JOB OPPORTUNITY

The Government of the Republic of Zambia is accessing funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in the 8th replenishment cycle in collaboration with WWF US as a GEF Agency and International Crane Foundation (ICF) as the implementing partner for the two projects “Kafue Flats Climate Resilience and Adaptation Project (KaF-Adapt)” and the “Kafue Flats Wildlife, Habitat, Health and Livelihoods Project (KaF-Wild)” under the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment (MGEE) and the Ministry of Tourism, through its Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW). The five-year project is aimed at strengthening climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable livelihoods in the Kafue Flats Ecosystem.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the following vacant position under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 8 Project:

Safeguards and Gender (SG) Officer

Reporting to: Project Manager

Responsibilities:

1. Safeguards and Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead implementation of steps and procedures as outlined in the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for both projects, including screening of annual budget/work plans, conducting consultations with local stakeholders including the Government, develop additional safeguards documents where relevant, and ensure the review, approval, and disclosure of safeguard documents
• Coordinate and track implementation of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) for both projects, under the supervision of the Project Manager
• Support the establishment and lead the implementation of a combined Complaint and Feedback Response Mechanism to handle complaints about either project in an effective manner
• Review the government’s requirements and process for environmental clearance and assist the executing and implementing agencies in securing the relevant approvals. and prepare the necessary information to comply with the ICF and government guidelines.
• Organize precautionary measures for health and safety risks in line with ICF’s Guidance Note on Labor and Working Conditions and relevant institutional policies of the International Crane Foundation.
• Prepare Semi-Annual ESMF Compliance Reports and provide recommendations on monitoring and reporting for stakeholder engagement through the annual project implementation reports

2. Gender

• Undertake a thorough review of the Gender Action Plan (GAP) for KaF-Wild and KaF-Adapt, and identify areas where extra support from the Gender Officer to executing partners and sub-grantees is required for effective gender-responsive implementation, for example, on Output 2.2.3 Capacitating community-based natural resource management, in supporting the process of women candidates standing for election to Community Resource Boards
• Lead and track implementation of the Gender Action Plan (GAP) for both projects, under the supervision of the Project Manager and Technical Coordinator (PM)
• Review annual work plans and budgets for both projects and provide recommendations to ensure that project activities support gender mainstreaming
• Provide inputs on the status of both projects’ activities to support the Results Framework and Work Plan Tracking for the two projects at the end of each project year

3. Overall

• Conduct capacity building as needed over the life of the projects to support implementation of the SEP, GAP, and ESMF/PF
• Participate at regular and other missions and technical visits by the PMU to ensure both projects’ compliance with relevant environmental and social policies
• Attend to other relevant activities as assigned

Qualifications and Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree is required in Social Sciences, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.
• An advanced degree in the above-mentioned fields is desirable.
• A minimum of five (5) years’ direct experience in the field of social science, working on gender, community engagement, and environmental and social safeguards.
• Familiarity with relevant national laws and regulations, as well as international policies and methods for environmental and social safeguards and gender.
• Strong participatory and facilitation skills in leading stakeholder consultations and participatory planning.
• Previous experience with similar donor-funded project(s) is an advantage.
• Experience working with traditional leaders and communities (including marginalized groups), and collaborating with multi-sectoral teams as well as government officials, and knowledge of the local language is an advantage.
• Excellent conflict management and mitigation skills in local community environments.

• Lead implementation of steps and procedures as outlined in the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for both projects, including screening of annual budget/work plans, conducting consultations with local stakeholders including the Government, develop additional safeguards documents where relevant, and ensure the review, approval, and disclosure of safeguard documents
• Coordinate and track implementation of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) for both projects, under the supervision of the Project Manager
• Support the establishment and lead the implementation of a combined Complaint and Feedback Response Mechanism to handle complaints about either project in an effective manner
• Review the government’s requirements and process for environmental clearance and assist the executing and implementing agencies in securing the relevant approvals. and prepare the necessary information to comply with the ICF and government guidelines.
• Organize precautionary measures for health and safety risks in line with ICF’s Guidance Note on Labor and Working Conditions and relevant institutional policies of the International Crane Foundation.
• Prepare Semi-Annual ESMF Compliance Reports and provide recommendations on monitoring and reporting for stakeholder engagement through the annual project implementation reports
• Undertake a thorough review of the Gender Action Plan (GAP) for KaF-Wild and KaF-Adapt, and identify areas where extra support from the Gender Officer to executing partners and sub-grantees is required for effective gender-responsive implementation, for example, on Output 2.2.3 Capacitating community-based natural resource management, in supporting the process of women candidates standing for election to Community Resource Boards
• Lead and track implementation of the Gender Action Plan (GAP) for both projects, under the supervision of the Project Manager and Technical Coordinator (PM)
• Review annual work plans and budgets for both projects and provide recommendations to ensure that project activities support gender mainstreaming
• Provide inputs on the status of both projects’ activities to support the Results Framework and Work Plan Tracking for the two projects at the end of each project year
• Conduct capacity building as needed over the life of the projects to support implementation of the SEP, GAP, and ESMF/PF
• Participate at regular and other missions and technical visits by the PMU to ensure both projects’ compliance with relevant environmental and social policies
• Attend to other relevant activities as assigned

• Strong participatory and facilitation skills in leading stakeholder consultations and participatory planning.
• Excellent conflict management and mitigation skills in local community environments.

• A bachelor’s degree is required in Social Sciences, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.
• An advanced degree in the above-mentioned fields is desirable.
• Familiarity with relevant national laws and regulations, as well as international policies and methods for environmental and social safeguards and gender.
• Previous experience with similar donor-funded project(s) is an advantage.
• Experience working with traditional leaders and communities (including marginalized groups), and collaborating with multi-sectoral teams as well as government officials, and knowledge of the local language is an advantage.