Environmental Safeguards Specialist - KOSAP

Objective of the Assignment

To provide technical assistance to the facility manager and provide support services for environmental and social safeguard issues. The officer will be expected to ensure that all documents mainstream environmental and social safeguards issues so that the project under component 2 does not detrimentally influence the environment and social well-being of the populations

The K-OSAP project has triggered the following Environmental and Social Safeguards policies of the World Bank (a) Safeguard OP Assessment ; (b) OP 4.10Indigeneous People (c) OP 4.04 Natural Habitats and (d) OP 4.12 involuntary Resettlement. Additionally it has triggered relevant laws and regulations of the government of Kenya concerning Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups (VMGs)

Scope of the Assignment

The Environmental Specialist will report to the Project Co-ordinator-SNV/Sun funder and will have the following major duties and responsibilities: -

1. Familiarization with each of the World Banks Environmental and Social Safeguards policies that have been triggered for the project
2. Develop a comprehensive Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP for E-waste/WEEE-Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment and ensure compliance of the same by the Solar Home Systems providers
3. Appraise the entire management processes including de-manufacturing collection storage recycling transport and disposal) in accordance with the Environmental Management and Co-ordination (E-waste Management Regulations 2013) and World Bank Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines
4. Develop a project-specific environmental code of practice (ECOP) as a guidance on approach for the collection transport storage and disposal/reuse of spent batteries Solar panels and waste generated from Cook stoves with the aim of ensuring that risks to the environment and human health are prevented or mitigated
5. Develop an elaborate and specific plan on recycling and disposal of spent batteries solar panels and cook stoves for the solar home systems providers at the end of their useful lives.
6. Develop a Stakeholder Engagement strategy that will seek to inform discussion and build awareness of all stakeholders including rural remote community members vendors/suppliers of products and service providers around safe management handling and disposal of E-waste/WEEE including used batteries.
7. Supervision and monitoring of the implementation of environmental and social instrument-ESMP-WEEE in accordance with the respective Banks guidelines and policies
8. Supporting Solar companies in the review of documentation pertaining to environmental and Social compliance
9. Supervision and overseeing the implementation of the EPOC and World Banks safeguard procedures triggered for KOSAP in the operations of the solar home systems and cook stoves providers
10. Contribute to projects Component 2 progress reports pertaining to overall implementation of Environmental and Social requirements of the project
11. Preparing training materials and conducting technical training workshops to Solar Companies and Microfinance organization on environmental and Social Safeguards requirements
12. Prepare environmental information materials and disseminating the information to the relevant stakeholders; and organize environmental and social orientation & awareness consultations and training programs;
13. Generate a screening checklist guided by the ESMF against which solar home systems providers and cook stoves companies will be gauged as a precondition for accessing debt facility and Result Based financing to assess their preparedness on safeguard issues
14. Review bid documents to ensure environmental and social factors and mitigations are incorporated and they are in harmony with environmental and social requirements;
15. Support the formation of the grievance/complaints redress mechanism and committees and communication of the grievance mechanism to all the stakeholders and other relevant procedures
16. Working with the social specialist appraise the social aspects of the Project interventions. Advice on how the programme activities can be more gender sensitive to meet the priories of both men and women beneficiaries in K-OSAP project area
17. Ensure that each activity under the project-component 2 is subjected to the Project ESMF process and procedures and carry out environmental screening of activities and prepare specific Environmental and Social Management Plans (EMPs)
18. Undertake routine site visits during project execution and operation to assess how environmental and social screening and mitigation measures are succeeding or have succeeded in minimizing impacts
19. Preparation of environment and Social monitoring and evaluation reports and perform tasks and responsibilities related to the social issues including sexual Exploitation and Abuse by solar companies staff Gender-based violence HIV/AIDS program issues related to labour influx and child labour (people coming into the project area for project related work
20. Facilitate communication among various project stakeholders to promote socially and environmentally sound project implementation with sustainable development outcomes
21. Liaise on a regular basis with the Ministry of Energy and other implementing Agencies
22. Produce and document environmental and social safeguards implementation reports; and Undertake other duties as per the requirements of the project or as directed by Project Coordinator.

Deliverables/ Reporting Obligations

The Officer will be required to submit reports as follows:

-One copy of quarterly progress on activities undertaken and solutions to challenges

-One copy of annual progress report; and

-One copy of project completion report after the completion of the task period

Qualifications :

• The candidate should have as a minimum a postgraduate degree from any recognized institution in the area of Environmental science Environmental Engineering Natural Resource Management or any related discipline with combination of appropriate trainings;
• Registered with NEMA as a Lead expert
• A minimum of ten years of relevant work experience in environmental and social issues experience in development project is an added advantage. Direct experience in working on implementation of ESIA and ESMF environmental and social safeguard issues preferably in Conservation organization or large industries in any private or public sector
• At least 8 years experience working on projects financed by the World Bank with a good knowledge and understanding of the World Banks Operational Policies and Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines
• Experience with Community development gender mainstreaming issues VMGs and participatory  approaches are an added advantage
• Good communication skills both verbal and written
• Fluency in English is essential and fluency in Kiswahili is an added advantage

Additional Information :

Additional information

Contract Type: National Employment Contract
Contract Duration: 4 months

Expected Start Date: ASAP

Duty Station: Nairobi Kenya with travels in-country.

Supervision

The safeguard specialist will work in close co-operation with and under the guidance and supervision of the Project lead SNV and the PCU Project Coordinator in the Ministry of Energy.

Interested and qualified candidates should apply by clicking on the I AM INTERESTED tab on this page and submitting a CV in English (as an attachment) and an application letter and Three professional references in English on or before 20th August 2025

NB: Only shortlisted will be contacted.

We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time