TERMS OF REFERENCE
Position : Environmental and Social Safeguard Specialist
Program : Marine
Based in : Bogor
Line Manager : kfW Marine Project Coordinator
Duration of Assigment : One year-with possible extension
Employment Status : Full tile, fixed term
Overview
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) works in over 60 countries to save wildlife and wild places through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. WCS has worked in Indonesia for over 20 years because it is the world’s most important country for biodiversity conservation, being ranked #1 globally for marine biodiversity and #2 globally for terrestrial biodiversity. The large and diverse WCS Indonesia Program (WCS IP) spans the Indonesian archipelago and covers all aspects of conservation, from counter-wildlife trafficking, wildlife protection and law enforcement, to policy development, research, education and outreach, to large field-based operations covering both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. WCS partners closely with the Indonesian Government, local communities, schools and universities, and the private sector. Further details of our program are available at https://indonesia.wcs.org and about WCS’s global work at https://www.wcs.org.
The WCS Indonesia Marine program focuses on the establishment and effective management of MPAs and development of sustainable fisheries, as interlinked strategies to secure and manage Indonesia’s coastal marine resources. WCS is committed to assisting the Government of Indonesia to meet its national and international commitments to MPA establishment and management – including the commitment to achieve 31 million hectares of MPAs by 2030. MPAs benefit both biodiversity and fisheries management by protecting habitats and protecting breeding populations of important marine organisms. The basis of all of our work is scientific data. Our teams of marine biologists, fisheries scientists, and socioeconomic specialists inform project design with baseline surveys. Regular monitoring of resources informs all subsequent decision making. The Marine Program consists of Seascape Programs, covering the provinces of Aceh, North Sulawesi, North Maluku and West Nusa Tenggara, and the Marine Cross Cutting Program, which consists of four thematic teams - Policy, Science, Shark-Rays and Knowledge Management teams.
WCS is implementing several marine projects focused on the seascapes of West Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, North Maluku and Aceh with funding from the German government and supervision by the German development bank (KfW). The projects aim to conserve Indonesia’s diverse marine ecosystems and important fisheries through creation and improvement of MPAs and improved management of commercially and ecologically important fisheries. It will address threats of overfishing, destructive fishing and loss of marine habitats.
Position Objectives
WCS is responsible for the preparation, implementation and operation of the KfW-supported Marine Project. Thus, all project activities must comply with KfW’s Sustainability Guidelines. WCS is required to apply the interim GCF Safeguard System and be in compliance with International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards, World Bank Operational Policies, and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines. The objective of these safeguards and systems is to support the assessment of risks and potential impacts resulting from the Project by setting out the principles, guidelines, and procedures to assess, avoid, reduce, mitigate, and/or offset potential adverse environmental and social impacts and to enhance positive Project impacts and opportunities. This is to ensure that potential adverse environmental and social impacts that may be generated as a result of each project activity are identified and appropriate safeguard instruments are prepared to avoid, minimize, mitigate and, in such cases where there are residual impacts, offset adverse environmental and social impacts.
WCS has developed the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and its accompanying safeguard documents, namely: Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework (IPPF); the Process Framework (PF) for Management of Access Restrictions and Economic Displacement; and, the Project Social Assessment. In this regard, WCS is seeking an Environmental and Social Safeguard Specialist to provide assistance, guidance, monitoring and evaluation to the implementation of the province-specific Environmental and Socials Management Plans (ESMPs), and assist the WCS Project Coordination Unit (PCU) in monitoring and updating the ESMPs and other related project plans, such as the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), Indigenous People’s Plans (IPPs), Livelihood Restitution Plans (LRPs), and Environmental and Social Codes of Practice (ESCOPs). The other main responsibility includes managing the Project’s Grievance Redress Mechanism.
The Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist will provide the necessary inputs to the projects to ensure that all WCS staff and partners (including government at all levels, contractors, etc) have a full understanding of the safeguard documents and that safeguard measures are implemented by the PCU in a timely and consistent manner. The Specialist will need to ensure full compliance with the ESMPs, ESCOPs, SEP, LRP and IPPs, and where there is non-compliance, to work with the PCU and other key personnel to rectify the issue.
