Environmental and Social Safeguards Lead At Mercy Corps

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Program Summary

Mercy Corps has been operational in Sudan since 2004, and currently has a country office in Port Sudan and field offices in South Darfur, Central Darfur, South Kordofan, North Kordofan, Kassala, River Nile, Northern and Gedaref states. Mercy Corps’ current areas of programming include food security and livelihoods, WASH, health, nutrition, resilience, and Market Systems Development. Mercy Corps’ Sudan crisis response seeks to meet the humanitarian needs of vulnerable Sudanese and other conflict-affected people across the country. Mercy Corps Sudan is recognized as a leader in market systems, agricultural, and food security and building on this experience, the Mercy Corps Sudan humanitarian program will layer in resilience and other program activities where appropriate and feasible to do so.

The Sudan SOMOUD – Enhancing Community Resilience Project is an initiative funded by the World Bank which has two interlinked components:

Component 1: Community Led Basic Service Delivery. This component supports: (i) delivery of improved community led basic services; (ii) temporary engagement of frontline workers and volunteers in select sectors; (iii) project management and technical assistance costs; and (iv) technical assistance and training to select local authorities.

Component 2: Improving Food Security. This component supports: (i) increased resilience and production of select crops and protection of livestock assets in rural areas that supply food to the target communities; (ii) agricultural value chains; (iii) the scaling-up and strengthening of community consumer cooperatives and organizations and community food centers that distribute agricultural outputs and provide affordable food to vulnerable groups; and (iv) project management and implementation costs.

General Position Summary

The Environmental and Social Safeguards Lead will ensure that the SOMOUD program complies with all relevant World Bank Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies. The role involves overseeing the integration of environmental and social safeguards into all program activities, ensuring that potential risks are identified and mitigated. As a core member of the PMU, the Lead will provide technical expertise, manage environmental and social assessments, and ensure compliance with national and international standards. The position requires close collaboration with technical teams, stakeholders, and local communities to promote sustainable, inclusive development practices.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Environmental and Social Safeguards Management:

• Ensure compliance with World Bank Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies and other relevant regulations throughout the SOMOUD program’s lifecycle.
• Develop, implement, and monitor the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and related safeguard instruments (e.g., Environmental and Social Impact Assessments, Environmental and Social Management Plans).
• Identify, assess, and mitigate environmental and social risks associated with program activities, ensuring that mitigation measures are integrated into project designs and implementation.
• Oversee the integration of environmental and social considerations into project planning, design, and execution, ensuring alignment with global best practices and local regulations.

Planning and Policy Compliance:

• Lead the preparation and review of environmental and social safeguard documents, including assessments, reports, and compliance frameworks.
• Ensure that all project activities comply with relevant national laws, World Bank safeguard policies, and international environmental and social standards.
• Work with program teams to ensure that environmental and social risks are considered in program planning, design, and implementation stages.
• Support the development of policies and procedures that promote environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and gender equality in program implementation.

Project Monitoring and Reporting:

• Lead the monitoring of environmental and social safeguard activities across the SOMOUD program, ensuring that agreed-upon safeguards are effectively implemented and maintained.
• Conduct regular environmental and social audits, field visits, and risk assessments to ensure ongoing compliance with safeguard policies.
• Provide technical input into program reports, highlighting progress, challenges, and risks related to environmental and social safeguards.
• Prepare and submit timely environmental and social safeguard reports to donors, stakeholders, and the PMU, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Stakeholder Engagement and Representation:

• Engage with local communities, government authorities, civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders to ensure inclusive participation in program activities.
• Foster partnerships with environmental and social institutions, government bodies, and NGOs to enhance program impact and compliance.
• Represent the SOMOUD program in national and international forums on environmental and social safeguards, advocating for sustainable development practices.
• Lead consultations with stakeholders to ensure that community concerns and priorities are incorporated into project planning and design, ensuring full compliance with safeguard requirements

Capacity Building and Training:

• Provide training and capacity building to project staff, partners, and local stakeholders on World Bank Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies and best practices.
• Develop tools, guidelines, and frameworks for staff and partners to implement environmental and social safeguards effectively.
• Ensure that project teams and partners are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to identify and address environmental and social risks.
• Foster a culture of environmental sustainability and social responsibility within the SOMOUD program team and partners.

Team Leadership and Management:

• Lead and manage a small team of environmental and social safeguard officers, ensuring that roles are clearly defined, and responsibilities are met.
• Provide mentorship and support to team members, encouraging collaboration and innovation in implementing safeguards.
• Ensure that the team regularly monitors environmental and social performance across the program and adapts strategies as needed to meet compliance standards.
• Facilitate regular team meetings and ensure effective communication and coordination between the safeguards team and other program components.

Risk Management:

• Identify potential environmental and social risks and ensure the implementation of mitigation measures, including those related to climate change, biodiversity, land use, and community impacts.
• Develop and implement strategies to minimize negative environmental and social impacts while enhancing positive outcomes.
• Ensure that grievances related to environmental and social impacts are effectively managed through established grievance mechanisms.
• Monitor and document any environmental and social incidents and ensure corrective actions are taken promptly.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically
  to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility

Environmental Safeguarding Officer

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Chief of Party

Works Directly With: Director of Programs, MSD Specialist, Director of Finance, Director of Operations, Program Performance & Quality Director & MEL Manager

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Social Science, Natural Resource Management, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in environmental and social safeguard management, ideally in a humanitarian context.
• Proven experience working with World Bank Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies or similar international frameworks.
• Strong understanding of environmental and social risk assessment and management, including gender considerations and community engagement.
• Experience working in fragile or conflict-affected areas and familiarity with the social and environmental challenges in Sudan or similar contexts
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage large, multi-disciplinary teams in challenging environments. Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in written.
• Proven solid analytical and problem solving skills.
• Excellent writing and verbal skills in English is required.
• Extensive travel to program areas is required.

Success Factors

The ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel is required. A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary. A professional standard of program, finance and procurement ethics as well as the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential. The post must be willing to travel to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Gedaref, and it requires up to 40% travel, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MercyCorps’ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).