Social and Environmental Safeguards Specialist
2026-04-15T04:35:00+00:00
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
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https://www.fao.org/home/en
CONTRACTOR
Kampala
Kampala
00256
Uganda
Professional Services
Social Services & Nonprofit, Civil & Government, Agribusiness, Agricultural Services & Products, Environment, Human Rights, Non-profits, Foundations & Philanthropists, Agronomist
2026-04-28T17:00:00+00:00
8
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 into 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.
The project GCP/UGA/077/GCF on “Uganda REDD-plus RBP for results period 2016-2017†funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) aims at addressing the main drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Uganda, through reduction of emissions while laying the foundation for sustainable development in the country´s land use and forestry sector. It builds on over a decade of national commitment and international collaboration and aims at promoting sustainable forest management through climate-smart agriculture, improved management of forest resources, and forest restoration. These efforts will strengthen community resilience and will contribute to Uganda's commitments such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP). FAO supports Uganda to (i) design and adopt national contributions to the mitigation of climate change through REDD+, including the provision of additional social and environmental benefits, and in conformity with the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC)'s REDD+ safeguards; (ii) implement national contributions to the mitigation of climate change through REDD+ with the necessary institutional arrangements in place; (iii) develop and improve the Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) capacities, institutional framework and carbon rights to access results-based payments.
Reporting Lines
Under the general supervision of the FAO Representative in Uganda and the direct technical supervision of the Team Leader, Forestry FAO Uganda, and the technical backstopping of the Lead Technical Officer, the social and environmental safeguards specialist will work with other programme specialists, and analysts in the implementation of the project
Technical Focus
The main role of the Social and Environmental Safeguards Specialist is ensuring social inclusion through optimal involvement of women, youth, indigenous people and other vulnerable groups. She/he will ensure that safeguards requirements are respected, including periodic reporting on how the safeguards are monitored and addressed in the project implementation.
Tasks and responsibilities
The Social and Environmental Safeguards Specialist will perform the following tasks:
- Lead the design of activities related to Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) to be held during the Project Inception Phase.
- Lead the development and implementation of the FAO Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and complementary ESS plans.
- Lead the development and monitor the implementation of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan
- Lead the development of the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)
- Ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is applied in community activities where relevant.
- Facilitate stakeholder consultations.
- Support the Project Gender Specialist and provide input into the Project Gender Action Plan.
- Coordinate the implementation and strengthen Uganda’s Safeguards Information System (SIS) and Framework.
- Work closely with the Climate Change Department (CCD) of the Ministry of Water and Environment and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) on the development of Safeguards Summary of Information for the UNFCCC and other safeguards reports.
- Support the development and operationalization of the Benefit Sharing Plan (BSP)
- Build project and local (district) capacities to ensure the application of the safeguards during the project implementation.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
- Advanced degree in social sciences, environmental studies, or related field.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in safeguards, FPIC, BSP and GRM.
- Working knowledge (level C) of English.
- Uganda national.
- Lead the design of activities related to Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) to be held during the Project Inception Phase.
- Lead the development and implementation of the FAO Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and complementary ESS plans.
- Lead the development and monitor the implementation of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan
- Lead the development of the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)
- Ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is applied in community activities where relevant.
- Facilitate stakeholder consultations.
- Support the Project Gender Specialist and provide input into the Project Gender Action Plan.
- Coordinate the implementation and strengthen Uganda’s Safeguards Information System (SIS) and Framework.
- Work closely with the Climate Change Department (CCD) of the Ministry of Water and Environment and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) on the development of Safeguards Summary of Information for the UNFCCC and other safeguards reports.
- Support the development and operationalization of the Benefit Sharing Plan (BSP)
- Build project and local (district) capacities to ensure the application of the safeguards during the project implementation.
- Safeguards
- FPIC
- BSP
- GRM
- Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS)
- Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)
- Stakeholder Engagement Plan
- Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)
- Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)
- Project Gender Specialist
- Safeguards Information System (SIS)
- Benefit Sharing Plan (BSP)
- Advanced degree in social sciences, environmental studies, or related field.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in safeguards, FPIC, BSP and GRM.
- Working knowledge (level C) of English.
- Uganda national.
JOB-69df1574eb040
Vacancy title:
Social and Environmental Safeguards Specialist
Jobs at:
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Deadline of this Job:
Tuesday, April 28 2026
Duty Station:
Kampala | Kampala
Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, April 15 2026, Base Salary: Not Disclosed
JOB DETAILS:
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 into 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.
The project GCP/UGA/077/GCF on “Uganda REDD-plus RBP for results period 2016-2017†funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) aims at addressing the main drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Uganda, through reduction of emissions while laying the foundation for sustainable development in the country´s land use and forestry sector. It builds on over a decade of national commitment and international collaboration and aims at promoting sustainable forest management through climate-smart agriculture, improved management of forest resources, and forest restoration. These efforts will strengthen community resilience and will contribute to Uganda's commitments such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP). FAO supports Uganda to (i) design and adopt national contributions to the mitigation of climate change through REDD+, including the provision of additional social and environmental benefits, and in conformity with the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC)'s REDD+ safeguards; (ii) implement national contributions to the mitigation of climate change through REDD+ with the necessary institutional arrangements in place; (iii) develop and improve the Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) capacities, institutional framework and carbon rights to access results-based payments.
Reporting Lines
Under the general supervision of the FAO Representative in Uganda and the direct technical supervision of the Team Leader, Forestry FAO Uganda, and the technical backstopping of the Lead Technical Officer, the social and environmental safeguards specialist will work with other programme specialists, and analysts in the implementation of the project
Technical Focus
The main role of the Social and Environmental Safeguards Specialist is ensuring social inclusion through optimal involvement of women, youth, indigenous people and other vulnerable groups. She/he will ensure that safeguards requirements are respected, including periodic reporting on how the safeguards are monitored and addressed in the project implementation.
Tasks and responsibilities
The Social and Environmental Safeguards Specialist will perform the following tasks:
- Lead the design of activities related to Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) to be held during the Project Inception Phase.
- Lead the development and implementation of the FAO Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and complementary ESS plans.
- Lead the development and monitor the implementation of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan
- Lead the development of the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)
- Ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is applied in community activities where relevant.
- Facilitate stakeholder consultations.
- Support the Project Gender Specialist and provide input into the Project Gender Action Plan.
- Coordinate the implementation and strengthen Uganda’s Safeguards Information System (SIS) and Framework.
- Work closely with the Climate Change Department (CCD) of the Ministry of Water and Environment and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) on the development of Safeguards Summary of Information for the UNFCCC and other safeguards reports.
- Support the development and operationalization of the Benefit Sharing Plan (BSP)
- Build project and local (district) capacities to ensure the application of the safeguards during the project implementation.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
- Advanced degree in social sciences, environmental studies, or related field.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in safeguards, FPIC, BSP and GRM.
- Working knowledge (level C) of English.
- Uganda national.
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: 12
Level of Education: postgraduate degree
Job application procedure
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.
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