Building Capacity for Inclusive Service Delivery (BCISD) Project

1. BACKGROUND
   1. The African Development Bank approved a grant for the Republic of Sudan to implement the Building Capacity for Inclusive Service Delivery Project (BCISD). The project aims at building governance, institutional and human resources capacities of the Ministries of Social Development (MoSD) and Health (MoH) at federal, state and locality levels and developing human capital at the community level to improve employability, create jobs and expand access to and coverage of tailored safety nets and health services for the poor, especially women and youth. The project particularly targets the North Kordofan and White Nile states and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) within the MoWSS. At the community level, the project will initiate and support skill development and entrepreneurship initiatives to gradually empower the poor and vulnerable for gainful employment and poverty reduction.
   2. The project will promote an inter-sectoral and integrated approach to skill development, social protection and health by simultaneously building capacities of target institutions and people. The project will groom leaders at federal, state and district levels to effectively plan, design, and manage essential social protection services. Also, the project will train technical staff and devise a staff retention strategy to deliver basic services in marginalised rural and remote areas. The project will also prepare rural communities to be gainfully employed and withstand financial shocks. About 64% of the population in Sudan are uninsured and therefore often face financial shocks. These activities will contribute to poverty reduction, economic and social progression, and reduced dependency for fulfilling social protection needs. Furthermore, policies, strategies and frameworks relating to the target institutions’ core functions and human resources capacity will be developed and institutionalized.

1.3       The African Development Bank (AfDB) is a multilateral financial institution which is involved in the development and financing projects in its 54 Regional Member Countries (RMCs) in Africa. The Banks Ten- Year Strategy 2013 – 2022 has identified governance and accountability as foundations needed to achieve inclusive economic growth and reduce poverty.

1.4    The Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) is the project’s executing agency responsible for the overall coordination and implementation of the project. MoSD is the Implementing Agency through a dedicated Project Implementation Unit (PIU).

Recruitment of Safety Net and Economic Development Officer (No. of Post: 1)

The Safety Net Specialist will be based in Khartoum and attached to the Project Implementation Unit of the BCISD project where he/she will report directly to the Project Manager.

The project is to develop an effective safety net system by focusing on: i) Development of strategies, reforms, laws or regulation aiming at cost/price reduction, service enhancement and financial inclusion; ii) Expanding access to essential services; iii) Enabling the poor to protect themselves and their assets against shocks, ensuring long-run productive potential; and iv) Enhance labour market participation.

Safety Net and Economic Development Officer will develop the financing framework, operational guidelines, and disbursement/repayment approaches for the following target groups:

• Startup capital for group enterprises
• Startup capital for individual enterprises

The specialist will be responsible for overseeing the overall effective and transparent roll-out and use of the funds under the start-up capital fund. This includes the set-up and management of the start-up capital, the selection process of beneficiaries, and overall monitoring of use and repayments of funds.

The Start-Up Capital

The start-up capital aims to provide seed funding to ILO trained beneficiaries from the following programmes:

1. Vocational and employability training program
2. Apprenticeship schemes
3. Entrepreneurial skills training programs

• Participate in and carry-out, as needed, the development, appraisal and supervision of delivery systems of start-ups capital provide technical advice and policy guidance to the government, in consultation with the African Development Bank’s management, on Safety Net and Economic Development. These tasks will require technical analysis; design of delivery systems, and technical assistance activities; interaction with clients at the policy level; and the supervision of consultants.
• Support the day-to-day operational needs of the Sudan National Safety Net Program, particularly overseeing the payments system and social registries being used to make cash transfers.  Respond to government and donor partners’ requests for action on project implementation issues related to the social safety net and start-up capital.
• Participate and organize missions to provide technical inputs and guidance to counterparts, including improving the monitoring and evaluation of project activities related to the social safety net and start-up capital.  The candidate will also be expected to participate in developing reports and evaluations of delivery systems as relevant.
• Strengthen African Development Bank’s works in this project with other international institutions and donors, civil society and professional and academic associations to improve the coordination of start-up capital policies at the local and national levels work closely with the BCISD’s financial management and procurement teams and assist government in matters of project implementation.
• Carry out any other related technical assessments and administrative activities required by the, Project Manager.

• Master’s degree in Economics, Social Science or related discipline, or relevant training in safety net/social protection delivery systems and/or entrepreneurship development.
• At least 10 years of relevant operational experience in the development field, preferably in the delivery systems in Sudan with an emphasis on social protection program design and implementation.  Experience in other African or developing countries and on payments systems is desirable.
• Experience in or demonstrated knowledge of experience in rural entrepreneurships development, including access to finance mechanisms for start-ups, microenterprises, and/or cooperatives.
• Experience in the management of a seed funding/start-up mechanism and in agribusiness would be an added advantage.
• Proven technical skills and experience in Proven analytical, quantitative and qualitative skills including computer and statistical packages
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain productive, professional relationships with government counterparts, donors, civil society, private sector and other stakeholders.
• High capacity for organization and coordination, as well as an ability to work with a high degree of independence in a team environment.
• Experience working in a multi-donor environment.
• Experience in managing diverse and sometimes competing interests.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic.
• Willing to travel to remote areas in Sudan.

DURATION OF THE WORK

• The contract is for a total period of 7 months and renewable at the end of each year based on project extension and performance.

REPORTS / OUTPUTS

The Safety Net Specialist will ensure that the following reports are prepared:

• Monthly performance reports.
• Contribute to overall Project Quarterly Reports to be submitted to the Bank
• Contribute to Project Completion Report
• Any other reports required by the Bank

How to Apply:

• Interested candidates are requested to submit their complete files only in English (CV, motivation letter and certificates) on Sudanjob.net website
• The recruitment office will not consider any applications which are not received directly on Sudanjob.net
• The selected candidates will be subject to a reference check.
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.