The Planning and Development Department (P&DD), Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, through its Project Coordination and Management Unit (PCMU) for the KP Rural Investment and Institutional Support Project (KP-RIISP), is urgently seeking a highly qualified Individual Consultant for the position of Senior Social Specialist.

This is a critical, high-impact consultancy role supported by financing from the World Bank Group. Interested and qualified professionals are strongly encouraged to submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) before the deadline.

1. Application Submission Details (The “Morning” Contact Address)

For immediate action, please note the essential details for submitting your application. The deadline for receipt of all relevant documents is November 05, 2025.

Your Expression of Interest (EOI), along with your detailed CV and all educational/experience certificates, must be physically delivered to the following address:

Submission Point (Morning Contact Address)
Attention:	Project Director PCMU KP-RIISP
Office Address:	Office of Chief RD, Planning and Development Department,
	Civil Secretariat, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Note: Candidates must clearly mention the position (“Senior Social Specialist”) on the top right-hand corner of the sealed envelope.

2. Detailed Overview of the KP-RIISP Project

Project Name and Funding

The project is officially titled the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Investment and Institutional Support Project (KP-RIISP). It is implemented by the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and receives crucial financial backing from the International Development Agency (IDA), which is part of the World Bank Group.

Project Goal and Scope

KP-RIISP is designed to strengthen the province’s capabilities for the delivery of basic services and to enhance climate resilient infrastructure across the newly merged areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The project’s core objectives are:

1. Improve Development Outcomes: Specifically targeting the poorest and most newly merged areas.
2. Poverty Reduction: Direct interventions aimed at uplifting marginalized communities.
3. Institutional Support: Providing intensive monitoring, coordination, and technical support to various executing agencies, including:
   • C&W (Communication and Works)
   • Irrigation
   • PHED (Public Health Engineering Department)
   • Agriculture
   • Local Government Departments

The work of the Senior Social Specialist will be integral to ensuring that all project activities meet the stringent social safeguards and equity objectives set forth by the World Bank.

3. The Role: Senior Social Specialist (Individual Consultant)

This is a high-level technical consultancy requiring specialized knowledge and extensive field experience. The Senior Social Specialist will be the focal point for all social aspects of the project, including planning, implementation, and compliance.

Required Qualification & Experience (The Hard Requirements)

Criterion	Requirement Details	Weightage Note
Minimum Qualification	Master’s Degree (or sixteen years of education) in a relevant discipline from an HEC recognized university/institution.	Social Work, Sociology, Development Studies, Anthropology, Project Management, or Economics are preferred fields.
Experience	Overall 10 years of experience in planning and implementation of development projects, with at least 6 years of experience directly related to social sectors.	Deep understanding of participatory development and social mobilization techniques is essential.
Specialized Skills	Proven experience in managing projects that involve involuntary resettlement and voluntary land donation.	The specialist’s expertise in these areas will be heavily weighted during the shortlisting process.
Language Fluency	Written and Oral fluency in English and oral fluency in Pashto is mandatory. Proficiency in Urdu is also required and will be given due weightage.	Effective communication with local communities and international partners is non-negotiable.
Computer Skills	Demonstrated computer proficiency, particularly in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).	Required for documentation, reporting, and presentations.

Key Responsibilities and Deliverables

The Senior Social Specialist will be responsible for:

1. Social Safeguards Compliance: Ensuring that all project components adhere strictly to World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) standards, particularly related to social impact assessments and labor management procedures.
2. Resettlement Planning: Preparing, implementing, and monitoring Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs) where involuntary resettlement is unavoidable, ensuring fair compensation and livelihood restoration.
3. Community Engagement: Leading participatory development processes, stakeholder consultations, and social mobilization activities across project areas to ensure local ownership and benefit sharing.
4. Capacity Building: Training PCMU and PIU staff (C&W, Irrigation, PHED, etc.) on social safeguards policies and best practices.
5. Reporting: Generating high-quality, timely reports on social performance, risks, and mitigation measures for the PCMU and the World Bank.

Obtaining Detailed Terms of Reference (TORs)

Candidates must review the detailed TORs before applying. These can be downloaded directly from the official P&DD website:

Website Link for TORs:

Jobs

The terms of the consultancy will be as described in Section VII, para 7.36 of the World Bank Procurement Regulations, November 2020.

4. The Application and Submission Process

This is an REOI for an Individual Consultant. The process is straightforward but requires meticulous attention to detail:

1. Prepare your CV: Ensure your Curriculum Vitae is comprehensive, highlighting your experience that directly matches the “Qualification & Experience” section, especially the 6 years of social sector experience and expertise in involuntary resettlement/land donation.
2. Gather Certificates: Collect attested copies of all educational degrees and experience certificates mentioned in your CV.
3. Write EOI: Draft a formal Expression of Interest letter (EOI) briefly stating why you are the ideal candidate for the Senior Social Specialist role.
4. Submit Physically: Place the CV, EOI, and attested copies in a sealed envelope.
5. Mark the Envelope: MANDATORY: Clearly write “EOI for Senior Social Specialist – KP-RIISP” on the top right-hand corner of the envelope.
6. Delivery: Deliver the sealed envelope to the PCMU office address mentioned above.

The final deadline for submission is November 05, 2025. Applications received after this date will not be considered.

