Safeguards Specialist

Job Vacancy | Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Join Our Mission to Foster Prosperity in Asia

Are you ready to make a lasting impact on the future of Asia and be a catalyst for positive change? We are thrilled to offer a unique opportunity to become an important part of the prestigious Asian Development Bank (ADB). At ADB, our mission is simple yet powerful: to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationship

The position of Safeguards Specialist is assigned to the Office of Head of Safeguards (OSOD) within the Office of Safeguards (OSFG). You will be based at our Headquarters in Manila, Philippines.

The Office of Safeguards (OSFG) is led by the Head of Safeguards and has the following four teams: (i) Policy and Technical Services, (ii) Regional Operations Services 1, (iii) Regional Operations Services 2, and (iv) Private Sector/Pacific Operations Services.

Supporting the 4 main teams, OSOD provides overall coordination, business process support, and safeguards monitoring and reporting linked to an online Integrated Safeguard Management Systems (ISMS). Special projects, including the development of a new Management-led Grievance Mechanism (MGM) and environmental and social (E&S) incident monitoring are also coordinated centrally by OSOD.

You will report to the Director and will supervise junior team members.

Your Role

As a Safeguards Specialist, you will lead engagement and “OneADB” Project Team support to enhance ADB’s responsiveness to partner concerns, including environmental and social (E&S) grievances and complaints received directly by ADB (Direct Complaints) or referred by ADB’s Accountability Mechanism (AM) and other sources. You will support OSOD by working with Operations Department, clients, AM office and other relevant parties to monitor and report on safeguards portfolio for early problem identification, resolutions and share lessons learnt to strengthen design of new projects.

You will:

• Advise “OneADB” Project Teams, borrowers and clients of ADB on complainant engagement and contribute to complaint resolution.
• Collaborate with ADB’s AM Teams and support sector and regional OneADB Project Teams in the preparation and implementation of management’s responses to the AM cases to help determine eligibility and action planning for complaint resolution.
• Advise OneADB Project Teams based on case precedent and lessons learned especially in the design of new projects to minimize avoidable complaints.
• Guide OneADB Project Teams through the Direct Complaints management business process, facilitating complainant engagement and early and proactive response to E&S complaints received directly by ADB.
• Engage OneADB Project Teams across regions and sectors to maintain partner engagement and grievance response during project processing to avoid and minimize avoidable complaints during project implementation.
• Develop and deliver regular progress reports, training, guidance materials, and lessons learned to staff and management of ADB. Develop support tools for borrowers and clients of ADB on grievance response and civil society organizations (CSO) engagement methods and strategies.
• Join “OneADB” Project Teams on need be basis and conduct safeguard review, fact-finding and operation support missions for complex and sensitive projects to manage grievances and strengthen partner engagement.
• Participate in the review and further development of ADB’s safeguard policy, and associated staff instructions and good practice guidance materials for both environment and social safeguards with the objective of strengthening partner engagement and grievance and complaint management.
• Enhance ADB’s safeguard monitoring and information systems, through further development of indicators, reporting systems and institutional arrangements with regards to grievance resolution and partner engagement.
• Review and propose improvements in existing processes for lesson learning, lesson capture and reuse, and for thematic analysis.
• Perform any other tasks assigned to you by management of OSFG determined by the level of your role.

Qualifications

You will need:

• University degree in in social/environmental sciences, international development, international relations, policy/public affairs, dispute/conflict resolution or other relevant discipline or; preferably at post-graduate level or its equivalent.
• At least 6 years of relevant professional and operational experience related to E&S risk assessment and management, social or community development, partner engagement, grievance response, independent accountability mechanisms, dispute resolution, or CSO/community engagement. International experience working in several countries.
• Can analyze and combine diverse information from varied sources, and to adapt in response to new risks or opportunities.
• Can handle complexity and conflicts with confidence, diffusing tense situations and seeking solutions.
• Good coordination and project management skills.
• Experience communicating complex technical concepts to a variety of audiences.
• Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for International Staff grade TI1.

Benefits

ADB offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. The salary will be based on ADB’s standards and comparator markets, taking into account your qualifications and experience.

• Paid leave (including parental)
• Medical and health benefits
• Life and other insurance plans
• Staff development
• Retirement plan
• Housing and education allowance (if applicable)
• Expatriate benefits

About Us

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 69 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 69 members.

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

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.

Visit ADB Careers FAQ for more information.

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