Senior Environment and Safeguards Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level. 
The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources. 
Specifically, FAO Country Offices: 
•    advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
•    provide technical assistance and deliver core services; 
•     assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation; 
•    position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and 
•    ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.  

FAO Pakistan with financial assistance from the Green Climate Fund is implementing a project called Transforming Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management in Punjab and Sindh Provinces. The project aims to develop the country’s capacity to get the and use the information it needs to cope with the impact of climate change and agriculture and water management. The overall goal of the project is to enhance the capacity of agriculture and pastoral sectors to cope with climate change, by up scaling farmers adaptation of climate change adaptation technologies and practices through a network of already established farmers field schools, and by mainstreaming climate change adaptation concerns and strategies into on-going agriculture development initiatives, policies and programming.
 
The position is at level SB4 SC9 level and is based in Multan, Pakistan

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Pakistan, and the direct supervision of Technical Advisor, and in close coordination with International Officers, national project coordinators, and the project’s other technical specialists in Multan and Hyderabad, the Senior Environment and Safeguards Specialist will perform following tasks and responsibilities.  

Technical Focus

Ensure timely delivery of all activities/issues related to ESS, GRM and ESMP in the Transforming Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management Project.

Tasks and responsibilities

1.    Manage and co-ordinate to ensure the implementation of FAO and GCF’s Environmental and Social Safeguards Standards (ESS), manage procedures including the establishment of an appropriate field compliance and reporting structure to ensure compliance with the ESS standards

2.    Manage Grievance Redress Mechanism/ feedback mechanism and based upon the feedback advising the PMU and key stakeholders the best practice of improving the social and environmental aspects of the project.

3.    Lead the ESS capacity building and training activities for all the stakeholders including government and other implementing partners .

Detailed responsibilities are listed below:

Project Environmental and Social Safeguards Implementation support

•    Review and update the existing project Environmental and Social Management System.
•    Coordinate, manage and implement the project safeguards in compliance with the FAO, GCF ESS standards and country’s guidelines.
•    Development and rolling out of a safeguard monitoring and reporting system against FAO and GCF’s Environmental and Social Safeguards Standards
•    Lead the ESS field due diligence, covering all the project districts, and advise the project implementation team on the findings
•    Screening of sub-projects identified under the projects, ensuring the screening process complies with the ESS standards; and advise on the site-specific safeguards ‘instruments required
•    Ensure that ESS requirements are incorporated into the LOA, MOU, and contract agreement of the project’s implementing partners
•    Lead in ensuring that safety and health concerns of the workers and the public are addressed during pre- construction, construction and implementation phases of the project construction works for the equipment installation particularly under component-1 of the project.

Update or Develop the ESS Instruments including project ESMP and manage the Grievance Redress Mechanism

•    Manage the project grievance redress/feedback mechanism and monitor the complaints mechanism following FAO’s guidelines and GCF’s requirements
•    Regularly review the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) and advise the project manager if the mechanism requires any update in terms of its accessibility and effectiveness
•    Technically support the PMU in creating awareness of the Grievance Redress Mechanism amongst all the stakeholders through public awareness campaigns, and support dissemination of information to the concerned local communities
•    Develop a system to document information on grievances and redress and progress for monthly/quarterly reporting.
•    Based upon the findings of field due diligence and the requirements of the project ESMF develop ESS instruments including but not limited to project ESMP, Pest Management Plan, Health, and Safety plan, relevant tools and checklists 

 Lead and undertake training and awareness raising activities

•    identification of the ESS capacity and training needs of the project staff, government and other implementing partners, and responsible parties 
•    Conduct/manage on field ESS trainings for the FAO’s field staff, sub-contractors and their field staff
•    Provide day to day guidance to the project team on project compliance, due diligence and safeguarding requirements to enhance program quality.
•    Supervise and support Implementing Partners (IAs) and all other field teams and agencies in achieving their responsibilities on implementing safeguards as outlined in the ESMF and FAO and GCF’s ESS standards

Reporting

•    Carrying out frequent field visits and conduct monitoring for ESMP implementation
•    Prepare a monthly and quarterly framework for monitoring due diligence and compliance issues, and the implementation of risk mitigations measures, 
•    Work with the M&E team in setting/reconfirming the baseline and reviewing progress made against all indicators in the programme results framework from compliance/safeguarding perspective;
•    Develop methodology, data collection procedures and tools to monitor and report on the application of due diligence, safeguarding, risk monitoring and compliance requirements,

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•    Advanced University degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Socio-ecological Sciences, and Socio-environmental related degrees 
•    Minimum of 8 years of professional working experience related to safeguards in a senior role with international agencies, multilateral banks, and other reputed institutions
•    Working knowledge of English and good knowledge of Urdu and Punjabi/ Saraiki, and Sindhi
•    National of Pakistan

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Excellent working knowledge related to compliance, safeguarding, due diligence requirements of different donors, of GCF as an asset.
•    Advanced knowledge of methodologies, tools, and implementation of social, environmental safeguards and key elements of programmatic risk management. 
•    Track record of experience in designing and implementing safeguard and risk management activities, preferably for development programmes/projects.
•    Demonstrated abilities in designing data collection, conducting assessment, survey and other studies with minimal supervision. 
•    Strong analytical and report writing skills.

Selection Criteria

•    Hands on experience of developing, implementing, and monitoring ESS instruments like ESIAs, ESMPs, Site Specific ESMPs etc
•    Experience of working with Indigenous peoples, scheduled castes, and other vulnerable and marginalised groups
•    Well versed in ESS standards including IFC’s performance standards and FAO’s FESM 2022 and ESMG 2015
•    Certification like NEBOSH IGC, ISO 14001 EMS is an asset
•    ESS technical report writing
•    Ability to work in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams is essential.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION