BACKGROUND

Currently, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE) is implementing the East Africa Skills for Structural Transformation and Regional Integration (EASTRIP). EASTRIP is a regional project in three East African countries including Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. The project aims to increase access, improve quality of technical and vocational education and facilitate regional integration. The objectives and results of the project will be achieved through

• Strengthening seven TVET flagship institutes which are found in Ethiopia
• Creating national TVET enabling environment and
• Enhancing regional collaborative capacity in TVET and project coordination.

OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

Establishing the National Project Implementation Unit (NPIU) is one of the primary tasks to coordinate and effectively implement the project. MoSHE hereby invites applications from qualified candidates for the position of Safeguard Specialist for successful implementation of the EASTRIP-Ethiopia. The appointment of the specialist will assist the smooth start-up and accelerate the speed of the project implementation.

 SCOPE OF THE WORK/ASSIGNMENT

The safeguard specialist will be responsible for the following  duties  : 

• Provide overall coordination and assistance in the implementation of the ESMF and RPF for the EASTRIP-Ethiopia
• Appraise the social and environmental aspect of the project intervention
• Establish the system of screening forms, set out in the environmental and social management framework /ESMF/and overseas their smooth operation
• Establish monitoring and evaluating system for the implementation of the/ESMF/.
• Provide overall coordination and assistance in the implementation of the /ESMF/.
• Follow up planning, monitoring and reporting on the environment, social and gender mainstreaming activities of the project
• Provide technical advice on labor and working condition.
• Facilitate communication among various project stakeholder to promote environmentally and socially sound project implementation with sustainable development outcomes.
• Review project plan, design, cost, and bid documents to ensure environment and social factors and mitigations are incorporate and they are in harmony with environment and social requirement.
• Prepare guidelines tools and notes for use in the project based on relevant environmental and social policies, acts and regulations/directives of the Ethiopian Government and relevant safeguarded polices of World Bank group.
• Support the procurement specialist at EASTRIP in making sure that the bidding documents clearly cover the health, safety social and environmental component with appropriate provisions of the same for the contractors to bid.
• Undertake site visits during project execution and operation to assess how social and environment mitigation measures are progressing in minimizing and management identified impacts.
• Communicate with vender, contractors, and subcontractors for necessary environmental and social compliance.
• Produce and document environmental and social safeguards implementation reports;
• Ensure that project specific Grievance Mechanism is in place to address environmental and Social including GBV issues
• Under take other duties as per the requirement of the project or as directed by project coordinator.
• Follow up and ensure inclusiveness community consultations
• Follow up and ensure the health and safety of the community including populations at risk and vulnerable groups
• Establish a monitoring and evaluation system for the implementation of the ESMF and RPF
• Conduct periodic field visits for environmental and social safeguards compliance monitoring;
•  Assist in preparation of site specific environmental and social management tools
• Write quarterly and annual environmental and social safeguards compliance report which will shared with the Bank
• Make sure that annual planning and budgeting sufficiently considers environmental and social risk management activities.
• Follow up the status of implementation of remedial actions which may be proposed during compliance monitoring in order to address outstanding safeguards issues, if any
• Make sure that occupational health and safety issues are duly considered during the implementation of the Project so that the likelihood of occurrence accidents or fatalities (incidents) due to the Project activities could be avoided.
• Report to the Bank and the Ministry immediately if any unanticipated environmental or social risk arise (including accidents or fatalities, if any, related to the Project activities)

DELIVERABLES

The specialist must prepare monthly, quarterly, semi-annually and annually reports in his/her work to the EASTRIP PCIU, reflecting deliverables listed in the scope of work above. 

MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES

Contractually, the specialist will be accountable to the Project Coordinator of EASTRIP to whom all reports and deliverables as per the ToR should be submitted.

DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The duration of the assignment will be a time-based contract and is for one year, but extendable depending on satisfactory performance. 

INPUTS PROVIDED BY THE EMPLOYER

The employer will avail office furniture, office equipment, communication facilities and other materials required by the safeguard specialist to perform his/her duties as specified in this TORs. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The candidate should have a minimum MA Degree in fields of Environmental Science, Environmental Development, Environmental Impact Assessment, Social Development, Development Economics or other related field

The candidate should have at least five years working experience as Environmental & Social Safeguards, Gender and inclusion specialist and/or gender with environmental and social inclusion specialist.

•  The specialist must be well versed with the World Bank guidelines/ Ethiopian environmental policy and guideline on Environment and Social Safeguards systems and with experience in drafting documents of similar nature.

Added bonus to have served at least two years at a senior position in TVET programme/project management, preferably proven and progressive experience working on advocacy, gender and women empowerment or any other environmental and social related issues

In addition, the candidate is expected to have: 

• Excellent communication skills and practical experience in designing and implementing training programs
• Excellent command of English, both written and spoken
• Excellent skill in writing reports (performance, progress and minutes) in English
• Excellent skill in the use of computers software
• Good inter-personal skills

LEVEL OF EFFORT AND TIMETABLE

It is expected that the assignment will start as soon as possible depending on availability. The Specialist will be based at MoSHE with travel to regional cities as necessary.

Contract: one-year contract, with possible extension upon satisfactory performance of the Specialist. Remunerations: Negotiable / dependent on qualifications and experience.