Senior Environmental and Social Safeguards Officer (m/f)

Description

• The Senior Environmental and Social Safeguards Officer will:
• Lead and facilitate implementation of ESSF and SD4C in WWF Mozambique’s programmes, projects in targeted landscapes and seascapes, ensuring greater ownership and effective participation of relevant local communities, particularly vulnerable groups, in natural resource management, through equitable and locally appropriate governance structures based on mutual respect and equitable collaboration with WWF and partners
• Building the capacity of WWF and partners on ESSF, ensuring improvement in understanding of the perspectives of local communities and potential ESS issues in the priority landscapes and seascapes, including in relation to WWF’s Social Policies and principles and in line with WWF’s commitment to strengthen the social dimensions of its projects, programmes and policy work and address the critical connections to peoples’ rights and wellbeing
• Represent WWF Mozambique with partners and stakeholders, ensuring mutual awareness and support to commitments that enhance harmony between people and nature and contribute to improved wellbeing of communities

Duties

ESSF and SD4C Planning, Implementation, Monitoring & Reporting (70%)

• Lead in the review and development process of the current WWF Environmental and Social Safeguards guidelines and framework as it concerns WWF Mozambique
• Advice and support landscape and seascape leads and project teams in carrying out essential steps of the ESSF, such as stakeholder analysis and context analysis, categorization, and provide quality assurance throughout the processes
• Prepare, in coordination with key conservation staff, any ESSF and SD4C annual work-plans with clear objectives and achievement benchmarks, long-term and short-term priorities, implementation timelines, financial projections and tools for evaluation
• Lead in the development and functionality of whistle-blowing and/or grievance mechanisms for programmes, landscapes/seascapes and WWF Mozambique, advising Senior Management on responses to safeguards related complaints as appropriate
• Undertake an ESS risk analysis and lead on the development of associated mitigation plans together with landscapes and seascape leads and the teams and where appropriate, concerned stakeholders
• Prepare TORs and lead in the recruitment and management of consultants engaged for any ESSF related work
• Advise on and support monitoring of the implementation of mitigation plans and flag any issues or gaps with the landscape and seascape leads to ensure that proposed mitigation measures are implemented according to agreed upon ESS mitigation implementation plans
• Produce a checklist on ESS for use during project/program design, development and implementation process and ensure their use appropriately
• Prepare plans associated with ESS (e.g. stakeholder engagement, mitigation, working with indigenous peoples etc.) and ensure that such plans are approved by relevant authorities before project implementation
• Work with the risk and audit team to undertake compliance of ESSF and SD4C to ensure safeguards and social policies are properly implemented at all levels in line with WWF guidelines
• Prepare regular reports (monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, field monitoring) on ESS risks with appropriate actions to be taken for projects and follow up to help ensure that timely actions are taken and lead in WWF Mozambique’s reporting for ESSF
• Report any key ESS issues and concerns that arise in an urgent and appropriate manner to appropriate landscape and seascape leads, and then senior management
• Participate in regular coordination meetings with other WWF Programs as appropriate

ESSF and SD4C Capacity Building (15%)

• In all activities, support others to uphold WWF’s network standards and social policies
• Provide technical support for safeguards during funding proposal development, design, appraisal and resource mobilization plans
• Lead on capacity building for staff and partners to build knowledge and skills on ESS and minimize the likelihood of risks arising
• Lead continuous observation, reflection, learning, iteration, adaptation and quality improvement processes to identify the most salient problems and design appropriate responses, ensuring the highest quality possible of the implementation of ESS
• Coordinate and lead regular ESSF and SD4C audits, and implementation of audit recommendations in a timely manner
• Identify challenges, opportunities, priorities and needs for the development and implementation of project and programme ESS plan and implementation at all levels

Representation (15%)

• Ensure that the WWF’s ESS work remains relevant and aligned with national priorities, and community perspectives and aspirations to adequately address their problems, challenges, and needs
• Participate in regular donor and government coordination meetings and related initiatives as appropriate
• Organize field visits for WWF and other stakeholders upon request in relation to ESS
• Ensure WWF Mozambique participation and engagement in the Network ESSF community – bringing information to and from the Network
• Ensure that WWF is appropriately represented in relevant coordination bodies at local, provincial, national and regional levels on issues that directly relate to ESS
• Other duty as required by supervisor

Requisites

• A Master’s Degree in Social Science, anthropology, environmental management economics or Development Studies. Additional training in environmental and social safeguards would be an advantage
• At least 5 years’ relevant experience in environmental and social safeguard systems, and risk management
• Proven experience in working with communities on social policies and safeguarding
• Demonstrated knowledge in the areas of local community policy development and implementation
• Proven experience in designing training, facilitation, coaching, mentoring and capacity building development on safeguards
• Experience in working in complex organizations and ability to lead and influence without formal authority
• Knowledge of the institutional and legal framework pertaining to human rights and community-based natural resource management as well as of relevant policy issues in Mozambique
• Ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural and diverse setting
• Experience of dealing with power differentials and inequalities within and across communities is desirable
• Ability to build good relationships and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders in a respectful, participatory manner. Experience of engaging with ‘hard to reach’ members of society is desirable
• A good command of both written and spoken English and Portuguese is essential
• Strong planning and analytical skills
• Self-driven with a pro-active approach to problem solving
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and as part of a team
• Frequent field trips away from assigned location
• Influencing and leadership skills
• Passionate about conservation with the ability to galvanize the network and broader community around a shared agenda
• Adequate skills in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint and Excel)
• Clearly demonstrates behaviors aligned to the culture of WWF: Strive for Impact, Listen Deeply, Collaborate
• Openly and Innovate Fearlessly
• Adheres to WWF’s values, which are: Courage, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has been working in Mozambique since 2001, and is currently implementing its second country strategy (2020-2030), whose goal is for WWF MCO to influence and ensure sound management and responsible stewardship and use of Mozambique’s unique biodiversity for the benefit of present and future generations. The strategy, underpinned by the fact that the wellbeing and prosperity of Mozambicans is dependent on nature and that, today, the rate of loss of this life-support system demands urgent and effective action, is anchored around three conservation pillars, namely: i) inclusive conservation of habitats and species; ii) sustainable and equitable livelihoods; and iii) greening the footprint of economic development. The strategy will focus on six priority landscapes and seascapes, namely, Lake Niassa & Lichinga Plateau, Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, Quirimbas Biosphere Reserve, Zambezi Delta, Primeiras & Segunda Environmental Protected Area, and Inhambane seascape
• The WWF Network has adopted a new Environmental and Social Safeguard Framework (ESSF) which will enable WWF as a global organization be able to ensure that its work goes beyond doing no harm, to doing good with regards to the rights and improved wellbeing of local communities. The ESSF builds on WWF’s Social Development for Conservation (SD4C) policies and commitments, setting out concrete steps to be followed in all its work in different landscapes and seascapes, and a system of ensuring compliance locally, nationally, regionally and globally. As part of the global WWF Network, WWF Mozambique is also going to implement the ESSF to ensure adherence to these best practice standards and to make sure that WWF’s work in Mozambique benefits both people and nature
• WWF Mozambique therefore seeks to recruit a Senior Environmental and Social Safeguards Officer to be responsible for implementing, updating and reporting on environment and social safeguards and risk management/mitigation. The role will ensure that the ESSF and other approved WWF’s related social policies are strictly implemented and applied to all WWF field programs in the landscapes and seascapes, WWF’s third parties and service providers
• Internal: Coordinates and interacts as appropriate with WWF Mozambique conservation and support staff, and WWF Network ESSF community
• External: Interacts frequently with communities, government departments and other agencies, conservation officials in the country, development agencies, NGOs, INGOs and donors, and other stakeholder