ESG Specialist

Scope of Work:

The ESG Specialists responsibilities shall include but not be limited to the following:

A. Environmental & Social Risk Assessment and Compliance

• Identify assess and categorize environmental and social (E&S) risks associated with housing projects under GRHEF in line with applicable national regulations and international standards (e.g. IFC Performance Standards EDGE certification requirements).
• Support the screening and scoping of projects to determine applicable E&S requirements and risk levels.
• Review Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) and other relevant documentation for adequacy and compliance.
• Provide recommendations to address identified E&S risks gaps and non-compliance issues.
• Ensure alignment of projects with InfraCredits E&S policies and eligibility criteria.
• Support the integration and operationalization of an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) tailored to the needs of green and affordable housing developments under the GRHEF portfolio

B. ESG Integration in Project Preparation

• Provide advisory support to developers on integrating environmental and social considerations into project design and planning from early-stage development.
• Promote the adoption of climate-resilient and resource-efficient building practices including energy water and material efficiency.
• Support developers in aligning projects with green building certification frameworks (such as IFC EDGE).
• Guide developers on land use biodiversity considerations climate risk adaptation and social inclusion (including gender and vulnerable groups).
• Support the preparation and strengthening of ESG-related project documentation to enhance investment readiness.
• Integrate ESG best practices into affordable housing projects with emphasis on sustainable urban planning energy-efficient building design climate-resilient infrastructure and inclusive community development.
• Identify ESG improvement opportunities across housing developments that strengthen project sustainability performance enhance resilience and improve long-term delivery outcomes.
• Support project teams and developers in aligning housing developments with internationally recognised green and resilient building standards including IFC EDGE and the Building Resilience Index (BRI).
• Provide guidance on climate mitigation and climate adaptation measures within housing developments including passive design strategies flood resilience heat resilience water efficiency and low-carbon construction approaches.

C. Stakeholder Engagement & Social Safeguards

• Support developers in designing and implementing stakeholder engagement plans including community consultations and disclosure processes.
• Ensure that projects incorporate appropriate grievance redress mechanisms (GRMs) for affected stakeholders.
• Assess and monitor social risks including land acquisition resettlement (if applicable) labor and working conditions and community health and safety.
• Provide guidance on inclusive housing approaches and affordability considerations for target beneficiaries.
• Facilitate alignment with development partner requirements on stakeholder engagement and social safeguards.

D. Monitoring Reporting & ESG Performance Management

• Develop and track ESG performance indicators across projects including environmental compliance social outcomes and sustainability metrics.
• Support ESG due diligence processes during TCDD including participation in desktop reviews and site visits.
• Monitor implementation of ESMPs and other mitigation measures throughout the project lifecycle.
• Prepare periodic ESG monitoring reports dashboards and updates for internal and external stakeholders.
• Flag emerging E&S risks and recommend corrective actions to ensure ongoing compliance and performance.

E. Additional Responsibilities

• Document lessons learned and best practices from ESG integration across housing projects.
  Support the development of ESG guidelines toolkits and standard templates for GRHEF-supported projects.
• Co-create knowledge products and e-learning modules on sustainable and climate-resilient housing with the knowledge management team.
• Provide inputs into the design of innovative green and sustainable housing solutions under the Facility.
• Support preparation of ESG-related content for investor reporting donor reporting and communication materials.
• Ensure alignment with development partners ESG reporting requirements and frameworks.

Deliverables:

The ESG Specialist shall be responsible for providing the following key deliverables:

1. Environmental & Social Risk Assessment and Compliance Deliverables

• Project-Specific E&S Screening and Risk Categorization Reports clearly defining risk levels and applicable standards for each project.
• Reviewed E&S Documentation (ESIAs ESMPs Audit Reports) with documented gap analyses and recommendations for compliance and improvement.
• E&S Compliance Checklists aligned with national regulations InfraCredit requirements and international standards (e.g. IFC Performance Standards EDGE).
• E&S Risk Mitigation Action Plans outlining corrective actions timelines and responsible parties for each identified risk.

2. ESG Integration in Project Preparation Deliverables

• ESG Integration Plans for each project detailing how environmental and social considerations are embedded into design planning and implementation.
• Green Building and Climate-Resilient Design Advisory Notes including recommendations on energy efficiency water use materials and climate adaptation measures.
• EDGE (or equivalent) Pre-Assessment Reports indicating readiness levels and required actions for certification.
• Enhanced ESG Documentation Packs ensuring projects meet investment readiness and sustainability criteria.

3. Stakeholder Engagement & Social Safeguards Deliverables

• Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEPs) for each project including consultation strategies timelines and reporting mechanisms.
• Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Frameworks established and operational for all applicable projects.
• Social Risk Assessment Reports covering land use resettlement (if applicable) labor conditions community health and safety and inclusion considerations.
• Stakeholder Engagement Logs and Consultation Reports documenting interactions concerns raised and resolutions.

