Regional ESMS Specialist

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Description

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• Screen projects on environmental and social impacts, define risk category, identify necessary impact studies and safeguard tools/plans;
• Advise proponents on stakeholder engagement during project design and implementation phase;
• Support proponents in contracting experts for environmental and social assessments; where issues are less complex, carry out targeted assessments and stakeholder consultation;
• Appraise the quality of final ESIA reports, environmental and social management plans (ESMP) and other safeguard tools;
• Ensure appropriate budgeting for ESMS activities;
• Conduct final compliance check and prepare ESMS clearance of projects.

• Provide ESMS training for executing agency (EA) and other implementation partners at project inception;
• Appraise any ESMS deliverables that are due in the inception phase;
• Support the EA in reporting progress on implementation of safeguard tools and compliance with all ESMS requirements;
• Cover ESMS aspects of annual project supervision missions;
• Manage ESMS project data including entries to the Project Portal.

• Set-up the regional mechanism for receiving grievances and complaints in line with IUCN’s three-staged grievance process;
• Support the EA in developing the procedures for the project-level grievance mechanism;
• Maintain a register of grievance and report on progress solving grievances to the IUCN Head of Oversight;
• Ensure timely reporting of incidents and implementation of corrective actions.
• Build ESMS capacity in the region
• To enhance ESMS compliant project design and ensure effective implementation of the risk management strategies, regional ESMS capacities need to be further strengthened.
  This involves:
• Train and coach regional staff on the ESMS to ensure consistent application of procedures and standards as well as pro-active integration of ESMS principles into project design;
• In collaboration with the global ESMS Coordinator, develop ESMS training materials and deliver training sessions to regional staff, project managers and implementation partners (including senior Government officials);
• Ensure adequate recruitment, hiring and on-boarding of new project ESMS officers in the region.

• Together with the global ESMS Coordinator, ensure that the system is further developed and refined to improve effectiveness and efficiency in its application. This involves:
• Capture lessons learned and feed-back from the EA and project stakeholders and suggest refinement and improvements of the system;
• Contribute to enhancement of safeguard tools and institutional processes to increase effectiveness of ESMS application;
• Generate lessons on the ESMS application identifying good practices and synthesising these practices for dissemination within and outside the institution, including delivery of sessions for the IUCN Academy ESMS training;
• Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

• Master’s degree in social sciences (sociology, anthropology, indigenous people’s studies etc); or comparable qualification with an environmental focus (e.g. natural resource management or environmental management) but only if combined with extensive experience in social aspects in conservation (e.g. promoting rights-based approaches, improving socio-economic benefits or managing social risks in conservation projects etc);
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience, desirably in the region in multiple countries;
• Expert knowledge and practical experience in carrying out environmental and social impact assessments and the application of safeguards/performance standards, in preparing and implementing safeguard tools or integrating safeguard requirements into project design; familiarity with GEF and GCF safeguard polices and national safeguards frameworks in the region;
• Practical experience in engaging with indigenous peoples, marginalized, vulnerable or minority groups and local communities, conducting social assessments, guiding FPIC processes and addressing gender risks desired; familiarity with social risks related to environmental law enforcement an advantage;
• Demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively within a diverse team, coach colleagues and design and implement training courses;
• Very good inter-personal skills and high degree of cultural sensitivity;
• Strong analytical skills, diligent working style and ability to quickly evaluate complex situations;
• Articulative and able to gain a quick understanding of projects and possible social and environmental impacts presenting them effectively to a larger audience.
• Self-driven and able to work independently with minimal supervision and remotely.
• Fluency in English and French is a requirement, good knowledge (speaking and writing) of Portuguese or Spanish an advantage.”

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