Iraq: Environmental & Social Management (ESM) Advisor (Iraq Nationals only)

Aug 7, 2022 | Norwegian Refugee Council
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The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. We work in crises across more than 31 countries, providing emergencies and long-term assistance to millions of people every year. We stand up for people forced to flee, advocating their rights. NORCAP, our global provider of expertise, helps improve international and local ability to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from crises. NRC also runs the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre in Geneva, a global leader in reporting on and advocating for people displaced within their own country.

Since the Government of Iraq declared that combat operations against the Islamic State Group (IS) had ended in 2017, Iraq has been recovering from the significant damage and destruction caused by the armed conflict. Of the more than six million Iraqis who fled their homes since 2014, 4.5 million Iraqis have returned to their area of origin and 1.4 million remain internally displaced. Many Iraqis have returned to areas that lack basic infrastructure, services and livelihood opportunities, or where explosive devices have not been cleared. Other challenges returnees and secondarily displaced people face include the lack of security, community acceptance, housing, property and civil documentation issues as well as critical educational and health service gaps.

Throughout this, Iraq continues to host over a quarter of a million Syrian refugees.  With military operations against IS group having ended, the Iraqi government faces new challenges to ensure an inclusive reconstruction and reconciliation that will sustain peace. Since 2010, NRC Iraq has been assisting internally displaced Iraqis, Syrian refugees, returnees, and host communities in Ninewa, Dohuk, Erbil, Kirkuk, Basra, Salahdeen and Anbar Governorates. We focus on assisting the newly displaced, those experiencing protracted displacement in camps, and people returning to and living in hard-to-reach places by improving their chance of obtaining a durable solution. 

NRC runs integrated programmes across Iraq to respond to people in need using our shelter and settlements, education, camp management, legal assistance, livelihoods, and cash activities.

Job Purpose

The ESM Adviser will provide technical support and quality control of all ESM outputs, coordinating with the ESM focal points at area level and provision of technical support to Community Mobilization Officers. The Adviser will directly report to the Activating Markets and Agricultural Livelihoods (AMAL) Programme Manager in close coordination with AMAL Project Managers and Project Coordinators based in Area offices.

What you will do

  • Contribute to the development of Country, Area, and programme strategies, initiate and participate in the development of relevant programme strategies
  • Provide training, guidance and strategic direction in Community Action Planning (CAP), creation of and management of Community Development Committees (CDCs) as well as the block grants disbursement process.
  •  Site Assessments for Environmental and Social screening and development of ESM Plans - support field teams in the implementation of the Environmental and Social Screening Checklists, including quality checks and overall review.
  • Provide technical support to field staff, and to AMAL Community Mobilizers in the development of work plans as well as the development work-plans for each Environmental & Social Management Framework (ESMF) component in coordination with area office staff through regular visits to the different Area Offices and leadership of the Community-of Practice that brings together AMAL Community Mobilization teams and ensures high technical quality of projects.
  • Support field teams in the development and production of the overall ESMF, including
  • Scope of Work (SoW), Environmental & Social (E&S) & Environmental & Social Management Plan (ESMP) or Environmental & Social Commitment Plan (ESCOP) processes. Ensure quality of outputs, with internal and external coordination with stakeholders.
  • Monitor the implementation of E&S standards according to the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) and provide reports to area offices and donor through regular quarterly and annual reports.
  • Provide regular progress reports to the AMAL Programme Manager and the Project Lead
  • Ensure that projects target beneficiaries most in need, explore and asses new and better ways to assist
  • Ensure capacity building of project staff and transfer key skills
  • Liaise and collaborate with relevant local authorities and other key stakeholders
  • Promote the rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)/returnees in line with the advocacy strategy

Professional Competencies, Skills and Qualifications required:

  • A Bachelors degree in Environmental studies or any relevant field
  • Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in Environment, WASH, Shelter, or Infrastructure development projects
  • Relevant experience from working as a technical coordinator/manager in a humanitarian/recovery context
  • Understanding of Iraqi laws and statutory requirements related to construction, environment, and agriculture
  • Sufficient knowledge of the NGO operations and the dynamics of the humanitarian sector
  • Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, database and network communications.
  • Previous experience working in Iraq 
  • Fluency in English and Arabic, both written and verbal

Behavioral competencies:

  • Empowering and building trust
  • Communicating with impact and respect
  • Handling insecure environments
  • Analysing
  • Strategic Thinking
  • Working with People

What We Offer

NRC is an equal opportunities employer and aims to have staffing diversity in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality and physical ability.

We offer an opportunity to match your career to a compelling cause and a chance to meet and work with people who are the best in their fields.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply and join our work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility. 

At NRC we think outside the box. We encourage ideas and give responsibility to all employees at all levels, to help solve the complex issues that we face. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take initiative.

We are also looking for people who share our values:

  • To be dedicated in what we do;
  • To be innovative with our solutions;
  • To act as one unified and inclusive team;
  • To be accountable to the donors that make our work possible; the people we exist to serve, and to each other… the members of our NRC family.

Additional Information:

  • Duty Station: Erbil - Iraq
  • Duration of contract: 1 year renewable depending on funding. Full-time, in accordance with local labour laws.
  • Grade 8 in NRC's grading structure
  • Travel: 50% 
  • Reporting line: AMAL Programme Manager
  • Note: This position is open to National candidates only

We invite applications from all qualified and interested national candidates and encourage you to apply early, as applications may be screened prior to the vacancy deadline. 

Please note to attach your academic and professional certificates in your application.

For further details on the position you can view a copy of the job description here