Social and Environmental Risk Management Specialist - UNOPS

• Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
• Location: Bujumbura
• Grade: Mid level - IICA-2, International Individual Contractors Agreement
• Occupational Groups:
  • Accounting (Audit, Controlling)
  • Environment
  • Internal audit, Investigation and Inspection
  • Disaster Management (Preparedness, Resilience, Response and Recovery)
• Closing Date: 2025-06-16

Job categories Programme Management

Vacancy code VA/2025/B5303/30223

Level ICS-10

Department/office AFR, ESAMCO, East and Southern Africa MCO

Duty station Bujumbura, Burundi

Contract type International ICA

Contract level IICA-2

Duration One year renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability

Application period 02-Jun-2025 to 16-Jun-2025

Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.

The incumbent will be responsible for the following functions:

• Plan and prepare any necessary social and environmental assessments and instruments (Project-level or site-specific or infrastructure-specific, as relevant).
• Facilitate consultations with stakeholders, especially local community groups, in the process of preparing the ESMP(Environmental and Social Management Plan) for the project.
• Monitor progress in the development and implementation of the project ESMP, ensuring that the GEF E&S(Environmental & Social) policies are complied with, and the reporting requirements are fulfilled.
• Review the Social Risk Identification Form (SRIF) and update and revise the corresponding risk log and mitigation/ management plans, as necessary.
• Ensure that all environmental and social risks are identified, avoided, mitigated, and managed throughout project implementation.
• Prepare, adopt and implement  all other E&S - related plans such as an Indigenous People’s Plan (IPP), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), Contingency and Emergency Response Plan, etc.
• Help organize and undertake due diligence for obtaining Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) from all benefiting communities in the project target areas.
• Ensure full disclosure with concerned stakeholders and ensure full engagement of local beneficiaries.
• Work with the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist to ensure reporting, monitoring and evaluation fully address the E&S issues of the project.
• Provide well-documented, evidence-based compliance reports to be incorporated into the project annual performance reports.
• Ensure project-related grievances are managed effectively and transparently through the grievance redress mechanism and support the establishment of grievance redress mechanism groups at local levels.
• Ensure ongoing training and awareness-raising of Project Coordination Unit (PCU) staff, the responsible partner institutions, contractors, workers and communities  in environmental and social risk management.

Impact of Results: The E&S Risk Management Specialist directly impacts on achievement of project results by ensuring that decision-makers are made aware of the potential environmental consequences of their actions, with the intention of improving the “quality” of development decisions, ensuring that environmental considerations are incorporated into every stage of the project. This consequently reinforces the visibility and image of UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.

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