Social and Environment Safeguards Associate

Volunteering Communications & PR Environment

Overview

Support project-level compliance with UNDP SES for sustainable development projects.

You have:

• Demonstrated expertise in the development and quality assurance of safeguards instruments (e.g., SESPs, GRMs, protocols/action plans on Safeguards)
• Experience in designing social and environmental safeguards at the project level and providing technical support to implementing partners
• Possesses good understanding and knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
• Experience of working with international organizations, NGOs/INGOs including the UN in implementation of projects with central ministries
• Excellent working knowledge of MS Office-Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, Intra-Internet, e-mail applications etc.
• Ability to build and maintain constructive relationships with colleagues.
• Self-motivated, with the ability to work with minimum supervision and handle tight deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards (SES) underpin UNDP’s commitment to mainstream social and environmental sustainability in our programmes and projects to support sustainable development. The objectives of the SES are to:

• Strengthen the social and environmental outcomes of Programmes and Projects • Avoid adverse impacts on people and the environment • Minimize, mitigate, and manage adverse impacts where avoidance is not possible • Strengthen UNDP and partner capacities for managing social and environmental risks; and • Ensure full and effective stakeholder engagement, including through a mechanism to respond to complaints from project-affected people.

A key mechanism to ensure the SES is applied is the project-level Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP), which is a requirement for most proposed projects. The objectives of the SESP are to: (a) Integrate the SES Overarching Principles (leave no one behind, human rights, gender equality, sustainability and resilience, and accountability); (b) Identify potential social and environmental risks and their significance; (c) Determine the Project's risk category (Low, Moderate, Substantial, High); and (d) Determine the level of social and environmental assessment and management required to address potential risks and impacts.

Under UNDP programmes and projects. a systematic approach is ensured to 6 key areas: people, knowledge, risk management including Social and Environment Safeguards, funding, operational excellence, and impact measurement.

UNDP India seeks to engage the services of a Programme Associate (Social and Environment Safeguards) to support project-level compliance with the UNDP SES through project design and during project implementation, with a focus on high-priority projects. This will include development, implementation, quality assurance, spot-checking, and advising on measures to be taken to ensure effective implementation of and compliance with the SES. The Associate will also facilitate learning across the CO and beyond, tracking and sharing lessons learned.

Under the direct supervision of Programme Specialist & Head, Programme Management and Support Unit, and the Programme Associate, Action for Climate and Environment Unit, s/he will perform the following tasks:

1. SES screenings
   • Ensure pre-screening (concept stage) and/or full screening (development stage) of projects in compliance with UNDP SES policy • Identify any potential environmental and social risks that may require additional specialized expertise or other considerations. • Support preparation of draft and final deliverables, including but not limited to the completed SESP template with all supporting documents/evidence, as appropriate.

2. SES Assessments • Support in quality assurance of impact assessments (Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA); Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA); targeted assessment; etc.) as identified through SESP screening. • Support in analysis of country level safeguards legal frameworks and provisions, also in comparison with UNDP’s SES to identify gaps. • Engage stakeholders as relevant in the assessment processes and ensure submission of all SES documents in accordance with the annual SES workplan of the CO

3. SES Management Plans and Management Frameworks • Ensure submission of quality reviewed management frameworks/plans (ESMF, ESMP, Indigenous Peoples Plan, Land Acquisition Plans, Resettlement Plan, Livelihoods Plan, etc.) as identified through SESP screening and as informed by SES assessments. • Ensure submission of Stakeholder Engagement Plans, including design of project Grievance Redress Mechanisms. • Flag any potential issues that may require additional specialized expertise or other considerations. • Identify procedures and methods for risk avoidance, reduction, mitigation throughout project cycle.

4. Capacity Building • Provide technical support to select active projects on the implementation and monitoring of the management plan(s). • Ensure capacity building and training of the project team and partners on the safeguard requirements of the project as well as on FPIC, disclosure, etc. • Review and provide support to ensure establishment of project level Grievance Redress Mechanism that is appropriate to the scale of the project’s potential adverse risks and impacts. • Document lessons learned, including from cases where things went wrong as well as good models of SES implementation.

• Accountability • Adaptability and Flexibility • Building Trust • Commitment and Motivation • Commitment to Continuous Learning • Communication • Creativity • Ethics and Values • Integrity • Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Respect for Diversity • Self-Management • Working in Teams

• Demonstrated expertise in the development and quality assurance of safeguards instruments (e.g., SESPs, GRMs, protocols/action plans on Safeguards) • Experience in designing social and environmental safeguards at the project level and providing technical support to implementing partners • Possesses good understanding and knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks • Experience of working with international organizations, NGOs/ INGOs including the UN in implementation of projects with central ministries • Excellent working knowledge of MS Office-Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, Intra-Internet, e-mail applications etc. • Ability to build and maintain constructive relationships with colleagues (and reports where inappropriate) • Self-motivated, with the ability to work with minimum supervision and handle tight deadlines. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment. • Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.

The assignment will be based in New Delhi. New Delhi is the capital city of India, experiences a diverse climate and has distinct living conditions influenced by its weather, infrastructure, and culture. A melting pot of cultures, languages, and cuisines, reflecting the diverse nature of India. Overall, living in Delhi offers a mix of modern urban life with deep-rooted traditions and challenges typical of a large, bustling metropolis.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. This position is based in New Delhi. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. National UN Volunteers are expected to be culturally sensitive and adjust to the prevailing culture and traditions.

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses.

You can check full entitlements at https://app.unv.org/calculator

For information specific to your assignment, please see below: • Monthly Voluntary Living Allowance (VLA): INR 64,961.50 • Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 400 (equivalent in INR) • Relocation costs: $200 at beginning and end of assignment if duty station is outside of commuting distance (as determined by UNV) • Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment): INR 5,413.46 for each month served, paid on completion of contract • Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for health, life and malicious acts • Annual leave: 2.5 days per month • Learning: Access to UNV's learning and career development resources

For more information on entitlements, please read the Conditions of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos).

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org