3. MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

As the regional specialist for the application of the ESMS, this position is the lead responsible for ensuring that ESMS procedures, standards and principles are applied to the regional project portfolio and that projects are in full compliance with respective policies, throughout the entire project cycle.

He/she will also build ESMS capacity in the region to enhance ESMS compliant project design and ensure effective implementation of the risk management strategies. This involves coaching and training of regional staff, project managers and implementation partners (including senior Government officials) as well as supporting recruitment, onboarding and training of project ESMS officers.

This position will monitor the application of safeguard tools in the region, distil lessons learned and, together with the global ESMS Coordinator, ensure that the system is further developed and refined to improve effectiveness and efficiency in its application.
This position will report to the Programme Support Unit Manager based in the regional office with a functional reporting line to the global IUCN ESMS Coordinator.

4. SPECIFIC DUTIES

A. Regional portfolio ESMS application

Leading and ensuring application of ESMS procedures on the regional project portfolio, specifically:

i. Environmental and social due diligence at project design stage

• Screen projects on environmental and social impacts, define risk category, identify necessary impact studies and safeguard tools/plans;
• Advise proponents on stakeholder engagement and mainstreaming ESMS during project design and implementation phase;
• Support proponents in contracting experts for environmental and social assessments; where issues are less complex, carry out targeted assessments and stakeholder consultation;
• Appraise the quality of final ESIA reports, environmental and social management plans (ESMP) and other safeguard tools;
• Ensure appropriate budgeting for ESMS activities;
• Support proponents in technical reviews of proposals with donors;
• Conduct final compliance check and prepare ESMS clearance of projects.

ii. ESMS support during project implementation

• Provide ESMS training for executing agency (EA) and other implementation partners at project inception; Appraise any ESMS deliverables that are due in the inception phase;
• Support the EA in reporting progress to donors on implementation of safeguard tools and compliance with all ESMS requirements;
• Cover ESMS aspects of annual project supervision missions;
• Manage ESMS project data including entries to the Project Portal.

iii. Grievance management and incident reporting

• Set-up the regional mechanism for receiving grievances and complaints in line with IUCN’s three-staged grievance process;
• Support the EA in developing the procedures for the project-level grievance mechanism;
• Maintain a register of grievances and report on progress resolving grievances to the IUCN Head of Oversight;
• Ensure timely reporting of incidents and implementation of corrective actions.

B. Build ESMS capacity in the region

To enhance ESMS compliant project design and ensure effective implementation of the risk management strategies, regional ESMS capacities need to be further strengthened. This involves:

i. Train and coach regional staff on the ESMS to ensure consistent application of procedures and standards as well as pro-active integration of ESMS principles into project design;

ii. In collaboration with the global ESMS Coordinator, develop ESMS training materials and deliver training sessions to regional staff, project managers and implementation partners (including senior Government officials);

iii. Ensure adequate recruitment, on-boarding and assume functional reporting of new project ESMS officers in the region.

C. ESMS development, refinement, and learning

Together with the global ESMS Coordinator, ensure that the system is further developed and refined to improve effectiveness and efficiency in its application. This involves:

i. Capture lessons learned and feed-back from the EA and project stakeholders and suggest refinement and improvements of the system;

ii. Contribute to enhancement of safeguard tools and institutional processes to increase effectiveness of ESMS application;

iii. Generate lessons on the ESMS application identifying good practices and synthesising these practices for dissemination within and outside the institution, including delivery of sessions for the IUCN Academy ESMS training;

iv. Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Please Note: The above TORs contain the main responsibilities and duties of this position. However, in an ever evolving organisation such as IUCN staff members are expected to show flexibility in their approach to work and be willing to undertake other tasks that are reasonably allocated to them but which are not part of their regular TORs. Where any task becomes a regular part of staff member’s responsibilities, the TORs should be changed in consultation between the manager, the staff member and the HR Unit. Any one of the three may initiate the consultation