Environmental and Social Safeguards Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO's mission is to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members, including 194 countries and the European Union, FAO operates in over 130 countries worldwide. The organization contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Framework, supporting the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems. FAO's work is crucial in promoting better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) supports innovative projects that demonstrate a holistic and systemic approach to addressing environmental challenges, focusing on biodiversity, climate change, and land degradation. The current project is part of GEF's Eighth Replenishment Cycle, which began on July 1, 2022, and aims to support integrated approaches for ecosystem and biodiversity conservation in Central India.

Job Overview:
The Environmental and Social Safeguards Consultant will play a critical role in ensuring compliance with FAO Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) and GEF safeguards through comprehensive risk assessments and the development of mitigation measures. The consultant will be responsible for creating key safeguard tools such as the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM). The position requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including the FAO Representative in India, Assistant FAO Representatives, and the International GEF Design Expert. The consultant will focus on promoting inclusive stakeholder engagement and protecting vulnerable communities while addressing the environmental and social challenges faced in Central India's biodiversity-rich forest landscapes.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties and responsibilities include conducting environmental risk screenings aligned with FAO ESS, assessing impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services, and preparing mitigation measures for issues such as land degradation and human-wildlife conflict. Additionally, the consultant will conduct social risk assessments, focusing on impacts on tribal groups and vulnerable populations, and propose strategies for social inclusion. The consultant will compile summaries of relevant international agreements and domestic regulations, develop the ESMP, and review institutional capabilities for managing and monitoring ESMP implementation. Furthermore, the consultant will design a multi-tiered project-level GRM that is accessible to marginalized groups and establish documentation and monitoring systems for the GRM.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in environmental science, ecology, sociology, environmental management, or a related field. They should have at least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in formulating and reviewing environmental and social management frameworks, impact assessments, and management plans. A strong working knowledge of English (C1) is required, and knowledge of Hindi or other Indian languages is considered an asset. Candidates must be nationals of India or residents with a valid work permit.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Master's degree in a relevant field such as environmental science, ecology, sociology, or environmental management. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of environmental and social safeguards and for effectively contributing to the project's objectives.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in the formulation and review of environmental and social management frameworks, impact assessments, and management plans. This experience is crucial for ensuring that the consultant can effectively assess risks and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.

Languages:
A strong working knowledge of English (C1) is mandatory for this position. Additionally, knowledge of Hindi or other Indian languages is considered an asset, as it may facilitate communication with local communities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in New Delhi, India, and is likely to be a full-time role. The consultant will be expected to work closely with various stakeholders and may involve travel to project sites in Central India. The role is critical for ensuring that the project complies with FAO Environmental and Social Standards and GEF safeguard requirements, and it may involve developing capacity-building initiatives to support local institutions in implementing the ESMP.