Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist

Organizational Setting

FAO Iraq is implementing a range of initiatives aimed at enhancing the resilience and sustainability of agricultural livelihoods across various governorates, with a focus on climate-smart water management, climate-resilient agriculture, and enabling policy environments. These efforts include infrastructure upgrades, renewable energy installations, capacity building, and institutional strengthening.

To support these activities, FAO Iraq seeks to engage an Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Specialist to lead the development and implementation of ESS tools and instruments, ensure alignment with FAO safeguard standards, and contribute to planning and oversight during the inception and implementation phases of relevant projects.

The objective of this assignment is to support the development, effective implementation and monitoring of Environmental and Social (ES) safeguards instruments developed for FAO Iraq’s projects and programmes. These instruments have been prepared in accordance with project-specific risk categorizations and the ES risks identified through the FAO Project Risk Screening Checklist (FPMIS) and other relevant assessments. The incumbent will ensure that safeguards are consistently applied across the portfolio and contribute to strengthening environmental and social risk management practices. Specifically, the assignment covers the operationalization and oversight of the following ES risk management instruments, wherever applicable, including but not limited to:

•     Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF);
•     Site-specific Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs);
•     Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP);
•     Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM);
•     Gender Action Plan (GAP);
•     Pest Management Plan (PMP);
•     Indigenous Peoples Plan (IPP).

The ESS Specialist will ensure that the mitigation measures, stakeholder engagement activities, and grievance redress procedures outlined in these instruments are implemented effectively and in compliance with FAO and its resource partners’ standards. This includes the collection and analysis of primary and secondary data to monitor ES risks, assess the effectiveness of mitigation measures, and recommend adjustments as needed.

The Specialist will also be responsible for ensuring that stakeholder engagement is inclusive, participatory, and gender-responsive, and that the GRM is accessible, functional, and responsive to community concerns. The assignment will contribute to the overall environmental and social sustainability of the FAOIQ projects and support adaptive management throughout the implementation phase.

Reporting Lines

The ESS Specialist will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Iraq and the direct supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, in close coordination with FAO ESM Unit, the Regional Office and relevant technical units.

Technical Focus

The International Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist will lead the design and execution of ESS tools and frameworks, ensure they comply with FAO safeguard standards, and support relevant projects planning and monitoring throughout both the inception and implementation stages.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Specialist needs to manage the mitigation measures and arrangements described in the risk management and stakeholder engagement plans cleared by the ESM unit, specifically, but not limited to:

A. Risk Management Plans (ESMP/ PMP/ IPP, etc):
•     Implement/ provide support to the implementation, and monitor the implementation of the applicable ES risk management plans;
•     Manage the implementation of the mitigation measures described in the risk management plans;
•     Provide regular training to the project team and service providers;   
•     Update the risk management plans, including ESMPs, if new risks are identified;
•     Collect and provide information on the implementation of the plans, for the preparation of the Project Progress Report (PPR), twice a year, and the Project Implementation Review (PIR), once a year.

B. Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP):
•     Monitor the implementation of the SEP;
•     Ensure stakeholders engagement arrangements, including regular consultations; 
•     Ensure vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalized groups are engaged;
•     Update, as needed, and publish the SEP in the FAO disclosure portal and communication channels. The update of the SEP will take into consideration changes in stakeholders identified, engagement strategies and frequency, and issues raised/discussed. Guidance on disclosure available at ESOP2: Stakeholder engagement 
•     Collect and provide information on the implementation of the SEP, for the preparation of the Project Progress Report and the Project Implementation Review.

C. Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM):
•     Receive and process the grievances received from the project-affected and stakeholders. If not capable of resolving it, search for guidance with the Project Coordinator. In case the project is using the country office GRM, liaise with the GRM focal point of the decentralized office. Keep a registry of the grievances received and inform the project coordinator, on a monthly basis, on the status of the grievances. Example of a grievance log is here: GRM Log;
•     Collect and provide  information on the implementation of the GRM, for the preparation of the Project Progress Report and the Project Implementation Review, country annual report (FAO) and ESS monitoring ta in FPMIS.
•     Liaise with the Safeguards and Grievance Focal Point from the Country Office.

•     Perform any other relevant task assigned by the supervisor.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

·    An advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in agriculture, natural resource management, environmental science, development, environmental engineering or similar;
·    At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in the formulation and implementation of environmental and social management frameworks and plans, impact assessments, and reporting frameworks.
·    Working knowledge (level C) of English.

FAO Core Competencies

•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     Communication
•     Building Effective Relationships
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Selection Criteria:

·    Field experience is an asset. 
·    Extent and relevance of experience in ESIA, stakeholder engagement, grievance handling and disclosure in FAO and/or in other development organizations, is considered an asset;
·    Familiarity with FAO policies, in particular the Framework for Environmental and Social Management (FESM);
·    Familiarity with the environmental and social safeguard requirements of the project's resource partners, is considered an asset.