Social Safeguard Specialist at SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

Job Description

Objective of the Assignment

To provide technical assistance to the facility manager for social risks and impacts management in line with the social safeguards policies of the World Bank and the legal provisions of Kenya, as well as on the ESMF and VMGF that have been prepared to guide the implementation of the social safeguards aspects of the project. The consultant will be expected to ensure that all documents mainstream social safeguards issues so that the project under component 2 does not detrimentally influence the social well-being of the population.

Component 2 of K-OSAP project has triggered the following Environmental and Social Safeguards policies of the World Bank (a) Safeguard OP 4.01 Environmental Assessment; (b) OP 4.10, Indigenous Peoples,. Additionally, it has triggered relevant laws and regulations of the government of Kenya concerning Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups (VMG’s) and involuntary land take.

Scope of the Assignment

The Social Safeguards Specialist will report to the Project Co-ordinator-SNV/ and will have the following major duties and responsibilities: -

• Familiarization with each of the World Bank’s Social Safeguards policies that have been triggered for the project. These include OP 4.01 and OP 4.10, as well as the VMGF and ESMF that have been prepared to guide the implementation of the requirements of OP 4.01 and OP 4.10 respectively. 
• Overseeing stakeholder engagement (based on the SEP) to build awareness of all stakeholders, on the social safeguards requirements and social risks that may arise from the implementation of Component 2 of KOSAP, The stakeholders include underserved counties community members, vendors/suppliers of clean energy products and service providers.
• Ensure under Component 2 participation and involvement of the Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups and Indigenous Peoples in the project area, especially in accessing benefits and opportunities arising from KOSAP component implementation activities.
• Identify and prepare a comprehensive plan that will avert any potentially adverse effects from project interventions on Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups
• Ensure that the project benefits reach the Vulnerable and marginalized groups and peoples in an equitable manner and through institutions that respect and are able to serve them in a decentralized manner.
• Spearhead the preparation of social risk management plans to mitigate social risks and impacts related to the project. These include the preparation of Stakeholder Engagement Plan, Gender Action Plan and Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) in accordance with the VMGF and ESMF respectively.
• Supervision and monitoring of the implementation of social safeguards frameworks and instruments in accordance with the respective Bank’s guidelines and policies, while paying special attention to ensure the active participation in project activities of VMGs who are in the minority in the counties in which they live. (The counties with minority VMG communities include Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Taita Taveta, West Pokot and Tana River) 
• Supporting Solar Service Providers (SSPs) and Clean Cooking Solutions companies in the review of their documentation pertaining to Social safeguards compliance, procedures & policies.
• Training and capacity building of SSPs and CCSs on social safeguards; risks management, mitigation measures, monitoring & reporting.
• Track the project’ compliance with proposed mitigation measures with regard to socio– cultural and environmental aspects-to determine the impact of the KOSAP Project on the wellbeing of the VMGs in all the 14 counties, and with special attention to minority VMGs in the six counties afore mentioned.
• Ensure the free, prior and informed consultations with VMGs to enable their involvement and participation
• Contribute to project’s Component 2 progress reports pertaining to overall implementation of  Social safeguards requirements of the project
• Preparing training materials and conducting technical training workshops to SSPs and CCSs companies and Microfinance organization on  Social Safeguards requirements
• Prepare social safeguards information materials and disseminating the information to the relevant stakeholders; and organize environmental and social orientation & awareness, consultations, and training programs
• Review bid documents to ensure social risk management factors and mitigations are incorporated, and they are in harmony with social safeguards  requirements;
• Preparation of Social monitoring and evaluation reports and, perform tasks and responsibilities related to the social issues including SEA and SH by solar companies staff, GBV, HIV/AIDS program, issues related to labour influx (people coming into the project area for project related work) and child labour
• Develop and appraise the Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) measures of the Project interventions. Advice on how the KFM RBF recipients can be more gender sensitive to meet the priorities of both men and women beneficiaries in KOSAP project area and activites
• Undertake site visits during project execution and operation to assess how social screening and mitigation measures are succeeding or have succeeded in minimizing impacts
• Ensuring that all the decisions made on Component 2 of the project are gender informed and socially sustainable
• Assess any significant social risks and impacts and if required draw on KOSAP safeguards framework and instruments to provide mitigation measures including corrective action plans.
• Facilitate communication among various project stakeholders to promote socially and environmentally and socially sound project implementation with sustainable development outcomes-
• Liaise on a regular basis with the Ministry of Energy, Local CBO’s ,NGO’s  and other implementing Agencies
• Produce and document social safeguards implementation reports; and Undertake other duties as per the requirements of the project or as directed by Project Coordinator.

Deliverables/Consultant’s Reporting Obligations

The Consultant will be required to submit reports as follows:

• ­One copy of quarterly progress on activities undertaken and solutions to challenges
• One copy of annual progress report; and
• One copy of project completion report after the completion of the task period

Qualifications

• The candidate should have, as a minimum, a postgraduate degree from any recognized institution in the area of Social Sciences: Sociology, Community development, Rural Development, Social Inclusion, Gender Studies or any related discipline with combination of appropriate trainings;
• A minimum of ten years of relevant work experience in social development
• At least 5 years’ working knowledge in the World Bank’s Social and Environmental safeguards policies and IFC Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines
• Experience with Community development, gender mainstreaming issues, social inclusion of VMG’s and participatory  approaches, and in particular, experience in World Bank’s social safeguard policies, direct experience in working on implementation of Social Assessment, RAP, VMGF, ESMF andESMP , and other environmental and social safeguard issues preferably in Conservation organization or large industries in any private or public sector are an added advantages
• Good communication skills both verbal and written
• Fluency in English is essential and fluency in Kiswahili is an added advantage.