Social Protection Specialist at World Bank: (Deadline 27 May 2025)

Social Protection Specialist at World Bank: (Deadline 27 May 2025)

The Social Protection Global Family delivers operational approaches and evidence-based solutions to help individuals, families and communities manage risk, cope with chronic/transitional poverty, and access better livelihoods and jobs. These include:

• Strategy, policy development, financing and design of programs delivering social safety nets/social assistance in the form of cash transfers, public works programs, and fee waivers.
• Advisory and analytical services on design and delivery of contributory transfers (including old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, disability and survivor benefits), and their fiscal sustainability (including budget support for transitions).
• Analysis, policy development, design and delivery of labor market and youth employment programs (with a focus on supply side interventions and intermediation policies), as well as policy advice on labor market regulations and interventions.
• Policy development, strategy, analysis, financing and design of integrated social protection delivery systems (e.g., payment systems, beneficiary identification, beneficiary/social registries, systems assessments) as underpinnings of effective social programs that can help cope with climatic shocks or underpin fiscal reforms.

Rwanda is a country situated in central Africa, bordered to the north by Uganda, to the east by Tanzania, to the south by Burundi and to the west by the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda’s total area is 26,338 km2, with a population density estimated at 445 people per km². It is a hilly, fertile, and landlocked country, and a member of the East Africa Community (EAC).

Rwanda has maintained its political stability since the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Presidential and parliamentary elections were held jointly in July 2024, after the government decided to synchronize the voting dates. President Paul Kagame, of the ruling RPF party, was re-elected for a fourth consecutive term. This term will only last five years, following a 2015 constitutional amendment that reduced presidential terms from seven years to five and set a two-term limit. The ruling RPF coalition also won the majority of seats in parliament, securing 68.8%.

Rwanda aspires to become a Middle-Income Country by 2035 and a High-Income Country by 2050. It plans to achieve this through the implementation of its second National Strategies for Transformation (NST-2), a five year-development agenda underpinned by sectoral strategies focused on meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Rwanda’s economy continued to register robust growth in 2024. Real GDP grew by over 8.5% in 2024, surpassing the previous year’s growth rate of 8.2%. GDP growth is expected to maintain momentum in 2025–27, with a projected average of 7.1%, supported by continued expansion in agriculture, services, and industry.

Despite remarkable growth performance in recent years, the creation of jobs in Rwanda is insufficient and the level of productivity remains low, reflecting infrastructure gaps, limited progress in innovation, and sub-optimal allocative efficiency. Furthermore, the inclusiveness of growth remains a key challenge, as the momentum in poverty reduction has weakened in recent years. The benefits of structural transformation have tended to accrue to more educated workers, worsening inequality. The World Bank’s Human Capital Index, which measures the amount of human capital that a child born today can expect to attain by age 18, places Rwanda at 160th out of 174 countries. High levels of public debt (projected to peak at 80% of GDP in 2025), vulnerability to climate change, and increasing pressure on natural resources will make it difficult to achieve the country’s targets of becoming an Upper Middle-Income Country by 2035 and a High-Income Country by 2050.

Overcoming these challenges will require greater reliance on private sector investment to enhance productivity growth, raise incomes, and provide the financing to address infrastructure shortfalls. At the same time, it requires policies and systems, which foster resilience against economic shocks and facilitate pathways to economic mobility. SP policies address gaps in human capital development, provide resilience in the face of shocks, and promote jobs and livelihoods, focusing on the poor and vulnerable populations.

• The successful candidate will support the World Bank’s engagement in the design and implementation of the SP programs in Rwanda, as a key member of the team, based in Rwanda. The primary objective of the position is to support the effective implementation of the ongoing SP portfolio, with a special focus on social safety nets and jobs for the poor, and advance the analytical and operational horizon of the GP’s activities. This will require close engagement and coordination with the Government, development partners and other stakeholders.

Major responsibilities include:

• Support implementation of the ongoing Social Protection Transformation Project (SPTP), and the design and future implementation of its Additional Financing.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen and further introduce innovations in the SPTP operation aligned with the Country Partnership Framework and high-level objectives such as jobs; coordinate implementation support and provide continuous technical assistance in the areas of safety net operations to the main implementation agencies; collaborate with development partners.
• Participate in planning and organization of bi-annual Joint Implementation Support missions of the SPTP; take a proactive role in all or part of the implementation review activities; contribute to drafting Aide-Memoires and implementation review documents and monitor the implementation of recommendations from Aide-Memoires.
• Support the preparation of the Implementation Support Reports (ISRs) and Implementation Completion Reports (ICRs).
• Participate in field missions as needed to assess the quality of implementation on the ground, identify systemic issues, and recommend remedial actions.
• Contribute to the ongoing analytical work related to social protection policy and labor markets.
• Support and contribute to the ongoing policy dialogue on the youth employment and jobs agenda as well as in pensions.
• Support the design of Japan Social Development Funds (JSDF) financed project on digital youth entrepreneurship.
• Participate in and contribute to knowledge sharing activities with the government and development partners, especially on social protection, adapting evidence and resources from other countries where relevant.
• Support and contribute to the preparation of regular progress reports and briefs to senior management and other stakeholders as needed.

This is an internal requisition which is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

Selection Criteria

• Minimum of MSc degree in Economics, Development studies or relevant discipline with at least 5 years of relevant work experience
• Familiarity with the Rwandan context, and with the Government of Rwanda’s social protection policies and safety net programs; strong knowledge of the design and implementation of social protection initiatives.
• Experience of working with the World Bank and Development Partners on social protection.
• Demonstrated experience with World Bank operations and key aspects of program management and with operational implementation of development programs in the field.
• Experience with multi-sectoral programming and multiple partners, including within low-capacity environments is an asset.
• Strong operational track record in delivering results in challenging and low-capacity contexts, including program monitoring & evaluation.
• Strong analytical skills and proven ability to conduct and oversee policy-relevant research, translate theory into practical applications, and adapt professional knowledge and technical skills to analyze, diagnose and propose solutions to policy issues and challenges.
• Ability to convey analysis in easily communicable and compelling fashion, and on often short turnaround times. Demonstrated ability to capture knowledge and communicate main messages in knowledge briefs and policy notes, as well as power point presentations for high level audiences.
• Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda (written and verbal) is required
• Proven pro-active engagement, forward looking and independent thinking, as well as initiative that leads to results
• Ability to maintain client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
• Evidence of strong interpersonal skills, judgement and with proven ability to work in a team and intercultural environment, with minimal supervision.
• Proven track record of multi-tasking, managing competing demands and effectively time-managing tasks.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

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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