ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS & COMMUNITY LIAISON SPECIALIST

Environment and Social Safeguards & Community Liaison Specialist

Location: Port Vila, Vanuatu
Employment Type: National Consultant – Part-time
Contract Duration: 14 months, with an estimated input of 10–12 working days per month. For contractual purposes, one month corresponds to 22 working days.
Project Phase: Construction Period (October 2026–December 2028)
Reporting to: Team Leader / Project Manager, IBF

About IBF and the Project

IBF, a company specialized in the execution of consultancy projects awarded by third parties, requires from time to time the services of independent experts for carrying out certain tasks in the framework of said projects, whether in Belgium or abroad.

In the framework of the project entitled “Supporting the Delivery of Skills Development in the Republic of Vanuatu – in the Republic of Vanuatu financed by the ADB, the Beneficiary being the Ministry of Education and Training of the Republic of Vanuatu, IBF is seeking an Environment and Social Safeguards & Community Liaison Specialist.

About the Role

We are seeking a suitably qualified Environment and Social Safeguards & Community Liaison Specialist to support the implementation of environmental and social safeguards during the construction period of the project. The Independent Expert will be required to provide the services in line with the Client’s requests and project activities.

The successful candidate will provide specialist environmental and social safeguards advice across selected infrastructure investments and works closely with the project team, engineers, implementing agencies, contractors, communities and relevant government authorities.

The role will be responsible for ensuring that environmental and social risks are appropriately identified, assessed, managed and monitored in accordance with applicable Country Safeguard Systems (CSS) and the ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS).

Key Responsibilities

The Specialist will:

• review and update environmental screening and assessment of each infrastructure investment selected site and buildings component and finalize site specific environmental and social assessments checklists;
• apply environment and social safeguards due diligence assessment;
• provide inputs to the overall due diligence on designs focusing on environmental safeguards;
• work closely with team members to get technical input from the engineering on each site/subproject and prepare the environmental and social safeguards assessment report(s);
• finalize Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) to mitigate the identified risk;
• provide environmental and social safeguards inputs in detailed infrastructure design;
• ensure Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and Due Diligence Report (DDR) meet requirements of the Country Safeguards Systems (CSS) and Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS);
• provide environmental and social inputs into detailed design and finalize Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) to mitigate the identified risks;
• ensure required government permits and clearances under the CSS are acquired for the project;
• ensure that the ESMP is included in individual bid documents for PIAs and that overall instruction to bidders includes requirement for the preparation of a Contractor’s ESMP (CESMP) addressing the requirements of the ESMP as a minimum;
• ensure establishment of the project grievance redress mechanism and ensure it is activated prior to start of civil works activities;
• review, monitor, and evaluate the effectiveness of ESMP implementation of mitigation measures and recommend corrective actions where necessary to ensure ESMP compliance;
• assist the IA PMU organize, conduct and document relevant public consultations and disclosure of project due diligence documents; and
• prepare and provide periodic safeguards monitoring inputs into quarterly project progress reports and support the preparation of the semi-annual environmental and social safeguards monitoring reports for IA and ADB.

Additional responsibilities throughout the construction phase (new):

• provide continuous environmental and social safeguards monitoring throughout the entire construction period until completion of civil works;
• conduct regular compliance inspections to verify contractors’ implementation of the ESMP and CESMP and follow up on corrective actions until all issues are resolved;
• maintain a safeguards compliance tracking system and regularly update the status of corrective actions and commitments;
• monitor environmental, occupational health and safety, and community health and safety performance throughout the construction period;
• support the PMT during ADB review missions, site visits and safeguard supervision missions;
• coordinate closely with the International Environment and Social Safeguards Specialist to implement technical recommendations and ensure effective knowledge transfer;
• support safeguard compliance during commissioning, handover of facilities and, where applicable, the defects liability period;
• maintain regular engagement with affected communities and ensure that grievances are addressed promptly through the Project Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM); and
• provide regular advice to the Project Manager on emerging environmental and social risks and recommend mitigation measures to ensure continued compliance with ADB safeguard requirements.
• A statement mentioning, overall performance under the guidance of international Environmental and Social Specialist
• Provide necessary information for preparing Semi-annual safeguard monitoring report
• Record and report contactors non-compliance cases in C-ESMP implementation.
• Provide support PM to develop and agree in preparing non-compliance report and ensure follow up monitoring and sign off.

Qualifications and Experience

The ideal candidate will have:

• Advanced degree (a master’s degree) or equivalent in gender studies, social anthropology, law and women’s rights, sociology, public health, or other related field
• At least ten (10) years of humanitarian and/or development experience, including specific experience in children’s and women’s rights, prevention and response to violence against women and children, and other forms of gender-based violence,
• Experience in and knowledge of global practice, policies and guidance related to GEDSI,
• Expert knowledge of current GBV developments and activities of multilateral development banks and donors’ funds,
• Demonstrated work experience and understanding of GEDSI in the context of an education development project;
• Proven success in developing and facilitating training and capacity-building activities on GEDSI, and
• Demonstrated understanding of issues related to confidentiality, data safety/security, and other ethical concerns related to survivor’s centered approach.

The following will be highly valued

• Previous work experience in the education sector and with an ADB- or donor-funded project, and
• Experience developing and facilitating training sessions and workshops within the international development sector.

Contract

This is a part-time national specialist position for 14 months, with an estimated input of 10–12 working days per month. One month corresponds to 22 working days.

The assignment will cover activities during the construction period of the project.

How to Apply

Interested and suitably qualified candidates are invited to submit:

• A current CV/resume;
• A cover letter outlining relevant experience and suitability for the role; and
• Their proposed monthly professional fee/rate, based on 22 working days per month.

Please note: For contractual and payment purposes, one month is equivalent to 22 working days . As this is a part- time assignment, the monthly fee will be calculated on a pro-rata basis according to the number of days worked.
For example, if 11 days are worked in each month, the amount payable will be calculated as follows:

Agreed monthly rate ÷ 22 × 11 days worked.

Applications should be submitted to: theodate@ibf.dev
CC : :  moulin.tabouti@pmt-vanuatu.com

Closing Date: 2 October 2026

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.