[Hiring] Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Expert - Fortified Complementary Food Value Chain @UNIDO

Role Description

The objective of the assignment is to identify, assess, and translate environmental, social, and climate-related risks and opportunities associated with MSME participation in selected pharmaceutical value chains under the ATCMA ECOWAS Programme into operationally actionable safeguard instruments, including an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF).

• Familiarization with UNIDO ESS Policy, project document, including review of pharmaceutical-specific international standards and guidance.
• Prepare Inception Note: methodology, work plan, and consultation plan with regional/national stakeholders.
• Collect baseline environmental and social information for selected value chains across ECOWAS Component.
• Review legal, institutional and policy frameworks in ECOWAS Component.
• Identification and analysis of environmental and social risks and opportunities for MSME value chains in ECOWAS.
• Assessment of environmental and social safeguards capacity gaps among MSMEs and relevant institutions.
• Develop Environmental and Social Management Frameworks (ESMFs) for ECOWAS.
• Conduct validation workshops with key stakeholders to review findings and recommendations.
• Integrate findings into a Final ESMF & ESIA Report.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Masters or equivalent) in environmental science, environmental engineering, public health, pharmaceutical sciences, social sciences, or related field.
• Minimum seven (7) years of demonstrated experience in conducting ESIAs and/or developing Environmental and Social Management Frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience providing environmental and social advisory support within donor-funded programmes.
• Proven experience integrating climate risk, climate resilience, resource efficiency, clean production, and circular economy principles into development programming.
• Demonstrated experience working with pharmaceutical manufacturing or closely related health-product value chains.
• Experience covering areas such as occupational health and safety, waste management, and regulatory compliance environments.
• Familiarity with UNIDO’s ESSPP, EU environmental directives, and international sustainability standards.
• Experience working in Africa or similar socio-economic contexts.
• Excellent analytical, report writing, and communication skills in English; working knowledge of French is desirable.

Requirements

• Concrete/measurable outputs to be achieved include:
• Inception/methodology Note – methodology, workplan, and consultation plan.
• Draft Environmental and Social Impact Assessment – including risk and opportunity analysis for target value chains.
• Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) – with indicators, mitigation measures, and monitoring plan.
• Validation Workshop Report – documenting stakeholder feedback and agreed adjustments.
• Final ESMF and ESIA Report – incorporating feedback from UNIDO and partners.

Benefits

• UNIDO welcomes applications from qualified persons with disabilities.
• Reasonable accommodation will be provided to applicants and employees with disabilities to support full participation in the recruitment process.