E T Consultant

E T Consultant

Job #

req37363

Organization

World Bank

Sector

Social Protection

Grade

EC2

Term Duration: 0 years 9 months

Recruitment Type

Local Recruitment

Location

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s)

English

Preferred Language(s)

Closing Date

7/10/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.

The Latin American and Caribbean (LCR) region is facing situations of human mobility at an unprecedented scale, which is reshaping the socio-economic and political landscape of the region. Human mobility is not a new phenomenon for the region and for decades LCR has registered movement of people, predominantly because migration is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty and boost shared prosperity.

LCR is the region where most people migrate internationally (WDR 2023). However, recent developments have intensified the flows in at least four instances. First, since its onset in 2015, the Venezuelan exodus is the second largest flow of vulnerable people in the world, only surpassed by the recent Ukrainian exodus. Over 7 million Venezuelans have fled their country since 2015, escaping the country's economic collapse and unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile are the countries with the highest inflows in the LCR region, and the magnitude and speed of the exodus are reshaping their socioeconomic outlook, including labor markets, access to services (particularly education), and social fabric. Second, in the case of Central America and Mexico, in addition to long-term established migration patterns, large situations of mixed migration have intensified with a changing profile of migrants increasingly involving vulnerable populations (i.e., returnees, refugees, asylum seekers, forcibly displaced, and unaccompanied minors). Individuals from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and more recently Nicaragua, head North due to welfare differentials (including economic opportunities and living standards), violence, natural hazards and natural degradation (related to climate change) and family reunification.

Honduras stands out as both a major country of origin and one of the largest recipients of returnees in Latin America, receiving an average of 87,265 returnees per year between 2019 and 2024 according to official statistics. Women returnees represent a particularly vulnerable group, facing compounding barriers upon return: social stigma, psychological trauma (70% report anxiety and 50% depression), gender-based violence (GBV), high dependency ratios and lack of accessible care options.

The returnee reception and reintegration system in Honduras currently offers only short-term reception services, but there is not a systematic strategy, systems, or protocols for social and economic reintegration.

In response, the World Bank, through the Japanese Social Development Fund (JSDF), is supporting Honduras to strengthen reintegration services and systems in Honduras, building on existing data systems (Returnee Identification System, SIAMIR), the Returnee Attention Centers (CAMR), and Ciudad Mujer (one-stop shop for women services). The "Honduras: Vuelve y Crece" Project (P511732), a US$2.73 million recipient executed grant will target 6,000 forcibly returned women through activities structured along three main components: (i) psychosocial support and reintegration services; (ii) vocational training and employability; (iii) institutional strengthening.

The World Bank’s Social Policy team is also managing a $380,000 grant funded by PROBLUE trust fund to improve access to eco tourism and blue economy opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and Afro descendant (IP/AD) communities along Honduras’ Caribbean coast, with a focus on inclusive participation, capacity building, and policy dialogue. Delivery is structured under the following three Components: Component 1: Developing a strategy to promote Indigenous and Afro-descendant participation in blue economy jobs, with a focus on eco-tourism and coastal-marine conservation; Component 2 – Capacity building, learning, and partnership; Component 3 – Technical assistance, sustainability and scaling.

Objectives of the Consultancy

The Social Policy Department (HLCSP) for the Latin America and the Caribbean region is responsible for: (i) undertaking social analysis during project preparation and implementation, to mainstream social development and inclusion issues throughout the Bank's work in the region; (ii) undertaking Advisory Services and Analytics; (iii) leading the preparation and supervision of operations that promotes inclusion of vulnerable groups including women and youth, and (iv) facilitating partnerships and dialogue with civil society through outreach and engagement.

The World Bank’s Social Policy Global Department (under the People Vice Presidency) for the Latin America and the Caribbean Region is responsible for delivering an integrated agenda that brings together social development, social protection, labor market, and economic inclusion solutions to support countries in building more resilient, equitable, and inclusive societies.

The World Bank is looking for a consultant specialized on the social and economic inclusion of vulnerable populations including migrants, refugees, returnees, afro descendants, indigenous people, youth, and women. The consultant must have relevant policy experience in Honduras to (i) support the World Bank task team and counterparts in the preparation and early implementation of the JSDF Vuelve y Crece project, including sustaining policy dialogue with key government counterparts at the national and municipal level; (ii) provide technical inputs to help inform project design, such as detailed cost-benefit analysis for proposed project activities, assess implementation arrangements, coordinate relevant teams to ensure compliance with World Bank’s procurement, financial, social and environmental standards and regulations; (iii) when requested, liaise with UN agencies, regional development banks, NGO and other development partners and establish operational partnerships for improved project delivery; and (iv) provide inputs to support resource mobilization efforts and actively help develop a pipeline portfolio of the WBG on migration and forced displacement in the region. The consultant will work in coordination and under the supervision of the World Bank’s task team.

