IRC Summary:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is among the world’s leading humanitarian relief and development organizations. For 80 years, the IRC has been at the forefront of every major humanitarian initiative to assist people uprooted by war, persecution, or civil conflict. IRC staff go to the toughest places, implement both immediate response and long-lasting programs, and conduct the type of applied research and advocacy the aid community needs to continually push itself to find better solutions for people. In all its country programs, IRC partners with local governments and others to achieve outcomes related to people’s health, education, safety, power and economic well-being. The IRC currently works in 40 countries with 14,000 employees.

Background:

The August 4, 2020 Port of Beirut explosion compounded Lebanon’s existing economic and social challenges and disproportionally affected Beirut’s vulnerable populations. Since the explosion the efforts of civil society have been crucial for recovery and rehabilitation efforts. Several obstacles remain that challenge the effectiveness, inclusivity and sustainability of the broader recovery and rehabilitation process, which include coordination challenges between ongoing efforts and the ad hoc or temporary nature of interventions. The situation of Beirut’s population remains precarious and the need for support to recovery and reconstruction efforts urgent.

Project Description:

The project will focus on reducing vulnerabilities which are prevalent amongst three groups affected by the blast in Beirut: (i) survivors of Gender-Based Violence (SGBV); (ii) those suffering from deteriorated psycho-social wellbeing; (iii) and/or those facing limitations related to being a person with disabilities and older persons. Supporting Beirut’s Immediate Social Recovery Services interventions will entail providing grant financing directly to a select number of NGOs, to enable them to provide social services to reduce vulnerabilities in these groups.

This will be achieved by supporting non-government stakeholders that are engaged and have a track record in delivering social recovery services and working with target groups by improving their capacity to participate in the broader social recovery and reconstruction processes.

The World Bank has selected the IRC to act as the Intermediary Implementing Agency (IIA) to implement the Supporting Beirut’s Immediate Social Recovery Services project. The IRC will take on project management, grant provision and/or procurement of services from NGOs and will be responsible for the fiduciary and environmental and social supervision of the selected NGO partners.

Under the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and to ensure compliance of all environmental and social material measures and actions for the successful implementation of the project, the IRC is committed to the cleared and disclosed Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) which covers the commitments and timelines with regards to the environmental and social responsibilities of the IRC throughout the project implementation based on the World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) which apply to the project: ESS1 – ESS2 – ESS3 – ESS4 and ESS10.

The IRC is recruiting an Environmental and Social specialist (E&S Specialist) to lead, monitor and report on the implementation of the ESCP and ensure compliance of the project with the provisions of the relevant Environmental & Social instruments which have been cleared and disclosed by the IRC, including the Socio-economic Assessment, the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), the Labor Management Procedures (LMP) and the Medical Waste Management Plan and the timelines specified in those E&S documents.

Application Guideline:

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Please submit your application before May 20, 2022 on

https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/27573?c=rescue

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Applications by email will NOT be considered.

Responsibilities of the E&S Specialist:

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Prepare and submit to the World Bank bi-yearly monitoring reports on the environmental, social, health and safety (ESHS) performance of the Project, including but not limited to the implementation of the ESCP, status of preparation and implementation of E&S documents required under the ESCP, stakeholder engagement activities, functioning of the grievance mechanism(s).
• Communicate any incident or accident to the Project which has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the environment, the affected communities, the public or workers including the risks specified in the environmental and social assessment within 48 hours and as per the provisions of the ESCP. Provide sufficient detail regarding the incident or accident, indicating immediate measures taken or that are planned to be taken to address it, and any information provided by any contractor and supervising entity, as appropriate. Subsequently, as per the World Bank’s request, prepare a report on the incident or accident and propose any measures to prevent its recurrence.

