Job Description
Duties and Responsibilities
The PMU will be headed by the Project Coordination Specialist (PCS). The ESS Analyst will report directly to the Project Coordination Specialist. The PMU will operate under the overall guidance of the National Project Director (NPD) — as assigned by MoEWRI. The ESS Analyst will work closely with the GESI and M&E Evaluation Analyst.
The Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Analyst will be responsible for ensuring that all project activities comply with the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and related safeguard standards of UNDP and the GCF. The Analyst will oversee the preparation and implementation of site-specific Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Indigenous Peoples’ Plan , monitor compliance, and provide technical advice to mitigate risks associated with lake lowering, Eco-DRR measures, and early warning system interventions. Key duties include supporting risk assessments, establishing and operating the grievance redress mechanism, strengthening the capacity of implementing partners and communities on safeguards, and reporting on safeguards performance to the Project Management Unit, UNDP, and GCF. The Analyst will also document good practices and contribute to knowledge-sharing platforms to promote replication of safeguards approaches across the region. The role will conclude with the submission of final safeguards performance reports and integration of lessons into the project’s terminal evaluation and closure. The ESS Analyst will be responsible for the following key functions:
Prepare, implement and monitor Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) and Indigenous Peoples Plan (IPP):
- Oversee the preparation of site-specific ESMPs in line with the project’s Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and IPP based on the project’s IPPF.
- Ensure ESMPs and IPP address potential risks related to lake-lowering works, Eco-DRR interventions, early warning systems, and community-based activities.
- Oversee the integration of mitigation measures into contractor agreements and project implementation processes.
- Track implementation of ESMP and IPP commitments across all project sites and ensure compliance with UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards and GCF requirements.
- Conduct regular field visits, inspections, and monitoring of contractors, communities, and implementing partners.
- Prepare compliance reports and recommend corrective actions where risks or non-compliance are identified.
Undertaking of risk assessments and impact analysis:
- Conduct environmental and social screening of activities to identify potential risks, cumulative impacts, and opportunities for risk reduction.
- Ensure assessments cover biodiversity, water quality, ecosystem services, cultural heritage, labour and working conditions, and community health and safety.
- Advise on adaptive management strategies to address emerging risks during implementation.
Strengthenning of institutional and community capacity on safeguards:
- Provide technical support to government partners (DHM, DoFSC, MoFE) and local authorities on environmental and social safeguards.
- Build community awareness on environmental protection, occupational health and safety, and social risk management.
- Develop toolkits and guidelines for safeguard implementation and monitoring.
Support grievance redress and stakeholder engagement:
- Operationalize the project’s Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), ensuring accessibility for women, indigenous peoples, and vulnerable groups.
- Monitor and document stakeholder engagement activities and ensure compliance with the Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
- Provide technical advice on conflict-sensitive approaches and resolution of safeguard-related grievances.
Plan, monitor, report and document on safeguards implementation and lessons on safeguards:
- Integrate safeguards commitments into project annual workplans, budgets, and MEL framework.
- Provide regular updates on safeguards performance to the Project Management Unit (PMU), Project Board, UNDP, and GCF.
- Support mid-term and final evaluations by ensuring environmental and social performance is comprehensively assessed.
- Capture good practices, lessons learned, and innovations in safeguards implementation.
- Contribute to project knowledge products, case studies, and regional exchanges to support replication of safeguards approaches.
- Ensure reporting reflects alignment with international standards, including the Sendai Framework and Nepal’s environmental policies.
- Integrate GESI perspectives into safeguard assessments and compliance monitoring, ensuring environmental and social safeguard standards address the rights and needs of women, men, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and marginalized groups.
- Develop and apply GESI-sensitive safeguard tools and frameworks to identify, mitigate, and monitor potential social risks and adverse impacts on vulnerable groups in project interventions.
- Facilitate meaningful stakeholder engagement, ensuring that women, youth, indigenous communities, and socially excluded groups are actively consulted and their voices reflected in safeguard planning and decision-making.
- Ensure inclusive grievance redress mechanisms, accessible to all groups—including those with low literacy, language barriers, or mobility constraints—to strengthen accountability and trust.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Job Specification
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced University Degree (Master´s degree or equivalent) in Development Studies, Social Science, Political Science, Environmental Science or other relevant discipline is required, or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields in combination with additional 2 years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of master’s degree.
Experience:
- A minimum of 2 years (with a master’s degree) or 4 years (with a bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at strategic level in environmental and social safeguards or related fields.
Required skills:
- Excellent knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with GIS, remote sensing, and other digital tools for environmental and social monitoring.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:
- Experience in coordinating with diverse stakeholders (government, contractors, communities, development partners) to facilitate safeguards compliance and risk management.
- Proven knowledge of environmental and social safeguards frameworks, including Social and Environmental Standards (SES) and GCF requirements.
- Experience preparing Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) and implementing Environmental and Social Management Frameworks (ESMFs) is highly desirable.
- Practical experience with occupational health and safety (OHS) standards, labor management, and community health and safety safeguards.
- Knowledge of biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, and environmental protection relevant to mountain and high-altitude ecosystems.
- Experience operationalizing and monitoring grievance redress mechanisms (GRMs) and facilitating stakeholder engagement processes.
- Knowledge of climate change adaptation projects, including Eco-DRR measures, early warning systems, and water-related infrastructure.
- Experience working with government agencies at national and local levels, ideally in Nepal or similar federal contexts.
- Experience with donor compliance requirements, safeguards audit processes, and project governance frameworks.
- Prior experience with UNDP or GCF-financed projects.
- Experience in demonstrating ability to document lessons learned and contributing to knowledge products on safeguards implementation.
Required Languages:
- Fluency in English and Nepali is required.
- Knowledge of any other national language will be an asset.
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