Social Specialist

Public-Private Partnership Agency (Ukraine) Project Implementation Unit (PIU) for PREPARE Ukraine REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTANT SERVICES) Social Specialist (PREPARE-CS-06) BACKGROUND The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (hereinafter referred to as the IBRD, the Bank) will support Ukraine in implementing the Project "Preparation of Sustainable Projects to Promote the Recovery of Ukraine (PREPARE Ukraine)" (hereinafter referred to as the Project), financed under the Grant Agreement between Ukraine and the IBRD dated _________ 2025 URTF No. _____ (hereinafter referred to as the Grant Agreement), which is aimed at supporting Ukraine in preparing for the implementation of projects submitted to the PPP Agency under the Ukraine Government PPF program prioritized as part of the Ukraine public investment management ("PIM") process and approved by the Strategic Investment Council (hereinafter - Investments), and at the same time building the capacity of the Government of Ukraine to ensure effective management of public investments.The Project will be implemented under general supervision of the Ministry Economy of Ukraine (hereinafter - MoE) by implementing entity - State Organization "Agency on support Public-Private Partnership" (hereinafter - PPP Agency). PPP Agency created a Project Implementation Unit (hereinafter - PIU) for day-to-day management and coordination of the Project and provision of assistance to the Project in disbursement issues, financial management, reporting and other Project related activities. PIU shall be responsible for general coordination of activities and reporting under the Project. The need for the PPP Agency to engage consultants by purchasing their services is justified by the need for effective implementation of Project activities, defined general standards for operations, ensuring their universality and transparency, and facilitating and assisting the staff of the PPP Agency, as a Project participant, in the decision-making process. The Project will be implemented as the Investment Finance Project and shall be regulated by the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated 27.01.2016 № 70 "On the procedure for the preparation, implementation, monitoring and completion of the implementation of economic and social development projects of Ukraine supported by international financial organizations", other legal acts of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Orders of MoE and Project Operations Manual. The Project is supported by the World Bank and will be implemented in accordance with the World Bank's Environmental and Social Framework. The project has prepared (or will prepare) a series of environmental and social management plans and instruments that will be implemented, namely: the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan, Stakeholder Engagement Plan and the Environmental and Social Management Framework. These plans set out the project's commitments vis a vis the ESF, and set out requirements to prepare future E&S plans commensurate with the nature and scale of E&S risks of proposed future infrastructure investments selected under PREPARE. OBJECTIVE The objective of the assignment is to support the PPP Agency under the MoE in the identifying, assessing and managing social risks and impacts of the Project. The Social Specialist is responsible for ensuring that all studies and activities of the Project including pre-feasibility studies and feasibility studies and business cases, capacity building, training, and any other technical assistance activities under the Project, including, inter alia, preparing applicable environmental and social assessments and management plans, are consistent with the social requirements of the Environmental and Social Framework and Ukrainian national requirements. Social risks encompasses risks that impacts fall disproportionately on individuals and groups who are disadvantaged or vulnerable; any prejudice or discrimination toward individuals or groups in providing access to project benefits; risks to community and worker health and safety, security and well-being; negative economic and social impacts related to involuntary taking of land or restrictions of land use; risks related to contestation over land; risks related to escalation of personal or communal conflict. The social specialist will be a part of the core PIU team of PPP Agency. The social specialist is expected to lead, manage, report and coordinate implementation and compliance with social standards and legal requirements. The social specialist shall ensure that all social aspects are integrated into PREPARE Ukraine activities SCOPE OF SERVICES Social Specialist shall support the PPP Agency in conducting due diligence of social risks and impacts of Investments under the PREPARE Project Preparation Facility. The main areas of responsibility will be: Advise and support the PPP Agency in managing social risks and impacts of the project and Investments on a daily basis, ensuring conformance with the ESF instruments Collaborate with environmental specialist to conduct screening and classification of Investments against the list of excluded activities as outlined in the Legal Agreement and other screening procedures set out in the ESMF, and advise and report on the types of environmental and social assessments and management plans to be prepared for each selected Investments. Prepare and/or integrate social risks and impacts into the Terms of Reference (TORs) for studies, training an other consultancies, including feasibility studies, Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), resettlement plans, bidding documents, are consistent with the ESF, and national laws. Coordinate and review the studies once completed to ensure TOR is adhered and satisfied. Conduct site visits to conduct due diligence on social risks and impacts and gather social data including engagin