Position: Social Safeguards Officer

Organization: UNDP

Location: Delhi

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Duties and Responsibilities

The Environment and Social Safeguards Officer will be responsible ensuring that the project is in compliance to the project’s Environmental and Social Management Framework at national and state level (Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha). This also includes ensuring compliance to the project’s Social Inclusion Planning Framework for indigenous people, Stakeholder Engagement Plan and other key safeguard documents.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Ensure compliance of project activities with UNDP and GCF Social and Environmental Standards at National and State levels, in coordination with the state level M&E associates.
• Review and monitor potential risks to project implementation (environmental and social) that may effect the success of ecosystem restoration and livelihood support activities. Monitor the Project Risk Register and update and strengthen the register as required- Assess the adequacy of the proposed measures to avoid, mitigate and/or manage identified environmental and social risks and impacts in the same.
• Provide oversight to PMU team members in finaliผing site-specific ESMPs and SIPs for landscapes, in discussion with relevant Government officials, other relevant stakeholders and UNDP team members.
• Ensure the implementation of Environment an Social Management Plan(s), and Social Inclusion Plan for all target landscapes in the three target states - in compliance with the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
• Conduct reviews to monitor the projects Social and Environmental screening plan (SESP), Environment and social management framework (ESMF) (including the Social inclusion plan (SIP)) and stakeholder engagement plan.
• Support the development and operationaliผation of a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) process document at National and district level (for three target states.
• Carry out safeguards monitoring missions as required to project landscapes
• Any other responsibilities assigned by the supervisor.

Competencies

Core Leadership

• Proactively seeks and recognizes contributions of others
• Actively engages teams and encourages dialogue within and across teams
• Determines appropriate resources, methods, partners, information and solutions

Core Innovation

• Adept with complex concepts and challenges convention purposefully 
• Critically assesses established methods
• Contributes to prototyping, piloting, and evaluating lessons / feedback Core People Management
• Models independent thinking and action
• Demonstrates behaviors of teamwork, collaboration, knowledge sharing, maintaining relationships

Job Knowledge/ Technical skills

• Knowledge of EIA requirements and other environmental and social clearances for various infrastructure and other projects as per Indian legislation
• In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues including dispute redressal
• Experience in carrying out field level social assessments using tools such as FGD, PRA and the like
• Ability to conduct research and analysis and strong synthesis skills
• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical speciality relating to the position;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems;
• Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and requirements of the post with excellence;
• Possesses the capacity for strategic planning, result – based management and reporting;

Communication Skills

• Good facilitation and communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;

Management skills

• Ability to lead consultative meetings at national and state level with partners and senior stakeholders to identify priorities and manage the timely delivery of project activities.
• Reliable in delivering own parts of the work as part of a team effort
• Demonstrates excellent work/project planning skills;
• Is open to change and ability to manage complex, every-changing environments;
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Skills in facilitation and coordination, entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner; commitment to team work and to working across disciplines;

Desired additional skills and competencies

• Experience in establishing Grievance Redress Mechanisms is desirable.
• Desirable: knowledge of local language of target states (Marathi/Odiya/Telegu)

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Masters degree in environmental or in social science, preferably in the field of ecology/ natural resource management/ environmental law/ environmental management/ environmental and social impact assessment and planning

Experience:

• At least 7 years of experience in environmental and social due diligence and review and monitoring safeguards of projects and programmes and the use of established national and international safeguards standards; demonstrated knowledge and experience of UNDP SES is desirable.
• Experience in climate change, resilience, coastal ecosystems, and/ or coastal communities with a track record of having done EIAs in India; experience with EIAs in coastal landscapes is an advantage;
• Demonstrated capacity to provide concise, to-the-point, and thorough reports of assessments, recommendations, or project or programme due diligence or performance reviews.
• Previous experience with International organizations and Central and State Governments of India on similar assignments; experience with UN/ World Bank/ ADB desirable;
• Demonstrated experience with stakeholder consultations and FPIC;
• Proficiency in computer application and information technology;
• Experience in establishing Grievance Redress Mechanisms is desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and Hindi is essential.
• knowledge of local language of target states (Marathi/Odiya/Telegu) is desirable