Senior Social Safeguards Officer

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established in 1943, CRS operates in around 100 countries, focusing on saving, protecting, and transforming lives of people in need, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. The organization delivers relief and development programs in various sectors including emergency response, disaster risk reduction, health, agriculture, education, community savings, livelihoods, and peacebuilding. CRS has been active in the Philippines since 1945, making it the longest-running continuous CRS country program globally. Currently, CRS Philippines has over 70 staff members working across multiple cities, collaborating with church and civil society partners, government agencies, and other organizations to serve vulnerable communities throughout the country. The organization is involved in various initiatives, including the Innovative Climate Financing - Philippines Carbon Finance Pilot, which aims to enhance the readiness of indigenous peoples' ancestral domains for participation in high-integrity forest carbon markets while delivering biodiversity, livelihood, and governance co-benefits.

Job Overview:
The Senior Social Safeguards Officer will play a crucial role in the design, implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of social safeguard systems for community-based conservation, restoration, and carbon finance initiatives. This position is responsible for ensuring compliance with Philippine laws governing Indigenous Peoples' rights, including the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (IPRA), as well as applicable international standards on Indigenous Peoples, Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), social inclusion, stakeholder engagement, human rights, equitable benefit sharing, grievance redress, and community participation. The officer will serve as the focal point for social safeguards and rights-based approaches within the project, ensuring that all activities respect Indigenous Peoples' rights, promote meaningful participation, safeguard vulnerable groups, and align with voluntary carbon market standards and international best practices. The role requires close collaboration with Indigenous communities, government agencies, civil society organizations, and project partners to integrate social safeguard obligations throughout project activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Indigenous Peoples Rights, FPIC, and Community Consent: Lead technical oversight and quality assurance of FPIC processes, ensuring compliance with IPRA and international Indigenous Peoples standards. Review FPIC plans and consultation records, assess cultural appropriateness, and support meaningful participation of vulnerable groups. Monitor risks related to exclusion and maintain compliance records.
• Social Safeguards, Inclusion, and Community Protection: Implement project social safeguards frameworks, assess conformity with social safeguard standards, and integrate Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) considerations. Identify social risks and develop mitigation measures to protect vulnerable households.
• Community Engagement, Governance, and Stakeholder Relations: Develop stakeholder engagement strategies, facilitate meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities and local governments, and assess governance structures relevant to project implementation. Promote transparency and community participation in project planning.
• Social Due Diligence, Benefit Sharing, and Carbon Project Readiness: Lead social baseline assessments and community profiling, assess readiness for carbon projects, and support the development of equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms. Contribute to safeguard requirements for project documentation.
• Grievance Management, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting: Establish grievance redress mechanisms, track complaints, and develop indicators related to FPIC and stakeholder engagement. Conduct safeguard monitoring and prepare reports for audits and assessments.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences, Anthropology, Sociology, Community Development, Development Studies, Environmental Planning, Public Administration, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, or a related field. A Master's degree in a relevant field is considered an advantage. Candidates should have a minimum of five years of experience in FPIC, indigenous peoples engagement, stakeholder engagement, community development, or related fields. Experience with international standards in carbon or related projects is preferred, along with demonstrated experience working with indigenous peoples and local communities in natural resource management, climate change, conservation, or rural development projects. Candidates should also have experience facilitating consultations and grievance management systems.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Bachelor's degree in relevant fields such as Social Sciences, Anthropology, Sociology, Community Development, Development Studies, Environmental Planning, Public Administration, Forestry, or Natural Resource Management. A Master's degree in a related field is advantageous and may enhance a candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have at least five years of relevant experience in areas such as FPIC, indigenous peoples engagement, stakeholder engagement, community development, and participatory approaches. Experience in applying international standards in carbon or related projects is preferred, along with a demonstrated history of working with indigenous peoples and local communities in various sectors including natural resource management and climate change.

Languages:
Proficiency in spoken and written English is mandatory for this position. A working knowledge of Bisaya is highly desirable, as it will facilitate communication with local communities and stakeholders in the Philippines.

Additional Notes:
The position may require travel up to 50% of the time to project sites in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, and/or Talaingod, Davao del Norte. The role is expected to adhere to the values and guiding principles of CRS, which include integrity, accountability, and a commitment to safeguarding vulnerable populations. The successful candidate will be required to sign and adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct, reflecting the organization's commitment to safeguarding program participants and community members from exploitation and abuse. CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS operates.