Organizational Setting
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.
FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.
FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.
The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.
Specifically, FAO Country Offices:
· advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
· provide technical assistance and deliver core services;
· assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;
· position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and
· ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.
For more than four decades, FAO has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations, the academe and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, mechanization and modernization through improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.
The position will be working under the project GCP /PHI/083/JPN.
An Environment and Social Management Plan (ESMP) outlines measures to mitigate potential environmental and social risks and impacts associated with FAO's agricultural and rural development interventions. It details actions to prevent adverse effects during a project's lifecycle, ensuring compliance with environmental and social safeguards and providing monitoring to confirm mitigation is effective.
Reporting Lines
The Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) Specialist will report to the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme).
Technical Focus
The technical focus of this position is on developing and operationalizing a project-level Environment and Social Management Plan (ESMP) in line with FAO’s safeguard framework, ensuring compliance with national regulations and international standards. It emphasizes risk assessment, institutional capacity building, and resource planning to manage environmental and social impacts throughout project implementation.
Tasks and responsibilities
• Develop a project-level ESMP.
• Compile a summary of key domestic legislative, regulatory and administrative regimes within which the project will operate, with a focus on requirements that will apply to the planning, approval and implementation of activities; research and summarize relevant protocols that are relevant to project planning and implementation, as well as environmental management and due diligence.
• Establish a clear understanding of the institutional requirements, roles and responsibilities for adopting and implementing the ESMP. Importantly, this should include a thorough review of the authority and capability of institutions at different levels and their capacity to manage and monitor ESMP implementation.
• Building on the indicative findings during preparation Identify potential environmental risks and social concerns that may arise as a result of the project.
• Propose realistic and effective arrangements for FAO to develop the capacity to manage environmental and social due diligence processes and activities in the project; propose reporting lines, review and approval functions; identify the required resources and technical assistance measures to establish and maintain capacity for the project duration and beyond; develop a process (incl. timeline, budget, organizational requirements, required trainer profiles and expertise) for building and enhancing the capacity of the institutions responsible for implementing the ESMP.
• Define the requirements for technical assistance to FAO, civil society organizations (CSO), service providers and public sector institutions to implement, manage, supervise, observe or support the implementation of the ESMP.
• Estimate a realistic budget to be allocated for timely implementation of the ESMP in the project execution phase (as per detailed budget).
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• University degree in environmental science, natural resource management, environmental engineering, social sciences, or related field.
• At least 5 years practical experience in environmental and social safeguards, impact assessment, or environmental management planning;
• Working knowledge (level C) of English
• A national of the Philippines or a legal resident with a valid work permit
FAO Core Competencies
· Results Focus
· Teamwork
· Communication
· Building Effective Relationships
· Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
· Ability to work under pressure and adapt to an evolving and complex humanitarian context and within multidisciplinary and different cultural background teams
· Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Tagalog
· General knowledge and skills in the use of standard software, such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)