Regional Environmental and Social Safeguards Coordinator, Sudano-Sahel Job Description Qualification Requirements

Regional Environmental and Social Safeguards Coordinator, Sudano-Sahel | WCS - Wildlife Conservation Society

Regional Environmental and Social Safeguards Coordinator, Sudano-Sahel

WCS - Wildlife Conservation Society Kigali National Mid level Speaks English, French

Application deadline: March 26, 2025

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Summary by Impactpool

The Regional Environmental and Social Safeguards Coordinator will support the Wildlife Conservation Society's regional team in implementing environmental and social safeguarding frameworks across the Sudano-Sahel region. This role involves reviewing donor requirements, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring compliance with global standards. The coordinator will also provide training and capacity building for staff and partners, while promoting gender equality and social inclusion. The position requires collaboration with various stakeholders to enhance the quality of life for local communities reliant on natural resources.

Candidate Requirements:

Advanced degree in social science, law, or relevant field

Minimum 5 years of experience in environmental and social safeguards

Knowledge of best practice frameworks from various donors

Experience working with local communities in relevant projects

Working experience in Africa

Knowledge of human rights and grievance mechanisms

Excellent oral and written communication skills in French and English

Job Description

Position:  Regional Environmental and Social Safeguards Coordinator, Sudano-Sahel  

Reports to:  Technical Director, Sudano-Sahel 

Positions Managed:  N/A  

Location:  Kigali, Rwanda   

Country Program/Sector:  Sudano-Sahel Region  

Position Type:  Full-time 

Scope/Capacity:  Regional 

Coordinate with:  Regional team, country management teams 

About the Organization Background: 

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a U.S. non-profit, tax-exempt private organisation established in 1895. It saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit both nature and humanity. With over a century of experience, long-term commitments in numerous landscapes, a presence in more than 60 nations, and expertise in establishing over 150 protected areas worldwide, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding, and partnerships necessary to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. By collaborating with local communities and organisations, that knowledge is applied to tackle species, habitat, and ecosystem management issues crucial for enhancing the quality of life for poor rural populations whose livelihoods rely on the direct utilisation of natural resources. 

About the Sudan-Sahel region 

The Sudano-Sahel Region presents unparalleled opportunities for WCS to play a direct role in saving some of the last remaining intact wildernesses on the planet and to contribute significantly to the The security of people and wildlife is paramount. The savannas, forests, and wetlands of the region support key resources. populations of endangered elephant, northern giraffe, lion, eland, chimpanzee, gorilla, bongo, and the second-largest antelope migration on the planet. Hundreds of bird species occur in the area, including the shoebill and the crowned crane. Communities also depend on the land for their livelihoods through pastoralism, agriculture, fishing, and hunting. WCS has a significant presence in the Sudano-Sahel region, with a strong conservation history and a proven track record of success in protected area management. WCS currently has conservation initiatives in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and the CAR.  We work actively to support protected area management and wildlife law enforcement, local livelihoods, develop conservation-security partnerships, enhance anti-trafficking activities, and implement our policy and scientific programs. 

Job Purpose 

The purpose of the Regional Environmental & Social Safeguards Coordinator is to support the WCS regional team, country programs and field programs in the localization and implementation of our Environmental and Social (E&S) Safeguarding framework and policies. This position also requires taking a lead in reviewing and developing appropriate materials to comply with donor requirements. The position will report to the Technical Director, Sudano-Sahel, and will coordinate closely with other regional staff as needed. The role will also work closely with country program focal points, field program focal points, and Park Management teams.    

Regional Safeguards Support  

Provide support and guidance on the implementation of environmental and social safeguards procedures and initiatives at the country program and site levels throughout the region which align with WCS global and international standards.  

Review, outline and monitor various donor requirements (e.g. USAID, EU, KfW, GCF, GEF, etc.) and lead or support development of materials, risk assessments, etc. in response to donor requirements including those implemented with government, civil society and UN agencies. 

Provide direct support to country directors, site directors, and program managers in maintaining current environmental and safeguards protocols and rolling out the implementation of new protocols, procedures, and mechanisms as necessary. 

Promote and support the adherence and implementation of WCS’s global environmental and social safeguards policies at the national and site level, with a strong emphasis on a rights-based approach and gender equality and social inclusion (GESI). 

Safeguards Implementation 

When required, conduct social impact and risk assessments and lead on the development of associated mitigation plans together with the project teams and where appropriate, the concerned stakeholders. 

Support implementation of grievance redress mechanisms (GRM) at the site level, including training of GRM focal points and safeguards staff, and providing oversight of GRM database management and data analysis.  

Provide guidance to field teams on Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), as necessary, ensuring clear and organized documentation of the process. 

Support country safeguards focal points to ensure that all staff and partner staff receive regular human rights trainings, including training of rangers, ecoguards, and community scouts. 

Support the completion of gender analyses for programs and projects and provide recommendations for GESI initiatives to improve gender-mainstreaming in WCS programs throughout the region, including guidance on implementation. 

Safeguards Reporting and Compliance 

Support the country program and site teams to ensure all projects and programs align with WCS and donor environmental and social safeguards standards. 

Manage, at the regional level, other safeguards initiatives including IRB and Leahy Vetting. 

Strengthen environmental and social safeguards quality assurance of projects proposals throughout the region. 

Oversee the completion and monitoring of environmental and social safeguards frameworks (e.g. ESSF/ESIA/EMMP) across all sites. 

Oversee that constructions and infrastructure developments at sites follow best international practices, such as the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework.  

Develop and maintain a regional database that tracks all impact assessments, mitigation plans, reports, and reviews.  

Manage a secure database and report on any E&S safeguarding risks and incidents with appropriate actions to be taken for projects and follow up to help ensure that timely actions are taken. 

Capacity building  

Lead on capacity building for staff and partners to build knowledge and skills on environmental and social safeguards. 

Disseminate lessons learned and best practices from the safeguards implementation throughout the region. 

Design training modules and train field teams based upon a gap analysis of existing tools and capacity gaps, including addressing donor specific requirements.  Develop monitoring systems for country programs and sites to ensure staff have up-to-date training. 

Lead on developing safeguarding policies for country and site programs, as needed.  

Qualification Requirements

​​​ Required Qualifications  Advanced degree in social science, law, human rights, environmental and social safeguarding, or other relevant field.   

A minimum of 5 years of experience in environmental and social safeguards in the development, humanitarian, or conservation sector.   

Demonstrated knowledge of best practice frameworks in environmental and social safeguards from a large variety of donors. 

A track record of having worked directly with local communities in development, environmental or education projects. 

Working experience in Africa is strongly desired. 

Knowledge of human rights, indigenous people’s rights, grievance mechanisms and social safeguards. 

Knowledge of challenges evolving at the nexus of conservation and natural resource use. 

Excellent skills in oral and written communication in French and English in mandatory.

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