Social and Environmental Senior Analyst

The Asia Pacific Regional Office, based in Bangkok, Thailand, provides strategic leadership and oversight for UNOPS operations across 17 countries, ensuring high performance, operational excellence, and alignment with organizational goals. Operations currently span Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Pacific Islands. Across these countries, we work closely with key stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and maximize impact through five main operating units: Afghanistan (AFCO), Myanmar (MMCO), South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO), and the Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC). Through these entities, we provide agile, client-focused service delivery across diverse sectors - including infrastructure, health, procurement, and project management - supporting the implementation of sustainable development solutions across the region.

Since 1995, UNOPS has maintained an active presence in Afghanistan, delivering efficient, agile services in support of both humanitarian response and development efforts. Prior to August 2021, the Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) implemented projects across a broad range of sectors, including infrastructure, procurement, capacity building, and environmental protection. In response to evolving humanitarian needs, AFCO has shifted its focus to supporting life-saving initiatives and basic human needs. Current priorities include managing large-scale cash-for-work programmes, procuring emergency supplies, and providing inter-agency coordination, communication, and accountability support.

The Private Sector Resilience Program (PSRP) is a flagship Series of Projects (SOP) financed by the World Bank (IDA and ARTF) designed to strengthen the resilience and job creation potential of Afghan MSMEs, with a particular focus on women, youth, and returnees. The Grant Management Specialist will be responsible for the development and implementation of complex and sophisticated grant mechanisms, working directly with grantees including private sector entities. This includes the structuring and oversight of matching grant schemes, fund flows to sub-grantees from the private sector, with the aim of maximizing the impact and reach of the PSRP interventions.

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Programme Manager, the Social Senior Analyst ensures that the project activities are prepared and implemented in compliance with the project’s Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), and subproject-specific E&S instruments. The Social Senior Analyst will be required to travel to project areas for monitoring and supervision purposes.

Programme Planning and Implementation

• Analyze applicable E&S instruments, including the E&S Management Framework (ESMF), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) and develop and lead the project’s E&S management system, ensuring alignment with the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), global standards and evolving project needs.

• Actively contribute to program planning, development, and execution by advising on the integration of social standards and risk mitigation measures into project activities.

• Support the Deputy Programme Manager and cross-functional teams to ensure that social standards and risk mitigation measures are embedded throughout the project’s design, implementation, and monitoring phases.

• Lead on the implementation of all E&S related instruments relevant to the project, including but not limited to ESMF, Labor Management Procedures, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse / Sexual Harassment Action Plan, Security Risk Management Plan, Stakeholder Engagement Plan, and respective sub-project E&S instruments.

• Train Implementing Partners and Contractors in E&S risk management procedures and requirements, and monitor the implementation of E&S risk management requirements by Partners.

• Review and clear E&S screening and E&S instruments for sub-projects by Partners.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Plan, coordinate, facilitate, record and report on consultations with project stakeholders for the purposes of the project as defined in the project’s E&S instruments.

• Facilitate discussions and negotiations to address social risks and ensure stakeholder concerns are addressed proactively, as per the Stakeholder Engagement Plan.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Evaluation

• Monitor the implementation and compliance with E&S requirements as per the project’s E&S instruments

• Prepare comprehensive E&S reports for the World Bank and other stakeholders, ensuring the accurate presentation of social standards’ and risk mitigation measures’ performance, challenges, and recommendations.

• Support the continuous improvement of the project’s monitoring systems by analyzing feedback, adapting to emerging trends, and refining social risk mitigation measures accordingly.

• Ensure that social risk mitigation processes and systems are continuously improved based on lessons learned, field observations, and stakeholder feedback.

• Contribute to long-term project sustainability by embedding strong risk mitigation measures that respond to evolving social and environmental challenges.

Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Management

• Under the supervision of the Project Manager, lead the development, implementation, and improvement of the project’s Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), ensuring that it is fully functional and accessible for stakeholders.

• Act as the internal and external focal point for the GRM, ensuring timely responses to grievances and addressing concerns raised by affected communities or stakeholders, including responding to Third Party Monitoring Agents’ reports on E&S-related issues.

• Analyze trends in grievances to identify systemic issues and recommend strategic actions to prevent recurrence.

Knowledge Building and Sharing

• Lead training sessions on social standards and risk mitigation measures for the UNOPS team, implementing partners, and contractors.

• Share knowledge and best practices on social risk mitigation measures implementation, building the capacity of project personnel and stakeholders to adhere to environmental and social standards.

• Document lessons learned from the field and provide regular updates and recommendations for improving project practices.

Required

• An advanced university degree (e.g. Master), preferably in Social Science, Anthropology, Sociology, Development Studies, Community Development or other relevant discipline is required.

• A first-level university degree, preferably in the above-mentioned areas or related field, in combination with an additional two (2) years' experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Desired

• Knowledge of UN systems/policies/norms and the World Bank’s ESF for social safeguards is an asset.

Required

• A minimum of two (2) years’ professional experience in social risk management and sustainability or social development fields with a Master’s Degree or four (4) years with a first-level university degree.

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (e.g. MS Office newer versions, Google Suite Applications) is required.

• Knowledge of environmental safeguards compliance is required.

Desired

• Experience working with the World Bank, UN agencies or other donor agencies, government ministries, and/or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is valued.

• Experience working with private sector partners, grant programmes, grievance redress mechanisms, and stakeholder engagement.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.