Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are 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 to ensure zero hunger in the country. FAO provides support in three priority areas: sustainable increase in production and productivity, agriculture-based economic growth, and increased resilience of livelihoods to threats and crisis. The current portfolio of projects in Nigeria includes activities related to agriculture (crop), livestock, Fisheries, Natural Resource management and Food Security Information Management and Analysis.

The incumbent will contribute to the country’s programme and portfolio as foreseen in the project he/she will be assigned to provide technical support.

Reporting Lines

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer, and the overall supervision of the FAO Representative, the incumbent will carry out the following tasks:

Technical Focus

Implementation, monitoring and reporting of environmental and social safeguards, gender mainstreaming and social inclusion interventions in support of project delivery.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Implement the actions established in the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF)& the ESMP in an articulated manner ensuring the integration of gender responsive and socially inclusive approaches, and at the same time initiate the process of territorialization of the components of the SURAGGWA Project in Nigeria
•    Carry out the follow-up and monitoring of the actions of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF & ESMP) established for the SURAGGWA Project in Nigeria, ensuring compliance with environmental, social, gender, and inclusion safeguards.
•    Evaluate and follow up on mitigation and remediation measures of technical and financial assistance processes for small farmers and families of indigenous and farmer’s communities with particular attention to the equitable participation and benefit-sharing of women, men, youth, and vulnerable groups, and the application of methodologies that strengthen their sustainable production systems.
•    Support with remediation and environmental impact mitigation actions regarding the management, protection and/or restoration of agri-food production systems ensuring that gender-differentiated needs, priorities, and capacities are considered in planning and implementation.
•    Participate in meetings and support scheduled training processes, in order to establish the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) integrating gender-responsive approaches regarding the implementation and strengthening of agrifood systems affected by climate change.
•    Orient and inform the project team on the process of application and implementation of the GCF's social and environmental safeguards / FAO gender policy and their linkage to the Safeguards Information Systems - SIS.
•    Develop management indicators associated with social safeguards, sex and age disaggregated data, disability and verify their application and follow-up .
•    Mainstream environmental and social safeguards (ESS), gender equality and social inclusion considerations into institutional capacity-building activities, training programmes, stakeholder engagement processes and implementation arrangements under the SURAGGWA Project.
•    Support the integration of environmental and social safeguards and gender-responsive approaches in the development of non-timber forest product (NTFP) value chains to enhance sustainable livelihoods, equitable participation and benefit-sharing for women, youth and vulnerable groups.
•    Carry out the systematization and analysis of quantitative and qualitative information generated within the framework of the project, including management indicators associated with social safeguards, and those related to indigenous peoples and gender, women's empowerment, youth, and vulnerable groups, ensuring sex-disaggregated and socially inclusive data collection and reporting.
•    Accompany the process of dissemination of the citizen attention mechanism of the SURAGGWA Project in Nigeria, as well as follow up on the complaints, claims, and conflict resolution mechanism (MQRC) of the project is accessible, inclusive, gender-responsive, and culturally appropriate for all stakeholders.
•    Provide technical inputs and support in the preparation of project reports to partners, donors, counterparts, and FAO (e.g. RPAs, Steering committees, etc.). This includes Safeguard Information Summaries (RIS), gender action plan implementation result, gender-related outcomes and indicators, and Safeguard that are reported to the State and the GCF.
•    Accompany the design of intercultural tools and instruments to incorporate the aspects of differential approaches to gender, indigenous peoples including youth / vulnerable groups and integrate social aspects in the different lines of work of the Project in relation to the technical elements.
•    Develop methodologies for differentiated application (according to ecosystem, ecological floor, and products of genetic origin) linked to community and municipal territorial ensuring that gender-responsive approaches are incorporated into land-use planning and the management of water, soil, forests, and biodiversity resources.
•    Coordinate the preparation of technical reports, terms of reference, reports, presentations and any other document required as technical support that is necessary within the framework of the implementation of the Project and the MGAS ensuring the integration of gender equality, social inclusion, and environmental and social safeguard considerations.
•    Any other work related to the subject matter in charge that is required by the project coordinator, which is related to the nature of the position.
•    Undertake any other actions related to the project as requested by FAO
•    Lead the implementation and monitoring of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Gender Action Plan (GAP) and other safeguards instruments to ensure compliance with FAO and GCF requirements.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    National of the country of assignment
•    Advanced university degree in Agricultural Economics, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Natural Resources Management, Forestry, Agriculture, Rural Development or a related field.
•    At least three years of relevant experience in the implementation of FAO, government or donor-funded projects related to environmental and social safeguards, land restoration, natural resources management or rural development.
•    Working knowledge (Level C) of English Working knowledge of at least two predominant languages spoken within the project area (e.g. Hausa, Kanuri and/or Fulfulde) will be an advantage. Kindly note that Hausa (local language) is mandatory.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Work experience in field implementation of environmental, land restoration or natural resource management programmes.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in environmental and social safeguards implementation, including environmental and social risk management.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in gender mainstreaming and social inclusion within community-based environmental and livelihood initiatives.
•    Demonstrated understanding of environmental and social management frameworks, safeguard information systems and compliance requirements in development programmes.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in stakeholder engagement, community participation and coordination with relevant institutions.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in grievance redress, accountability and community feedback mechanisms.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in land restoration, sustainable landscape management and ecosystem rehabilitation initiatives.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in non-timber forest product value chains and climate-resilient livelihood interventions.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in programme monitoring, safeguards reporting and results tracking.
•    Extent and relevance of experience working in Northern Nigeria, particularly in areas affected by land degradation, climate variability and environmental challenges.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

National Social safeguards and Gender specialist - SURAGGWA