Senior Manager, NCS Environmental and Social Safeguards at Conservation International

Application of the CI ESMF to CI NCS Carbon Portfolio in Africa

• Provide guidance to project teams and delivery partners regarding the preparation and timely submission of safeguard screening forms, draft, revised, and finalized Safeguard plans, work plans, budget allocations, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and reports.
• Provide guidance to project teams and partners to design culturally appropriate and tailored gender approaches that ensure women’s and men’s equitable decision-making & governance, benefit it sharing, and access & control of resources with measurable gender-related outcomes.
• Support the Safeguards team to enhance and adjust CI Safeguards system to incorporate Indigenous knowledge systems and governance, Indigenous legal frameworks, and safeguards protocols drawing on existing international frameworks and conventions, especially in areas related to NCS and other nature credits.
• Inform the preparation of safeguards-related materials and analysis for feasibility studies, project design documents, monitoring reports, and support validation and verification processes as needed.
• Conduct a review of safeguard screening forms, plans, reports, and project documents to ensure completeness and quality control.
• Conduct due diligence and design action plans for project delivery partners.
• Assess national and institutional safeguard policies and frameworks to determine risks and opportunities with funding partnerships.
• Ensure project documents mainstream the approved Safeguard plans.
• Ensure projects include appropriate Safeguard staff and budget, and Safeguard flowdowns in grant agreements and contracts.
• Establish routine check-ins with project teams and delivery partners to provide Safeguard technical support as needed. Identify and work closely with projects to ensure the implementation of Safeguardplans complies with CI Safeguard policies, NCS principles, and the requirements of any relevant certification entity as well as international protocols and conventions related to the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
• Ensure the disclosure of all Safeguard plans.
• Organize and prepare Safeguard presentations for NCS Carbon project preparation and implementation kick-off meetings.
• Contribute to divisional impact reporting on E&S safeguards application within the portfolio.
• Provide support to the effective operation of project-level or CI country-level grievance redress mechanisms, including assisting in dealing with complaints from external parties af fected by CI projects concerning the application of safeguards.
• Participate in relevant safeguard subject area networks and stay updated on safeguards standards pertinent to conservation.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Training and Administrative Support

• Organize and provide Safeguard training for NCS carbon project teams and delivery partners.
• Organize and participate in CI Global Safeguard Team organized safeguard partnerships, meetings, webinars, workshops, and seminars.
• Organize information sharing/exchange sessions with the project’s Safeguard staff and the Africa field division teams.
• Support Safeguard aspects of project consultancies including the preparation and publishing of TORs, evaluation and short-listing of bids, contract signing and management, and receipt of deliverables.
• Provide coordination support to the IPLC Engagement and NCS Senior Director in Africa in areas related to NCS carbon projects and safeguards.
• Support good-faith negotiation processes as part of project development, especially where Indigenous peoples are involved.
• Compile and provide Safeguard information as requested from internal/external reviewers, evaluators, and consultants.
• Organize and maintain Safeguard files and folders and ensure Safeguard information and knowledge management products are stored in internal shared files and on CI project website.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Undertake reviews of progress/monitoring reports on the environment and social safeguards for ongoing projects in coordination with relevant M&E units.
• Collect and analyze on a periodic basis, data related to the Safeguard Indicators.
• Develop and implement stakeholder surveys/analyses as requested.
• Support and/or participate in supervision mission visits and review of projects.
• Identify and work closely with projects to ensure safeguard Monitoring and Evaluation and Reporting.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Extended work hours may be required, including non-traditional work hours as needed in a global organization.
• International travel up to 30% time in the region may be required.
• Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process.
• This role will be a 1-year fixed-term assignment.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or related field.
• 5 to 7 years of experience working with project/program design, implementation, monitoring, and compliance of public or private donor-funded projects in the area of environment, conservation, and/or development.
• Working knowledge and understanding of the issues related to environmental and social safeguard standards, stakeholder engagement, accountability, and grievance mechanisms, working with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPs & LCs) in Africa, gender mainstreaming, and designing/implementing environmental and social management plans and environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs).
• Strong capacity to communicate with government agencies, Indigenous peoples, local communities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Familiarity with UNFCCC Cancún safeguards and relevant Voluntary Carbon Market safeguard standards.
• Strong ability to work independently and/or remotely, while maintaining productivity.
• Experience in cross-cultural consultation, training, capacity building, and collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability to work in team environments and cultivate productive partnerships across a diversity of stakeholders.
• Excellent English oral and written communication skills, including public speaking.