Specific Tasks/Output Deliverables
- Review the current ESMPs and make amendments as necessary (including but not limited to the inclusion of a Grievance Redress Mechanism) based on the IFC and KfW Sustainability Guidelines
- Ensure environmental and social risks are identified (based on the ESMF and ESMP and own observation during project implementation), and where present, avoided, mitigated and appropriately managed
- Oversee the implementation of the safeguard-related plans
- Monitor progress of the implementation of the site-specific ESMPs and other supporting safeguard Plans such as the Environmental and Social Codes of Practices, Indigenous People’s Plans, Livelihood Restitution Plans, and Stakeholder Engagement Plans
- Work with the PCU to ensure reporting, monitoring and evaluation fully address the safeguard issues of the Project; provide a well-documented, evidence-based compliance reports to be incorporated into the project annual reports develop, implement and monitor the progress of the ESMPs of each site and assure the provision of safeguard measures covering social, economic, demographic, cultural and other related aspects in the project activities
- Work with the PCU to develop, implement and monitor progress in implementing the SEP, ESCOPs, LRPs and IPPs of each site
- Develop a simple screening matrix to evaluate the LRP, ESMPs, SEP and IPPs aspects for effective management
- Assist in the implementation of measures to establish a conflict resolution mechanism that will involve creation of an easy to understand and transparent consultation process that is culturally appropriate and readily accessible, and at no cost and without retribution to the party that originated the issue or concern, in accordance with IFC guidelines
- During the Project, provide technical and facilitating support to meetings, seminars, workshops and management bodies and formally represent WCS as necessary in such meetings, workshops, and conferences
- Provide inputs to document lessons learned from project implementation and develop briefing notes for the Country/Deputy Director to improve implementation and coordination of project activities, support decision-making processes and knowledge management.
- Undertake any other duties, as assigned by the Line Manager.
Please note that the above TOR constitutes only the main responsibilities and duties of this position. As WCS Indonesia Program is a flexible organization, staff members are expected to undertake any other tasks that are allocated to them but which are not part of their regular TOR
Position Requirements
- The Safeguard Specialist will be based in Bogor with regular travel to Aceh, North Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara and North Maluku project sites.
- Hold a Master’s degree in a relevant area such as social science, marine science, natural resource management, agricultural development, climatology/meteorology, water resources management, environmental sciences, disaster management, development studies, and/or related fields.
- At least 5 years of relevant working experience in safeguards issues, ideally involving international donor agencies.
- Previous experience in developing and/or implementing environmental and social safeguard strategies for organizations or projects is a must.
- Strong knowledge and understanding of national institutional contexts in Aceh, North Sulawesi, North Maluku and West Nusa Tenggara is an advantage.
- Experience in working with local government or NGOs on marine/agriculture/livelihood related activities.
- Very good inter-personal skills and demonstrated ability to engage and work with local communities; strong analytical skills; exceptional ability in communication and networking, negotiations and mediation.
- Very good command of both Indonesian and English language and excellent writing skills and the ability to prepare clear and concise reports.
- Computer literacy skills (MS Words, Excel, PowerPoint etc).
- Good interpersonal skills to deal with a diverse group of contacts, ability to be a team player and work in multi-cultural working environment.
The position is for Indonesian nationals only. WCS encourages people to apply with management experience in sectors other than the non-governmental and/or conservation sectors. Remuneration will be commensurate with skills and experience and the position comes with full set of employment benefits. WCS is an equally opportunities employer.
Please send a one page cover letter and a CV in English to wcsindonesia@wcs.org not later than 27 November 2019 stating in the subject line “Environmental and Social Safeguard Specialist_(name)”.
Please also include a portfolio of your previous work or links to blogs or galleries online.
No correspondence, only short-listed candidates will be notified.