Social Safeguards and Gender Specialist

About Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Organizational Setting:

FAO Afghanistan is investing, across all 34 provinces, in resilience reinforcing actions that focus on protecting agriculture livelihoods and local ecosystems, boosting local production of nutritious foods and cash-incomes, and safeguarding critical agriculture sectoral development gains achieved over the past couple of decades through revitalizing rural markets and economy. In 2022-2023, FAO will, under the life-saving assistance Outcome (1) of the UN Transitional Engagement Framework (TEF), focus on the following four priority actions: (i) Safeguarding Wheat Seed Security, (ii) Enhancing Local Production of Nutritious Food, (iii) Livestock Protection and Dairy Sector Support, and (iv) Restoring Irrigation Structures to Boost Cash Incomes. Additionally, FAO will contribute towards resilience-building activities under Outcome 2 of the TEF

Position is in Kabul – Afghanistan: with possible travel to inside the country as required and subject to security permitting.

Job Summary

Project Background:

Combating land degradation and biodiversity loss by promoting sustainable rangeland management and biodiversity conservation project is a five year intervention of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) funded through the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This project aims to improve the sustainability of agriculture, forest, and land-use management through rehabilitating degraded rangelands, biodiversity conservation and enhancing and maintaining the livelihoods of Afghan rural communities in Khost, Laghman and Nuristan provinces in Afghanistan by employing the community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) approach. The project has three major components: (i) capacity-building at the national, sub-national, and district levels in community based natural resources management for sustainable rangeland and forest planning; (ii) Integrated management and restoration of degraded landscapes for biodiversity conservation and sustainable/regenerative rangeland management; (iii) Systematic creation and sharing of knowledge, project coordination, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and institutional capacity development. 

The Social Safeguards and Gender Specialist will be responsible to conduct social risk analysis at the beginning of project implementation and define mitigation measures as per the Environmental and Social Management Plan. S/he will work closely with communities to ensure safeguard and gender inclusion activities. S/he will have to make sure that all activities of the project are based on social safeguard standards and gender is included. He will have to prepare field reports of his activities on regular basis to the project team.

The Social Safeguards and Gender Specialist will closely work with appointed specialists and support the project task team in ensuring social safeguards and gender inclusion while devising strategies and plans for implementation of sustainable natural landscape planning. S/he will provide his technical inputs from the field for the implementation of forest restoration and management, agroforestry and small-scale greenhouses under various project outputs.

FAO is looking for qualified national staff to fill the position of National Social Safeguards and Gender Specialist. This position will support the work of the GEF-funded” Combating land degradation and biodiversity loss by promoting sustainable rangeland management and biodiversity conservation” project in Afghanistan. 

Reporting Lines

The Social Safeguards and Gender Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative, and under the direct guidance/supervision National Professional Officer/GEF Program Manager. 

Technical Focus

Support the work of the GCP/AFG/102/GFF funded” Combating land degradation and biodiversity loss by promoting sustainable rangeland management and biodiversity conservation in Afghanistan” project.

Duties & Responsibilities

Tasks and responsibilities:

•   Refine the gender and socio-economic analyses from the project design phase, including through local consultations.

•   Conduct social risk analysis at the beginning of project implementation and define mitigation measures as per the Environmental and Social Management Plan (including FPIC process) (Output 3.2.1; Effective project coordination and M&E undertaken).

•   Lead the implementation of the Gender Action Plan and Environmental and Social Management Plan in close collaboration with the National Project Coordinator and relevant technical consultants.

•   Ensure implementation of FPIC and socially inclusive community consultations.

•   Lead the development and implementation of a process to address any conflicts or land tenure issues that may arise. (Output 1.1.4, CBNRM plans developed in an inclusive and participatory process supporting restoration and sustainable use of rangelands and forests).

•   Build capacity of the project staff, consultants and partners in inclusive and gender-sensitive community consultations, and relevant social safeguards issues.

•   Conduct socio-economic survey for Nuristan National Park in close consultation with/under close guidance from WCS.

•   Support capacity building efforts under Outputs 3.1.1 (Data on land degradation, biodiversity and natural assets is generated, centrally stored and shared through the ‘Centre of Excellence for NRM) and 3.2.2 (Provision of 10 small research grants for universities to conduct research on topics relevant to the project such as biodiversity surveys, ecosystem valuation and natural capital, socio-economic surveys, Eastern Forest Complex ecosystem services, and climate change impacts).

•   Identify key gender issues in the project and key gender entry points.

•   Identify awareness and training needs regarding gender and livelihoods.

•   On a regular basis, monitor the effectiveness of the project with regards to addressing gender ad livelihood issues.

•   Contribute to the mobilization and engagement of women in project activities, including the identification and provision of all necessary measures to address gender-specific needs.

•   Prepare regular lessons learnt and best practices material.

•   Maintain a good network with local stakeholders;

•   Work closely with the NPM and NPO and Kabul-based management staff to report on indicators;

•   Assist the NPM/NPO in managing project staff and consultants working at field sites and ensure that their reports and results are delivered on time;

•   Provide any other necessary support to the NPM/NPO in field implementation of the project;

•   Perform any other related duties as required

Job Requirements

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•   Advanced degree (Master) or University degree (Bachelor) in environmental sciences, rangeland, gender studies or Social Science.

•   For advance degree at least five (5) years of relevant work experience in social safeguard and/or gender studies.

•   For university degree at least seven (7) years of relevant work experience in natural resource management, forestry, rangeland, water and watershed management.

•   Working knowledge (level C) of English and local languages (Pashto and/or Dari);

•   National of Afghanistan.

FAO Core Competencies

•   Results Focus

•   Teamwork

•   Communication

•   Building Effective Relationships

•   Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•   Previous work experience with international organizations, including INGOs, bilateral or multilateral agencies, and UN agencies is desirable;

•   Ability to effectively coordinate an extensive, multi-stakeholder project with results-based management;

•   Ability to deal with technical, and people management challenges, administer budgets and work effectively with all staff and with groups involved in the project; 

•   Experience in multi-stakeholder analysis, and in mobilizing or creating awareness about development projects;

•   Good written communication skills, including in emergency settings;

•   Demonstrated initiative and ability to deliver results within deadlines;

•   Experience organizing stakeholder meetings or workshops at national and provincial level

•   Ability to establish and maintain good working relations with other staff/colleagues from different cultural backgrounds as well as with line departments, counterparts, and other stakeholders at the province level;

•   Proficient in Microsoft Office package.

Selection Criteria

•   Experience, Skills, and Abilities

•   Qualification, Awareness, and Knowledge Sharing

•   Demonstrate A High Level Of Effective Team Management

•   Interpersonal and Administrative Skills

•   Written and Oral/Verbal Communication Skills

•   Knowledge of Context, stakeholders Challenges, and Opportunities

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: Careers@fao.org
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/  
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/ 
•  Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. 

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions. 

Submission Guideline

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills

• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile

• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application

• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications

• Incomplete applications will not be considered

• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application

• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered

• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile

• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org

Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Functional Area

Enviromental Science

Social Science

Gender

Agriculture

Countries

Attachments

VA_ Social Safeguards & Gender Specialist_2201563.pdf

Quick Guide_ Applying for AVacancy At FAO.pdf

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