Environmental and Social Safeguards Consultant at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Gender and Safeguards Unit, and in close collaboration with GEF Coordination Office and Task Managers, the Environmental and Social Safeguards Consultant will carry out the following tasks:

• Support Initial Safeguards Screening of Concepts: By conducting thorough reviews and analyses of concept notes, the consultant(s) will provide insights, recommendations, and an overall risk rating. Their expertise will be crucial in ensuring that concept notes align with required environmental sustainability and social and human rights standards are on the correct path for successful donor consideration and sound project preparation.
• Support Project Safeguards Screening at Advanced Design Stages: The consultant(s) will carry out a comprehensive review of advanced project documents, including supplementary Gender marker, Gender Action Plans, Stakeholder Engagement Plans, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Management Plans, and other safeguard related risk assessments and/or management plans/framework depending on the submissions.
• The consultant(s) will analyse the safeguards dimension in-depth and propose further necessary advice and recommendations to ensure compliance with the ESSF during project implementation.
• Provide Technical Support to Project Development Teams: The consultant(s) will provide targeted advice to project development teams needing assistance in strengthening the safeguards consideration of their interventions at both concept and project design stages. This includes advising on adherence to the guiding principles of the ESSF or its standards.
• The consultant(s) will also be available to liaise with project proponents, offering clarifications and guidance in addressing review comments and enhancing the project's safeguard-design considerations.
• The consultant can guide reasonable budget and activities for assessing, avoiding, minimizing, mitigating and possibly offsetting safeguard risks. The consultant(s) will be responsible for ensuring timely and comprehensive reviews of continuously submitted concepts, projects, and their Safeguard Risk Identification Form (SRIF). This will require active engagement in conducting reviews and providing technical support during peak periods, usually from October through November and February through June.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Law, Economics, Sociology, anthropology, Environmental Studies, Climate Change Studies or related is required. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of working experience in the field of the operationalization of safeguard policies, and safeguard risk screening, impact assessment and risk management planning is required.
• A proven track record of conducting successful safeguards project screening in various contexts would be highly desirable.
• Demonstrated technical knowledge in some of the following fields: chemicals and waste, circular economy, climate change, biodiversity, rights of indigenous people, cultural heritage, labour and working conditions, human rights and gender equality, health, safety, and security is required. Familiarity with global environment funds such as GEF or GCF is desirable.
• Familiarity of safeguard policies and trends of international organizations and vertical funds is required. Ability to listen to and synthesize diverse views, and draw practical, relevant, and value-adding recommendations that can be integrated in projects is required.