Risk Analyst - Social and Environmental Standards, Abuja

General

Description of assignment title:

Risk Analyst - Social and Environmental Standards

Assignment country:

Nigeria

Duty stations:

Abuja

Work location:

On UN premises

Expected start date:

09/30/2026

Duration:

12 months (with possibility of extension)

Long-term benefits and allowances

Sustainable Development Goal:

11. Sustainable cities and communities

Host entity:

UNDP

Modality:

Onsite

Type:

International

Volunteer category:

Specialist UCoS from Apr 2026

Work schedule:

Full-time

Number of Assignments:

1

Details

Mission and objectives:

UNDP is the United Nations largest agency with a mandate to eradicate poverty, through sustainable and inclusive human development. UNDP has been in Nigeria since the country became independent in 1960 providing capacity building and policy development support to the Federal Government of Nigeria in areas of Governance & Peace Building, Inclusive growth, and Sustainable Development.

UNDP continues to support the government in the implementation of development interventions aimed at meeting medium to long term goals enshrined in National and Subnational development plans as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. The goal of UNDP is to improve the lives of the people of Nigeria, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, and to ensure a future that offers equality, dignity, and opportunity for all. UNDP works in partnership with the federal Government of Nigeria, development partners, UN agencies, civil society and local communities to help identify local solutions to meet global and national development challenges through a range of interventions that combine UNDP's expertise and comparative advantage in the areas of Governance & Peace Building, Inclusive growth and Sustainable Development.

Context:

UNDP's Social and Environmental Standards (SES) underpin our support for sustainable development. The starting point to ensure these standards are applied is through UNDP's project-level Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP), which is a requirement for projects. The results to be delivered by the Risk Analyst-Social and Environmental Standards will provide key risk management and SES compliance capacity for the Country Office, helping ensure UNDP delivers on its commitment to protect people and the environment across all programming and avoid inadvertent harm.

Task description:

Under the direct supervision of the Team Leader, Environment and Energy, also with guidance from Team Lead, Programme Management Support Unit (PMSU) the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

I. SES Oversight and Quality Assurance

• Support the team to conduct a quality review of early drafts of Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP) to ensure proper identification and categorization of risk.
• Work with project design team and/or PMU on needed social and environmental assessments/management plans and safeguards expertise, including review of related ToRs.
• Quality assure draft and final SES documentation for projects to ensure they meet technical standards and requirements.
• Undertake safeguards oversight missions, as needed and per projects' M&E plans etc.
• Track progress of high/substantial risk and other priority projects' implementation of required Social and Environmental Standards.

II. SES Capacity Building

• Work with the Team Lead to conduct a CO capacity assessment to identify baseline quality of Social and Environmental Standards documentation, capacity needs, priority risks, and opportunities.
• Support the Team Lead in developing and coordinating the implementation of an action plan to strengthen implementation across the aforementioned portfolio, clarifying the oversight and quality assurance process, roles and responsibilities, and a learning plan.
• Support regular capacity development, awareness raising, trainings and other learning opportunities for the CO team and implementing partners.
• Establish roster of national social and environmental safeguards consultants.
• Support in conducting an assessment of national capacities/safeguards to identify key gaps, with guidance on how these gaps should be approached across the portfolio, as well as entry points for capacity building and use of national systems.

III. SES Knowledge Management

• Document lessons learned and best practices to facilitate learning.
• Track and share precedents that have implications for the entire portfolio to ensure an aligned and consistent approach (e.g. identification of indigenous peoples).
• Maintain a library of project safeguards documents and examples that can be used as reference points.
• Work with the team to prepare an annual report on Social and Environmental Standards implementation in the office, capturing key lessons learned and recommendations for how to strengthen implementation moving forward.

During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check-ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.

Eligibility criteria

Age:

18 - 80

Required experience:

3 years

Donor priorities:

.

Nationality:

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Additional eligibility criteria:

This assignment, including a 12-month contract extension, is funded by Spain and therefore candidates must be Spanish nationals.

Candidates who already served on a UN Volunteer assignment funded by Spain are not eligible.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The selection will be carried out by the UN Host Entity in the country of assignment.

+++ UN Volunteer entitlement calculator: https://app.unv.org/calculator +++

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience:

3 years

Languages:

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level:

Bachelor's degree in International Development, Environmental or Social Studies, or other relevant areas.

Competencies and values:

• i. Accountability
• ii. Empowering Others
• iii. Ethics and Values
• iv. Leadership
• v. Managing Performance
• vi. Planning and Organizing
• vii. Professionalism
• viii. Respect for Diversity
• ix. Technological Awareness
• x. Working in Teams

Skills and experience:

• Quality Assurance
• Capacity Development
• Knowledge management
• Social and Environmental Standards
• Climate and Energy
• Climate and environment
• Programme management
• Development programming
• Stakeholder engagement; training and capacity building skills related to environmental and social safeguards.

Area(s) of expertise:

• Development programmes
• Natural and life sciences
• Energy and environment

Driving license:

-

Other information

Tags

• development policy
• environmental sustainability
• international voluntary services
• sdg11
• sdg13

Skills

• Quality Assurance
• Capacity Development
• Knowledge Management
• Social and Environmental Standards
• Stakeholder Engagement

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