Somalia: Short Term Consultancy, Security Risk Management

Apr 5, 2022 | World Bank

The World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF)1, specifically Environmental and Social Standards 1 and 4 (ESS1 and ESS4), requires Borrowers2 to assess and manage potential social risks and impacts arising from Bank-funded operations, including threats to human security through personal, communal or interstate conflict as well as more general crime or violence. Borrowers are required to prepare Security Risk Assessments (SRAs) and Security Management Plans (SMPs) that identify potential risks and mitigation measures for projects that will be implemented in Fragile, Conflict and Violence (FCV) affected contexts.

In parallel, Bank staff engaged in project supervision and safeguards3 monitoring need to undertake operational SRAs for project preparation as part of the Bank’s due diligence. These security due diligence assessments (SDAs) are intended to inform SRM approaches within project design, helping staff to think systematically and strategically about the security threats, vulnerabilities and the specific risks of operating in highly insecure environments. They are also designed to integrate appropriate mitigation measures into project design, implementation and monitoring. As part of its due diligence approach, the Bank is similarly required to assess a Borrower's capacity and commitment to manage security and other social and environmental risks during project preparation.

In working with Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Federal Member States (FMS) towards enhancement of national project management SRM capacities, the World Bank has adopted a two-fold approach for its operational portfolio: (i) within a multi-disciplinary ESF standards-based framework, a strategic enhancement of the Government's cross-portfolio SRM capacities is being introduced; while (ii) in support of a rapidly emerging Bank-funded portfolio, the Bank continues to provide on-going support to the Borrower within a medium-term, project-specific security management approach.

The World Bank is seeking to engage a short-term consultant (STC) to support the World Bank’s Somalia security consultant in working with FGS project management units (PMUs) to support medium term, project-specific SRM capacity enhancement within ESF and global best practice4 standards.

Objectives

The objectives of this consultancy are to work on medium-term capacity development of Borrower project management units to: (i) assist World Bank project teams in identifying potential security risks for World Bank financed projects in order to contribute to project design and support effective project implementation and supervision; (ii) support and assist World Bank project task teams to assess SRAs and SMPs prepared by the Borrower in order to mitigate and manage risksto project workers and project affected people and assets; (iii) enhance sustainable Borrower capacity for risk mitigation strategies within individual FGS and FMS PMUs; (iv) contribute to the development and management of a systematized World Bank security information management system (SIMS); and (v) provide national and sub-national security analysis, as required, for the Bank-funded portfolio.

Tasks and Deliverables

Working to the World Bank’s Somalia security consultant, as well as environmental and social specialists assigned to various Bank-funded projects, the RRegional Safeguards Coordinator for AFE, and World Bank project task teams, the selected STC shall:

• Provide regular security risk monitoring and management support including but not limited to project related threat assessments, risk analyses, conflict mapping and security briefs in support of project implementation areas;
• Provide technical support to Borrower PIUs for the preparation of project Security Risk Assessments (SRAs) and Security Management Plans (SMPs), including the development of project related SDAs;
• Conduct training and guidance to FGS PIU staff on the content and management of SRAs and SMPs;
• Review draft SRAs and SMPs prepared by PIUs and provide technical assistance to ensure compliance with the Bank's ESF and ISO 31000;
• Propose and develop measures that address medium-term capacity enhancement of Government PIUs; and
• Support the development and implementation of a World Bank SIMS that provides real-time assessments of contextual risk as it evolves in the context.

Under the guidance of the World Bank’s security consultant, this work will be done in accordance with existing industry best practices5 and technical guidance from regional ESF staff, as well as staff in the Operations Policies and Country Services (OPCS) vice-presidency.

In particular, the consultant will:

• Examine the scope and granularity of PIUs’ SRAs and SMPs, assessing the extent to which PIUs adequately: (i) identify, treat and monitor all relevant security risk trends impacting on project-related human and asset security in accordance with ESF and ISO 31000 standards; (ii) ensure adaptive risk mitigation and contingency management measures within respective PIU and implementing partner (IP) SMPs; (iii) identify and propose engagement with key project stakeholders active in project areas, including security forces, political and clan leaders, non-state actors, community representatives, women’s groups, youth organizations etc.)
• Liaise with Government counterparts (including security officials, local government and local communities), development partners, humanitarian actors, and religious and civil society groups under the guidance of the World Bank task team leaders (TTL)s and in coordination with the CMU and the Country Security Specialist to gather security information and build networks to continue to gather and share information during project implementation;
• Support Government PIUs in the design and implementation of project Security Management Frameworks (SMF) within the Bank-funded portfolio;
• Guide and monitor the integration of specialist security risk management support to PIUs, including contracted private security services providers and protection units;6
• Propose and accompany capacity building and adapted SRM training approaches in support of Government project implementation units; and
• Ensure development of security due diligence assessments (SDA) in support of Bank-funded projects.

Selection Criteria

The required qualifications include:

• Master’s degree in a field related to International Security, Strategic Studies, Social Sciences, Public Policy or other areas relevant to conflict and security;
• At least 7 years of demonstrated experience in the security sector or international security standards;
• Minimum of 5 years operational experience in Somalia;
• Proven experience in the ISO 31000 security risk management cycle, including production of security risk assessment, treatment and mitigation processes;
• Proven knowledge of security risk management best practices in field locations, including compliance processes for contractors and consultants and operational security for development projects;
• Experience in coordination and liaison with contractors/consultants and State armed security elements deployed to site, community representatives and project level management structures in Somalia;
• Experience with the development and implementation of project security risk management plans and procedures encompassing multiple stakeholders across a dispersed geographical area in Somalia;
• A strong understanding of the socio-political dynamics in Somalia;
• Integrity, high degree of self-organization, ability to work under tight deadlines in diverse projects;
• Demonstrated team leadership and security management capacity-building experience;
• Willingness and ability to deploy regularly to PIU project field sites in Somalia; and
• Strong written and oral capacity in English. Somali language skills strongly preferred.

To apply: Send applications to Tracy Hart at thart@worldbank.org.