ESS1: Assessment and Management of Environmental and social risks and impacts:

• Ensure adequate risk identification, management and reporting, in line with IRC’s Partner Project Capacity Review (PPCR) and act as the focal point for coordination, implementation and monitoring and documentation of the ESCP and its requirements and delegate specific tasks/areas as needed to the rest of the Project Team.
• Update, adopt, and implement, the Socio-economic Assessment (SEA) that has been prepared for the Project as needed, in a manner acceptable to the World Bank.
• As required throughout the project implementation screen any proposed subproject in accordance with the Socio-economic Assessment and incorporate the relevant aspects of the ESCP, including the relevant E&S documents and/or plans, and the Labor Management Procedures into the Enhancements Standard Procurement Documents (ESPD) specifications of the procurement documents and contracts with contractors, supervising firms.

ESS2: Labor and Working Conditions:

• Update, adopt, and implement the Labor Management Procedures (LMP), the grievance mechanism for project workers, the occupational, health and safety (OHS) action plan and the IRC coordination Contingency Plan in coordination with HR and as needed in line with the provisions with of the ESCP.

ESS3: Resource efficiency and pollution prevention and management:

• As Part of the Medical Waste Management Plan, coordinate the development and implementation of measures and procedures to manage healthcare waste, in a manner acceptable to the Bank.
• Coordinate the assessments of the Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) and Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) to be supported under the project to document the status of implementation of medical waste management measures as per the national guidelines and WB requirements to be implemented and monitored throughout the project lifecycle.
• In coordination with the Operations unit, adopt and implement measures and actions to assess and manage traffic and road safety risks.
• Continuously monitor the risks and impacts to the community arising from the project activities and manage the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in reference to IRC’s existing Pandemic Management Plan, in addition to IRC’s Environmental Policy which outlines its commitment to the responsible and efficient use of resources and respect for the environment.
• Develop and implement measures to address emergency events and ensure coordination with relevant stakeholders.

ESS4: Community Health and Safety:

• In coordination with protection coordinators, prepare, adopt, and implement a stand-alone Gender-Based Violence Action Plan (GBV Action Plan), to assess and manage the risks of gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) as stipulated in the ESCP.
• Adopt and implement the traffic and road safety monitoring and management measures throughout the project implementation.
• Develop and implement measures to address emergency events, taking into consideration the OHS, LMP and IRC contingency plan.

ESS10: Stakeholder engagement and information disclosure:

• Coordinate the update (as needed), adaptation, and implementation of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and its grievance mechanisms, including reporting and handling the investigation for SEA/SH allegations related to the project as per the provisions of the ESCP.

Capacity Support (Training):

• After the selection of implementing partners in coordination with partnership staff, assess capacities and facilitate training and ensure partners are supported as required, depending on capacity gaps. This may include; Administrative and financial management, Procurement, Environmental and Social Framework, SEA/SH prevention and control, Grievance Mechanism, Medical Waste Management, Occupational health and safety, Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning and Technical Quality

Job Requirements:

The E&S Specialist is expected to have directly relevant work experience in environment and/or social risk management and assessment.

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental or social Management or Occupational Health and Safety 8 years of relevant professional experience in leading or overseeing environmental and social compliance of development projects
• Experience and ability to provide leadership and direction in harnessing the multi-disciplinary skills of the technical personnel and consortium partners.
• Significant experience in coordination of large and/or complex donor funded programmes.
• Prior experience in operating effectively within complex and high-risk environments and managing the needs of multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in producing environmental and social reports is required.
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in interpreting and applying statutory and regulatory standards from international financial institutions particularly of World Bank projects will be highly preferable.
• Experience working on SEA/SH prevention and control measures;
• Gender expertise or background to ensure that adequate support is available during project implementation;
• Experience in dealing with social related risks including handling of complaints systems; 
• A proven track record of leading partnership relationships of large and/or complex donor funded programmes.
• Ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently, articulate issues and recommend solutions.
• Has a very good command on English and Arabic language communication skills (reading, writing and speaking. Excellent team player who can work as a member of a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team, motivate and lead group efforts and network effectively across boundaries.

Working Environment:  Staff will be based in Beirut office with possible travel to field locations as requested and upon business needs.

Candidates agree to disclose to IRC any situation of actual potential conflict of interest that impacts the capacity to serve the best interest of IRC, and understand that any misstatement or misrepresentation described during the recruitment process and/or after hiring may lead to his/her disqualification or dismissal by IRC, and/or sanctions by the Donor (World Bank).