Social Environmental Senior Officer (Safeguard)

UNOPS Myanmar has been selected by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI) to provide “Project Management and Technical Assistance” for the implementation of Eastern States Agri-business Project (ESAP) which is financed by IFAD and implemented by IWUMD. The project’s goal is to improve the economic status of poor rural women and men in selected areas of Kayin and Shan states. Its objective is to increase the incomes of smallholder and agroforestry households in these areas in an environmentally sustainable manner. It will promote commercial smallholder agriculture linked to agribusiness, improve living standards of the rural communities, and reverse the environmental degradation. Economic benefits will be generated for 62,400 households consisting of 315,000 people of Karen, Shan, Pa-oh, Inn and Mon ethnic groups.

The Project components are (1) Strategic Investment (2) Enabling Investment and (3) Project Management. Under the Strategic Investment Component, there are two sub components namely Land Development and Agro-forestry. Under the Enabling Investment Component, there are two sub components namely Investment in Knowledge and Micro Finance Services. The lead project implementing agency is the Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department (IWUMD) of the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI) Myanmar. The Project Implementation cooperating agencies are the Department of Agriculture (DOA), Department of Rural Development (DRD), Department of Agriculture Land Management and Statistic (DALMS), Department of Agricultural Mechanization (DAM), Department of the Agriculture Research (DAR) under the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Irrigation. ESAP Project Management Unit (PMU) is located in Naypyitaw while the Project Implementation Offices (PIOs) are located in Taunggyi (Shan State) and Pha-an (Kayin State). 

The total project cost is USD 65.2 million over a six-year implementation period.

Project Feasibility study was done in 2015-17 including producing the Social Environmental and Climate Assessment Procedure (SECAP). The project became effective in March 2018. Project actual project implementation started in January 2019. 

The Safeguard Specialists (SGS) will be assigned to the project Management Unit). Under the guidance of the Project management advisor, S/he is responsible to make sure that the project development activities are planned and implemented by addressing the guidance and recommendations given in SECAP, Environmental safeguards and Social safeguard policies and Regulations of the donor and the host Government.  

UNOPS Myanmar has been selected by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI) to provide “Project Management and Technical Assistance” for the implementation of Eastern States Agri-business Project (ESAP) which is financed by IFAD and implemented by IWUMD. The project’s goal is to improve the economic status of poor rural women and men in selected areas of Kayin and Shan states. Its objective is to increase the incomes of smallholder and agroforestry households in these areas in an environmentally sustainable manner. It will promote commercial smallholder agriculture linked to agribusiness, improve living standards of the rural communities, and reverse the environmental degradation. Economic benefits will be generated for 62,400 households consisting of 315,000 people of Karen, Shan, Pa-oh, Inn and Mon ethnic groups.

The Project components are (1) Strategic Investment (2) Enabling Investment and (3) Project Management. Under the Strategic Investment Component, there are two sub components namely Land Development and Agro-forestry. Under the Enabling Investment Component, there are two sub components namely Investment in Knowledge and Micro Finance Services. The lead project implementing agency is the Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department (IWUMD) of the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI) Myanmar. The Project Implementation cooperating agencies are the Department of Agriculture (DOA), Department of Rural Development (DRD), Department of Agriculture Land Management and Statistic (DALMS), Department of Agricultural Mechanization (DAM), Department of the Agriculture Research (DAR) under the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Irrigation. ESAP Project Management Unit (PMU) is located in Naypyitaw while the Project Implementation Offices (PIOs) are located in Taunggyi (Shan State) and Pha-an (Kayin State). 

The total project cost is USD 65.2 million over a six-year implementation period.

Project Feasibility study was done in 2015-17 including producing the Social Environmental and Climate Assessment Procedure (SECAP). The project became effective in March 2018. Project actual project implementation started in January 2019. 

The Safeguard Specialists (SGS) will be assigned to the project Management Unit). Under the guidance of the Project management advisor, S/he is responsible to make sure that the project development activities are planned and implemented by addressing the guidance and recommendations given in SECAP, Environmental safeguards and Social safeguard policies and Regulations of the donor and the host Government.  

