Social Specialist

The Palestinian Liberation Organization has received a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) of an amount of 20.0 million USD for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority to finance the Social Protection Enhancement Project -Second Phase (SPEP II) (the Project). The Social Protection Enhancement Project II (SPEP II) aims to provide integrated social services to selected beneficiaries and to strengthen the shock-responsive capacity of the national social protection system. In the SPEP II Project, strengthening shock-responsive capacity is defined as expanding the identification of poor and vulnerable people within the Social Registry (SR) and improving its capability to adjust in times of crisis, enabling the more rapid expansion or coordination of coverage of the existing safety nets, following a covariate shock, such as a climate- or conflict-related shock. SPEP II will continue to support the provision of social services to the poor and vulnerable. Additionally, it will strengthen the SR and Case Management System (CMS) to identify those in need and deliver integrated support packages, enhancing the response to shocks and coordinating assistance across government, partners, and service providers. The SPEP II Project comprises the following components:

• omponent 1: Support to Social Services: This Component will finance activities related to increasing MoSD capacity to reach and provide social services to select beneficiaries These include (i) hiring an estimated 1,000 young people to serve as temporary social workers; and (ii) supporting selected NGOs to provide social services to an estimated 1,500 beneficiaries.
• Component 2: Social Protection Systems Strengthening: This component will support the strengthening of the Social Registry (SR) and Case Management System (CMS) and promote the adoption of digital payment modalities to create a more adaptive and shock-responsive social protection system while promoting transparency and fiduciary control. Investments will improve data accuracy, privacy, security, and inclusivity in the SR, ensuring effective management of household data and enhancing data quality. The CMS will be enhanced to harmonize service referrals, monitor the quality of the services, address high caseloads, and improve eligibility criteria for social services. Additionally, digital payment modalities, such as e-wallets, will be introduced to improve transparency, financial inclusion, and efficiency in disbursing benefits.
• Component 3: Program Management and Monitoring:  This component aims to strengthen MoSD’s capacity through targeted capacity-building programs for MoSD and its personnel, both at central and regional levels. Additionally, the project will establish an adequately staffed Project Management Unit (PMU) to oversee project implementation. The PMU staff will include a social specialist and an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) focal point.
• Component 4: Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC): In the event of a future eligible crisis or emergency, the project will provide an immediate response, as needed. This component would draw from uncommitted funds under the other components of the project.

MoSD is the implementing agency for this Project. A Project Management Unit (PMU) was established within MoSD under the first phase of the Social Protection Enhancement Project (SPEP I) and was composed of consultants in various fields, to manage the overall implementation and coordination of the Project. MOSD intends to apply part of the proceeds of this grant to to payments under the contract for the recruitment of a Social Specialist on a full-time basis.