The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is recruiting an Environmental and Social Safeguards Officer in Cameroon.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s Degree or Diploma: Possess a master’s degree or equivalent diploma in relevant fields such as Human Rights, Law, Conservation, Environment, or Social Sciences.
- Experience: At least 5 years of experience in managing environmental and social safeguards for projects or programs. This should include multi-stakeholder engagement in areas like rural development or conservation within international development organizations.
- Community Engagement: Proven experience working directly with local communities on development, environmental, or educational projects.
- Cultural Awareness: Preferably knowledgeable about social dynamics in rural Cameroon, particularly regarding indigenous peoples.
- Regional Experience: Experience in Central Africa is highly preferred.
Required Skills and Competencies
- Human Rights and Safeguards: In-depth knowledge of human rights, indigenous peoples’ rights, grievance mechanisms, and social safeguards.
- Legal and Policy Expertise: Strong understanding of legal and policy frameworks related to human rights, resource access, land and forest rights, and wildlife protection in Cameroon.
- Gender Sensitivity: Expertise in developing gender-sensitive or gender-responsive programs.
- Conservation and Resource Management: Familiarity with the complexities at the intersection of conservation and natural resource use.
- Rural Development: Demonstrated knowledge and experience in rural development practices.
- Project Planning: Proficiency in creating and implementing work plans for projects.
- Facilitation and Negotiation: Strong skills in facilitation and negotiation across various levels.
- Technical Proficiency: Solid knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite.
- Bilingual Communication: Excellent oral and written communication skills in both French and English.
Values and Behaviors
- Core Values Alignment: Aligns with the core values of the Government of Cameroon and WWF: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration.
- Behavioral Expectations:
- Strives for impact.
- Listens deeply.
- Collaborates openly.
- Innovates fearlessly.
- Ethical Standards: Acts with the highest levels of integrity, accountability, and transparency.
Mission of the Department
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council has approved the 6-year Congo Basin Sustainable Landscapes Impact Program (CBSL IP), which consists of a regional component managed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and several national projects across the Congo Basin countries. The Cameroon child project is managed by WWF-US as the GEF Agency, executed by the Ministry of Environment Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED), with WWF Cameroon acting as the Financial Administrator.
This project aims to tackle the root causes of forest loss and degradation by implementing strategies that strengthen the integrated management of Cameroon’s globally significant forest landscapes in the Congo Basin. The primary objectives are to protect the region’s biological integrity and enhance economic opportunities and livelihoods for the forest-dependent communities. The project will be carried out over six years through the following five key components:
- Mainstreaming Integrated Land Use Planning (LUP) and Management: Implementing land use planning and management practices that promote sustainable land use across various sectors.
- Enhancing Management Effectiveness and Governance of High Conservation Value Forests: Improving the management and governance of forests, with targeted interventions to protect endangered species.
- Promoting Sustainable Forest Management (SFM): Advancing the sustainable use of forests by focusing on non-timber forest products (NTFP) and hardwood value chains.
- Boosting Biodiversity Benefits through Sustainable Tourism: Enhancing the economic benefits from biodiversity by developing sustainable tourism.
- Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Knowledge Management (KM), and Regional Coordination: Establishing a framework for continuous monitoring, knowledge sharing, and regional coordination to ensure the project’s success.
Target Areas
The project focuses on key trans-frontier forest landscapes in Cameroon, spanning from the Rio Campo seascape on the coast to the Tri-National Dja-Odzala-Minkebe (TRIDOM) and Sangha Tri-National (TNS) landscapes towards the east. The selection of target areas for interventions will be based on site-specific factors such as potential impact, baseline conditions, available co-financing, and the ability to address environmental and social safeguards.
Project Implementation
Given the project’s complexity and the involvement of multiple partners and sub-contractors, coordination and monitoring of environmental and social safeguards are crucial. To manage the day-to-day coordination of local project activities, we are seeking a Landscape Operational Assistant who will be based within the landscapes. This role involves overseeing specific project activities at the local level and ensuring alignment with the project’s goals.
Safeguard Measures
An Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (ESP) have been developed to guide the project. These frameworks will be implemented throughout the project’s lifecycle to prevent, mitigate, or minimize environmental and social safeguard risks. The ESS Officer will provide technical support and continuous follow-up to ensure these safeguards are effectively managed.
Responsibilities
The role involves a range of duties aimed at ensuring the effective implementation and monitoring of environmental and social safeguards for the project. Key responsibilities include:
- Monitoring Safeguard Procedures: Oversee the application of safeguards procedures as outlined in the project’s safeguards documents, ensuring compliance during the implementation of all project activities.
- Advising and Supporting Mitigation Plans: Provide advice and support for implementing mitigation plans. Identify any issues or gaps with sub-contracting partners to ensure that all proposed mitigation measures are carried out according to the agreed Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) implementation plan.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Assist in the ongoing development and execution of the project’s Stakeholder Engagement Plan, aligning with WWF GEF Agency guidelines for stakeholder engagement policy implementation.
- Regular Stakeholder Re-Screening: Ensure regular re-screening of stakeholders at project sites and update the Stakeholder Engagement Plan as needed to reflect any changes.
- Indigenous Peoples Consultation: Facilitate the consultation of Indigenous Peoples (Baka/Bagyéli) through the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process, following the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and in compliance with the WWF GEF Agency Standard on Indigenous Peoples.
- Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement: Use an inclusive approach when engaging with stakeholders. Work closely with the Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist to support project activities that contribute to the sustainable development of local communities and indigenous peoples.
- Safeguards Documentation: Maintain a comprehensive database where all risk screenings, mitigation plans, reports, and reviews are stored. Ensure public disclosure of project safeguards actions for transparency.
- Assisting in Work Plan Development: Assist the project manager in developing the Annual Work Plan/Budget (AWP/B) to ensure the integration of requirements from the ESMP.
- Reporting: Prepare biannual reports on the implementation of the project’s ESMP, providing updates on progress and any issues encountered.
- Monitoring and Adaptive Management: Collaborate with the project Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Specialist to ensure proper monitoring of the ESMP using an adaptive management approach.
- Collaboration with Independent Consultants: Support and work closely with independent consultants hired to develop specific mitigation plans to address additional risks identified during project implementation.
Application Deadline: 30/09/2024