اردو سیکشن: کے پی رِیسپ منصوبے میں سینئر سوشل سپیشلسٹ کنسلٹنٹ کی بھرتی

اہم اعلان: محکمہ منصوبہ بندی و ترقیات، پشاور میں ملازمت کا سنہری موقع

حکومت خیبر پختونخواہ کا محکمہ منصوبہ بندی و ترقیات (P&DD)، ورلڈ بینک (IDA) کی مالی معاونت سے چلنے والے خیبر پختونخواہ دیہی سرمایہ کاری اور ادارہ جاتی معاونت منصوبے (KP-RIISP) کے تحت ایک انفرادی کنسلٹنٹ کی خدمات حاصل کرنے کے لیے درخواستیں طلب کر رہا ہے۔

یہ ایک اعلیٰ سطح کا مشاورتی کردار ہے جو صوبے کے نو ضم شدہ علاقوں میں بنیادی خدمات کی فراہمی اور آب و ہوا کے موافق انفراسٹرکچر کی مضبوطی کو یقینی بنانے میں کلیدی کردار ادا کرے گا۔

1. پوزیشن کا نام اور اہلیت کی شرائط

پوزیشن کا نام	اہلیت اور تجربہ
سینئر سوشل سپیشلسٹ	قابلیت: سوشیالوجی، سوشل ورک، ڈویلپمنٹ اسٹڈیز، اینتھروپولوجی، اکنامکس یا متعلقہ شعبوں میں ماسٹر ڈگری (16 سالہ تعلیم)۔
	تجربہ: ترقیاتی منصوبوں کی منصوبہ بندی اور نفاذ میں مجموعی طور پر 10 سال کا تجربہ، جس میں سے کم از کم 6 سال سماجی شعبے سے متعلق ہوں۔
	خصوصی مہارت: غیر ارادی آبادکاری (Involuntary Resettlement) اور رضاکارانہ اراضی عطیہ (Voluntary Land Donation) سے متعلق منصوبوں کو سنبھالنے کا تجربہ رکھنے والوں کو خاص وزن دیا جائے گا۔
	زبانیں: انگریزی میں تحریری اور زبانی مہارت، اور پشتو میں زبانی مہارت لازمی ہے۔ اردو میں مہارت کو بھی اہمیت دی جائے گی۔

2. درخواست جمع کرانے کا طریقہ کار

خواہش مند امیدواران جو ان شرائط پر پورا اترتے ہوں، وہ مندرجہ ذیل دستاویزات کے ساتھ اپنی دلچسپی کا اظہار (EOI) بھیجیں۔

• درخواست کے ساتھ مطلوبہ دستاویزات: تازہ ترین سی وی (CV)، تمام تعلیمی اور تجربے کے سرٹیفکیٹس کی تصدیق شدہ کاپیاں۔
• ہدایت: درخواست دہندگان سے گزارش ہے کہ لفافے کے دائیں ہاتھ کے اوپر والے کونے پر واضح طور پر “سینئر سوشل سپیشلسٹ کنسلٹنٹ کے لیے درخواست” لکھیں۔
• آخری تاریخ: تمام درخواستیں 05 نومبر 2025 کی شام تک مقررہ دفتر میں پہنچ جانی چاہییں۔ آخری تاریخ کے بعد موصول ہونے والی درخواستیں قابل قبول نہیں ہوں گی۔

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – اکثر پوچھے جانے والے سوالات

English Question	Urdu Question	Answer (Combined)
Q1: What is the last date to submit the EOI?	س1: دلچسپی کا اظہار جمع کرانے کی آخری تاریخ کیا ہے؟	A: The deadline for submission is November 05, 2025. Submissions received after this exact date will be rejected.
Q2: Where can I find the detailed Terms of Reference (TORs)?	س2: ملازمت کی تفصیلی شرائط (TORs) کہاں سے حاصل کی جا سکتی ہیں؟	A: The complete TORs are available for download on the official P&DD website at: http://pndkp.gov.pk/Jobs/.
Q3: Is the Pashto language mandatory for this role?	س3: کیا پشتو زبان اس کردار کے لیے لازمی ہے؟	A: Yes. Oral fluency in Pashto, along with written and oral fluency in English, is a mandatory requirement as stated in the advertisement. Proficiency in Urdu is also weighted.
Q4: What kind of experience is prioritized?	س4: کس قسم کے تجربے کو ترجیح دی جائے گی؟	A: Priority will be given to candidates with extensive experience (at least 6 years) in the social sector, particularly in managing involuntary resettlement and voluntary land donation under World Bank or similar international standards.
Q5: Is this a permanent government job?	س5: کیا یہ ایک مستقل سرکاری نوکری ہے؟	A: No. This position is for an Individual Consultant, which is a contractual role under the project, not a permanent government position.
Q6: Who is funding this project?	س6: اس منصوبے کو کون فنڈ کر رہا ہے؟	A: The project is funded by the International Development Agency (IDA), which is part of the World Bank Group.

6. Final Submission Address (The “End” Contact Address)

Ensure your sealed envelope, clearly marked with the position name, is delivered to the Project Director’s office well before the deadline of November 05, 2025.

Project Director PCMU KP-RIISP

Office of Chief RD, Planning and Development Department,

Civil Secretariat, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

This is a high-profile opportunity to work on a major World Bank-funded development project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. I recommend you review the detailed TORs online immediately. Let me know if you would like me to draft a cover letter based on the specific requirements of the Senior Social Specialist role!