Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Safeguard Officer-NPSA 8-Aden

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Job Description

Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

 The protracted conflict has made Yemen one of the poorest and most food insecure countries in the world. The conflict has destroyed livelihoods and the ability to purchase food. This is being compounded by the impact of climate-related shocks. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic is also poised to have a devastating effect on an already devastated economy and impoverished population. The fishery sector provided job opportunities for more than half a million individuals which supported 1.7 million people, forming 18 percent of the coastal population prior to the conflict. It contributed up to 3 percent of the country’s GDP as the third most important agricultural sector and second primary source of export earnings before the conflict. Yemen’s fisheries sector holds untapped promise in contributing to the national economy, in which the potential of women is underutilized due to social norms. The conflict has caused severe damage to the entire fishery value chain. Overall, the entire fish supply chain has been massively destroyed.

The project aims to improve the economic situation of the population, especially of women in the fisheries sector of Aden as well as quantitative and qualitative improvement of the food situation of the population. The immediate objective of the project is to rehabilitate the fish harbour at Hajif, to restore the minimum requirements for re-launching operations, productivity and establishing effective management of the harbour. Furthermore, the project will contribute to employment creation, especially for youth.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Team Leader of Economic Recovery and Development Unit, and direct supervision of the Fishery Harbour Rehabilitation and Value Chain Development Project Manager and technically overseen by the International Safeguard Specialist, the National OHS Officer will support in management and ensuring that the UNDP’s corporate Social and Environmental Standards (SES) (www.undp.org/ses) are applied to consider the potential environmental and social opportunities that the project may generate and ensure that adverse social and environmental risks and impacts are avoided, minimized, mitigated and managed. The main duties of the Officer are:

  • Contribute to strengthening Fishery Harbour Rehabilitation Project’s Social and Environmental Standards SES measures according to UNDP0020 SES and legal standards and foster a culture of attention to environment, social, health and safety risks during planning and implementation of the project’s activities and interventions.
  • Contribute to the review of existing policies and measures and update according to international standards to ensure application of advanced safeguard policies, frameworks, guidelines, and toolkits.
  • Contribute to development and ensure conducting of SES risk assessment and enforce preventative measures.
  • Develop Environment and Social Management Plan ESMP reports of the port interventions to ensure compliance with UNDP SES.
  • Conduct regular field visits to monitor compliance to safeguards, and to identify potential areas of contractors’ non-compliance with the environmental and social safeguards policies of the fish harbor project and suggest required mitigation measures.
  • Provide particular oversight and support for activities that have higher levels of risk. 
  • Monitor SES compliance during work on progress, construction, and operational phases to follow up and monitor the status of implementing UNDP SES, prepare regular monitoring reports-based monitoring plan.
  • Ensure compliance with the requirements of public consultation, disclosure, and Grievance Redress Mechanisms including the establishment of toll-free call centers for the GRM, formation and functioning of appropriate review bodies for review of the complaints from the call centers; and initiate appropriate response to the relevant complaints, monitor the effectiveness of GRM for each activity and propose any improvement needed in order to resolve and handle complaints at site. 
  • Alert relevant authority to prevent or stop unsafe acts. Accordingly report justifications for the suspension of any unsafe acts, processes or sub-project that may have adverse social or environmental impacts until proper mitigation measures are in place and corrective actions are taken in accordance with the set safeguard frameworks.
  • Develop database and update record on non-compliance to SES requirements and investigate cases to determine causes and handle compensation claims. 
  • Contribute to improve and check the ESMP’s quality Assurance. 
  • Contribute to the preparation of reports on SES issues occurrences and provide statistical information to the Fish Harbour Rehabilitation Project’s Project Manager.
  • Participate in Fish Harbour Rehabilitation Project’s planning processes to identify any SES concerns and propose mitigative and preventive measures to control and manage adverse safeguards risks and issues.
  • Contribute to the investigation of fatality cases and high-impact injuries to ensure all due obligations are taken, compliance measures are respected, and deceased parties are fully aware of their rights and compensation and settlements are concluded rightfully and legitimately without any harm. As well as in drafting the report on the closure of the cases.
  • Keep the Fish Harbour Rehabilitation Project’s PM informed on progress as well as on emerging challenges challenges and lessons learned on regular basis. 
  • Contribute to the development of SES training plans/materials and execution of the training programs to enhance the capacities of the port authority. 
  • Ensure the protection of the marine environment in the harbor and propose a sound waste management system.
  • Perform any other relevant duties as assigned by the supervisor. 
  • Provide updates and track sheets to ESMPs and keep reporting line timely
  • Perform any other relevant duties as assigned by the supervisor.
  • Ensure gender aspects is integrated within environmental and social Safegaurds assessment and mitigation measures in coordination with the project gender officer. 
  • The incumbent of the position should avoid any kind of discriminatory behavior including gender discrimination and ensure that:
  • Human rights and gender
  • equality is prioritized as an ethical principle within all actions.
  • Activities are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental Standards of UNDP”.
  • Any kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, gender are respected within all implementations including data production;
  • Differentiated needs of women and men are considered;
  • Inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is created;
  • Necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings etc. introduced.

Institutional Arrangement 

  • The person will report directly to the Project manager and will be technically overseen by the International Safeguard Specialist
  • The person ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work.
     

Competencies
Core

Achieve Results:

  •  LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively:

  •  LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 

Learn Continuously

  •  LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility 

  •  LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 

Act with Determination 

  •  LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner

  •  LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

  •  LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies (insert up to 7 competencies)
Thematic Area Name Definition
Cross-Functional Competencies
II. Business Management Results-based Management

Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance

and demonstrable results

Risk Management Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.
Change Management Ability to prepare, support, and help individuals and teams in designing and implementing organizational change
Monitoring Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
Technical Competencies

Ethics  

UN policy knowledge – ethics 

Knowledge and understanding of the UN Staff Regulations and Rules and other policies relating to ethics and integrity 

Digital & Innovation 

Data collection 

Being skilled in Data Sorting, Data Cleaning, Survey Administration, Presentation and Reporting including collection of Real-Time Data (e.g. mobile data, satellite data, sensor data). 

Audit & Investigation – Investigation 

Collection and analysis of evidence 

Ability to extract and analyse all relevant types of evidence and be able to draw reasonable inferences and conclusions. 

Security Services 

Safety management ( including Air, Road, Fire) 

Knowledge of air, road, and fire safety programmes/systems and ability to assess risks and identify mitigation measures 

Required Skills and Experience
Min Academic Education

  • Master’s degree or equivalent in environmental management, engineering and social sciences, or any other related fields. 
  • Or Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Min Years of relevant Work Experience

  • Minimum 2 years experience (with bachelor’s degree) working in environmental management, engineering, and social sciences, or any other relevant programmes/projects in the field of development, crisis prevention and recovery and/or humanitarian settings.

Required skills, knowledge and competencies 

Required Skills

  • Field experience in the field of environmental and social safeguard planning and implementation for community-based initiatives and projects
  • Has experience in climate adaptation, integrated water resource management, and natural resources management,
  • Excellent knowledge of safeguard legislations and procedures
  • Excellent knowledge of potentially hazardous materials or practices
  • Experience with writing policies and procedures for safeguards and risk management
  • Familiarity with conducting data analysis and reporting statistics
  • Proficient in MS Office
  • Working knowledge of safeguard management information system
  • Outstanding organizational skills
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Team player
  • Good time-management skills
  • Great interpersonal and communication skills
  • Has completed relevant trainings or certifications
  • Relevant experience working with an UN agency or other humanitarian agency is desirable.
  • Experience in the area of emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, humanitarian/development environment, early recovery field coordination is an asset

Desired additional skills and competencies 

  • Practical experience in environmental and social safeguards and risk management procedures and guidelines. 
  • Demonstrates knowledge and experience in the water, climate, land and natural resources management
  • Demonstrated experience with monitoring and evaluation.
  • Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.
  • Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments
  • Knowledge of UN system programming is desirable.
  • Excellent knowledge of safeguard legislations and procedures
  • Knowledge of UNDP programme management procedures and policies, including experience with Atlas (Resource Management System) is an asset.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment and respects diversity.
  • Works collaboratively with colleagues and shares knowledge to achieve organizational objectives.

Required language(s) (at working level)

  • Fluency in English and Arabic, both written and oral

Disclaimer
Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders) 
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 

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