Title: Environment and Social Safeguards Specialist

​​Requisition ID: 4064
Grade: ISA-Specialist
Country: Home Based
Duty Station: Home Based
Category: International Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed
Contract Duration: 80 workdays over a given period
Application Deadline: 18-Jun-2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, the Directorate of Corporate Services and Operations (COR), headed by a Managing Director, is responsible and accountable for the management of UNIDO’s human, financial and material resources, ensuring the capacity of the Organization to fulfil its mandate. The Directorate oversees a full range of financial, human resources, learning and staff development, procurement, information technology and general services to meet the service support needs of the Organization as a whole. Additionally, the Directorate houses the Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women Unit and the Ethics and Accountability Unit as well as oversees their operations. Furthermore, the Directorate provides guidance on personnel security and safety matters and ensures the overall coordination of UNIDO’s response in this regard.

The Directorate houses the Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women Unit (COR/GEW) and the Ethics and Accountability Unit (COR/EAU) as well as the following Divisions: Financial Services (COR/FIN); Human Resources Services (COR/HRS); Learning and Development Services (COR/LED); Procurement Services (COR/PRO); Asset Management and Logistics Services (COR/AML); Information Technology and Digitalization Services (COR/DIG); and Facility Management Services (COR/BMS). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the units and services as well as with the other Directorates and Offices in UNIDO.

PROJECT CONTEXT

SAP# 230356. Ukraine: Green industrial recovery project for Ukraine through technology transfer from and the co-creation of new businesses with Japan’s private industries

The full-scale hostilities against Ukraine, starting in February 2022, has had a significant negative impact on the country’s industries and businesses, impeding its potential for inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID). In order to support the country's industrial and economic recovery and resilience, it is critical to increase the value addition of the country’s manufacturing sector and help people access employment opportunities and generate income. Strengthening the resilience of the Ukrainian economy requires widespread dissemination of industry, along with the necessary tools and methods for value addition across the country. Moreover, aligning with Ukraine's goal of EU accession, the economy must focus on EU compatibility, particularly in regard to environmental best practices, obtaining access to know-how and expertise, upgrading practices and processes, increasing competitiveness and value addition, and strengthening access to markets to incentivize investment. All interventions must ensure that production and products are green, energy-efficient and resource-efficient, fostering the advancement of a circular economy.

Taking into consideration the acute needs and long-term industrial recovery and development opportunities, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), as a specialized United Nations agency mandated to foster ISID, has prepared and launched a green industrial recovery programme for Ukraine 2024-2028. The programme sets out a programmatic vision for the multi-stakeholder and cross-dimensional partnership that is needed to restore Ukraine’s industry and foster sustainable industrial development.

Prior to the development of the programme, UNIDO prepared a comprehensive industrial diagnostic study, paving the way for an informed, evidence-based and data-driven approach to the Organization’s interventions. Extensive research has been conducted to extrapolate a strategic direction for the country’s future industrialization and green recovery. This assessment builds on the existing policies of the Government of Ukraine and the Ukraine Plan of the European Union (EU), identifying areas and opportunities for development and proposing solutions in response to existing challenges related to economic growth, modernization of the economic system and integration with the EU to foster recovery, reconstruction and reform at all levels (i.e. macro-, meso- and micro-level).

The project is thus developed based on the comprehensive results of the industrial diagnostics and taking into consideration the identified needs and opportunities. Recognizing the unique value addition and relevance of the UNIDO mandate, the Government of Japan has requested the Organization to support Ukraine’s industrial recovery and innovation ecosystem building through technology transfer, capacity-building and business co-creation between the private sectors of Ukraine and Japan, with the possibility of involving third party enterprises where opportune.

To this end, UNIDO will award the grant to selected Japanese companies based on their proposals of the Feasibility Study to be conducted in Ukraine.

DUTIES

The Environment and Social Safeguards Specialist will work under the general supervision and guidance of the Project Manager/PM (COR/OMD) and in close coordination with the Project Management Unit (PMU).

The Environment and Social Safeguards Specialist will perform the following duties:

Main Duties

Concrete/measurable Outputs to be achieved

Location

1. Desk review of existing literature and studies.
   • Familiarize with UNIDO Environmental and Social Safeguards Policies and Procedures (ESSPP) and its implementation on the project level.

     Home-based

     1. Develop an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) of the project in coordination with the PMU.
        • The ESMF of the project developed and cleared by UNIDO ESS team.

          Home-based

          1. Aggregate, review, and verify the Environment & Social (E&S) screening check sheets prepared by all the applicants for the grant.
             • The E&S screening check sheets from the applicants verified.

               Home-based

               1. Guide and help the applicants to complete the E&S screening check sheet, where needed.
                  • The E&S screening check sheets from the applicants well prepared.

                    Home-based

                    1. Classify the risk category of E&S screening check sheets submitted by the applicants.
                       • The risk category of E&S screening check sheets classified.

                         Home-based

                         1. Coordinate with the PMU to inform the results of E&S screening (the risk category of the proposals) to selected applicants.
                            • The results of the E&S screening check informed to the selected applicants.

                              Home-based

                              1. Verify ESIA and/or ESMP developed by the selected applicants as per the Risk Category.

                                 ESIA and/or ESMP (where required) completed to;

                                 • identify potential adverse environmental and social impacts of demonstration projects
                                 • Mitigate and monitor encountered E&S risks
                                 • identify and seize opportunities of demonstration projects to maximize positive impacts and synergies

                                   Home-based

                                   1. Guide and help the applicants to complete ESIA and/or ESMP as per UNIDO ESSPP and applicable Ukrainian laws.

                                      Home-based

                                      1. Keep close coordination with the PM and Project Management Unit (PMU).