Organizational Setting

FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.

The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.

Specifically, FAO Country Offices:

•    advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
•    provide technical assistance and deliver core services;
•     assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;
•    position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and
•    ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

Background:

FAO Myanmar operates a portfolio of development and emergency projects in Myanmar and has offices located in Sittwe, Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon. Programmes cover a broad range of interventions focusing on improving outcomes for rural, vulnerable communities engaged in agriculture.

More specifically, the Country Office will be implementing a project “Boosting food production capacity to address food security and resilient livelihoods in crisis-affected regions/states of Myanmar” to support the rehabilitation of the agricultural sector through provision of technical, material and financial support. Safeguards instruments/guidelines have been developed for this project in line with FAO’s Framework for Environmental and Social Management (FESM) and the World Bank’s Safeguards Policies, following a thorough risk screening. The project will implement activities in line with these instruments/guidelines. The International Consultant will work closely with the National Environmental Safeguards Consultant to ensure that the Country Office has the necessary capacity to continuously refine and update the tools and documents as required and implement as planned, while further ensuring that the implementation of safeguards-related activities for the project conform to the rigorous policy mandates of both FAO and the World Bank.

Reporting Lines

The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the FAOR and the technical supervision of the AFAOR (Programme) and in close collaboration with the Emergency and Rehabilitation Coordinator, National Programme Specialist and National Environmental Safeguard Specialist.

Technical Focus 

The Safeguard Management Specialist will support the capacity building of the National Environmental Safeguards Specialist in the design and planning of stakeholder consultations and project disclosure, with direct support for implementation where online platforms are utilized. He/she will take the lead in any instance that the risk profile of the project changes, requiring an update of safeguards instruments, including the Environmental and Social Assessment (ESA), Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), and Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM). Noting that these instruments have been developed in accordance with the requirements of the World Bank, the International Consultant will further act as liaison with Safeguards counterparts at FAO and the World Bank to ensure the consistent application of policy. The Consultant will oversee effective monitoring and reporting on safeguards activities, with the intention that the National Safeguards Specialist gains the capacity to take on such a role.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Provide support and expertise to the National Environmental Safeguard Specialist to coordinate with project stakeholders in target states/regions of the project and set up necessary consultations fulfilling FAO and World Bank policy.
•    Update the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) following the requirements of the resource partner and shifting risks for project implementation, as needed.
•    Participate in the relevant meetings and provide technical inputs for the maintenance of a robust environmental and social safeguards system.
•    Monitor the ESMF implementation with the support of National Environmental Safeguard Specialist.
•    Where necessary liaise with the Safeguards Taskforce based at the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok, as well as implementing partners (ICRC and WFP) and the World Bank.
•    Review monitoring reports prepared by local implementing partners, contractors, or service providers.
•    Collect, review, provide quality assurance to E&S Screening Forms, Voluntary Land Donation Forms (if required) and ESMPs as relevant. Submit the first five sets of Screening Forms and the first five ESMPs to the resource partner for review and no objection. Maintain documentation of all progress.
•    Support the preparation of training materials (PowerPoint, hand–outs..) and support the National Environmental Safeguards Specialist in conducting consultation with, and trainings for relevant Indigenous Peoples and other beneficiaries regarding safeguards needs. These needs include environmental risks and impacts, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), and social risks and impacts such as land acquisition, FPIC, and awareness raising for project targeted groups about the risk and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse/ sexual harassment (SEA/SH), project-level grievance redress procedures, and logistics etc.
•    Build the capacity of the National Environmental Safeguard Specialist to oversee the overall implementation (including stakeholder consultation and FPIC), and monitoring of management of social risks and impacts.
•    Compile E&S implementation and monitoring progress reports from the States and Regions, and report to the World Bank on a quarterly basis – through the project team.
•    Perform any other duties as requested by Supervisors.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in agriculture, natural resources management, environmental science, environmental engineering, applied social sciences or similar.
•    At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in the formulation and review of environmental and social management frameworks, impact assessments, management plans and reporting frameworks.
•    Full proficiency/Working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Extent and relevance of experience in environmental and social risks assessment, stakeholder engagement, grievance handling and disclosure in FAO and/or in other development organizations, is required.
•    Familiarity with FAO policies, in particular the Framework for Environmental and Social Management.
•    Familiarity with the environmental and social safeguard requirements of the project’s resource partners, is considered an asset.