The consultant is also expected to support PROBLUE grant activities in Honduras, identifying linkage with the Vuelve y Crece project as well as with other active and pipeline projects in the country, supporting government engagement and overall activity implementation.

The ideal candidate should have at least 10 years of professional experience on social policy issues, good understanding of consular processes and the international legal frameworks that govern migration and protection issues, including the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, the Cartagena Declaration, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), and the MIRPS regional framework, and applied experience on supporting social and economic integration of vulnerable populations, including the extreme poor, disadvantaged youth, women, afro descendants, indigenous peoples, migrants and refugees. The consultant should have a good understanding of World Bank's operational procedures, systems, and portals, as well as excellent writing skills in English and Spanish, proven project management and M&E competencies, and fundraising or grant-writing skills.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project Preparation and Implementation Support

• Serve as a technical specialist on migration, forced displacement, and protection issues, with a primary focus on the "Vuelve y Crece" project (P511732) in Honduras and, secondarily, on the broader Central America and Mexico sub-regional portfolio.
• Support the World Bank task team in the preparation, appraisal, and early implementation of the Vuelve y Crece project, including supporting counterparts and reviewing technical documents, draft project operational manuals, implementation plans, and monitoring and evaluation frameworks aligned with the project's three components: (i) trauma-informed psychosocial support; (ii) demand-driven vocational training and employability; and (iii) institutional strengthening for returnee and IDP reintegration systems, including returnee and IDP reception and data management protocols for other operations in the Social Policy portfolio in Honduras.
• Provide technical inputs throughout project implementation, ensuring that activities remain grounded in gender-sensitive, survivor-centered approaches that address the specific vulnerabilities of forcibly displaced and host women, including GBV, psychological trauma, high dependency ratios, and barriers to formal employment and entrepreneurship.
• Conduct or contribute to a detailed cost-benefit analysis of proposed project activities, assess implementation arrangements, and coordinate with relevant World Bank teams to ensure compliance with the Bank's procurement, financial management, and Environmental and Social Standards (ESS).
• Explore and propose mechanisms to facilitate the adoption of SAFE migration protocol recommendations by national migration and protection authorities in Honduras, building on complementary efforts under the MIRPS Action Plan for Honduras.
• Support the implementation of the PROBLUE activity, in particular stakeholder coordination, output quality control, and provide advice and assistance to advance sustainability of select components, with aim of designing a project in the future. Policy Dialogue and Government Engagement
• Sustain technical policy dialogue with key government counterparts at the national and municipal level, including the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Secretariat oh Human Rights (SEDH), the Social Development Secretariat (SEDESOL), the National Institute for Migration, SEMUJER, SEFIN, SENAF, SESALUD, and municipal governments in the Sula Valley and other project implementation areas, in coordination with the task team leader.
• Support the Government of Honduras in strengthening the operational capacity of Returnee Attention Centers (CAMR) and Ciudad Mujer as institutional anchors for service delivery under the project, building on the existing Returnee Identification System (SIAMIR) and promoting data-driven decision-making within the reintegration system.
• Have an excellent understanding and ensure project alignment with relevant legislative and regulatory frameworks, including the Act for the Prevention of Internal Displacement (Decree No. 154-2022), the Act on Shelters for Women Survivors of Violence (Decree No. 28-2024), and the Law for the Protection of Women in Humanitarian Crises (Decree No. 9-2023), to ensure project activities are aligned with and contribute to the implementation of these frameworks.
• For PROBLUE, liaise on a regular basis with local partners to ensure smooth, timely, and high-quality delivery of their responsibilities. This includes coordinating iterative reviews of diagnostic products, monitoring progress on consultations and workshops, supporting the co-creation of the IP/AD Blue Economy strategy development, and facilitating structure feedback loops between local partners and the World Bank team. Stakeholder Coordination and Partnerships
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders including government agencies, civil society organizations, local universities and think tanks, private sector employers, business associations, and chambers, community-based organizations engaged in returnee reintegration in Honduras and Indigenous and Afro-descendant organizations.
• Support the assessment of project's implementing agency, as well as liaise with UN agencies (including IOM, UNHCR, UNDP, UN Women, and UNICEF), regional development banks (IDB, BCEI, and CAF), and other international development partners, to foster operational partnerships that enhance project delivery and avoid duplication of efforts.
• Support fundraising, resource mobilization, and grant-writing efforts to expand the WBG's portfolio on migration and forced displacement in Honduras, building on the Vuelve y Crece experience and lessons learned. Cross-cutting Responsibilities
• Participate in project mission when requested, including carrying out the preparation, coordination, and scheduling of mission agendas, coordination of meetings with government counterparts and implementing partners, drafting mission announcement letters and aide-mémoires, and follow-up on agreed actions.
• Coordinate and facilitate project meetings, workshops, and stakeholder events, ensuring effective communication and collaboration among all parties involved in project implementation.
• Take all necessary precautions to protect the privacy, confidentiality, dignity, and safety of beneficiaries and participants in World Bank-supported activities, particularly women and other persons in vulnerable situations, including obtaining informed consent and ensuring compliance with the World Bank's Personal Data Protection Policy at all times.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly progress reports tracking implementation status, including key outputs, risks, and next steps for review by the task team.
• Support the preparation of Implementation Status and Results Reports (ISRs) and project briefings as required.
• Prepare technical inputs for internal and external communications, including briefs, operational updates, and knowledge products that document project results and contribute to the broader evidence base on returnee reintegration.
• Carry out any other tasks requested by the Task Team Leader as they relate to the consultancy's scope.

Deliverables

The following deliverables are expected over the course of the nine-month engagement. All outputs are subject to review and approval by the Task Team Leaders. Delivery dates may be adjusted by mutual agreement with the task team.

• Inception Report and Work Plan — Written overview of the consultant's understanding of the assignment, proposed work plan, and initial stakeholder mapping for both Vuelve y Crece and PROBLUE activities. Due: August 11, 2026
• Draft Project Paper – Detailed cost-benefit analysis of proposed Vuelve y Crece project activities, including assessment of implementation arrangements, flow of funds, draft costing and proposed timeline of activities, and coordinate draft ESF assessment in compliance with Bank standards. Completed OLC Ops, ESF, and M&E training encouraged. Due: July 30, 2026
• Detailed Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Plan – Deliver a complete database of key stakeholders and interest parties, in Excel, with contact information and stakeholder analysis as per training and methodology provided. Include relationship plan with WB focal point responsible for communications, frequency and format of communications, reporting and follow-up mechanisms. Due: July 8, 2026
• Quarterly Progress Reports (x2) — Detailed quarterly reports covering results against the project's results framework, financial execution status, stakeholder engagement updates (including meetings, presentations, etc.), and PROBLUE activity status. Due: October 1, 2026 and January 15, 2027
• Mission Announcement Letters and Aide-Mémoires — Draft aide-mémoires for each field mission conducted during the assignment, capturing findings, agreements, and follow-up actions. Responsible for diligently managing meeting schedules and briefings before and after each mission, documenting with an agenda and written minutes in each meeting. Due: Within 20 working days ahead of each mission for Mission Announcement Letters and within 3 working days of each mission for Aide-Mémoires
• ISR, Briefings, and Other Technical Inputs — Technical inputs for Implementation Status and Results Reports, management briefings, communication pieces, or other, as required by the task team, including ratings justifications and key updates on project progress. Due: As required by the task team
• PROBLUE Activity Report — Summary report on PROBLUE grant implementation progress, including stakeholder consultations conducted, outputs delivered by local partners, and recommendations for sustainability and follow-on programming. Due: Based on weekly meetings with TTL
• Resource Mobilization Note — A concise concept note or funding brief identifying opportunities to expand the WBG migration and forced displacement portfolio in Honduras, building on Vuelve y Crece lessons. Due: December 31, 2026
• Final End-of-Assignment Report — Comprehensive report summarizing key achievements, results against the results framework, lessons learned, remaining risks, and recommendations for continued implementation beyond the consultancy period. Ensure proper archive management and transfer of all project files to official project records. Due: March 1, 2027

Remuneration, Reporting and Coordination

The consultant will work under the direction of Ana Aguilera de Llano, World Bank Senior Social Specialist and Kamila Galeza, World Bank Social Specialist. The Consultant will receive a competitive remuneration package commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Conflicts of Interest

The Consultant will provide professional, objective, and impartial services without regard to future work with the World Bank Group and compliant with Staff Rules. The Consultant will avoid making other assignments that constitute a real or apparent conflict of interest or that prevent him from continuing to provide the services subject to the assignment established below. Consultant agrees that if, at any time during the engagement of this engagement, Consultant discovers an actual or potential conflict of interest with respect to this engagement, Consultant will promptly notify the Task Team Leader (TTL) of the engagement in writing, including a description of the action(s) that the Consultant has taken or intends to take to avoid, eliminate or neutralize the conflict.

Upon receipt and review of the Consultant's written disclosure pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the World Bank General Counsel will provide the Consultant with written instructions to manage and/or mitigate the dispute. The World Bank reserves the right to terminate the engagement if termination is determined to be in the best interest of the World Bank.

Confidentiality and Intellectual Property of the Deliverables

The consultant shall hold all work and services performed hereunder for the World Bank in complete confidence, and not use, publish or disclose to any person other than its staff who has a need to know any information, whether is developed by the consultant or provided by the World Bank, without the prior written authorization of the World Bank. The consultant will also comply with the Personal Data Privacy Policy and the best practices of the World Bank.

The consultant may not publish any article or make any presentation in connection with the engagement hereunder, nor may the consultant make reference to any data, information or materials generated as part of the engagement, without the prior written consent of the World Bank. The World Bank solely and exclusively owns and retains all rights to all data collected. The consultant does not acquire any right, title or interest in the data collected. For the avoidance of doubt, the World Bank shall have the right, at its sole discretion, to deny the authorizations and/or consents mentioned in the preceding sentences.

The foregoing obligations shall not apply to any information that was in the Consultant's possession prior to the commencement of work under this assignment, or that is or will be made available to the general public in a printed publication through no fault of the Consultant. Any public representation related to the World Bank will be made by the World Bank and any request for information related to the assignment made to the Consultant by the media or others, should be referred to the World Bank.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this article, the final results of the report may be disclosed by the World Bank to the relevant government authorities.

Selection Criteria

• University Professional with at least a Bachelor´s Degree in the branch of social sciences or related careers such as International Relations, International Development, Economics, Law, Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work.
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience, with a focus on cross-border migration, good understanding of the international legal frameworks that govern migration and protection issues, and applied experience on supporting social and economic integration of vulnerable populations, including the extreme poor, disadvantaged youth, women, migrants and refugees, indigenous people, and afro descendants.
• A deep understanding of the social, economic, and political context of Latin America, and the challenges faced by forcibly displaced populations and host communities in these countries.
• Relevant policy and operational experience in Honduras or the Central American sub-region, including familiarity with the country's institutional landscape, migration and reintegration systems, and key governmental and non-governmental actors.
• Strong project management skills, with a proven track record of leading and coordinating complex projects in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams. Experience working as a project manager is strongly preferred.
• Proven independent project management skills, including monitoring and evaluation (M&E) competency, with experience developing or applying results frameworks, log frames, theory of change, or M&E plans for social development projects, ideally in a World Bank or comparable multilateral context.
• Excellent writing skills in English and Spanish, with experience in developing policy reports, briefs, and other communication products.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, civil society representatives, academics, UN agencies, private sector employers, and academics.
• Ability to work simultaneously on a variety of topics and tasks, independently adjusting to priorities and achieving results with agreed targets and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively under uncertainty and in dynamic operational environments, with the capacity to adapt plans and priorities as needed and to incorporate feedback from Task Team Leaders in a timely and constructive manner, adjusting activities and outputs accordingly.
• Proven ability to receive and integrate constructive feedback from supervisors, team members, and specialists across different disciplines — including procurement, financial management, environmental and social safeguards, and other technical areas — demonstrating World Bank Group Core Values, intellectual openness, and a collaborative approach to iterative work. Experience working in multidisciplinary teams where outputs are subject to review by multiple stakeholders is strongly preferred.
• Experience working with and for Indigenous and/or Afro-descendant communities, particularly in the context of inclusive development, territorial rights, or coastal/blue economy programming (desirable).
• Familiarity with data protection principles and ethical standards for working with vulnerable populations, including survivors of GBV and forcibly displaced persons, and with the World Bank's Personal Data Protection Policy.
• Solid understanding of World Bank operational procedures, systems, and portals, including procurement, financial management, and Environmental and Social Standards (ESS).
• Knowledge and management of computer tools at the user level of MS Office and management of Excel databases.
• Ability to work in a team, but also independently.
• Availability to travel, including border and remote areas in Honduras, and occasionally to other countries if requested.
• Willingness to sign and comply with the World Bank Code of Conduct.

WBG Culture Attributes

• Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders. 2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact. 3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

As per WBG policy, an Extended Term (ET) appointment is subject to a lifetime maximum of three (3) years. Former and current ET staff who have completed or are in the process of completing their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.

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