(Senior) Social Development Specialist

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About the Organization

Established in 1976, NIUA, is a premier Institute of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India for research and capacity building for urban sector in India. NIUA’s broad objective is to bridge the gap between research and practice on issues related to urbanization. For more than 40 years now, NIUA has been the vanguard for contributing to and building the urban narrative for a fast-evolving Urban India. The Institution has been actively working on bringing forth key areas of concern for urban India in order to build the urban discourse at various urban scales. It has utilized its competencies in research, knowledge management, policy advocacy and capacity building to address urban challenges and continuously striving to develop sustainable, inclusive, and productive urban ecosystems in the country. It has emerged as a thought leader and knowledge hub for urban development in India and is sought out by both Indian and International organizations for collaborations and partnerships in India’s urban transforming journey. NIUA is committed towards aligning its efforts towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through all its initiatives and programs.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and implement participatory strategies to involve local communities and stakeholders in the planning and execution of the URMP.
• Organise consultations, workshops, and awareness campaigns to gather community inputs and build ownership.
• Conduct social baseline surveys and impact assessments in areas affected by riverfront development, pollution mitigation, or land-use changes.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to displacement, loss of access to resources, or livelihoods.
• Mainstream gender equity, social inclusion (GEDSI), and the rights of vulnerable populations (e.g., informal settlers, urban poor, indigenous groups) in project design and implementation.
• Support development of socially responsive resettlement action plans, if required, ensuring alignment with national regulations and international best practices.
• Identify opportunities for livelihood enhancement for communities dependent on the river ecosystem (e.g., fishers, street vendors).
• Contribute to the development of socially responsive urban river policies, frameworks, and guidelines.
• Liaise with municipal bodies, planning departments, and environmental agencies to ensure social issues are embedded in urban river governance.
• Define social development indicators and contribute to monitoring frameworks.

Education Qualification/Required Skills & Experience

• Master’s/PhD degree in Social Work, Sociology, Development Studies, Urban Planning, Environmental Studies, or related field.
• 7-10 years of experience in social development, community engagement, or stakeholder management, preferably in the context of urban infrastructure, environmental, or water-related projects.
• Experience with resettlement planning, gender-inclusive programming, and participatory governance.
• Familiarity with relevant policies and standards (e.g., World Bank’s ESS, National Resettlement Policies, Environmental and Social Safeguards).
• Strong facilitation, negotiation, and communication skills.  
• Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams and in complex urban settings.
• Working knowledge of urban governance systems, particularly those linked to water, sanitation, and riverfront development.
• Exposure to tools like Social Impact Assessment (SIA), Stakeholder Analysis, Grievance Redress Mechanisms.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English. Preference will be given to candidates with oral and written communication skills in Hindi and other regional languages as well.

For more information please check the Link

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