Bakhter Development Network (BDN) was founded and officially registered in Afghanistan in 2001 as an Afghan non-governmental, non-profit, non-political, and developmental organization. BDN operates in accordance with its constitution in three main thematic areas: health, education, and agriculture and livestock. With its current focus on public health and nutrition, BDN helps communities achieve their developmental goals, while its wider vision is a world of enabled communities working towards a brighter future. 
Presently, BDN is actively involved in various initiatives, including the Health Emergency Response Additional Financing (HER AF) undertaking in Balkh. Additionally, the organization is executing projects such as the Provision of Essential Life-Saving Health Services to Underserved Populations across the northern region of Afghanistan (Sar-e-Pul, Balkh, Samangan, Faryab, and Jawzjan Provinces), the Provision of Health and Nutrition Services in Underserved Communities of Kunduz Province, and the implementation of the CBNP Project in Samangan Province, along with PHC-AHF in Samangan Province.

The Environment, Social, Health, and Safety officer is responsible for the overall environmental and social aspects of the project and for coordinating, implementing actions, monitoring, and reporting on the project’s compliance with the environmental and social standards and commitments according to the project documents.

Responsibilities of the Environment, Social, Health and Safety officer
The ESHS officer will be responsible for ensuring that the project’s outcomes are achieved and that any adverse impacts are effectively avoided and/or mitigated on time. Duties and responsibilities of the ESHS officer include, but are not limited to:
 
• Undertake the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of ESHS measures to ensure compliance with the ESHS requirements.
• Ensure implementation of the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) and the ESHS instruments, including the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) and the Rapid ESHS Assessment.
• Review and ensure that relevant aspects of the ESCP and ESHS risk management instruments are duly incorporated into the procurement documents.
• Work with the project procurement staff to ensure that environmental and social aspects are incorporated as appropriate in contracts for goods and services and that suppliers and contractors are fully aware of their responsibilities in this regard.
• Ensure that the necessary environmental authorizations and permits are obtained where needed.
• Support monitoring to ensure that the consultants and contractors comply with the environmental and social health and safety (ESHS) specifications of their respective contracts.
• Provide contributions to the regular, semi-annual, and annual progress reports on projects’ implementation as required by the donor (UNICEF).
• In collaboration with the head of monitoring and evaluation and other team members, monitor and report on the implementation of the HER project.
• Lead the organization and implementation of training for project workers on environmental and social standards, stakeholder engagement, GRM, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment (SEA/SH), and other topics of relevance for ESHS compliance.
• Perform other duties in line with the scope of the project, leading to compliance with environmental and social aspects and related instruments.
• Provide trainings as needed, taking into consideration the project instruments and requirements (as applicable) of the ESHS Standards of the Environment, Social, Health, and Safety of the organization.
•    Proficiency in Microsoft and Open Office applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will be necessary to fulfill duties
• Ensure that all project staff sign a Code of Conduct as part of their contracts, including provisions on sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, and violence against children.
• Share project information and support consultations to ensure that issues are addressed in a timely manner and that project beneficiaries are aware of project activities, in line with the stakeholder engagement process identified.

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, social science (or a related field).
• Experience in environmental, social, health, and safety. 
• At least four years of professional, relevant experience, inclusive of managing gender-based violence and waste.
• Knowledge of Afghanistan's Environmental and Social Legislations and frameworks
• Familiarity with grievance redress mechanisms, gender-based violence, and proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Fluently speaks, reads, and writes Dari, Pashto, and English. 
• Being honest and committed to organizational goals.

BDN is an equal opportunity employer that considers qualified applicants for employment based on their knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience without discrimination based on age, race, religion, ethnicity, marital status, sex, physical disability, or veteran status.
 

Interested candidates are invited to submit their CVs and an application letter explaining their qualifications and interest in the position to vacancies@bdn.org.af by April 7, 2024. Please include “Application ESHS Officer BDN-BLK-024030701” in the subject line of your email.

BDN has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the BDN, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. BDN also adheres to strict child-safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credentials and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.