Social and Environmental Safeguard Assistant

Organizational Setting

FAO Afghanistan is investing across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan in resilience reinforcing actions that focus on protecting agriculture livelihoods and local ecosystems, boosting local production of nutritious foods and cash-incomes, and safeguarding critical agriculture sectoral development gains achieved over the past couple of decades through revitalizing rural markets and economy. In particular, FAO provides a combination of humanitarian and basic needs/non-humanitarian assistance to female and male farmers and herders across Afghanistan in the agriculture, livestock, irrigation and natural resources sub-sectors through its projects and programs, as described in the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) and the United Nations Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA) 2023-2025, specifically under UNSFA Priority 2 Economic Opportunities and Resilient Livelihoods.

There are a total of eight (8) positions, one position in each duty station: Bamyan, Kunduz, Kandahar, Gardez Mazar-e-Sharif, Jalalabad, Herat, and Kabul – Afghanistan.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) or Deputy FAO Representative (DFAOR) in Afghanistan. S/he will work under the direct supervision of the Head of the Regional Office, and the day-to-day technical/functional guidance of the Head of Regional Office who will assign and monitor the daily tasks. The performance evaluation will be done by the direct supervisor in consultation with the Environmental and Social Management Specialist Team Leader.

Technical Focus

The Regional Social and Environmental Safeguard Assistant will provide relevant technical assistance to support the implementation, and monitoring of FAO Framework for Environmental and Social Safeguard Management (FESM) and donor safeguard requirements, policies, and procedures within their Regional Office.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Assist in the development and integration of environmental and social safeguard requirements into FAO projects.
• Support project teams in identifying potential environmental and social risks and impacts, and in proposing mitigation measures.
• Provide support to the implementation of the Stakeholder Management Plan (SEP) and regularly update the SEP trough the project cycle to reflect new stakeholders and/or project affected and proposed methodology and arrangements to engage with them, ensure detailed planification of Stakeholder activities for the region.
• Prepare an Environmental and Social Risk Management (ESRM) Matrix during the design and construction phases of irrigation schemes, flood protection works, watershed management, and rainwater harvesting projects, and integrate it into the sub-project summary document or sub-project proposal.
• Undertake regular field visits to project sites in the Region to monitor compliance with the environmental and social safeguard measures and to identify gaps that need to be addressed. Reports of the field visits should be included in the regular project reports.
• Contribute to the preparation of the technical, environmental, social and agriculture inventory for the initial bench marking in tune with the indicators.
• Use socio-environmental findings to determine whether land acquisition including voluntary donation is required to enable the works to proceed.
• Carry out a joint diagnostic walkthrough with the Mirabs, community, and technical staff to identify potential environmental and social risks and impacts during the design stage of the sub-project.Review summary documents prepared by Implementing Partners (IP) at the regional level to ensure that safeguard requirements are integrated and aligned with the nature of the activities.
• Conduct a training need assessment and train the IPs and construction companies staff to cascade down the safeguard requirements the beneficiaries and key stakeholders on the subjects such as child labours, aged labours, occupation health and safety, women involvement in the project activities, sound application of fertilizers, seed treatments, waste, management and protection of cultural heritage, etc.
• Help in identifying alternative livelihood options for the landless and marginalized farmers and oversee the implementation of such livelihood enhancement programmes.
• Establish Grievance Redress Committees (GRCs) at the sub-project and regional levels for the registration and resolution of grievances at the lowest level.
• Mediate for the dispute resolution among the community as well as between the community and the contractor during the works implementation.
• Contribute to the periodic reporting.
• Perform any other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree (Bachelor) in Sociology, Environmental Agriculture science or related field; At least 2 years of UN or INGO experience is desirable.
• A minimum of three (3) years professional experience in environmental and social management for water and irrigation related engineering works;
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and the local languages (Pashto and/or Dari);
• National of Afghanistan.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Proven ability to prepare Environmental and Social Risk Management Matrix in tune with the Environmental and Social Management Framework.
• Experience in conducting environmental and social studies for agriculture investments, especially at the community level is an advantage
• Knowledge of Environmental Code of Practice (ECoP) in the development works.
• The incumbent must have the ability to build effective working relationships with national and international colleagues, with different cultural and technical background.
• Proven abilities in provision of advisory services in the area of supervision of constructions and other FAO related intervention from Environmental and Social perspective;
• Maintain accurate records and documentation related to environmental and social safeguards.
• Proven ability to plan, work and deliver agreed deadlines;
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders and to present ideas clearly and effectively;
• Good knowledge of the MS Office package, Internet etc.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION