Position Description:

The Social Safeguard Officer's primary responsibility is to ensure compliance with gender, environmental, and social regulations and standards within the organization/project. He/she plays a crucial role in identifying potential gender, ecological, and social risks, developing mitigation strategies, and monitoring their implementation to minimize negative impacts on the gender, environment, and society. The GESS Officer will collaborate with project teams, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies to promote sustainable practices and ensure Gender Environmental, and Social protection.

Based at the West Regional Office, the GESS Officer monthly activity plan includes visits to Project sites in Herat, Farah, Nimroz, Badghis, and Ghor provinces. These visits are essential to ensure that the progress of relevant activities aligns with the project mandate, donor, and organization policies.

Responsibilities:

• The GESS Officer should monitor and enforce compliance with local, national, and project gender, environmental, and social regulations, permits, and standards applicable to the organization or project.
• The GESS officer will respect the local norms and social standards according to the context of Afghanistan.
• In close coordination with the line manager the GESS Officer should prepare a comprehensive visit plan for visiting DACAAR field offices and project sites of the WERP project in Herat, Farah, Nimroz, Badghis, and Ghor provinces periodically.
• The GESS officer shall ensure that the Project is carried out per the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) and this Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), in a manner acceptable to the donor (World Bank).
• Provide together monthly, quarterly, and annual reports on the implementation of SS-related issues of the project, to the DACAR Project Unit, AKF PIU, and WB.
• Promptly notify the line manager of any incident or accident related to the Project that has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the environment, the affected communities, the public, or workers, including, inter alia, cases of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment (SH), accidents that result in death, serious injury.
• Adopt and implement an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) consistent with the relevant Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs).
• The GESS officer will adopt and implement a Waste Management Plan (WMP), to manage hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, consistent with GESS.
• When required the GESS officer should conduct GESS impact assessments, GESS audits, and risk assessments to identify potential GESS hazards, evaluate their significance, and propose mitigation measures.
• Develop and implement environmental management plans (EMPs) and safeguard measures to minimize and mitigate environmental impacts resulting from organizational activities or project operations.
• Implement monitoring programs to assess compliance with gender, environmental, and social standards and track the effectiveness of mitigation measures. Prepare regular reports and documentation to communicate findings and recommendations.
• The GESS officer should assess the feasibility of the project implementation in the field practically considering gender, environmental, and social safeguard regulations before the project survey conducted by field engineers.
• The GESS officer should timely explain the project's negative list to the Field Officers/ Engineers and ensure these staff understand the difference between positive and negative projects.
• Make sure the GESS documents are attached to the tender document.  
• The GESS officers should regularly monitor the WERP project Environmental Social Mitigation Plan (ESMP) ensure the implementation and reporting and update the plan according to the site condition and need. 
• Conduct pre-meeting with staff and communities about project risks and SS impacts.
• The GESS officer should provide training and awareness programs to project staff and contractors on environmental policies, procedures, and best practices. Promote a culture of environmental stewardship within the organization.
• The GESS officer should identify opportunities for continuous improvement of environmental performance.
•  Recommend and implement innovative solutions and technologies to enhance sustainability and reduce the negative gender, environmental, and social impacts.
• The GESS officer should develop emergency response plans and procedures to address potential environmental incidents, such as spills, leaks, or accidents.
•  Coordinate response efforts and ensure appropriate actions are taken to mitigate environmental damage.
• The GESS officer should stay updated with emerging gender, environmental, and social laws, regulations, and industry standards. Advise management on regulatory changes and assist in adapting organizational policies and practices accordingly.
• The GESS officer must strictly follow the organization's existing security policies, procedures, and daily instructions of the safety personnel.
• To follow and ensure Gender Equality, Gender Inclusion, Gender Mainstreaming Guidelines, and Gender Integration Action Plan according to the project ESMF and DACAR’s ESCP.
• To make sure the Gender Inclusion and Gender Mainstreaming Guidelines and Gender Equality Strategy of the project are implemented by PIEs and their contractors.
• To carry out the responsibilities of the roles in a way that reflects DACAR 's commitment to safeguarding staff, and beneficiaries and protecting children from harm and abuse per DACAR's Safeguarding policy. 
• Assist in the design and develop required gender inclusion and gender mainstreaming forms, guidelines, and manuals to assist the PIEs and their contractors to ensure the equal, safe, and meaningful participation of women/girls’ beneficiaries in the project from planning, implementation and monitoring and use of the water and sanitation projects.
• Make sure women and girls have safe and desired access to the GRM of the project. Their complaints are received safely, registered, analyzed, and reported and feedback is provided properly and on time.
• Any other tasks are given by the Supervisor.