Deadline: 26 June, 2021

Location: Tunis, Tunisia

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is seeking applications from eligible applicants for the post of Chief Environmental Safeguards and Compliance Officer.

AfDB’s mission is to spur sustainable economic development and social progress in its regional member countries (RMCs).

Responsibilities

• Assess the environmental risk associated with bank-funded operations and prepare/contribute to the categorisation memorandum
• Assess and/or ameliorate the nature of the environmental studies prepared by borrowers/clients to capture all relevant environmental concerns
• Analyse and mainstream relevant and cross-cutting environmental issues into bank-funded operations, particularly issues related to stakeholder engagement, biodiversity and resources efficiency and climate change vulnerability
• Document and recommend lessons learnt on environmental sustainability to integrate in the design and implementation modalities of new operations to enhance environmental benefits
• Assist borrowers/clients for the finalisation of the terms of reference (ToRs) for the preparation of environmental and social assessment (ESA) documents, strategic environmental and social assessment (SESA), environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA), environmental and social management framework (ESMF), environmental and social management system (ESMS), resettlement action plan (RAP), environmental audit (AE), hazard and risk assessment (HRA)
• Review the ESA documents submitted by the borrowers/clients as of the ISS and other bank requirements
• Draft the inputs for the technical sections on environmental aspects in project concept notes (PCNs), project appraisal reports (PARs), project completion reports (PCRs) and any other project-related report
• Draft and/or ameliorate reporting templates for use in implementing and monitoring environmental aspects and components of projects and programmes and prepare, where applicable, action plans to bring projects and programmes in compliance with bank’s environmental and social requirements
• Liaise with co-financiers to ensure consistency in the mainstreaming of social safeguard concerns
• Participate in the formulation, review and/or revision of the bank environmental and social safeguard policies, procedures, and guidelines
• Provide policy guidance to bank teams on environmental safeguard issues to enhance their awareness and the capacity of the projects and programmes to comply with the bank’s requirements
• Contribute to the development and implementation of capacity building and training programmes for staff within the bank and in RMCs
• Participate in, contribute, and represent the bank in internal and external trainings and conferences on environmental issues as well as other activities for advocacy, dissemination, and knowledge building
• Develop and/or contribute to the development of innovative knowledge products on environmental sustainability, environmental safeguards of bank-financed projects and programmes

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences (Biology, Ecology, Geography, Chemistry, Natural Resources Management, Agronomy, Forestry) or a related discipline
• Seven years, minimum, of relevant professional experience in environmental assessment and management, including the preparation and implementation of environmental safeguards risk management instruments, land management, etc
• Experience with international organisations or multilateral development banks will be a plus
• Demonstrable knowledge and practice of the operational safeguards policies, procedures, and practices of major bilateral and multilateral partner development agencies in regional member countries, particularly with respect to infrastructure projects
• Extensive experience in conducting environmental assessments and development of effective tools
• Ability to coach others in the application of the tools
• Demonstrate skills in mainstreaming environmental and social, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in operations
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to deal with sensitive issues in a multicultural environment and to build effective working relations with colleagues
• Competence in the use of standard software applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, etc.)
• French and/or English fluency

To apply and for more information, click here.

Photo source: AfDB