Environment and Social Safeguard Specialist

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO helps developing countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture including livestock, forestry, and fisheries practices, ensuring good nutrition and food security for all. Upon request from the Government of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, the FAO has agreed to provide technical assistance for the execution of the Food and nutrition Security Enhancement Project (FANSEP), UTF/NEP/077/NEP from July 2019 to June 2023. Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development implement the project.  

Objectives

FAO Technical Assistance to FANSEP will contribute to achieve the project development objective: improved agricultural productivity and nutrition practices of targeted smallholder farming communities in selected areas of Nepal

Reporting Lines

Under the direct supervision of the FAO Representative and the Team Leader and technical supervision of the FAO designated Technical Backstopping Officer in the FAO Regional Office in Bangkok or FAO HQ, and in close coordination with the Government of Nepal’s designated Technical Officer at the PMU, the project ES Safeguard Specialist will be responsible for supporting in planning and implementing the Environment and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and Gender and Social Inclusion Strategy and related activities of the FANSEP.

Technical Focus

The consultant will assist the project team in accomplishing a participatory process in implementing the project activities with emphasis on the adoption of the Systems Learning Approach. In addition, the specialist will assist in developing province-ecological zone specific and activity-specific ESM Plan and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) action plan as well as supporting small grants applicants assess safeguards issues and developing mitigation measures in terms of ESM and GESI action plan. He/she will work closely with the CPSUs, field teams, Production groups, Small Grant Groups, Women’s Groups, and private-sector entrepreneurs.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Provide overall oversight and guidance in the implementation and compliance of ESMF
• Monitor overall safeguard compliance with Project ESMF, PIM, National environmental regulations and the World Bank policies;
• Support PMU in conducting in-depth Gender, Social Inclusion, Environment and Vulnerability Assessment at the onset in the project areas
• Develop GESI Strategy and Action Plan for the project will be designed to ensure that all project activities, staff and implementation arrangement consistently and coherently contribute to achieving the gender objectives and targets of the project
• Develop a detailed Action Plan based on the project Environment and Social Management Framework (ESMF) of the project
• Develop strategies for raising environmental awareness and ensure enhanced level of community consultations and participation with emphasis on inclusion, empowerment and equity by involving the respective stakeholders and beneficiaries
• Assist PMU and CPSUs in integrating an Environmental and GESI Monitoring System in the Project Management Information System
• Assist PMU in developing strategies and action plan for increased community mobilization and extension support, vulnerability reduction strategies, support to groups to benefit the grassroots communities particularly the small holders and vulnerable
• Ensure GESI and Environmental Management perspective is well ensured to mitigate the adverse impacts during minor infrastructure development support under the project
• Ensure effective participatory approaches throughout the preparation and implementation of the project, involving all key stakeholders from beneficiary households at the ward level, to the central level
• Support in establishing partnership with the local civic groups/organization such as women groups, farmer organizations groups and co-operatives and engage in a variety of citizen engagement activities
• Support PMU and CPSUs for organizing communications and outreach campaigns and mobilize local-level actors including the community-based organizations, agriculture and livestock service providers, and social mobilizers for effective project interventions
• Support PMU and CPSUs in establishing Grievance Redress Mechanism and making it functional at multiple levels - ward, municipality, state and federal
• Support for development of different capacity building and advocacy materials related to environment safeguard and GESI for all levels
• Support for in the development of monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure safeguards and GESI related are indicators and activities are covered.
• Support PMU in ensuring inclusion of women, youth and other vulnerable segments of the rural population, in addition to strengthening the decentralized government structures to ensure effective service delivery at the local level
• Support in developing safeguard modules, guidelines and delivering safeguard related training to the project officials
• Guide cluster and rural municipality staff to enable farmers to ensure environment issues are well addressed required for sustainable natural resource management and mitigate adverse impacts due to project activities
• Coordinate with the project partners at the national/international level and with stakeholders on matters related to activities under the Safeguard
• Submit a work plan and monthly progress report as per the format developed by the project
• Produce and submit periodic reports to the Project Team leader
• Any other Environment Safeguard and GESI related tasks assigned by the Team Leader or PMU

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• National of Nepal
• Advanced University (Master) Degree in Environment/Natural Resource Management/Social Work/Sociology/Anthropology/Development Studies with GESI background
• At least five years of experience of working in Environmental and Social Safeguard
• Seven Years of relevant experience in developing and implementing ESMP and GESI programmes, tools and training materials
• Having experience of working with multi-disciplinary team will have an advantage
• Working knowledge of English and Nepali and limited knowledge of local language
• Candidate should have knowledge of computer skills (MS Office package: word, excel and power point)

FAO Core Competencies 

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

• Experience and in-depth knowledge of Environmental and Social Safeguard,
• Working experience and in-depth knowledge in designing and executing ESFM and GESI
• Experience with agriculture sector will be an asset.
• Working experience in agriculture/ Livestock/NRM/Food and nutrition security programs
• Preparing guidelines, capacity building of field staff on ESFM compliance monitoring and GRM

Selection Criteria 

• Extent of relevant technical experience in the areas mentioned above
• Having experience of working with multi-disciplinary team
• Good working knowledge of English, especially on written  
• Experience with similar internationally funded development projects will be an added advantage