Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Advisor - SNV

SNV Netherlands Development Organisation seeks to fill the position Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Advisor Based in Dhaka, frequent travel to Khulna, Barisal, and Rangpur Division (National contract).

SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organization. Founded in the Netherlands over 55 years ago, we have built a long-term, local presence in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Our advisors work with local partners to equip communities, businesses, and organizations with the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services. SNV works to empower people to break the cycle of poverty. SNV provides innovative solutions in Agriculture, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, and Renewable Energy in around 24 countries worldwide. For more information, please refer to our website: www.snv.org

The Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD)

The Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) will (i) provide finance and Technical Assistance (TA) to business case projects with a focus on climate change adaptation; (ii) mobilize external private sector funding at scale; and (iii) align directly with DFCD Theory of Change (ToC). A substantial allocation of investments will be reserved for OECD DAC Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and other Netherlands development cooperation priority countries (collectively, 'the focus countries'). Investments made by the consortium parties will seek to improve the wellbeing, economic prospects, and livelihoods of vulnerable groups – particularly women and children – and enhance the health of critical ecosystems – from water basins to rivers, tropical rainforests, marshland, and mangroves. The consortium's activities will also help protect communities and cities from the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and benefit depleting biodiversity in areas that provide people with water, food, medicine, and economic opportunity.

SNV is part of the Origination Facility (OF) which is collectively managed with WWF-NL. The OF will work with companies (sponsors) to turn initial ideas into bankable business cases. A lack of early-stage project preparation has been repeatedly recognised as a critical barrier to increasing investment flows. For private sector adaptation challenges are often particularly acute for their core business, as understanding of climate risks is limited and there is a need for working closely with potential project developers. The facility will support projects to the stage where they can then be picked up at low transaction cost by either of the DFCD water or land use investment facilities or undertaken by others.  This support consists of technical assistance accompanied with development funding up to EUR 350K. For more information, please refer to the website: www.thedfcd.com

Context and purpose of the job

The ESG Advisor will contribute to the overall approaches of the DFCD and SNV. The ESG Advisor is expected to design and carry out assessments of the preliminary ESG status of at least 3 business investment cases that are going to be developed under OF and to provide technical, policy, and programming implementation support and oversight, and knowledge and capacity development services pertaining to the business cases. This assignment includes significant work, within a landscape perspective, with the major stakeholders of the private companies, local and national GO-NGO's, civil society organisations and public institutions. The tasks are to be performed under the guidance and supervision of SNV, as follows: DFCD Business Development Advisor (functional reporting line) while to the Country Director as the Project Director of the DFCD (hierarchical reporting line). Furthermore, the ESG advisor will work in consultation with other ESG Specialist (global), DFCD Advisors and company/sponsor designated staff to each origination project.

Result areas

Advisory Services

Acts as technical expert the advisor develops the following activities:

• Desk-based analysis of Company business models, approaches, systems, and available data, as well as other relevant secondary environmental and social data from both sides (e.g., social-economic; costs, profits, markets, labours, gender equality, social inclusion of the most vulnerable people etc); environmental stresses affected by product/business)
• Desk-based review of national legislation and local policies/regulations applicable to Company's business model e.g., regarding land acquisition and land use for agriculture and water management, EIA, gender equality and labour standards, etc.
• Development of an ESA approach and methodology considering IFC Performance Standards requirements, gender equality aspects
• Conduct a review of Company's existing ESMS – company policies, procedures, standards for the management of environmental and social risks.
• Site visits/field surveys to conduct interviews and collect primary data.
• Local stakeholder consultations and presentations of findings (with local authorities, communities, neighbouring businesses)
• Elaboration of an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for each business case including recommendations for the improvement of Company's ESMS, as well as strategies for maximising positive environmental and social impacts (e.g., contributions to ecosystem restoration in the wider landscape, social benefits such as jobs/employment opportunities for local people/ethnic minorities and women in the supply chain).
• Elaboration of Gender Action Plan (GAP) for each business case. The GAP shall be a brief document intended to complement the ESMP indicating specifically how gender equality is addressed within the broader remit of social inclusion in the business model/project. Additional activities to promote GESI (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion) or women's economic empowerment (WEE) should be included where feasible.
• Presentation of ESMP and GAP to Company and other relevant stakeholders (as appropriate or necessary).
• Preparation of a draft ESMS document that responds to the IFC Performance Standards and addresses relevant ESG issues. The document may cross-refer to other documents/systems that Company may already have e.g., Company HR policy, environmental monitoring system etc.
• Preparation of an in-house training manual/guidelines and associated presentations, training materials on ESMP & GAP. Delivery of 1–2-day training sessions to Company staff.
• Work with SNV and other DFCD project advisors to ensure the integration of Environmental and Social considerations in the design of business investment proposals; as well as technically support on ESG and GESI in future climate funding project ideas/proposals of SNV, strongly ensuring alignment with and/or scaling of the DFCD approach and activities in country.
• Ensures, monitors progress, and reviews quality of own expertise and ensures client support and satisfaction during projects.

