🤝 SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS SPECIALIST — NATIONAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE COMMITTEE (NLGFC)

📍 Location: Lilongwe (with occasional travel to local government authorities across Malawi)
🧭 Reports To: Project Coordinator (primary); Director of Social and Economic Services, NLGFC (technical line)
💼 Job Type: 3-Year Contract, renewable annually based on performance
📋 Reference No: MW-NLGFC-563910-CS-INDIV
📆 Date of Issue: August 20, 2026

BACKGROUND
The Government of Malawi (GoM), through the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC), has received financing for the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) Project — GESD 2.0 (Agreement No: IDA-E6540). NLGFC intends to use part of this financing to hire a Social Safeguards Specialist under an Individual Consultant contract.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The Social Safeguards Specialist ensures project activities are planned and implemented in a socially responsible manner that minimizes adverse social impacts, promotes social inclusion, protects vulnerable groups, and complies with national laws and applicable donor requirements, including the World Bank's Environmental and Social Framework (ESF).
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
👉 Contribute to ES quarterly reports on environmental/social management plans, ESIA, RAPs, stakeholder engagement, and grievance management
👉 Provide professional input to local authorities on social concerns in planning, design, and contracting of investments
👉 Support environmental and social screening in collaboration with OHS and Environmental Safeguard Specialists
👉 Support local authorities in developing/reviewing E&S instruments (ESMPs, ESIAs, CESMPs, RAPs)
👉 Design and deliver environmental and social capacity building programs to local authority staff
👉 Supervise documentation of land acquisition and resettlement activities, maintaining contact with Project Affected Persons
👉 Facilitate and oversee preparation/implementation of RAP(s), including compensation and livelihood restoration
👉 Support implementation of Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEP), including Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM)
👉 Ensure GRM is operational — establishing/training Grievance Redress Committees, managing GRM database
👉 Raise GRM awareness, prepare GRM manuals, and review GRM functionality with corrective measures
👉 Support site visits and review contractors' compliance with CESMPs, Labour Management Procedures, and Codes of Conduct
👉 Oversee management of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA)/Sexual Harassment (SH) prevention and response mechanisms
👉 Oversee implementation and monitoring of the SEA/SH action plan at district level
👉 Follow up on ESMP implementation and social risk management through Environmental District Officers
👉 Prepare non-compliance reports and periodic Social Compliance Monitoring Reports
👉 Provide input to communication strategy, knowledge products, and dissemination of results
👉 Create interface between Environmental Specialist, OHS Specialist, Project Engineers, and M&E Specialist
👉 Provide input to ToRs for recruitment of environmental/social assignments
👉 Ensure vulnerable groups (ultra-poor, women, people with disabilities, people living with HIV/AIDS, child-headed households, people living with Albinism) are not marginalized
👉 Undertake internal E&S audits and support preparation of external audits
👉 Provide project management support as assigned, including meeting participation and progress reporting
👉 Provide ad hoc support to other NLGFC projects on Social Safeguards activities

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
👉 Master's Degree in Social Sciences, Gender and Development, Rural and Social Development Studies, or a related discipline
👉 Minimum 8 years of experience in Social Risk Management, including stakeholder engagement and grievance management on civil works projects
👉 Working knowledge of the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework; experience preparing ESIAs, ESMPs, and RAPs is an advantage
👉 Experience designing and delivering capacity building programs in social safeguards
👉 Familiarity with GBV prevention and response in development
👉 Familiarity with Malawi's environmental, social, and economic conditions
👉 Solid understanding of local government systems, construction management, reconstruction, and conflict mitigation
👉 Proven ability to coordinate stakeholder engagement and present ideas persuasively
👉 Excellent oral and written English; fair understanding and speaking of Chichewa
👉 Strong organizational, communication, and team management skills
👉 Strong team player
👉 Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
👉 Upholding of anti-corruption and anti-bribery ethics

DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT
Up to 3 years, with annual performance reviews; extensions subject to satisfactory performance.

HOW TO APPLY
Submit application letters with a concise CV, National ID, and copies of relevant certificates to:
The Executive Director
National Local Government Finance Committee
Area 14, Red Cross Building, Presidential Way
P.O. Box 31162, Lilongwe 3
Or by email: recruitment@nlgfc.gov.mw / ed@nlgfc.gov.mw
⏰ Deadline: 17:30 hours, Friday, September 11, 2026

Only shortlisted applicants will be considered for further assessment.