Environmental and Social Safeguards Officer

Background: 

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

The project ‘Mozambique Northern Crisis Recovery Project is based in and around the City of Pemba in Cabo Delgado Province supporting the resettlement of IDPs from temporary settlement sites to 20 relocation sites. The project will support both IDPs and Host communities. The project comprises of 4 main components:

Component 1: psychosocial social support and community peace building; and enhancing

State-society trust and confidence.

Component 2: provision of agriculture and fisheries inputs, cash for work programs for youth and women and the provision of kits for micro and small business development; and training on entrepreneurship and business management.

Component 3: the restoration of basic services, small works for agriculture production, education and health infrastructure and the construction or rehabilitation of school and health infrastructure and community services and amenities in temporary and relocation sites and host communities.

Component 4: strengthening of technical capacity of government authorities and local governments for conflict management. This component will also support project implementation, financial management, procurement, safeguards, reporting, and monitoring and evaluation.

The project is implemented in collaboration with government authorities and will be guided by the various Programme guidelines provided by the World bank- as the funding source.


Purpose and Scope of Assignment

As part of the World Bank’s requirements set out in the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), environmental and social (E&S) instruments are currently developed to mitigate environmental and social risks and impacts of the Project. In addition, UNOPS’ HSSE requirements stipulate a series of compliance issues specifically regarding Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) and infrastructure activities. 

UNOPS is looking for the services of an Environmental and Social Safeguard Officer (Safeguard Officer) to ensure that all Project activities are aligned with World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) and UNOPS OSH requirements. The Safeguard Officer will be required to work in any UNOPS Office in Northern Mozambique, with frequent travel to the Project/subproject activity sites covering part of the 300 communities across the target 18 districts, which include Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Niassa. 

The Safeguard Officer will be operating as part of the team, managing, and ensuring the implementation of all environmental and social standards and the occupational health and safety requirements during the project life cycle. S/he must be able to apply with/out direction, the duties, and responsibilities of the project success criteria.

• Oversee, monitor, and report on environmental and social standards and the occupational health and safety requirements established respectively by World Bank and UNOPS of and applicable to the subprojects. 

• Advise and instruct the implementing partners ensuring that environmental and social standards and the occupational health and safety requirements are incorporated into their contracts.

• Carry out training and capacity building programmes on environmental and social standards,  including gender aspects and prevention of GBV/PSEA, and the occupational health and safety requirements, tools and frameworks, for project personnel, contractors, consultants and other stakeholders.

• Advise and instruct the implementing partners that will conduct the monitoring and reporting on environmental and social screening processes for the subprojects.

• Review and oversee the submission, monitoring, and reporting on the Environmental permitting process for the subprojects as conducted by the implementing partners.

• Advise and instruct the development of the Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) or Manual of Good Environmental and Social Practices or Simplified Environmental and Social Study, depending on the categorisation of the subproject.

• Prepare the environmental and social tools/instruments, such as the Labour Management Procedure, the Waste Management Plan, Gender-Based Violence Risk Action Plan, the OHS procedures and plan, and the Chance Finding Procedure and Pest Management Plan, if applicable.

• Ensure that all instruments and tools are applied by all implementing partners, and the appropriate mitigation measures are proposed and met.

• Ensure the implementation of correction measures by implementing partners.

• Ensure the implementation of the Resettlement Policy Framework and ensure zero land conflicts.

• Ensure the Project Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) is in place and fit-for-purpose.

• Perform and ensure the spot checks, and supervision and monitoring field visits are conducted to all implementing partners’ sites.

• Compile quarterly and annual reports on risks, impacts, and mitigation measures.

• Identify challenges, opportunities, priorities and needs for the implementation of the related Project’s instruments.

• Handle additional assignments as directed by the supervisor or Project.

• A Bachelor's Degree in environmental and social studies or related subject(s) in combination with an additional two (2) years relevant experience is required; 

• A Technical/Professional Diploma in environmental and social studies or related subject(s) in combination with an additional four (4) years relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the Bachelor's degree.

• A minimum of 2 years of progressively experience in environmental management, or social development or gender equality and women’s empowerment are required;

• Direct experience with World Bank projects or the United Nations Health, Safety, Social and Environment Management Systems is an added advantage; 

• Ability to develop and implement Standing Operating Procedures is an advantage; 

• Assessments/plans in accordance with a recognized body/methodology is an added advantage.

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) 
Contract level: ICS 8/LICA 8
Contract duration: ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• This is an EPP ICA Recruitment process

• This is a local position. As such, it is only open to Mozambique Nationals only

• This position is based in a non family duty station

Terms and Conditions 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.