Social Specialist – Guinea-Bissau

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Social Specialist for a consultancy assignment in Guinea-Bissau.

Aninver Development Partners SL is currently seeking an expert Social Specialist for an upcoming consulting assignment in Guinea-Bissau. This role focuses on ensuring that social safeguards are fully integrated into the project lifecycle, promoting community engagement, and mitigating potential negative social impacts.

The successful candidate will work closely with national stakeholders and local communities to implement robust social management plans, address grievances, and ensure compliance with international environmental and social standards throughout the implementation phase.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Ensure full compliance with national social regulations and international safeguard policies.
• Facilitate meaningful engagement and consultation with remote and vulnerable communities.
• Identify, assess, and manage potential social risks associated with project activities.
• Establish and maintain effective grievance redress mechanisms for all stakeholders.

Scope of work

• Conduct social assessments and studies in project areas.
• Prepare and update social safeguard instruments, including resettlement and stakeholder engagement plans.
• Engage with local communities and remote populations to ensure inclusive participation.
• Monitor the implementation of labor management procedures and gender-based violence mitigation measures.
• Capacity building and training for local counterparts on social management best practices.

Your role as Social Specialist

• Lead all social assessment activities and stakeholder consultations in the field.
• Draft and finalize social safeguard documents in line with international standards.
• Oversee the operationalization and monitoring of the project grievance redress mechanism.
• Coordinate closely with environmental specialists to ensure holistic safeguard integration.
• Prepare regular progress reports on social mitigation measures and community relations.
• Ensure compliance with World Bank guidelines and policies related to environmental and social safeguards.

Requirements

• Education: University degree with postgraduate training in social sciences, including anthropology, sociology, or economics
• At least 10 years of experience on similar projects
• Experience on at least 2 similar projects with remote communities
• Experience in social assessment on similar projects
• Experience with World Bank guidelines/policies and E&S safeguard instruments (RAP, SEP, GBV, LMP, GRM)
• Good knowledge of the region
• Languages: Fluent in French or Portuguese

Desirable

• Prior working experience in Guinea-Bissau or similar Lusophone West African contexts.
• Demonstrated capability in designing and delivering stakeholder capacity-building workshops.

An experienced social scientist with deep expertise in international safeguard policies, remote community engagement, and social impact assessments in West Africa.

Assignment details

• Location: Guinea-Bissau
• Estimated duration: 6 months
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a project in Guinea-Bissau.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.