E T Consultant
| Job #: | req38995 |
| Organization: | World Bank |
| Sector: | Social Protection |
| Grade: | EC2 |
| Term Duration: | 1 year 0 months |
| Recruitment Type: | Local Recruitment |
| Location: | Maseru,Lesotho |
| Required Language(s): | English |
| Preferred Language(s): | Sesotho |
| Closing Date: | 11/12/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
At the World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/ibrd
VPU Context:
Eastern and Southern Africa (E AFR) Region
Home to about 700 million of Africa’s people, Eastern and Southern Africa is a geographically, culturally and economically diverse region of 26 countries stretching from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South. Children under 18 make up almost half of the total population. The subregion boasts of some of the world’s richest human and natural resources and, apart from South Africa, the countries are predominantly raw material exporters.
The subregion harbors some of Africa’s protracted conflicts, rendering many of its countries fragile, while significant gaps in education, health, and skills development continue to keep people from reaching their full potential. This creates a huge development challenge, impacts heavily on the lives and livelihoods of people, and hinders regional integration and trade. But it also creates an opportunity to work closely with country leaders, civil society, development partners, and young people to chart a brighter course for the future.
The World Bank’s Eastern and Southern Africa Region, comprised of approximately 1,207 staff, mostly based in 26 country offices, has been helping countries realize their considerable development potential by focusing on the following priorities: (i) creating Jobs and Transforming Economies, (ii) building up the Digital Economy, (iii) making institutions more Efficient and Accountable, (iv) investing in People, (v) supporting Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption: (vi) addressing the Drivers of Fragility, Conflict, and Violence; (vii) Building Partnerships and Working across the African Continent. Eastern and Southern Africa (E AFR) Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/eastern-and-southern-africa
Unit Context:
Social Policy Group (SPG) within the People Vice Presidency focuses on supporting countries in building equitable, inclusive, and resilient societies. It supports countries address deep rooted social problems stemming from fragility, climate change, exclusion, and the digital age with people centered solutions that build on local values and institutions. The SPG engages with citizens, communities and governments to deepen resilience, build inclusion, and empower vulnerable and marginalized groups to have influence and voice. The SPG prioritizes participatory, multi-sectoral approaches that build on norms and informal institutions to address social challenges and to build more inclusive, empowered communities. It also designs and scales social assistance programs and delivery systems, including adaptive social protection systems that build climate resilience, as well as cash transfer initiatives targeting vulnerable populations. It also supports multifaceted economic inclusion programs aimed at ultra-poor, including in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. On the labor side, the department promotes skills development, youth employment, and labor market participation through training and apprenticeship programs.
Duties and accountabilities:
The ETC Social Protection Specialist will support World Bank engagement in Lesotho's social protection sector through implementation support, policy dialogue, and efforts to strengthen the sector's visibility and strategic importance. Specific responsibilities include:
Provide regular implementation support through:
• Convening regular coordination and technical meetings with relevant staff in Ministry and as required, staff from other Ministries, development partners, service providers and implementing partners
• Tracking progress against implementation milestones and follow-up actions identified in each implementation support mission
• Undertaking bilateral check-ins with the project management unit and senior management (e.g., Directors, Project Managers, etc.) in the Ministry
• Leading preparations for regular implementation support missions, including drafting of key documents and managing logistical preparations and coordination
Support policy dialogue by:
• Regularly attending development partner meetings and liaise with local research and civil society organizations working on social protection issues
• Supporting the task team leaders in preparation of policy briefs and internal briefs for World Bank management
Strengthening the sector’s visibility and strategic importance by:
• Representing the task team in roundtable discussions and seminars relevant to the sector
• Supporting the drafting, publication, and dissemination of flagship reports, analytical products, and materials detailing the impact of World Bank supported projects in the sector.
Selection Criteria
• At least advanced university degree (master’s or PhD) in relevant social policy (e.g., Sociology, Anthropology, Economics, and Political Science) or related fields.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in engaging with government counterparts and local partners, with demonstrated knowledge of the local political economy and development landscape in Lesotho or similar contexts.
• Strong operational (task management) and analytical skills and demonstrated ability to translate analytical work into policy advice and actionable, practical recommendations.
• Proven experience in engaging in policy dialogue with government, development partners in at least 2 relevant social policy areas, particularly, on strengthening social protection delivery systems.
• Deep knowledge of the local context, political economy, and development landscape, including established relationships with local partners and government counterparts at operational levels.
• Ability to independently drive project coordination, including proactive follow-up on tasks and timelines with the project implementation unit and key stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of project milestones.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills in English and Sesotho required.
In addition, the successful candidate is expected to exhibit the following core competencies:
• Knowledge and experience in development arena: Understands policy making process; distills operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for clients.
• Policy Dialogue Skills: Identifies and assesses policy issues and plays an active role in dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders.
• Deliver Results for Clients: Proactively addresses client’s stated and unstated needs.
• Collaborate within teams and across boundaries: Collaborates across boundaries, gives own perspective and receives willingly diverse perspectives.
• Lead and Innovate: Develops innovative solutions.
Additional Considerations
As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:
• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
• Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
• Bring experience working on fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV)-related contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
As per WBG policy, an Extended Term (ET) appointment is subject to a lifetime maximum of three (3) years. Former and current ET staff who have completed or are in the process of completing their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
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