Functional Responsibilities

Social Environmental Senior Officer (Safeguard) reports to the UNOPS Project Management Advisor. 

Social Environmental Senior Officer (Safeguard) is responsible for the compliance of the project to SECAP which addresses the possible  environmental and social impacts of the project intervention and discusses the mitigation measures under the existing Environmental safeguard and Social Safeguard Laws, Regulation, Rules and Policies adopted by the donor and the host Government. S/he will ensure that there will have no significant environmental and social negative impacts related project supported development activities including the infrastructure activities and agriculture development activities, if unavoidable, the project environmental and social impacts will have been substantially mitigated, grievances of the affected beneficiaries have been settled. 

The details of the duties and responsibilities are;

Social Safeguard

The duties and responsibilities of the Safeguard Specialist but not limited to are; 

• Review the beneficiary selection criteria applied for poverty, ethnic groups, gender and youths and provide the necessary advises to meet the project objectives. 

• To advise in processing Gender Action Plan, Gender equality and women’s empowerment activities of the project, Gender and Youth related socio-economic aspects of ESAP, project activities empowering small holder farmers, women, youth and other marginalized groups (e.g. landless farmers) and their outreach and provide the necessary advises to meet the project objectives.

• To review the gender aggregated monitoring and evaluation indicators applied under each project sector (component/sub component) and to provide necessary advises. 

• To review the relevance of ESAP development activities, Development activities based at Knowledge Centers to the interest of women and youth particularly. 

• Analyze the community level institutions and leadership, particularly with reference to their generating jobs and livelihood opportunities to women and youth,

Environmental Safeguard, Climate change

• To provide necessary advise to incorporate the RIMS Core Indicators related to Environment and Climate Change Resilience such as Access to natural resources, Access to technologies and production services, Environmental sustainability and climate change.

• To review the compliance of the Environmental Impact Mitigation and Climate change resilient measures in the designing of the Irrigation, rural infrastructure designing (Water supply, Access roads, Bridges, Tube wells, Harnessed streams, etc.). 

• To advise the project in compliance with the Environmental policies such as Poverty Alleviation & Rural Development Action Plan (PARDAP) (2011), Myanmar's National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) to climate change (Dec, 2012), Myanmar Climate-Smart Agriculture Strategy 2015, Myanmar Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (MCCSAP) 2016-2030

• Produce plan to comply with MOECAF Environmental Screening Criteria for the Project development activities, Produce IEE, EIA, SIA formats, templates. Train PLUP members and Government field staffs in conducting IEE, EIA, SIA, Producing Resettlement Plan including land acquisition and compensation, Implementation of Resettlement Plan. Facilitate the Project Implementation Offices (Shan and Kayin State) in establishing the Resettlement Committee and Establishment of the Grievance Redress Mechanism.

FPIC (Free, Prior, Informed Consent) Application and PRA (Participatory Appraisal) 

SGS will review the application of FPIC and PRA tools for effective participation of the local population who are indigenous ethnic groups to project planning and implementation and will provide the advises to the Project staffs and Specialists concerned. 

Reporting

SGS will produce the inception report in the initial month of the assignment and followed by monthly progress report, quarterly progress report and other reports data and information as required by the Project Management.  

Scope

The Project activities are located in total Eight townships (four in Kayin State and four in Shan Stae), Hopong, Sisieng, Kyauktalonegyi, Taunggyi townships of southern Shan state and Pha-an, Hlaing Bwe, Kawkareik, Thandaunggyi for Kayin State. Project is investing in the renovation of Six irrigation schemes in Shan state with total command areas of 25,000 acres. In Kayin state project is investing in improving of the pump irrigation schemes, solar pump and excavation of the drainages and construction of the sluice gates covering the command areas of total 30,000 acres. Project is also providing the community facilities to the upland farmers who are adopting project introduced conservation agricultural practices. The community facilities are Access roads, Rural Water supply schemes, Mini hydro powers, Tube wells, Solar pumps and Harnessed streams.  

