Project Officer – Environmental Compliance At Catholic Relief Services

About CRS:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the Un ited States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners, people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.
CRS has worked in Kenya since 1965. Over the years, CRS’ focus shifted from direct relief and food distributions to a comprehensive development program that works with partners and enhances local capacity. CRS Kenya programs now support children affected by HIV, and community-based efforts to increase household incomes, improve family health and s anitation, and enhance agriculture livelihoods.
Background:
CRS, representing a consortium of international non-governmental organizations, local implementing partners and research institutions is leading the USAID Nawiri Project in Isiolo and Marsabi t, a USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) funded 5-year Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) in Kenya. The overarching goal of this multi-sectoral activity is to sustainably reduce persistent levels of acute malnutrition in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). The activity will be implemented in two phases:

• Phase I (1.5-2 years) Research, test approaches and collaboratively design a context-sensitive, multi-sectoral activity that sustainably reduces acute malnutrition.
• Phase II (3- 3.5 years): Multi-sectoral Activity implementation and adaptation and Local System and Institutional Strengthening.

Overview of Nawiri’s Environmental Safeguarding:
Nawiri program operates in accordance with US Government environmental regulations and guidance, including Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), Pest Management Plan (PMP), Water Quali ty Assurance Plan (WQAP), Environmental Status Reports (ESR), Safe User Action Plan (SUAP), and Environment Management and Mitigation Plan (EMMP) among others. CRS seeks to recruit an environmental compliance officer in Isiolo and in Marsabit who will work as integral part of the technical assistance team to ensure that environmental and climate issues are properly considered and addressed, and that operations are supported in order to comply with USAID’s safeguard policies, USAID 22 CFR 216 and ADS201, and Kenya?s national regulations during program implementation.
**Job Summary:
The Project Officer – Environmental Compliance will lead and be accountable for full compliance to USAID environmental regulations and associated deliverables under the Nawiri program, as well as GoK environmental regulations at the county level. This includes understanding these regulations and deliverab les and their operationalization within the ASAL context. The position will also be expected to generate and regularly updates on Nawiri’s environmental deliverables as required. As environmental compliance is not the sole responsibility of one person, staff capacity building and orientation is essential across a large and diverse team to ensure integration of environmental safeguarding issues across interventions. On site monitoring of activities and tracking of associated indicators must be implemented in close partnership with the key county government departments and the project’s monitoring, evaluation and learning team. The environmental compliance officers will work directly report to the Environmental Safeguards Manager, and in close collaboration with all program leads. **Job Responsibilities:

• Conduct regular monitoring of Nawiri consortium activities to ensure f ull compliance with USAID environmental compliance regulations. Share the results of this monitoring in a timely manner and follow-up on recommendations given.
• Ensure Climate Risk Management mitigation measures are implemented as per the IEE recommendations.
• Work closely with team members, partners and local government to build their capacity on environmental management, specifically focusing on strengthening institutional capacity, improving environmental quality and the sustainable management of natural resources, and promoting equitable solutions in managing commons such as climate change, sustainability, biodiversity conservation and others.
• Undertake quarterly environmental monitoring and evaluation of program activities against environmental regulations and standards. Take lead on developing and delivering a series of spot checks to ensure that proposed mitigation measures are properly implemented in line with the guidelines and unforeseen environmen tal and human health impacts are minimized. Prepare report (quarterly, field monitoring) on the safeguard risks with appropriate actions to be taken and ensure that timely actions are taken.
• Facilitate the preparation and updating of environmental safeguard lessons/results by USAID’s requirements
• Work in close collaboration with the M&E team to ensure that all the required environmental indicators are properly aligned and tracked with the overall M&E plan.
• Conduct assessments and advise teams on the environmental implications of planned activities.
• Coordinate with external stakeholders and contractors.
• Contribute to maintaining relationships with donors, peer organizations and other institutions, participate in forums in the area of environment to collect and share best practices

Required/Desired Foreign Language:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in E nglish; ability to draft and edit reports.
• Excellent verbal communication skills in Kiswahili.
• Dialects local to Marsabit and Isiolo County a plus.

Travel Required: The position will be based in Isiolo and Marsabit with frequent travels to project sites at in the respective sub counties.
Key Working Relationships:
Supervisory: None
Internal: Environmental Safeguards Manager, County Systems Strengthening Specialist, County Health & Nutrition Manager, County Graduation Manager, County Food systems Specialist, County Research Coordinator, Gender & Social Dynamics Specialist, County M&E Specialist, County Learning & Accountability Specialists, Nawiri subcounty program team and Nawiri consortium partner staff.
External: County government of Marsabit and Isi olo staffs especially Ministry of Environment & Water, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock, NEMA, Public Administration and Civic engagement an d other related government bodies and authorities, Local Implementing partners and private sector service providers
Qualifications, Skills and Experience: **

• Degree in Environmental Sciences, Environmental Planning and Management, Natural Resources management, Environmental Health and Environmental Engineering or related field.
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with relevant field-based experience in environment safeguarding issues.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of GoK environmental regulations and USAID environmental compliance experience
• Demonstrated experience working in some or all of the follow ing: environmental safeguarding, climate risk management, conservation, biodiversity management, capacity building.
• Knowledge of and experience working with complex MEAL systems and indicator tracking
• Experience working on technical sectors covered under the Nawiri project (nutrition, health, livelihoods, WASH, DRR, livestock, food systems, business sustainability etc)
• Experience working with USAID as a donor preferred
• Experience working in Marsabit and Isiolo counties and native speaker of the local dialect e.g., Borana, Rendile, Gabra, Samburu, Turkana is a plus
• Good self-management and interpersonal skills
• Excellent written and oral communications skills in the English language

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to f ulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results. **

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talents
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability and Stewardship

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
What we offer:
CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
*Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.** C RS Kenya strives to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and work, stay, and do their best.**
CRS provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or handicap, medical condition and any other status protected by law. As an equal opportunity employer, CRS will recruit, hire, train and promote persons solely on their qualifications and abilities. **By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people w ith dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate m y behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

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