Safeguards Analyst (Open to all applicants)

Entry Mid

Overview

Ensure adherence to UNDP's Social and Environmental Standards in the Earthquake Response Project.

You have:

• Advanced university degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Social Science, Engineer or related field is required.
• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in environmental/social safeguards for early recovery support and infrastructure projects with Master's degree or minimum 4 years with Bachelor's degree.
• Proven experience with UNDP, ADB or other international development partner’s Environmental and Social standards.
• Fluency in English and Myanmar (Burmese) is required.
• Experience in environmental and social impact assessments (EIAs/SIAs), social audits, and risk management tools.
• Experience facilitating participatory stakeholder consultations, especially with vulnerable groups in both urban and rural settings.
• Ability to design, manage, and report on grievance mechanisms, especially in sensitive or conflict-affected contexts.
• Proven knowledge and experience in using survey tools such as KOBO toolbox, google forms, etc.

Contract

This is a NPSA-9 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about NPSA-9 contracts.

Please note the appropriate Tier indicated in the vacancy title and ensure that you are holding the applicable contract as defined below:

Tier 1: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as “internal” candidates) Tier 2: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA) and personnel on regular PSA contracts Tier 3: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Background

On 28 March 2025, a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, resulting in significant loss of life, widespread infrastructure damage, and a deepening humanitarian crisis. In response, UNDP launched the Earthquake Response – Community Led Recovery and Reconstruction Project, aiming to support affected communities in restoring services, rebuilding livelihoods, and strengthening resilience through inclusive, locally driven recovery efforts. The project focuses on two core outcomes:

1. Restoration of essential community infrastructure and improved disaster risk reduction (DRR) capacity 2. Livelihoods recovery and economic revitalization through inclusive and gender-responsive support’

The Safeguards Analyst will play a key role in providing technical support to field implementation teams to ensure adherence to UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards (SES, 2021) as well as donor requirements, particularly the Asian Development Bank’s Safeguards Policy Statement (SPS, 2009). This includes supporting the implementation teams, guiding the procurement and implementation of safeguard measures by construction contractors, tracking progress and risks, supporting the establishment and functioning of the grievance redress mechanism (GRM), and contributing to safeguards reporting.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Safeguards Analyst works under the supervision of the Project Manager and the overall guidance of UNDP’s Risk and Strategic Management Specialist, and closely collaborates with UNDP CO’s Risk Management Analyst as appropriate. The incumbent provides effective and efficient implementation of project activities with major focus on ensuring UNDP’s social and environmental standards, policies and procedures under the Project.

The Safeguards Analyst will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment. S/he may be required to participate in safeguards review missions with ADB and/or other partners.

The Safeguards Analyst will be based in Manadaly with frequent travel to other project areas. S/he will work closely with:

• Housing Advisor
• Debris Management Specialist
• Procurement Analyst
• Engineers (Rehousing, Debris, Earthquake Clinic).
• Project Analyst
• Gender Specialist/Analyst

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Safeguards Analyst will support the effective implementation and monitoring of compliance with Environmental and Social Standards in the Earthquake Response Project. The incumbent will provide technical inputs to support field-level implementation of safeguard measures, ensure compliance with risk management and quality standards, and contribute to knowledge management and reporting. The Analyst will also support stakeholder engagement and oversee the effective functioning of the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) to ensure concerns from communities and stakeholders are properly addressed. The role requires strong coordination skills, analytical capacity, and experience working with implementing partners, field teams, contractors, and relevant stakeholders.

Environmental and Social Compliance:

• Ensure adherence to UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards (SES, 2021), ADB Safeguards Policy (SPS, 2009), and relevant national legislation across all project activities.
• Review technical designs, procurement plans, and contractor proposals to ensure alignment with approved Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP), Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEP) and compliance with Myanmar’s EIA/IEE procedures and ADB’s safeguards requirements.
• Support the implementation and periodic updating of the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), and Social Impact Assessments (SIA), ensuring they meet both Myanmar’s regulatory requirements and UNDP/ADB standards.
• Maintain a tracking mechanism to monitor safeguard measures across sub-project sites, including compliance with both Myanmar’s regulatory requirements and UNDP/ADB standards.
• Collaborate with the Procurement team to secure necessary authorizations, and integrate safeguard requirements into tender documents and contracts, ensuring compliance with UNDP/ADB safeguards, anti-corruption measures, and contractual obligations.

Risk Identification and Mitigation:

• Identify potential environmental and social risks in project interventions, including construction activities, community engagement, land use, and waste management,
• Develop and monitor the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), mitigation strategies and contingency plans in accordance with UNDP/ADB frameworks
• Conduct site visits to verify application of mitigation measures and flag any non-compliance or deviation from standards.

Capacity Building and Knowledge Management:

• Design and deliver training programs on:
  • UNDP SES and Environmental and social safeguard requirements
  • Myanmar national environmental laws and regulations, and social inclusion practices.
  • Risk mitigation, ESMP implementation, and compliance monitoring
• Provide technical guidance to project staff on implementing the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) in line with both UNDP/ADB frameworks
• Support the development of internal tools, manuals, checklists or procedures for safeguards management.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Support the Project team in operationalizing the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), ensuring meaningful and inclusive consultation with vulnerable groups (women, Indigenous peoples, PWDs).
• Assist in implementing and monitoring a functional Grievance Redress Mechanism(GRM) for environmental and social issues, ensuring timely resolution and documentation of community concerns.

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Conduct regular field monitoring to verify compliance with safeguards during construction and demolition (e.g., debris/waste management, biodiversity conservation, community and worker safety).
• Prepare and submit regular compliance reports for ADB and UNDP, including site visit observations, risk assessments, and status of ESMP implementation, highlighting deviations and corrective actions.
• Maintain complete documentation and audit trails in line with UNDP and ADB’s safeguards monitoring and reporting expectations.
• Contribute to preparing reports related to environmental and social performance.
• Track progress against safeguard indicators and maintain proper records of all safeguard-related activities, including initial environmental examination (IEE), permits, inspection reports, consultation records, grievances and audit trails for donor reviews.
• Contribute to UNDP progress reports and knowledge products on best practices in sustainable infrastructure in the Myanmar context. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results: Level 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: Level 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: Level 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: Level 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination: Level 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: Level 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy

• System Thinking.Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Development

• Knowledge Facilitation. Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.

Business Management

• Project Management. Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals Business Management

Partnerships Management

• Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
• Communication. Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. .Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness

• Effectiveness. Project Quality Assurance
• Results-based Management. Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Social Science, Engineer or related field is required, or;
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years (with Master´s degree) or minimum 4 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of relevant experience in environmental/social safeguards for early recovery support and infrastructure projects.
• Proven experience with UNDP, ADB or other international development partner’s Environmental and Social standards.
• Experience in environmental and social impact assessments (EIAs/SIAs), social audits, and risk management tools.
• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is required.
• Ability to design, manage, and report on grievance mechanisms, especially in sensitive or conflict-affected contexts.
• Proven experience facilitating participatory stakeholder consultations, especially with vulnerable groups, in both urban and rural settings.
• Familiarity with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) guidelines (e.g., ILO, IFC EHS Guidelines), and practical experience in supervising OHS compliance on construction or infrastructure sites.
• Prior experience in implementing infrastructure projects with ADB, UN, or UNDP.
• Proven knowledge and experience in using survey tools such as KOBO toolbox, google forms, etc.
• Experience in working with national environmental legislation and conducting community-level impact assessments in Myanmar.

Required languages:

• Fluency in English and Myanmar (Burmese) is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.undp.org