Conservation International | Senior Manager, Ncs Environmental And Social Safeguards

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.
POSITION SUMMARY - This position is open to CI offices in Africa: Botswana, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, or South Africa. Applicants must meet the legal requirements to reside and work in the countries listed.
Conservation International (CI) is seeking an Environmental and Social Safeguards Senior Manager to support the organizational implementation of the CI Safeguard System and provide technical advice and guidance to CI's Portfolio of Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) carbon projects in our Africa region. Reporting to the Senior Director, Environmental and Social Accountability with a second line of report and coordination to the Senior Director, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) Regional Engagement and NCS Partnerships for Africa, the Senior Manager will join a growing team focusing on the critical issues of protecting people and nature through the implementation and management of CI's Safeguard System. This position will provide targeted support to CI's carbon project portfolio across the Africa region to meet CI's safeguards, gender, and human rights-based obligations in support of our organizational commitment to equitable conservation for future generations.
The primary duties of this position include managing the application of the CI Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) to the origination, design, and implementation of NCS carbon projects in multiple Africa landscapes. The position will be a blended role with a focus on safeguards and gender training, support, monitoring & evaluation for CI NCS carbon project teams across the region. This includes supporting the development and quality control of safeguard & gender plans and project documents, ensuring projects comply with CI Safeguard System policies and requirements as well as the relevant safeguard requirements of carbon validation and verification bodies (VVBs) and the international frameworks on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The position will provide technical support to project teams and partners, supporting the development of outreach and training materials, conducting online and in-person safeguard training, and collecting, analyzing, and presenting safeguards performance data.
The ideal candidate will bring expertise in NCS carbon project delivery, monitoring, and evaluation with a passion for protecting the rights of people – including the unique rights of Indigenous peoples, and have the ability to work with and across cultures, geographies, and work styles to advance our commitment to the diverse communities that rely on essential natural resources for their livelihoods.
Responsibilities Application of the CI ESMF to CI NCS Carbon Portfolio in Africa Provide guidance to project teams and delivery partners regarding the preparation and timely submission of safeguard screening forms, draft, revised, and finalized Safeguard plans, work plans, budget allocations, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and reports.Provide guidance to project teams and partners to design culturally appropriate and tailored gender approaches that ensure women's and men's equitable decision-making & governance, benefit sharing, and access & control of resources with measurable gender-related outcomes.Support the Safeguards team to enhance and adjust CI Safeguards system to incorporate Indigenous knowledge systems and governance, Indigenous legal frameworks, and safeguards protocols drawing on existing international frameworks and conventions, especially in areas related to NCS and other nature credits.Inform the preparation of safeguards-related materials and analysis for feasibility studies, project design documents, monitoring reports, and support validation and verification processes as needed.Conduct a review of safeguard screening forms, plans, reports, and project documents to ensure completeness and quality control.Conduct due diligence and design action plans for project delivery partners.Assess national and institutional safeguard policies and frameworks to determine risks and opportunities with funding partnerships.Ensure project documents mainstream the approved Safeguard plans.Ensure projects include appropriate Safeguard staff and budget, and Safeguard flow downs in grant agreements and contracts.Establish routine check-ins with project teams and delivery partners to provide Safeguard technical support as needed. Identify and work closely with projects to ensure the implementation of Safeguard plans complies with CI Safeguard policies, NCS principles, and the requirements of any relevant certification entity as well as international protocols and conventions related to the rights of Indigenous Peoples.Ensure the disclosure of all Safeguard plans.Organize and prepare Safeguard presentations for NCS Carbon project preparation and implementation kick-off meetings.Contribute to divisional impact reporting on E&S safeguards application within the portfolio.Provide support to the effective operation of project-level or CI country-level grievance redress mechanisms, including assisting in dealing with complaints from external parties affected by CI projects concerning the application of safeguards.Participate in relevant safeguard subject area networks and stay updated on safeguards standards pertinent to conservation.Perform related duties as assigned.
Training and Administrative Support Organize and provide Safeguard training for NCS carbon project teams and delivery partners.Organize and participate in CI Global Safeguard Team organized safeguard partnerships, meetings, webinars, workshops, and seminars.Organize information sharing/exchange sessions with the project's Safeguard staff and the Africa field division teams.Support Safeguard aspects of project consultancies including the preparation and publishing of TORs, evaluation and short-listing of bids, contract signing and management, and receipt of deliverables.Provide coordination support to the IPLC Engagement and NCS Senior Director in Africa in areas related to NCS carbon projects and safeguards.Support good-faith negotiation processes as part of project development, especially where Indigenous peoples are involved.Compile and provide Safeguard information as requested from internal/external reviewers, evaluators, and consultants.Organize and maintain Safeguard files and folders and ensure Safeguard information and knowledge management products are stored in internal shared files and on CI project website.
Monitoring and Evaluation Undertake reviews of progress/monitoring reports on the environment and social safeguards for ongoing projects in coordination with relevant M&E units.Collect and analyze on a periodic basis, data related to the Safeguard Indicators.Develop and implement stakeholder surveys/analyses as requested.Support and/or participate in supervision mission visits and review of projects.Identify and work closely with projects to ensure safeguard Monitoring and Evaluation and Reporting.
WORKING CONDITIONS Extended work hours may be required, including non-traditional work hours as needed in a global organization.International travel up to 30% time in the region may be required.Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process.This role will be a 1-year fixed-term assignment.
Qualifications Required Bachelor's degree in environmental science or related field.5 to 7 years of experience working with project/program design, implementation, monitoring, and compliance of public or private donor-funded projects in the area of environment, conservation, and/or development.Working knowledge and understanding of the issues related to environmental and social safeguard standards, stakeholder engagement, accountability, and grievance mechanisms, working with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPs & LCs) in Africa, gender mainstreaming, and designing/implementing environmental and social management plans and environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs).Strong capacity to communicate with government agencies, Indigenous peoples, local communities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders.Familiarity with UNFCCC Cancún safeguards and relevant Voluntary Carbon Market safeguard standards.Strong ability to work independently and/or remotely, while maintaining productivity.Experience in cross-cultural consultation, training, capacity building, and collaboration.Demonstrated ability to work in team environments and cultivate productive partnerships across a diversity of stakeholders.Excellent English oral and written communication skills, including public speaking.
Preferred Experience designing and implementing NCS carbon projects.Experience working with regional, subregional, or national organizations of Indigenous and local communities in Africa.Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with Indigenous Peoples on NCS projects, including the use and management of protocols and frameworks related to the rights of Indigenous Peoples (e.g. ensuring the respect of their Free Prior and Informed Consent, UNDRIP).Fluency (oral and written) in French and/or Portuguese as relevant to the CI NCS/carbon Africa Portfolio.Experience in working with MS PowerPoint and SharePoint.Experience in producing and disseminating knowledge management products and training materials.Experience in designing and conducting training.Experience in conducting M&E, including developing performance indicators, designing surveys, analyzing data, and presenting findings in a user-friendly manner.
To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.
See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE
Conservation International is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility-committed employer. We are proud to have a diverse, global workforce where employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, position requirements, business needs, market conditions, merit, and other legitimate nondiscriminatory factors.
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