The UNDP Uganda Country Office is currently implementing its Country Programme Document (CPD) for the period 2021-2025, which is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021-2025. During the programme cycle, UNDP will support government of Uganda efforts by providing technical, and financial support to enable Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), local governments, non-state actors and communities strengthen their national capacities to restore, protect, and sustainably manage natural resources and ecosystems, increase access to affordable clean and renewable energy, and to enable vulnerable people and communities to adapt to, and mitigate climate change and disaster risk.

Under the Nature, Climate, Energy, and Resilience (NCER) portfolio, UNDP Uganda works with other partners, to provide an integrated and coherent policy, and programme support to relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), local governments, communities, and non-state actors to achieve the following outcomes:

• Strengthened capacity of public and private institutions and communities to sustainably manage natural resources and protect vital ecosystems.
• Increased and equitable access to, and use of modern, renewable, and affordable energy sources and services
• Enhanced climate resilience and adoption of low carbon development strategies.
• Strengthened capacity for disaster risk reduction and resilience.

In partnership with the Ministry of Water and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and Uganda National Meteorology Authority UNDP is implementing a wetland restoration project in Eastern and Southwestern Uganda entitled “Building Resilient Communities, Wetland Ecosystems and Associated Catchments” Project. The USD 44.262 million project is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Government of Uganda and UNDP for 8 years starting 2017 to 2025. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the Accredited Entity (AE) of the GCF and holds fiduciary obligation for the management of the funds of GCF for the project.

The project is comprised of three components namely: –

1.           Restoration and management of wetland hydrology and associated catchments.

2.           Improved agricultural practices and alternative livelihood options in wetland catchments.

3.           Strengthening access to climate and early warning information to farmers and other target communities.

To effectively implement this project, a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) was set up in the ministry of water and environment (MWE) to oversee the implementation of the project.  The PMU is composed of teams from the ministry and UNDP. The UNDP contract holders are: the Chief Technical Advisor, the Project Management Specialist, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist and the Social and Environmental Safeguards Officer.

UNDP is in the process of recruiting a Social and Environmental Safeguards Officer to lead the development and implementation of social and environmental management frameworks, other social risk management plans for the project.

Objective/Purpose of the Assignment:

Under the leadership and supervision of the Team Leader NCER, the Safeguards Officer will serve as the main focal person for all safeguards related activities for the GCF project and the NCER portfolio.  The safeguards officer’s responsibility is to coordinate and support implementation of all safeguards related issues ensuring that activities are implemented in accordance with the UNDP social and environmental standards.

Under the leadership and supervision of the Team Leader NCER, the Safeguards Officer will serve as the main focal person for all safeguards related activities for the GCF project and the NCER portfolio.  The safeguards officer’s responsibility is to coordinate and support implementation of all safeguards related issues ensuring that activities are implemented in accordance with the UNDP social and environmental standards.

The Social and Environmental Safeguards Officer will work as part of the PMU (Project Management Unit) of the GCF project under the joint direct supervision and guidance of the National Project Coordinator and UNDP NCER Team Leader.

Functions / Key results expected

• Support the development and review of instruments, checklists, guidelines, and tools relevant to the implementation of environmental and social safeguards in compliance to donor (GCF, UNDP) and Government of Uganda requirements;
• Participate in project implementation in relation to all social and environmental issues including safeguards; facilitate the preparation of safeguard monitoring plans and review implementation of social and environmental issues, preparation of all documentation and reports required by the project Implementing Partner and Responsible Parties and UNDP to ensure that social and environmental issues have been adequately addressed and that the project is in compliance with the UNDP and Government of Uganda Safeguards;
• Review the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) of the project, identify gaps, and recommend remedial actions, including updating of the ESMF of the project;
• Support the PMU to conduct the necessary assessments to identify potential environmental and social risks of project investments and interventions, ways to avoid negative environmental and social impacts where possible, and where risk avoidance is not possible, to identify appropriate mitigation and management measures, in line with UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards;
• Update the Social and Environmental Screening Procedures (SESP) for the project in line with the UNDP Social and Environmental Standards, ensuring that all risks related to non-compliance on SES are adequately and timely flagged and addressed;
• Prepare and share technical briefs, reports on the compliance of SES in the implementation of the project;
• Support the quality control of M&E products including monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, ensuring that SES issues are adequately addressed;
• Update the project risk log monthly;
• Provide support to the NCER portfolio and UNDP Uganda Country Office on social and environmental safeguards compliance related issues according to UNDP Corporate requirements.

Accomplish other tasks related to social and environmental safeguards as per the needs of the project assigned by National Project Coordinator and NCER assigned by the Team Leader (NCER)

Individual outputs and results

The Social and Environmental Safeguards officer will report to the National Project Coordinator on GCF related tasks and the Team leader (NCER) on NCER portfolio and UNDP related tasks. In addition to the regular tasks, the officer shall be responsible for providing/preparing the following documents and reports:

• Updated Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF);
• Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) for all project investment sites;
• ESMP Monitoring Reports;
• Grievance Redress Mechanism Register and related reports for all project sites (at all levels);
• Incident Register and related reports for the project;
• Analytical and trend reports on compliance with social and environmental standards for the project, NCER portfolio and UNDP Country Office including implications and recommendations for corrective actions.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

As the focal person for the social and environmental standards compliance, the Social & Environmental safeguards officer will work closely with all other members of the PMU.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Management: Risk Management

• Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks

Business Management: Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results.
• Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming.
• Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools.
• Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks.

Business Management: Results-Based Management

• Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.

2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness

• Effectiveness         Social and Environmental Standards

2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness

• Effectiveness         Systems and tools for managing risk

2030 Agenda: Planet: Nature

• Ecosystems and Biodiversity Programme: Protected and Conservation Areas and Systems

Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

• Fluency in English (spoken and written) is required
• Knowledge of local language is desired

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements