UNDP Jobs - 59665- Environment and Social Safeguard Specialist

Environment and Social Safeguard Specialist

Location :

Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

15-Sep-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 Months with a possibilty of extension

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED), Ethiopia is mandated to manage all publicfinance and particularly mobilizes and manages climate finance to the CRGE Sectors. Thus, the Ministry has established national climate finance mechanism, the CRGE Facility to mobilize access, combine and blend financial resources from public, private, domestic and international sources that help to achieve the CRGE vision. The CRGE Facility helps Ethiopia access different forms of climate finances from various sources currently and potentially available and committed to support carbon constrained development strategy of the country. Hence, the facility has been playing a significant role in mobilizing and allocating finances in accordance with the prioritized needs defined by the CRGE strategy.

The CRGE Facility has started receiving financial support from development partners and it is high-time to further strengthen the secretariat with relevant manpower in the area of environmental and social safeguards. This TOR is to hire Environment and Social Safeguard Specialist who, together with other CRGE Facility team members of MoFED and MEF, will provide the necessary technical advice and expertise required to enable the Facility to fulfill its mandates.

Duties and Responsibilities

A. Analytical and Technical support:

Assist in the development process of an Environmental and Social Safeguards guideline in consultation with the World Bank Country Office and CRGE Facility team to be used by line ministries in the plan and implementation process of CRGE Facility financed projects and programmes;
In consultation with MEF, undertake an environmental and social risk categorization of proposals submitted to the CRGE Facility and projects under implementation;
Ensure that appropriate environmental and social mitigation measures are proposed before projects are recommended for funding by the CRGE Facility;
Undertake follow up monitoring to ensure that proposed mitigation measures are implemented according to an agree upon environmental and social mitigation implementation plan;
Engage with CRGE sectors to ensure that the safeguards guidance is fully understood by IEs and EEs through capacity building trainings at different levels;
Closely follow up the integration of safeguard assessment information and completion of safeguards self-screening Checklist during the project/program development process;
Prepare Environmental and Social safeguard Plans and ensure that such plans are approved by relevant authorities before implementation;
Lead on developing and delivering a series of spot checks to ensure safeguards policies are properly implemented at grassroots level in line with the guideline;
Prepare report on the safeguard risks with appropriate actions to be taken for all projects and programmes financed through the CRGE Facility and ensure that timely actions are taken;
Provide technical support during Project Design, Appraisal process and resource mobilization plan for the projects/programmes financed through the Facility;
Provide substantive advice on safeguard issues to sectors in order to promote enhanced investment on building a climate resilient green economy;
Closely supervise, provide assistance and deliver capacity building trainings to the sectors to close knowledge/skill gaps and minimize the likelihood of risks to happen to projects/programs financed through the Facility;
Compile quarterly, biannual and annual reports on safeguards related issues and deliver to CRGE Facility as part of the M&E report;
Handle additional assignments as directed by the CRGE Facility Head.

B. Operations, Management and Implementation:

Identify challenges, opportunities, priorities and needs for the development and implementation of the Facility’s safeguard Plan and implementation at all levels;
In collaboration with the CRGE Facility Secretariat team, make sure that the terms and conditions set for projects/ programmes development in line with safeguard principles are adhered to;
Supervise consultancy works and review and assess products/services provided by consultants and experts counterparts and notify/advise the head of the secretariat on quality, and recommend appropriate actions to be taken for improvement as per the safeguard principles and guidelines;
Advice on administrative measures and actions required for ensuring the Facility’s uninterrupted compliance with requirements set regarding environmental and social safeguard measures prior to the validation and implementation of interventions and/or investment actions financed by the Facility;
Analyze environmental and social developments and provide technical and substantive support in setting targets for the realization of the goal of building a climate resilient green economy;
Check with contracts, memoranda of understanding and/or other necessary agreements required for the disbursement of funds for approved actions against the set standards for environment and social safeguard;
Prepare quarterly and annual reports to be submitted to contributors and other stakeholders with a special view to capturing lessons learned and best practices for improving the performance of the Facility portfolio and maintaining safeguard standards;
Undertake quarterly monitoring and evaluation of project activities against standards of the safeguard guideline.

C. Capacity Building:

Provide support and direct technical assistance to sectors and regions to develop environment and social safeguard responsive climate smart strategies and plans;
Provide technical support to sectors in MRV and result based monitoring and evaluation;
Carry out training on integrating safeguard principles in climate change projects/programmes.

Competencies

Communication:

Good communication skill both in writing and oral including networking and interpersonal skills
Proven ability to persuade and influence others to cooperate

Client Orientation:

Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients
Proven ability to build strong relations with partners, clients for positive feed back
Ability to undertake and apply gender analysis to ensure gender equitable solutions

Partnership:

Build, coordinate and advise on strategic and programmatic partnership with federal and regional government authorities, bilateral and multilateral organizations stakeholders
Facilitate the engagement of major stakeholders or groups in environment and sustainable development decision making, their access to and sharing of information for effective compliance with environmental and social safeguard measures in the context of intra and inter-generational equity

Communication and Outreach:

Advise on the development and management of the Facility’s communication strategy, outreach campaigns and activities to raise the Facility’s profile at the national and international levels

Professionalism:

Demonstrate professional competence and mastery of subject matter on the CRGE Vision, Strategy, MRV, the Ethiopia’s program of Adaptation and the Sectoral Reduction Mechanism
Knowledge and involvement in Multilateral Environmental Conventions negotiations and implementation, in particular the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol as well as the New-market and Non-market based mechanisms, which are under negotiation
Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results
Speaks and writes clearly and effectively and demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed
Willing to undertake other assignments as provided by the Head of the CRGE Facility

Leadership:

Proactive in developing strategies, various methods and approaches to accomplish objectives
Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support
Drives for change and improvements
Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work

Judgment/Decision-making:

Identifies the key issues in a complex situation
Gathers relevant information before making a decision
Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them
Proposes a course of action based on all available information
Checks assumptions against facts

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Environmental Science, Resource/Environmental Economics, Natural Resources Management or relevant scientific discipline is required. University degree in other field, in combination with additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted.

Experience:

A minimum of 6 years of extensive working experience in Environment and Social Safeguards, Natural Resource and Environmental management, policy development and implementation, active involvement in international environment and social safeguard application is an advantageous;
Track record of successfully working with governments on environment and social safeguard, climate change and sustainable development agenda is preferable;
Proven experience and knowledge in Safeguard Principles, Development Effectiveness and Cooperation, Climate Change Finance, gender equality and its related issues is an asset and knowledge of regional institutions working on climate finance;
Work experience in an international organization is an advantage;
Extensive knowledge of UNDP’s policies, procedures and practice is an asset, not a requirement;
Ability to work as a part of a team, sharing information and coordinating efforts within the team;
Full computer literacy in internet searching and Microsoft Office programs i.e. MS-Word, MS-Excel and MS-Power Point.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English, both oral and written;
Knowledge of the programme operation areas is advantageous.