Lead Social Inclusion & Resilience Specialist

Islamic Development Bank (IsDB); Jeddah; On-site; SAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international development institution in Saudi Arabia is seeking a Lead Social Inclusion & Resilience Specialist. This role involves leading the operationalization of social inclusion strategies, conducting assessments to identify exclusion drivers, and collaborating with member countries to foster resilience. Applicants need a Master’s degree and at least 10 years of relevant experience in social inclusion and resilience work. Strong analytical and project management skills are required.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in social inclusion and resilience work.
• 5 years in multilateral development banks or international development agencies.
• Experience with assessments of vulnerable groups including women and youth.

Responsibilities

• Lead operationalization of social inclusion and resilience strategies.
• Coordinate assessments to identify exclusion drivers.
• Develop flagship reports on social inclusion and resilience.

Skills

Analytical skills

Planning & organizing

Project management

Report writing

Education

Master’s degree in relevant field

Job description

Title: Lead Social Inclusion & Resilience Specialist

Requisition ID: 5600

OVERVIEW

Business Unit: Operations Complex – Global Practice and Partnerships

Department: Resilience & Climate Action

Division: Fragility and Resilience Division

Country: Saudi Arabia

Location: IsDB HQ, Jeddah

Job Grade: E4

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Closing Date: 21-Dec-2025

JOB PURPOSE

The purpose of this position is to: (i) Lead and coordinate the operationalization of IsDB's social inclusion and resilience strategies, frameworks and tools; (ii) Lead and provide operational coordination and expert inputs to IsDB programs to not only the department but also the Directorate at large on Bank efforts to mainstream social inclusion, fragility, environment, most vulnerable groups including women, youth, people with disabilities and resilience considerations during project preparation, appraisal, and implementation; (iii) Lead the development of critical relevant assessments to identify key drivers of exclusion and sources of resilience to inform MCPS/CEF, programs, and projects in vulnerable and marginalized settings; (iv) Support IsDB’s development mandate by providing strategic guidance to member countries in bridging the humanitarian-development nexus, with a focus on social protection, and inclusive sustainable development; (v) Lead the formulation, development, and effective implementation of IsDB’s strategic initiatives related to social Inclusion, fragility, women, youth and Resilience, including knowledge products, capacity‑building activities, and providing expert‑level advisory and tools to Regional Hubs and Member Countries; (vi) Lead and contribute to resource mobilization efforts aimed at increasing financing for member countries facing social exclusion, inequality, and vulnerabilities;(vii) enhance processes and systems, strengthen and smooth out collaboration, synergies, and cross‑fertilize around sustainability within the GPP, enhance quality and responsiveness and provide necessary support to RCA units and (vii) Coordinate and review the work of senior specialists and team members while coaching, guiding, and mentoring them.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategic and Operational Planning:

• Lead the operationalization and implementation of the critical policies and strategies including fragility, resilience, environment, women, youth and civil society of the Bank, including the development of strategic plans, analytics, and other guidelines related to safeguards in collaboration with other Global Practices within the Directorate General of Global Practices and Partnerships.
• Lead the Communities of Practice (CoP) relevant to Social Inclusion and Resilience, providing intellectual leadership on positioning the Global Practice (GP) within and outside the Bank.
• Lead and coordinate the efforts within the GPP Directorate in coordination with the DG and RCA Department on social inclusion, people with disability, those in marginalized areas and resilience, providing advice, building capacity, and advancing the development of relevant policies in member countries (MCs).
• Provide leadership in advancing the IsDB’s agenda on social inclusion and resilience, ensuring alignment with bank’s strategic priorities and senior management guidance.
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure that resources and capacity are effectively deployed to cover social inclusion and resilience considerations in project preparation and implementation.

Safeguard Policy and Compliance Monitoring:

• Lead the monitoring of the relevant social inclusion and resilience policies in IsDB projects during implementation.
• Lead the development of critical assessments to (i) identify exclusion drivers and sources of resilience in member countries and (ii) develop mechanisms to tackle social barriers and challenges.
• Lead the formulation of strategies for Member Country Partnership Strategy (MCPS), Country Engagement Framework (CEFs), Transition Management and Mitigation for countries affected by social exclusion, conflict, or extreme vulnerability.
• Lead the development of the relevant Flagship Reports, assessing social inclusion, resilience capacities and gaps in member countries.
• Facilitate liaison and engagement with clients, civil society organizations (CSOs), NGOs, and development partners, ensuring inclusive emergencies, humanitarian responses and development interventions to community needs.
• Actively contribute to MDB working groups on social inclusion, resilience, forced displacement, inclusive recovery and vulnerable populations.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships on social inclusion and resilience with key stakeholders, including MDBs, academic institutions, and other development organizations.

Strategic Partnership:

• Collaborate with the Social Inclusion and Resilience Division and external stakeholders such as UNHCR, UNDP, UNICEF, ICRC, IFRC, CSOs, and other global actors on social inclusion and resilience.
• Lead and contribute to the mobilization of resources for programs and projects supporting inclusive development and resilience in member countries.
• Prepare approach papers, reports, and statements on activities supported by donor funds for social inclusion and resilience.

Capacity Building:

• Lead, identify, assess, and monitor overall capacity building needs on FCR within the Bank, including Regional Hubs, and among clients.
• Lead, develop and administer as needed technical assistances grant and other training programs for capacity building.
• Monitor external trends, best practices, and innovations in social inclusion and resilience. Provide technical support to management on key external engagements.
• Lead knowledge‑sharing forums within IsDB, fostering collaboration across the Bank’s functions on social inclusion and resilience.
• Coordinate knowledge generation and advisory services for member countries and external stakeholders, including IFIs, think tanks, and consultants.
• Contribute significantly to the advocacy, dissemination, and knowledge‑building activities relating to IsDB’s Social Inclusion, fragility, women, youth and Resilience Policy.

Reporting & Communication:

• Oversee the preparation of progress reports on thematic related activities in compliance with the Bank rules and procedures.

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in economics, sustainable development, development studies, social development, social policies, or other related fields.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in social inclusion, community empowerment and resilience work, 5 of which in multilateral development bank and/or international development agencies.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of social inclusion and resilience assessments, mainstreaming of most vulnerable groups including people with disability, women, youth, transition management, humanitarian development peace nexus, recovery and reconstruction.
• International experience working in development in several countries, coordinating and working in multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Languages: English: Mandatory l; Arabic: Preferred l; French: Preferred

SKILLS & NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE

• Demonstrable analytical skills to assess institutional and country capacity and to design / review practical arrangements for implementing complex projects’ social inclusion and resilience aspects.
• Demonstrated ability to lead or contribute to high‑level analytical work and policy dialogue in IsDB Member Countries.
• Planning & organizing / project management skills
• Reports Writing skills.

ABOUT APPLICATION PROCESS

If you meet the criteria and you are enthusiastic about the role, we would welcome your application. To complete the application you would need the following document(s):

• Resume/CV
• Copy of passport
• Academic certificate

If you are currently an IsDB Regular staff applying for this role and get selected through the competitive selection process; your current contract type and other terms and conditions will remain unchanged.

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) does not ask for payments of any kind from applicants throughout the recruitment process (job application, CV review, interview meeting, and final processing of applications). In addition, the IsDB does not request information on applicants’ bank accounts. The IsDB declines all responsibility for the fraudulent publications of job posts or job offers in its name or, in general, for the fraudulent use of its name in any way whatsoever.