Environmental and Social Safeguards Assistant, Multiple positions

UNOPS South Sudan Country Office (SSCO) will be implementing the South Sudan Safety Net Project (SSSNP), which is funded by the World Bank (WB) to address existing challenges of soaring levels of poverty, vulnerability, unemployment and idleness, particularly amongst youth. The project development objective is to provide access to income opportunities and temporary employment to the poor and vulnerable households and strengthen safety nets delivery systems.

SSSNP has three main components namely:

a.    Public works including complementary activities like entrepreneurial skills, WASH training and early childhood development and nutrition messaging;

b.    Direct income support targeting House holds who are labour constrained;

c.    Strengthening safety net delivery systems.

The project will be targeting the most vulnerable segments of South Sudanese population aiming to benefit in excess of 68 thousand beneficiary House holds in more than 10 vulnerable locations across the country.

Under the overall supervision of the Team Leader/Field Officer, the incumbent is required to perform the following duties and responsibilities:

• Assist the Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist to develop environmental and social safeguards guidelines;
• Undertake an environmental and social assessment of the cash for work activities and the potential impact on the minor public works activities;
• Ensure that appropriate environmental and social mitigation measures are proposed and met;
• Undertake follow up monitoring to ensure that proposed mitigation measures are implemented;
• Prepare environmental and social safeguard plans;
• Under the guidance of the Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist, conduct a series of spot checks to ensure that the World Bank safeguards policies are properly implemented at each sub project site;
• Provide assistance and deliver training's to the communities in order to minimize the likelihood of risks to happen;
• Compile field reports on safeguards related issues;
• Under the guidance of the Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist, undertake quarterly monitoring and evaluation of sub project activities against standards of the safeguard guideline;
• Assist the Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist to train other field staff on Environmental and Social Safeguards activities;
• Handle additional assignments as directed by the Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist and the Team Leader.

Impact on Results

• The effective and successful achievement of results by the Environmental and Social Safeguards Assistant directly impacts the successful delivery of project on time, budget and above the expectations of all stakeholders. This subsequently reinforces the visibility and image of UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services, management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.

• Secondary School Certificate/Diploma, High School Diploma with 5 additional years of relevant professional experience is required.
• Technical/Professional Diploma with 3 additional years of relevant professional experience is an added advantage;
• Bachelors Degree/Under graduate degree in Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Economics or relevant discipline with 1 additional year of relevant professional experience is an added advantage.
• Masters Degree in Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Economics or relevant discipline is an added advantage.

• At least 5 years of progressive experience in environment, development is required.
• Experience in development work in remote areas is desirable;
• Experience in World Bank projects, Public Works projects and Food Security projects is an asset;
• Optional Skills - Environmental Science, Monitoring and Evaluation (Environment).

• Fluency in English (writing, reading and speaking) is required.
• Knowledge of local Arabic and or local Languages is desired.

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement
Contract level: LICA-5
Contract duration:‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.