Social Specialist

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI)

Individual Consultant – Social Specialist

Country: Republic of Uzbekistan

Project: Transforming Public Education for Economic Growth

Financing: World Bank – Grant for Project Preparation (GFPP)

Grant No.: E5370

Implementing Agency: Ministry of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan (MoPSE)

Selection Method: Individual Consultant Selection (ICS)

1. Background

The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in collaboration with the World Bank, is preparing the Transforming Public Education for Economic Growth Operation, aimed at improving the quality, accessibility, and inclusiveness of school education.

The Operation consists of a Program-for-Results (PforR) component and an Investment Project Financing (IPF) Technical Assistance component. A Grant for Project Preparation (GFPP) finances preparatory activities, including social assessments, site screening, stakeholder engagement, grievance redress arrangements, and integration of inclusion, gender, and community considerations into model school designs.

Implementation is coordinated by the Ministry of Preschool and School Education (MoPSE) through a dedicated Implementation Office.

MoPSE now invites Expressions of Interest from qualified individuals for the position of Social Specialist, to be engaged on a part-time basis.

2. Objective of the Assignment

The objective of the assignment is to support and coordinate all social risk management aspects of the Operation, ensuring compliance with national legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), including stakeholder engagement, grievance redress, labor and inclusion considerations.

3. Scope of Services

The Social Specialist will be responsible, inter alia, for:

- Supporting preparation of the Environmental and Social Systems Assessment (ESSA) under the PforR component, including inputs on land, labor, stakeholder engagement, SEA/SH, OHS, and grievance mechanisms;

- Preparing and supporting social instruments under the IPF/TA component, including the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), Labor Management Procedures (LMP), Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) (if required), and Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) procedures;

Conducting social screening of proposed school sites and identifying risks related to land acquisition, labor, vulnerable groups, disability inclusion, community health and safety, and SEA/SH;

Supporting meaningful stakeholder engagement at national and regional levels and monitoring implementation of the SEP;

Coordinating with relevant national and local authorities on social compliance matters;

Preparing periodic social monitoring inputs and reports for inclusion in project progress reporting.

4. Qualification Requirements

Interested candidates should meet the following minimum requirements:

- Bachelor’s degree or higher in social sciences, sociology, anthropology, development studies, or a related field;

- Three (3) to five (5) years of professional experience in social risk management or social safeguards;

- Experience working on World Bank- or other IFI-financed projects;

- Demonstrated experience in preparation of social instruments (ESCP, SEP, LMP, GRM, RPF or similar);

- Knowledge of Uzbekistan’s social legislation and the World Bank ESF;

- Proficiency in English, with working knowledge of Uzbek and Russian;

- Strong stakeholder engagement, analytical, and reporting skills.

5. Duration and Level of Effort

The assignment is expected to be for a period of twelve (12) months, including a three-month probation period, and will be carried out on a part-time basis.

The exact level of effort and work schedule shall be agreed during contract negotiations and defined in the Individual Consultant Contract, based on operational needs. The assignment may be extended subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

6. Submission of Expressions of Interest

Interested candidates are invited to submit an Expression of Interest, including an updated Curriculum Vitae, demonstrating that they meet the required qualifications and experience.

Deadline for submission: