Job Title: Project Sociologist – 2 Positions
Organisation: Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD)
Project Name: Electricity Access Scale-Up Project (EASP)
Donor: World Bank
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
About Organisation:
The Government of Uganda (GoU) received funding from the World Bank toward implementation of the Electricity Access Scale-up Project (EASP). The Project will support GoU’s efforts to increase access to electricity for households, refugee and host communities, industrial parks, commercial enterprises and public institutions.
EASP activities will build on earlier Government initiatives in the energy sector, to support the expansion and strengthening of the electricity distribution network, scale-up service connections within the network, increase access to off-grid electricity in refugee settlements and their host communities and access to clean cooking services and technologies.
Job Summary: The Sociologist will support the implementation and management of the social and safeguards component of the EASP project under the PIU at MEMD.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Supervise and monitor the development of the Terms of Reference (TORs) for Environmental and Social Assessments, including but not limited to
- Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIs), RAPs, Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Environmental and Social Audits for EASP.
- Support the implementation of all social risk management activities; facilitate the preparation and implementation of action plans and review documentation of social risk management activities required by the funding agencies to ensure that social issues have been adequately addressed and that the project is in compliance with the safeguard policies, particularly those on involuntary resettlement, refugee specific issues and social inclusion;
- Support the development of RAPs, stakeholder consultation and, ensure the quality of the required reports and supporting documents;
- Review reports produced by the RAP preparation and implementation consultant to ensure that they adequately address the social dimensions of the project, including gender issues and women’s empowerment;
- Support the RAP implementation processes.
- Promote and contribute substantively to analyses of strengthening social aspects such as gender, child protection, HIV/AIDs, social inclusion, grievance management, land acquisition and compensation of the EASP;
- Provide advice on major or sensitive matters relating to social impacts and risks during preparation and implementation;
- Advise and/or provide quality operational support on safeguards and non-safeguards related social development issues at both the design and implementation phases, including advice on identification of social impacts associated with the environmental assessment process in close collaboration with Environmental Officers;
- Advise and/or participating in the design and implementation of operational mechanisms that take into account social opportunities, impacts, constraints and risks under the programme;
- Support the mainstreaming of social issues in project design and implementation in accordance with agreed safeguard instruments
- (Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), Resettlement Policy Framework/Resettlement Action Plan (RPF/RAP) and Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups Framework (VMGA) and how they are applied in RHDs in liaison with refugee stakeholders (OPM, UNHCR and INGOs);
- Support and facilitate stakeholders including district and community members in identification, prioritization and mitigation of social, equity and gender issues during the project design and implementation, as well as monitoring and evaluation of social impacts of the EASP;
- Identify potential sources of grievances, design and implement appropriate grievance redress mechanisms with special attention to land related matters;
- Continuously monitor social, equity, gender and refugee issues concerning the project and participate in assessment and evaluation of the social impact of project interventions;
- Ensure continuous stakeholder engagements as per provisions of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and the RAP; including relevant government agencies, Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (Attn: Chief Government Valuer) and other local officials are well informed on issues related to the preparation and implementation of RAP/s.
- Conduct awareness creation and sensitization of the communities on social, equity and gender dimensions of the project along with suggested safeguards;
- Ensure that all social issues including safeguard implementation are assessed and reported in the periodical reports, midterm reviews and completion Reports;
- Support the operationalization of the social safeguards instrument including Resettlement Policy frameworks and support preparations of the resettlement actions plans including instituting appropriate mechanism of consultations and information relay on rights and legislation on involuntary land acquisition, stakeholder engagement, complaint handling mechanisms, etc;
- Integrate social inclusion (with respect to refugee status, gender, age, ethnicity or any other relevant factor) into analysis, policies, institutions and operations;
- Undertake project site visits to assess and enforce compliance and make the necessary remedies.
- Generate periodical reports and continuously assess capacity gaps in implementing social issues and recommend relevant capacity development needs.
- Carry out any other duties as assigned by the Social Development Specialist provided these duties contribute to achieving the development objectives of the EASP project.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and Social Administration, Sociology, Anthropology, Applied Social Sciences from a recognized University/Institutions;
- Master’s degree in Social Work and Social Administration/sociology, Anthropology, Social Sciences/ Natural Resources Management/ Public Administration from a recognized University/Institution;
- Demonstrated knowledge of the World Bank best practices and/or guidelines and procedures on social safeguards, social assessment, social analysis, effective stakeholder engagement and participation and complaint resolution systems, and the regulations and legal framework governing environmental and social management;
Experience
- At least eight (8) years of relevant professional experience in social safeguards management;
- Demonstrated experience in conflict resolution in the context of development projects as well as the experience in at least two projects financed by the World Bank or, any development partner having the same standards in terms of safeguards.
- He or she should have experience in Land Acquisition for infrastructure development projects and in managing issues related to involuntary resettlement.
- Competencies:
- Technical
- Human Resource Management
- Strategic thinking
- Analytical skills
- Results oriented
- Problem solving and decision making
- Information communication technology
- Financial Management
- Behavioural
- Assertiveness and Self confidence
- Ethics and Integrity
- Problem Solving and Decision Making
- Communication skills
- Self-control and stress management
- Concern for quality and standards
- Human Resource Management
- Strategic thinking
- Analytical skills
- Results oriented
- Problem solving and decision making
- Information communication technology
- Financial Management
- Assertiveness and Self confidence
- Ethics and Integrity
- Problem Solving and Decision Making
- Communication skills
- Self-control and stress management
- Concern for quality and standards
How to Apply:
Interested applicants should submit their application letters including a detailed CV, copy of National ID, certified copies of academic documents, daytime telephone contact, and three referees. These should be addressed to the Permanent Secretary and hand-delivered to the office of the Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources Management at the address below, OR sent by email to [email protected] under one PDF file.
The address referred to above is;
Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development Amber House, Plot 29/33 Kampala Road First Floor, Block A, Room No. A111
Deadline: 8th December 2025
NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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Level of Education: postgraduate degree
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: 96