Organizational Setting

The main aim of FAO Country Office, headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. FAO Kyrgyzstan assists the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to develop policies, programmes and projects to address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, to develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors and to use environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. FAO participates in the development and implementation of field projects in the sectors of food security, agriculture and rural development. This requires the integration within the broader framework of sustainable food and agriculture that aims at increasing production and productivity, addressing climate change, and managing natural resources; and enhance rural livelihoods.

In this context, the FAO is implementing in collaboration with the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the GCF- funded project “Carbon Sequestration through Climate Investment in Forests and Rangelands (CS-FOR)” (GCP/KYR/020/GCF). Project activities are aligned to the immediate needs, as well as longer term development challenges associated with Agenda 2030 and beyond. The project objective is to increase carbon sequestration through supporting climate investments in forests and rangelands and through reducing drivers of degradation and emissions via institutional support, participatory ecosystem-based sustainable management of natural resources and green growth investments. This assignment will contribute to project objective, such as to contribute to the development of a low carbon-emission and climate-resilient economy, while capitalizing important co-benefits from adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

Reporting Lines

The Environmental and Social Safeguards/Grievance Redress Mechanism (ESS/GRM) Specialist provides support to the project under the general supervision of the FAO Representative for Kyrgyzstan and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic and National Project Coordinator.

Technical Focus

Natural resource management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, social, economics, value chains development.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Based on a detailed description of the project, develop and provide guidance on environmental and social criteria to be used during the identification and selection of priority activities. Also develop a list of activities and potential activities not recommendable for support, due to their poor environmental or social performance.
•    Compile a summary of key domestic legislative, regulatory and administrative regimes in each of the project countries, within which the project will operate, with a focus on requirements that will apply to the planning, approval and implementation of activities; research and summarize regional agreements and treaties that are relevant to project planning and implementation, as well as environmental management and due diligence.
•    Establish a clear understanding of the institutional requirements, roles and responsibilities for adopting and implementing the ESMF. Importantly, this should include a thorough review of the authority and capability of institutions at different levels (e.g. local, district, governorate and national) and their capacity to manage and monitor ESMF implementation.
•    Identify all relevant potential environmental risks and social concerns that may arise as a result of the project analysing gender equality and social inclusion implications;
•    Propose realistic and effective arrangements for FAO to develop the capacity to manage environmental and social due diligence processes and activities in the project; propose reporting lines, review and approval functions; identify the required resources and technical assistance measures to establish and maintain capacity for the project duration and beyond; develop a process (incl. timeline, budget, organizational requirements, required trainer profiles and expertise) for building and enhancing the capacity of the institutions responsible for implementing the ESMF.
•    Facilitate public consultations on environmental and social protection measures of project activities;
•    Support organization of the explanatory work among the pilot forestries, local communities and institutions, stakeholders in the implementation of project activities on the ground, as well as in case of conflict situations on environmental and social issues; to reach both women and men, including vulnerable groups (such as female-headed households, low-income families, unemployed).
•    Monitoring of ensuring compliance with the requirements of safety and labor protection in the process of implementing project activities;
•    Facilitate the definition the requirements for technical assistance to FAO, civil society organizations (CSO), service providers and public sector institutions to implement, manage, supervise, observe or support the implementation of the ESMF.
•    Estimate a realistic gender-responsive budget to be allocated for timely implementation of the ESMF in the project execution phase (as per the detailed budget).
•    Supports the development and improvement of Integrated Natural Resource Management and Climate Resilience Plans (INRMCRP) from the Environmental and Social Safeguards perspective and its further implementation in pilot target areas; (Act 1.3.1)
•    Actively engages in supporting  capacity-building activities, workshops, and seminars related to the ESS of CS-FOR project analysing gender and social inclusion implications.
•    Support the guidance of the work of consultants and subcontractors and oversee compliance with the agreed work plan in the field of Environmental and Social Safeguards.
•    Support coordination all activities related to Environmental and Social Safeguards to ensure its results are in accordance with the Project Document and the rules and procedures established by FAO/GCF.
•    Facilitate the screening of the developed business-plans under C3 and ensure compliance according to the FAO/GCF Environmental and Social Management Frameworks.
•    Ensures that information about available channels of the GRM is effectively disseminated at both the project and field levels.
•    Facilitates orientation workshops for all project staff, partners, and relevant stakeholders to ensure that they are well-informed about the GRM. This will include explaining the purpose, procedures, and how to access the mechanism.
•    Responsible for recording grievance and addressing them to relevant confidential channels.
•    Ensure inclusion of the GRM procedures/processes in the project communication and monitoring plans.
•    Monitors the implementation of GRM with specific inclusion of anonymous reporting and ensure confidentiality of complaint.
•    Establish clear feedback mechanisms within the GRM to inform stakeholders about the progress and resolution of their grievances.
•    Together with the NPC, assist in maintaining regular contact with the Forestry Service, Pasture Department, pilot Leskhozes and other partner on project implementation issues of their respective competence;
•    Ensures adherence to the project’s work plan, prepare revisions of the work plan, if required;
•    Undertake any other actions related to the project as requested by PIU/FAO or the National Project Coordinator;
•    Ensure proper application of FAO and Kyrgyz Republic policies on environmental and social security;
•    Conduct environmental and social screening of proposed projects, informing partners and initiators of project proposals about compliance with relevant environmental and social requirements;
•    Ensure regular environmental monitoring during the implementation of project activities.
•    Provide progress report regularly and contribute to elaborating the overall reporting process of the CS-FOR project;

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•    University degree in agriculture, forestry natural resource management, environmental science, environmental engineering, or related fields;
•    At least 8 years of progressively responsible experience in the formulation and review of environmental and social management frameworks, environmental impact assessments, management plans and reporting frameworks and/or
•    At least 5 years of experience with national, regional or international projects.
•    Working knowledge of Russian and Kyrgyz.
•    National of the Kyrgyz Republic or resident of the country with valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
•    Strong knowledge of agriculture and pasture management issues in Kyrgyzstan, including the political, institutional and socio-economic aspects;
•    Extent and relevance of experience in Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), stakeholder engagement, grievance handling and disclosure in FAO and/or in other development organizations, is considered an asset;
•    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.
•    Strong knowledge and experience in regional and international gender and climate strategies, programmes and implementations
•    Working experience with ministries, national institutions, NGOs and agricultural sector on national and local level in Kyrgyzstan;
•    Ability to effectively coordinate large-scale project activities involving stakeholders on various levels;
•    Strong drafting, presentation and reporting skills;
•    Strong computer skills, in particular mastery of all applications of the MS Office package and internet search;
•    Excellent writing and communication skills in Russian and Kyrgyz.
•    Ability to solve problems and the ability to make effective and timely decisions in crisis situations.

Selection Criteria 

•    Knowledge of English is an asset.