Knowledge Development

Contributes to internal and external knowledge development on climate and business aspects, ensures lessons learned on ESG learnings and opportunities for increasing relevance of private investments for most vulnerable people are shared and applied in the OF projects. Reviewing of existing studies, ESG assessment methodologies. Desk-based review of Company business models, approaches, systems and its short- and long-term impact for most vulnerable people in Bangladesh.

Project and process development

Provide regular overviews of the current state of national climate action priorities, gaps and needs with a focus on how these relate to human development, the intersectionality of climate and business. Contribute developing interventions, projects, and program to address climate issues and busines needs. Identify opportunities and provide recommendations for high-impact partnerships with a focus on donors, corporate, academic partners that combine opportunities for funding, thought leadership and long-term collaboration.

People Management

• Takes responsibility for peer-to-peer collaboration regarding (functionally) SNV colleagues and coaches associated partners/ external stakeholders on quality within the context of assignments.
• Acts as a technical expert in the content area, applies process improvements in projects and coaches colleagues and associated partners both professionally as operationally on quality of context within projects.
• Works with SNV and other DFCD project advisors to ensure the integration of Landscape considerations in the design of business investment proposals. Participates in knowledge development/expertise groups and in internal and external networks.

Positioning

Support the Country Director and Business Advisor in Bangladesh in establishing and maintaining a strategic understanding of, and engagement with, the substantive technical issues, institutions, and processes associated with Climate Change Adaptation, including establishing contact with and developing strategic partnerships with other agencies, donors, NGO's, the private sector, scientific institutions.

The above list of job responsibilities is not exclusive or exhaustive and the position will be required to undertake any assigned responsibilities assigned by his/her Supervisor as may reasonably be expected within the scope of the position.

Candidate profile

The applicant's experience & knowledge on agriculture/environmental/social sciences, natural resources management, international development, or other relevant fields, with the following specific level of education and experience:

• Have at least Master's degree in aforementioned relevant discipline.
• Have at least 5 years relevant experience in the performance of similar assignments (ESA, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion assessments) in relation to agriculture and rural development projects.
• Demonstrable familiarity with relevant international standards and safeguards frameworks (especially the IFC Performance Standards).
• Demonstrable experience in the performance of similar assignments advising private sector agribusinesses on ESG & GESI aspects and ESMS is highly desirable and experience in agribusiness sector is an advantage.
• Sound network and ability to link & influence policy related to ESG at national/subnational level with government, policymakers, donors, scientific institutes supporting/ working for the Ganges delta.
• Good technical inception/proposal writing skills, communication and engagement skills and demonstrated ability to facilitate strategic training/consulting/communicating with a multi-stakeholder environment from small households to national levels, and media community.

Personal skills:

• Strong analytical and risk assessment skills, including financial modelling skills.
• Ability to build productive internal and external working relationships with (sub)national stakeholders working for the Ganges Delta.
• Displays a strong service and client orientation.
• Strong team player.
• Good networking skills.
• Pro-active work attitude and 'can do', solution-oriented attitude.
• Strong skills in planning, administration, organising and prioritising.
• Sound understanding and awareness on Gender equality and social inclusion in project design and implementation
• Risk aware and able to escalate issues when necessary.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Affinity with SNVs mission.

Duty station: Based in Dhaka with frequent travel to Khulna, Barisal, Rangpur and other programme areas
Contract Duration: The duration of the proposed contract is 12 months with a possibility of extension depending on performance and availability of funds.
Expected Starting Date: As soon as possible.
Working Hours: Full time (40 hours per week)
Salary & Benefits: The total salary package (basic salary + all benefits) will range between BDT 147,178 and BDT 167,825per month, depending on the selected candidate's work experience.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply for this position.If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by submitting a brief letter of motivation (1 page) and your CV (not more than 3 pages). Your CV should highlight your prior work achievements; it should not be a list of your current or prior job responsibilities. Please apply through SmartRecruiters link below by 30th December 2021.

Please apply through this link  https://smrtr.io/7rjT_

We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Any form of solicitation by phone or other means will be treated as disqualification of the candidate. SNV is an equal employment provider.