Background:

Hand in Hand Afghanistan Organization (HIHAO) is a not-for-profit organization based in Afghanistan. It started operations in 2007. HIHAO is part of the international Hand in Hand (HiH) network of independent organizations, working together towards a shared vision to alleviate poverty through job creation. The overall Hand in Hand mission is to promote the economic and social empowerment of women, by supporting the creation of sustainable enterprises, improved livelihoods and jobs.

HIHAO has implemented projects funded by DFID, European Union, CAFOD, WFP, GIZ, USAID, WB, DANIDA, Sida, Hilti foundation, UNOCHA and Hand in Hand International through its main office in Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh province of Afghanistan.

Hand in Hand Afghanistan is implementing the Mitigate the impact of Moroccan locust on most vulnerable rural populations in the Norths and Northeast of Afghanistan project funded by UN FAO. The project aims

Job summary

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, the Social and Environmental Safeguard officer is overall responsible for the project implementation, managing day-to-day safeguarding activities of the project in the targeted communities in Kunduz province. The Social and Environmental Safeguard officer will perform the following duties with transparency and integrity, and in adherence to the policies as provided by the HIHAO.

Key Responsibilities:

• Raise awareness regarding the purpose of the water resource and irrigation-related works at community level by disseminating information through locally relevant communication channels such as mosques, village meetings, as well as community gathering events.
• Obtain the opinions of the beneficiaries on proposed activities; and involve them in planning, design, implementation, supervision and monitoring of the proposed activities.
• Prepare site-specific Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) at every stages of Survey, design, construction and O&M of the irrigation schemes, watershed management and rain-water harvesting works and flood protection works.
• Liaise with the Environmental and Social Safeguard team of HIHAO in main office to finalize the site specific ESMP in tune with the Environmental and Social Safeguard Framework (ESMF) of the Emergency and Food Security Project (EFSP).
• Provide priority to seek the views of the most disadvantaged and marginalized groups.
• Encourage an enhanced participation of women (especially female-headed households), landless, disabled and elderly people. Incorporate their ideas in the design for the social structures etc.
• Carry out compliance monitoring of Environmental and Social safeguards based on Environmental code of Practice (ECoP) and ESMF.
• Contribute to the preparation of the technical, social and agriculture inventory for the initial bench marking in tune with the indicators.
• Use socio-environmental findings to determine whether land acquisition including voluntary donation is required to enable the works to proceed.
• Carry out joint diagnostic walk through with the Mirabs, community and the technical staff for the identification of the maintenance need as well as institutional and agricultural problems associated with the proposed activities at the farm, tertiary, branch and the main canal levels.
• Initiate the formation of the Irrigation Associations (IAs) in the applicable areas conducting the general assembly meetings with the wider participation of the beneficiaries.
• Conduct a training need assessment and train Mirabs, members of IAs and other key stakeholders on the subjects such as canal O&M, Irrigation management, resource mobilization etc.
• Mediate for the dispute resolution among the community as well as between the community and the contractor during the works implementation.
• Contribute to periodic reporting of the project activities on weekly basis.
• Perform any other duties as required.

Qualification:

• University degree (Bachelor) in Civil Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Irrigation engineering or agricultural engineering or other related areas;
• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in environmental and social management for water and irrigation-related engineering works.
• Working knowledge level of English (level C) and the local languages (Dari, Pashto and/or Uzbeki).
• Proven ability to prepare Environmental and Social Management plan in tune with the Environmental and Social Management Framework.
• Knowledge of Environmental Code of Practice (ECoP) in the development works.
• The incumbent must have the ability to build effective working relationships with national and international colleagues, with different cultural and technical background.
• Proven abilities in the provision of advisory services in the area of supervision of constructions.
• Proven ability to plan, work and deliver agreed deadlines.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with all community heads and to present ideas clearly and effectively.

Interested applicants should submit their application comprised of a one-page cover letter explaining their interest and suitability for the position along with an updated CV.

The application should send via email to: jobs@handinhand.org.af and copy to kunduz.pm@handinhand.org.af

Please note that applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates whose application meets the above criteria will be contacted for an interview.

Note: Please clearly indicate the vacancy announcement number Job title and location in the subject line of your email (Social Safeguarding Officer-HIHAO/06/24-Kunduz)