Social and Environmental Safeguarding (SES) Consultant
Organizational Context
UNICEF operates in over 190 countries, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of children's rights as a calling. UNICEF offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development, fostering a sense of purpose while serving children and communities globally.
Job Purpose
The Social and Environmental Safeguarding (SES) Consultant will support the UNICEF Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO) in rolling out the SES Framework across 22 Country Offices. This role is crucial for embedding risk considerations into programmatic, operational, and strategic planning, complementing existing enterprise risk management. The consultant will assist Country Offices in meeting institutional donor requirements, particularly from IFIs, KfW, and GCF, related to SES. This involves enhancing regional rollout materials, supporting capacity building for staff and partners, and providing recommendations for integrating SES with other risk areas like Data Protection and Supply Chain. The consultancy aims to strengthen UNICEF's commitment to the rights of every child, ensuring safety and compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks.
Responsibilities
The consultant will contribute to the development and enhancement of regional SES-related rollout and implementation materials, ensuring they reflect donor perspectives and Country Office needs while promoting sustainability and simplification. This includes updating SES training modules, developing the Environmental and Social Safeguarding Risk Management Plan (ESRMP) with mitigation measures, creating Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEP), and designing monitoring tools and checklists. The role involves supporting capacity building for UNICEF staff, partners, and vendors on SES implementation. Recommendations will be provided to better integrate SES with other risk areas such as Programme Implementation, Data Protection, Supply, and Operations, including specific advice on Complaints and Feedback Management (CFM) processes, government involvement, and inter-agency feedback channels. Additionally, the consultant will review and address SES-related donor requirements, assess compliance with Environmental and Social Commitment Plans (ESCPs) and donor frameworks, identify gaps, and propose streamlining opportunities. Technical assistance will be provided to Country Offices for designing SES risk management tools, and summary reports on submission quality and trends will be prepared for donors and stakeholders.
Work Experience
Minimum of five years of professional experience in social and environmental safeguarding, risk management, or a related field. Experience in developing and implementing safeguarding policies and frameworks is essential. Experience working with international organizations or UN agencies is desirable.
Skills
Social and Environmental Safeguarding (SES), Risk Management, Policy Development and Implementation, Stakeholder Engagement, Capacity Building, Monitoring and Evaluation, Donor Compliance, Report Writing, UNICEF Operations, Project Management, Data Protection, Complaints and Feedback Management