4. Monitoring Reporting & ESG Performance Management Deliverables

• Monthly ESG Monitoring Reports detailing compliance status implementation of ESMPs key risks and mitigation progress.
• ESG Performance Dashboards tracking key indicators (e.g. environmental compliance social safeguards sustainability metrics) across all projects.
• TCDD ESG Review Inputs including site visit reports and technical notes contributing to overall due diligence assessments.
• Corrective Action Tracking Reports highlighting outstanding issues timelines and resolution status.
• Quarterly ESG Portfolio Review Reports comparing performance across projects and identifying systemic risks and trends.

5. Strategic ESG Innovation & Value-Add Deliverables

• ESG Guidelines Toolkits and Standard Templates for use across GRHEF-supported projects.
• Knowledge Products and E-learning Modules on sustainable and climate-resilient housing (developed in collaboration with the knowledge management team).
• Innovative Green Housing Solutions Notes including proposals for improved sustainability practices and scalable interventions.
• ESG Inputs for Investor and Donor Reporting ensuring alignment with development partner frameworks and disclosure requirements.
• Impact Assessment Notes demonstrating how ESG integration has improved project sustainability compliance and bankability.

6. End-of-Year / Contract Completion Deliverables

• Annual ESG Performance Report consolidating environmental and social outcomes across all supported projects.
• Lessons Learned and Best Practices Report highlighting key insights and recommendations for scaling ESG integration within GRHEF.
• Updated ESG Risk and Compliance Database covering all active and pipeline projects.
• ESG Capacity Assessment Report for Developers outlining strengths gaps and recommendations for future technical support.

Expected Outcomes/Results:

The workstream is expected to deliver the following outcomes:

1. Improved ESG Compliance and Risk Management: Strengthened identification assessment and mitigation of environmental and social risks across all projects resulting in full alignment with applicable national regulations and international standards (e.g. IFC Performance Standards EDGE).
2. Enhanced Sustainability Integration in Project Design: Increased adoption of climate-resilient resource-efficient and environmentally sustainable design practices across housing developments.
3. Improved Project Readiness and Bankability: Higher quality ESG documentation and compliance leading to faster progression to financial close and improved investor confidence.
4. Stronger Social Safeguards and Inclusion: Effective stakeholder engagement functioning grievance redress mechanisms and improved consideration of social risks including land use labor and community impacts.
5. Enhanced Monitoring and ESG Performance Tracking: Availability of regular ESG dashboards and reports enabling proactive risk management timely corrective actions and improved decision-making.
6. Alignment with Development Partner and Investor Requirements: Consistent compliance with ESG reporting frameworks and standards required by development partners and institutional investors.
7. Innovative Green and Sustainable Housing Solutions: Introduction and application of scalable sustainability solutions including energy-efficient designs climate adaptation measures and green certification pathways.
8. Stronger Project Viability and Long-Term Sustainability: Reduced environmental and social risks improved operational sustainability and enhanced long-term value of housing assets.
9. Ecosystem Strengthening for Sustainable Housing: Increased awareness capacity and adoption of ESG principles among developers contributing to a more resilient and sustainable housing sector.
10. Documented Lessons Learned and Knowledge Products: Captured insights and best practices from ESG integration across projects informing continuous improvement and future interventions.
11. Strengthened Climate Resilience of Housing Developments: Improved integration of climate adaptation and mitigation measures within supported housing projects through application of climate-resilient design principles and tools such as IFC EDGE and the Building Resilience Index (BRI).
12. Capacity Building and Knowledge Development: Development of ESG-focused e-learning modules guidance materials and tools to support developers and stakeholders in sustainable housing delivery.

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

Candidates for the role should meet the following requirements:

• Bachelors degree in environmental science Environmental Engineering Sustainability Urban Planning Geography Civil Engineering Social Sciences or a related field.
• A masters degree (MSc/MBA) in Environmental Management Sustainability Climate Change Development Studies or a related discipline is an added advantage.
• Relevant professional certifications (e.g. ESG E&S risk management ISO 14001 EDGE Expert LEED PMP) are desirable.
• 48 years of relevant experience in environmental and social risk assessment ESG advisory sustainability consulting or E&S due diligencepreferably within infrastructure housing or real estate projects.
• Demonstrated experience conducting or reviewing ESIAs ESMPs environmental audits and stakeholder engagement processes.
• Strong knowledge of international ESG frameworks and standards (e.g. IFC Performance Standards World Bank E&S Framework EDGE certification) and applicable local environmental regulations.
• Experience integrating ESG considerations into project design development or investment processes particularly for climate-resilient or green buildings.
• Proven ability to support ESG due diligence processes including site assessments risk identification mitigation planning and compliance monitoring.
• Experience working with developers government agencies development finance institutions (DFIs) or consulting firms on sustainability-focused projects is a strong advantage.