Overview
The Environmental and Social Safeguards Associate will support the screening and due diligence of projects and programmes in accordance with UNDP Social and Environmental Standards (SES). The role aims to identify, assess, and manage environmental and social risks throughout the programme cycle.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the screening and social and environmental due diligence of all projects and programmes in accordance with the UNDP Social and Environmental Standards (SES).
- Review and provide technical feedback on the Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP), Environmental and Social Management Frameworks (ESMFs), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), and related safeguard documents.
- Support the preparation, review, and quality assurance of Social and Environmental Impact Assessments (SEIAs), Strategic Environmental and Social Assessments (SESAs), and other required SES instruments.
- Support the integration of social and environmental risk management measures into safeguard analyses and risk management plans.
- Support in monitoring and identifying safeguards risk register, identify emerging risks, developing mitigation measures, and ensuring appropriate management actions are tracked and updated regularly.
- Provide support to project teams to integrate grievance redress mechanisms (GRM), stakeholder response mechanism (SRM) and community feedback loops.
- Monitor compliance with national environmental and social regulations.
- Provide ongoing technical support to UNDP Project/Programme staff, contractors, consultants, and government counterparts to ensure SES safeguards are effectively implemented.
- Support project appraisal committees, mid-term reviews, evaluations, and quality assurance processes.
- Support field visits and desk reviews to assess SES implementation.
- Support the management of SES-related incidents and grievances.
- Support the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Environmental and Social Management Frameworks (ESMFs), and other agreed mitigation measures.
- Support the operationalization, monitoring, and continuous improvement of the Stakeholder Response Mechanism (SRM).
- Prepare consolidated SES compliance reports for internal UNDP use and for submission to donors.
- Compile lessons learned, best practices, and case studies related to SES implementation.
- Contribute to corporate knowledge platforms.
- Support the development and maintenance of a repository of SES-related resources.
- Draft policy briefs, presentations, and communication products.
- Contribute to corporate reporting obligations.
- Maintain and monitor SES and broader ERM tracking systems and compliance dashboards.
- Support the development, implementation, monitoring, and periodic update of the PAPP SES Capacity Assessment and Action Plan.
- Provide targeted capacity-building support to project teams, implementing partners, contractors, and consultants.
- Support in designing and delivering training workshops, induction sessions, and on-the-job coaching.
- Supports in developing tailored training modules and checklists.
- Support awareness raising on cross-cutting safeguard issues.
- Supports in creating communications and outreach materials.
- Actively foster a community of practice within the office.
- Perform any other duties agreed to within their functional profile.
Required Experience
Minimum of 6 years with high school diploma or 3 years with bachelor’s degree of progressively responsible experience in the area of Programme/ project management, occupational health and safety with a specific focus on environmental, and social safeguards, and ability to support risk screening and safeguard instruments (ESMPs, ESMFs, etc.). At least 1 year of practical field experience in applying safeguards/standards within development programming, including stakeholder engagement and grievance redress mechanisms. Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc), database packages, and web-based management systems. Solid knowledge of result-based management and project implementation. Experience from previous UN assignments, International /local NGOs.
Qualifications
High School Diploma is required OR A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, social sciences, development studies, or a related discipline.
