Social and Gender Expert

Job Description

Position: Social and Gender Expert (PIU Level)

Location: Project Implementation Unit (PIU) – Multiple Districts In Maharashtra

Project: ADB/Infrastructure Project

Department: Project Management & Social Development

Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Role

The Social and Gender Expert will be responsible for implementing, monitoring, and reporting social development, gender inclusion, Indigenous Peoples Plan (IPP), Voluntary Donation Guidelines (VDG), and Gender Action Plan (GAP) activities at the PIU level. The position will ensure effective community participation, safeguard compliance, and achievement of project social and gender objectives in accordance with ADB guidelines.

Key Responsibilities

Social & Gender Implementation

• Facilitate implementation of social and gender activities at the PIU level under the guidance of the Regional Social and Gender Specialist.
• Conduct regular field visits and inspections to monitor project implementation, identify social issues, and recommend corrective actions.
• Ensure effective implementation of the Gender Action Plan (GAP), Indigenous Peoples Plan (IPP), and Voluntary Donation Guidelines (VDG).
• Monitor compliance with social safeguard requirements throughout project implementation.

Community Engagement

• Promote participation of women, Indigenous Peoples, disadvantaged groups, and poor communities in project activities.
• Mobilize local communities and stakeholders to enhance inclusive participation and benefit sharing.
• Support grievance redress mechanisms and ensure timely resolution of community concerns.
• Facilitate consultations with local communities, government departments, and project stakeholders.

Training & Capacity Building

• Conduct training needs assessments related to gender and social inclusion.
• Organize and facilitate awareness programmes, workshops, and orientation sessions.
• Support development of training materials and curricula on gender and social safeguards.
• Ensure at least 50% participation of eligible women in skill development programmes related to road construction and maintenance.

Monitoring & Reporting

• Monitor social, gender, and poverty-related aspects of project implementation.
• Collect, analyse, and maintain project monitoring data.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, annual, and project completion reports on GAP and social safeguard implementation.
• Provide inputs for revising the Gender Action Plan (GAP) and Indigenous Peoples Plan (IPP) where required.
• Submit progress reports in the prescribed monitoring formats.

Coordination & Support

• Assist the Project Team Leader and Regional Social & Gender Specialist in planning, monitoring, and implementation activities.
• Coordinate with PIU officials, contractors, consultants, and local institutions.
• Provide social and gender-related inputs for institutional and community-level training programmes.
• Perform additional responsibilities assigned by the Team Leader or Regional Social & Gender Specialist.

Educational Qualification

• Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW), Sociology, Anthropology, Rural Development, Development Studies, Gender Studies, or a related discipline from a recognized university.

Experience

• Minimum 5+ years of relevant experience in social development, gender mainstreaming, community mobilization, or social safeguard implementation.
• Experience in ADB, World Bank, NHAI, PMGSY, Moth, or other externally funded infrastructure projects will be preferred.
• Experience in road/highway or infrastructure sector projects is highly desirable.

Required Skills

• Knowledge of ADB Social Safeguard Policies and Gender Action Plans.
• Experience in community consultation and stakeholder engagement.
• Understanding of Indigenous Peoples Plan (IPP) and Voluntary Donation Guidelines (VDG).
• Strong report writing and documentation skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to coordinate with government agencies, contractors, and local communities.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Willingness to travel extensively for field visits.

Preferred Experience

• Experience working in ADB-funded projects or other multilateral development bank-funded Road projects.
• Familiarity with social safeguard compliance, gender inclusion, and community development in highway/road infrastructure projects.
• Experience in preparing safeguard reports, GAP progress reports, and project monitoring documentation.