Social Safeguards Specialist

National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) - Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) Project 2.0

Position: Individual Consultant - Social Safeguards Specialist

Agreement No: IDA-E6540
Consultant Selection: MW-NLGFC-563910-CS-INDIV
Date of Issue: 20th August, 2026

Background

The Government of Malawi, through the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC), has secured funding for the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) Project. As part of this initiative, the NLGFC is seeking to hire a Social Safeguards Specialist for a three-year contract, renewable annually based on performance and funding availability.

Role Objective

The primary goal of the Social Safeguards Specialist is to ensure that project activities are conducted with social responsibility. This involves minimizing negative social impacts, fostering social inclusion, protecting vulnerable populations, and strictly adhering to national regulations and World Bank requirements, including the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF).

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to quarterly environmental and social reports covering management plans, ESIA, RAPs, stakeholder engagement, and grievance resolution.


• Provide expert guidance to local authorities on social considerations during investment planning, design, and contracting phases.


• Collaborate with OHS and Environmental Safeguard Specialists to assist local authorities in environmental and social screening.


• Support the development and review of Environmental and Social Instruments (ESMPs, ESIA, CESMPs, RAPs) for sub-project activities.


• Design and deliver, or coordinate, capacity-building programs on social safeguards for local authority staff, including needs assessments, training, and on-the-job coaching.


• Oversee documentation of land acquisition and resettlement activities, ensuring compliance with national laws and the Project RPF and World Bank ESF.


• Facilitate and monitor the preparation and implementation of Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), ensuring timely compensation and grievance resolution.


• Assist local authorities in implementing Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEP) and Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM), including information dissemination and community engagement.


• Ensure the operational effectiveness of the GRM, including training Grievance Redress Committees and managing the GRM database.


• Support local authorities in conducting site visits and reviewing contractor compliance with site-specific ESMPs, LMPs, and Codes of Conduct.


• Oversee the management of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA)/Sexual Harassment (SH) prevention and response mechanisms at the district level, in line with national legislation and the SEA/SH Action Plan.


• Monitor the implementation of ESMPs and social risk management at district levels, ensuring timely resolution of social issues throughout the sub-project lifecycle.


• Prepare non-compliance reports and track corrective actions for closure.


• Generate periodic Social Compliance Monitoring Reports aligned with ESCP, ESMF, ESHS Guidelines, and relevant environmental and social instruments.


• Contribute to communication strategies and the dissemination of project findings.


• Facilitate collaboration between environmental and social specialists, engineers, and M&E specialists, enhancing communication between grassroots structures, district offices, CSOs, and sector ministries.


• Provide expert social risk management input for the development of Terms of Reference for environmental and social assignments.


• Ensure that vulnerable groups are not negatively impacted or marginalized by project activities.


• Conduct internal E&S Audits and support external audits, tracking the implementation of corrective action plans.


• Provide project management support, including participation in meetings with government officials and the World Bank, and submit regular progress reports.


• Offer ad hoc support to other NLGFC projects for Social Safeguards activities as needed.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, Gender and Development, Rural and Social Development Studies, or a related field.


• Minimum of 8 years of experience in Social Risk Management, encompassing social aspects of planning, assessment, implementation, stakeholder engagement, and grievance management on civil works projects.


• Working knowledge of the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework and demonstrated experience in preparing ESIAs, ESMPs, and RAPs to national and World Bank standards is advantageous.


• Experience in designing and delivering capacity-building programs in social safeguards and risk management.


• Familiarity with Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response in development contexts.


• Understanding of environmental, social, and economic conditions prevalent in Malawi.


• Solid grasp of Malawian local government systems, construction management, reconstruction, and conflict mitigation.


• Proven ability to coordinate stakeholder engagement, with strong persuasive and presentation skills.


• Excellent English oral and written communication skills, with a good understanding of Chichewa.


• Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with grassroots, district, and sector stakeholders.


• Strong team player.


• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).


• Commitment to upholding anti-corruption and anti-bribery ethics.

Assignment Duration

The assignment is expected to last for a maximum of three (3) years, with annual performance reviews and potential extensions based on satisfactory performance.

Location of Employment

The Social Safeguards Specialist will be based at the NLGFC offices in Lilongwe. Occasional travel to local government authorities across Malawi where the GESD 2.0 Project is active will be required.

Reporting Structure

The Social Safeguards Specialist will report primarily to the Project Coordinator. Technical guidance will be provided by the Director of Social and Economic Services at NLGFC. Collaboration with local authorities and other project specialists (Environmental Safeguards, OHS, Project Engineers) is expected.

Application Procedure

Interested Consultants are advised to review Section III, paragraphs 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations of IPF Borrowers” (September 2025) regarding the World Bank's policy on conflicts of interest. The selection will follow the Individual Consultant (INDV) selection method outlined in the Procurement Regulations.

Detailed Terms of Reference (TORs) are available during office hours (7:30 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM, excluding weekends and public holidays) at the address below.

Submission of Applications

Qualified applicants should submit their application letters, a concise Curriculum Vitae (CV), National ID, and copies of relevant certificates to the address below by 17:30 hours on Friday, 11th September 2026.

The Executive Director
National Local Government Finance Committee
Area 14, Red Cross Building
Presidential Way
P.O. Box 31162
Lilongwe 3

Alternatively, applications can be submitted via email to:

recruitment@nlgfc.gov.mw / ed@nlgfc.gov.mw

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.