Project plan to establish 43 Agricultural Knowledge Centers (KCs) for dissemination of the agriculture technologies, to accommodate farmer meetings, workshops and training. 

SGS will be closely cooperate with the Project Community Development and Gender Specialists, Project Analysts stationed in Project Implementation Offices (PIOs of Shan and Kayin States), Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (Project Management Unit Naypyitaw), Knowledge Center Managers, Agricultural Extension Service Provider, Saving and Credit Group Service provider. S/he will have consultation with the Department of Agriculture (DOA), Department of Agricultural Research (DAR), Department of Rural Development (DRD), Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department (IWUMD), Department of Land Management and Statistics (DALMS), Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry (MOECF) Forest Department and Environmental Conservation Department. 

1. Study the project documents including Project Design Report, Social Environmental and Climate Assessment Procedure (SECAP) and the Social and Environmental Policies of Myanmar such as 

• Myanmar Climate-Smart Agriculture Strategy 2015

• Myanmar Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (MCCSAP) 2016-2030

• Myanmar's National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) to climate change (Dec, 2012) 

• Environmental Conservation Law (March, 2012) 

• Poverty Alleviation & Rural Development Action Plan (PARDAP) (2011)

• National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) (Aug, 2009) 

• National Environment Policy (1994) 

1. Meeting with the project authorities, project assigned specialists and consultants, ministries and departments related. 

2. Produce Inception Report in the first week.

3. Site visits, Irrigation schemes, Agricultural Knowledge centers, meeting with the beneficiaries. 

4. Conduct the training need assessment for the project staffs and the government staffs, village agents and produce the training plan/capacity building plan. 

• Actively interact with other Project personals and groups to share case studies, lessons learned and best practice on the Knowledge Management System.

• Provide feedback to Practice Leads on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies

• Complete lessons learned as per reporting format

• Consultant applies the UNPOS communication system tools efficiently for efficient information flows. 

• Data and information, Reports Produced are stored in online storage provided by UNOPS and shared with other relevant sectors and officials within UNOPS. 

Type of Assignment and Duration

• The assignment for 11person months spread over the period of May 2020 to November 2021.

• Understand and respect UNOPS sustainability principles

Look for ways to embed UNOPS sustainability principles.

Seek opportunities to champion gender equality at work place.

• Understand and Respect National ownership and capacity

Understand the principles of the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness and mainstream them into the project plans

Look for ways to build capacity of local counterparts

• Partnerships and Coordination 

  1. Understand the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and UNOPS, the project’s place in the UN system

  2. Strive to build strong partnerships and effective coordination among relevant project actors (e.g. United Nations, governments, and non-governmental organizations or other relevant partners) 

• Accountability for results and the use of resources

  1. Service agreements, contracting, procurement of the works are in line with the role and regulation of the donor and transparent. To report to the project management in case of any doubt arisen. 

• Excellence

  1. Contribute to innovation and the adaptation of best practice standards of sustainability and quality. 

1. Inception Report (in the first initial month of assignment)

2. Produce Guidelines for IEE, EIA, SIA, Resettlement Plan, Grievance Redress Mechanism for ESAP Internal use (In the first three months of Assignment).

3. Training Assessment Report and Capacity Building Plan (the third months of the assignment) 

4. Produce Monthly Progress Report 

5. Produce Quarterly Progress Report and contribute to the Project quarterly progress report preparation. 

6. Resettlement plan implementation monitoring report (Quarterly)

7. Completion Report (Within one month after the completion of the assignment)

• Master’s Degree Social Science, Agricultural Science or Equivalent is required. 

• A Bachelor’s Degree in any of those fields with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and two years of additional experience relevant to the above duties and responsibilities may be accepted in lieu of the master degree.

• Minimum 2 years in Agricultural infrastructure development, Environmental and Social Safeguard Activities is required.   

• Working experience in Shan and Kayin States is preferable.  

• Proficient in English and Fluency in Myanmar Language is required.

• Language skills of the ethnic groups of the project target areas will be a good asset. 

• 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
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• 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.