Senior Social Protection Specialist - Senior Economist

About this role

This is a senior role with the World Bank Group based in Abuja, focusing on social protection and related labour policy. The Senior Social Protection Specialist will lead and contribute to policy dialogue, operational tasks, and analytical work to support Nigeria’s social protection and labour agenda. The role involves coordinating with government ministries, development partners and other stakeholders, and may require cross-sector collaboration to promote human capital investments. It includes possible leadership of social policy tasks, field missions, and developing reports and evaluations on Bank operations. The position requires strong collaboration with government counterparts and donors, and travel within Nigeria may be needed.

What you would do

• Lead or co-lead social policy tasks in Nigeria.
• Contribute to and lead policy dialogue with government ministries and project units.
• Support current and future social policy operations and analyses at federal and state levels.
• Promote cross-sector approaches for human capital and social policy investments.
• Organise and participate in missions to provide implementation support and guidance.
• Develop reports and evaluations on World Bank operations as needed.
• Support donor coordination and liaise with NGOs and government counterparts.
• Collaborate with financial management, procurement, environmental and social teams on project implementation.
• Prepare analytical pieces and technical reports on ongoing or pipeline Bank projects.
• Provide specialized guidance to resolve implementation challenges.

What they are asking for

• Graduate degree with a minimum of a Master’s in economics, social policy or related fields.
• At least eight years of relevant experience in social protection and labour or related sectors.
• Experience in social assistance operations and adaptive or shock-responsive social protection systems.
• Experience in large-scale development operations and, ideally, World Bank operations.
• Strong technical, analytical and operational skills in social protection.
• Experience leading analytical or technical assistance activities for government system strengthening.
• Proven ability to build relationships with government counterparts, donors and other stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, coordinate teams, and work independently in a team.
• Proficiency in English; willingness to travel within Nigeria.

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