Environmental & Social Safeguards Expert

Background

Strengthening Drought Resilience 2 (SDR 2) is a project implemented in the Afar region of Ethiopia by the Ministry of Agriculture (Project Executing Agency) and the Regional Bureau of Agriculture Livestock and Natural Resource Development (BoLANRD, Project Implementing Agency). The project is supported by implementing consultants consisting of the Consortium of GITEC-IGP GmbH (GITEC) and the NGO Support for Sustainable Development (SSD).  GITEC is an international consulting company based in Cologne, Germany. SSD is a national NGO established in 2003 with many years of work experience in Afar region with focus on small-scale irrigation.

Project Description

The project Strengthening Drought Resilience 2 (SDR 2) is focusing on improved water supply for pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Afar region. This objective is pursued among others through the construction of sand dams and submerged dams. Two sand dams are being constructed in in Ada’ar and Kori Woredas:

• Dakha Bhuyi Sand Dam and Submerged Dam, Eli Badu Sand Dam (Kori Woreda)
• Fursa, Dubra, Hafalu Sand Dams (Adaar Woreda)

Construction of the project is expected to begin in September 2023 and continue until end of 2024, pending and extension of the project phase by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development BMZ through KfW Development Bank.

Role of the Expert:

• Oversee compliance with all environmental and social safeguards requirements by Contractors;
• Conduct safeguards screening using essential tools to prevent and mitigate undue harm to people during the development process;
• Identify all key potential social and environmental impacts and risks of a project and ensure that their magnitude and significance are well understood;
• Provide technical expertise on key issues related to environmental and social impact assessment and on sustainability risks in the implementation of sand dam projects;
• Conduct awareness creation and sensitization of stakeholders, including communities and vulnerable groups on environmental and social dimensions of the project along with suggested safeguards;
• Regularly inspect work environments and employees’ performance to spot problems or nonconformities, and enforce necessary measures when unsafe behaviours or practices that seem risky or unhealthy are found;
• Ensure that all Health, Safety and Environment policies, procedures, rules and regulations are adhered to and are regularly reviewed, updated and communicated;
• Ensure the contractor meets its statutory obligations in all areas pertaining to health, safety and welfare at work, including regular reporting;
• Ensure that safety inspections, risk assessments, working procedures are managed, and contractors and employees are aware of their responsibilities in relation to health and safety issues;
• Help contractors to understand and implement the concept of Occupational Health and Safety issues at their working environment;
• Organize environmental and social safeguards orientation and awareness for construction sites labour and local community.

Project title: Strengthening Drought Resilience in Ethiopia (SDR-2)

Period of project: Approximately 09/2023 – 09/2024

Duration of Assignment: 4 months

Country: Ethiopia 

Qualifications:

Education:

• MSc or degree in Environmental Engineering, Environmental science, or related discipline

Requirements and Skill:

• Good knowledge and at least 7 years of practical experience in environmental and social safeguarding; environment and social management framework (ESMF) development; environmental and social impact assessments; and environmental and social management plan (ESMP) development and monitoring;
• High inter-personal, communication and analytical skills;
• Prepare and/or monitor the application of ESMP’s and all necessary environmental and social safeguards instruments for the respective works;

Regional experience:

• Experience in work in rural areas in dry lands (lowland Ethiopia such as Afar or Somali region).

Donor experience:

• Previous experience with work for donor-funded projects in similar positions.

Language skills:

• Proficiency in the English language;
• Proficiency in Afar language is an advantage.