Environmental & Social Safeguards Specialist

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FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Friday 8 Jul 2022 at 21:59 UTC

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Organizational Setting

The key mission of the FAO Representation in Somalia, which is led by the FAO Representative (FAOR), is to assist and support the national government in developing policies, strategies and programme aimed at accelerating the implementation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in FAO's global mandate and strategic objectives.

More specifically, FAO's response aims to address national needs and priorities in achieving food security, reducing hunger and malnutrition, developing agricultural, fishery and forestry sectors, ensuring the sustainable use of environmental and natural resources and responding to recurrent emergencies.

The current portfolio of activities of the FAO Representation in Somalia includes a wide scope of technical support interventions ranging from policy support through livestock and crop production to natural resource management, Nutrition, value chain, food security analysis and water and land information management. FAO is also implementing several emergency, resilience-building, and development interventions, with the support of its five field offices and close to 400 staff in partnership with the Federal and State line ministries.

Reporting Lines

The Environmental & Social Safeguards Specialist will be under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Somalia, the general supervision of Head of Programme and under the direct supervision of the Agriculture Coordinator.

Technical Focus

The Environmental & Social Safeguards Specialist will provide strategic direction and technical support on the Environmental and Social Safeguards for activities under the Desert Locust operations and other infrastructure works implemented under various projects. The incumbent shall ensure that Environmental and Social Safeguards standards are met as per donor as well FAO requirements.

Tasks and Responsibilities

  • Monitor relevant project activities placing special emphasis on the identified Environmental & Social (E&S) risks and take immediate remedial measures to ensure compliance.
  • Ensure inclusion of any specific design requirements for safeguards that have been identified during screening process for river embankment, barrages, irrigation/drainage rehabilitation and other infrastructural aspects under the project.
  • Train MoAI safeguards officers in SWS, Jubaland and Hirashabelle States to ensure safeguarding assessment, design recommendations, implementation of any action plan and compliance of contractors to safeguards standards at irrigation and flood infrastructure sites.
  • Review Environmental and Social Monitoring Framework (ESMF) for activities under the Desert Locust projects and prepare action plan for implementation.
  • Develop Environmental and Health SOPs (EHS) plan for the control of the Desert Locust project and define the Standard Operation Procedures that should be followed in a Desert Locust control campaign to minimize the impact of the use of insecticides on human health and the environment.
  • Develop Environmental and Health (EHS) procedures for construction and rehabilitation of small-scale rural water supply structures including micro irrigation activities.
  • Participate in site assessments and screening and ensure safeguards criteria are applied.
  • Prepare and apply all necessary E&S instruments for the respective works.
  • Oversee compliance with all E&S safeguard requirements by Contractors and their Sub-Contractors.
  • Review and participate on drafting and follow-up the implementation of Environmental & Social related LoUs and LoAs.
  • Conduct safeguards screening with design recommendations.
  • Engage with Project Implementation Unit & UNOPS on safeguarding during design and implementation phases.
  • Identify key environmentally sensitive areas to be mapped as protected areas for future Desert locust operations.
  • Carry out internal monitoring of ESS by providing relevant report to be shared with implementation partners.
  • Working with the various technical teams under the three Desert Locust priority areas (as mentioned above) to ensure all ongoing activities are in line with ESS standards.
  • Facilitate external audits with development partners and service providers.
  • Establish close linkages and work closely with Government ESS officers at Federal and state level to ensure state follow up on their obligations to adhere to set ESS standards and reporting requirement.
  • Conduct ESS training to Government officer involved in the DL response programme.
  • Train supervision staff on safeguards compliance and its practical application in construction works.
  • Monitor safeguard compliance by Contractors’ workers.
  • Ensure standardization of all ESS reporting from implementation partners.
  • Prepare donor reports on safeguards in timely manner.
  • Review implementing partner ESS records to ensure quality and conformity to set ESS and recommend any required remedial methods.
  • Travel to project sites (security permitting) to monitor and supervise safeguard compliance works.
  • Perform any other duties, as directed by the Agriculture Coordinator.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

  • University degree in Environmental Management or a related field.
  • Five years of relevant experience in field evaluation of Environmental & Social Safeguards.
  • Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian for COF.REG. Working knowledge of English level C for PSA.SBS.

FAO Core Competencies

  • Results Focus
  • Teamwork
  • Communication
  • Building Effective Relationships
  • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

  • Must hold an EIA/EA practicing licence from a recognised National Environmental Authority.
  • Experience working with diverse sets of stakeholders.
  • Experience in WB procedures of ESS is an added advantage.
  • Experience in Desert Locust control and Irrigation projects is an added advantage.
  • Track record of supporting EHS compliance in a similar setting.
Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: fao.org