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Safeguards Specialist

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a global challenge. Due to the fluidity of the situation, we periodically reassess our plans to reopen our offices. For the safety of our employees, our approach is tailored to the situation in each of the 30 countries we operate in. Travel is only conducted when absolutely necessary and safe to do so. Hiring managers will provide guidance on flexible work arrangements in accordance with country-specific safety policies.

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Safeguards Specialist will support the development and implementation, and capacity building of environmental and social safeguard plans of the Community, Conservation, and Natural Climate Solutions: The Mantalingahan Landscape Conservation Project. The safeguard plans will be composed of CI policies, standards and procedures, guidance, capacity-building processes, and a grievance redress mechanism in compliance with national government safeguards requirements, Community, Climate, and Biodiversity Standards, and CI’s Safeguard System, designed to avoid or mitigate adverse environmental and social impacts in projects.

Reporting to the Project Lead, this position will provide targeted support to ensure the project’s timeliness and complete compliance with the CI’s safeguards, gender, and human rights-based obligations, and other related safeguard plans. The Safeguards Specialist will develop and support the development of high-quality safeguard plans and monitoring reports, ensuring projects comply with CI’s safeguard policies and requirements to meet project targets. The position will also support the development of outreach and training materials, conduct online and in-person safeguard training, and collect, analyze, and present safeguards performance data.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Working closely with the Project Lead, the Safeguards Specialist shall:

  • Lead the development and review of project safeguard plans: Environment and Social Management Plan; Gender Mainstreaming Plan, Stakeholder Engagement Plan, and Grievance Redress Mechanism/Procedure.
  • Provide input, analysis, and support to community processes such as ADSDPP implementation, ADSDPP harmonization with the protected area management plan, negotiations on benefit sharing, and other related processes.
  • Provide technical guidance to teams in the preparation and timely submission of safeguard forms, information, and reports to address social and social risks during project implementation.
  • Ensure that all teams and deliver partners adequately integrate all safeguard plans and activities into their work plans and flow down safeguard responsibilities in grant agreements and contracts
  • Regularly assess national and local safeguard policies and frameworks to determine risks and opportunities with funding partnerships.
  • Participate in and organize awareness-raising, capacity strengthening, and knowledge exchange activities related to safeguards and gender for CI staff, project teams, implementing partners, and selective stakeholders.
  • Support Safeguard-related consultancies including the preparation and publishing of TORs, evaluation and short-listing of bids, contract signing and management, and receipt of deliverables.
  • Undertake reviews of progress/monitoring reports on the environment and social safeguards for ongoing projects in coordination with relevant M&E units.
  • Periodically collect and analyze data related to Safeguard performance indicators for the region and performance reviews of the CI Safeguard System implementation.
  • Provide support to the effective operation of project-level grievance redress mechanisms, including assisting in dealing with complaints from external parties affected by CI projects concerning the application of safeguards.
  • Perform related duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • This position is based at our CIPFI office in Quezon City, Metro Manila-Philippines.
  • Extended work hours may be required, including non-traditional work hours as needed in a global organization.
  • Regular travel to field sites in Southern Palawan, as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or a related field, such as international development or social sciences, and 4-6 years of experience working with project and program design, monitoring, and compliance of public or private donor-funded projects in environment, conservation, and/or development or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Knowledge and experience in designing, applying, and monitoring environment and social safeguards (stakeholder engagement, gender mainstreaming, grievance mechanism).
  • Strong understanding of the social, risks and impacts, particularly the inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized peoples, gender equality, indigenous peoples, benefit-sharing, conflict, and grievance redress).
  • Relevant experience with gender-responsive programming, including the design and implementation of gender action plans.
  • Strong capacity to communicate with government agencies, local communities, civil society organizations, indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders.
  • Excellent cross-cultural and people skills, commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at both a project and institutional level.
  • Ability to work independently and /or remotely, to meet deadlines and commitments.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and capacity to work in team environments, including building productive partnerships across a diversity of stakeholders.
  • Attention to detail and discretion in the discussion of sensitive risk-related issues.
  • Excellent English oral and written communication skills, including public speaking.

Preferred

  • Knowledge of Palawan social and environmental issues.
  • Experience in producing and disseminating knowledge management products and training materials.
  • Experience in conducting M&E, including developing performance indicators, designing surveys, analyzing data, and presenting findings in a user-friendly manner.

To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.

Application Deadline: September 8, 2022 (11:49 PM EST)

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE

Conservation International is an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Vets/Disabled