Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the National Project Coordinator and in close consultation and coordination with the National Project Coordination Unit – PCU and the Project Implementation Units – PIUs at the FMS level.

The Social Safeguarding Specialist will provide overall technical guidance, oversight and quality assurance on social risk management and inclusion across the Bulsho project. The Specialist will ensure that the Local Social Contract Platform (LSCP), Citizens’ Charters, community planning, and matching grants advance social development objectives, particularly inclusion of women, youth, minorities, IDPs, and other marginalized groups, specifically he/she will:

1.     Provide overall technical guidance and oversight on social risk management, inclusion, and gender mainstreaming across the Bulsho project.

2.     Ensure compliance with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), and the Bulsho POM in all social development aspects.

3.     Review and provide quality assurance for PIU and district-level social risk assessments, social development inputs to ESMPs, and social safeguard reports.

4.     Monitor inclusivity of LSCPs, Citizens’ Charters, and community planning, ensuring participation of women, youth, minorities, IDPs, and other marginalized groups.

5.     Provide technical backstopping to PIUs on social risk management, grievance redress mechanisms (GRM), and gender and inclusion strategies.

6.     Consolidate PIU reports on social safeguarding and gender specialists and prepare contributions for quarterly and annual project progress reports.

He/she will undertake all the other specific tasks detailed in the Terms of Reference (TOR) that can be found at the following www.somalijobs.com or can be provided upon submission of application (in person or by E-mail).  

Skills and qualifications

3) Selection Criteria: The selection shall be based on qualification, experience and skills of the candidate and followed by an interview. The qualifications, experience and competencies include:

Educational Background

-          A University degree in sociology, social development, gender studies, anthropology, development studies, or a related field. A master’s degree is an advantage.

Professional Experience

-          Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in social development, inclusion, or social safeguards.

-          At least 7 years of experience in donor-funded projects with proven application of the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) or equivalent standards.

-          Demonstrated experience in providing technical guidance, oversight, or quality assurance for participatory planning, inclusion strategies, or social risk management.

-          Experience working with government institutions at national and state levels, preferably in fragile or conflict-affected settings is an added value.

Skills and competencies

-          Strong analytical and advisory skills in social risk management, inclusion, and gender mainstreaming.

-          Ability to develop guidance tools, training curricula, and capacity-building programs.

-          Excellent organizational and coordination skills, with ability to support multiple PIUs.

-          Strong communication and facilitation skills, with proven ability to engage effectively with government, donors, and communities.

Knowledge

-          In-depth knowledge and understanding of the World Bank ESF, ESCP, and related instruments.

-          Familiarity with Somalia’s social dynamics, governance structures (local governance), and institutional context.

-          Awareness of cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, inclusion, resilience, and conflict sensitivity.

Language skills/requirement.

-          Excellent command of Somali language, e.g., reading, writing and presenting is essential

-          Excellent command of English language, e.g., reading, writing and presenting is essential.

3. REPORTING

The Social Safeguarding Specialist will report to the National Project Coordinator at the National Project Coordination Unit - PCU.

4.         TIMING Duration of Assignment:

The Environmental Specialist shall be contracted for up to 12 months with 3 months of probationary period) and renewable upon satisfactory performance.

The Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation – MOIFAR, FGS now invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the above-mentioned services. Interested consultants must provide the following (i) Curriculum Vitae (CV) with 3 reference persons; (ii) copies of certificates of academic qualifications; and (iii) cover letter indicating that they are qualified to perform the services.

How to apply

5.         SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

 The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to section III, para 3.14,3.16 & 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers: Procurement in Investment Projects Financing Goods, Works, Non -Consulting and Consulting Services, July 2016, revised November 2017, August 2018, November 2020 and September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.  

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant method set out in the World Bank Procurement Regulations. 

Interested candidates should submit their applications, including a detailed updated CV and cover letter, outlining their experience and qualifications in relation to the role marked with the subject title of the position by the following email address: info@moifar.gov.so  and copy to Abdirahman.ahmed@moifar.gov.so latest by 18th November, 2025 at 4:00 PM Mogadishu time.

Apply to: info@moifar.gov.so