Environment Officer

About AIWRDP/RPCO/MRRD:

The Regional Programs (RP) was established in the MRRD compound in 2007 as one of the largest rural support program in terms of scope and coverage area, working across the county. The demand for rural development motivated the program management to operate in several sectors that created a stage for diversified activities, whereas all other national programs of the ministry are engaged in their specific sectors. In addition, the Program responds to expressed needs of the rural people, who require various basic services (community based infrastructures) which no other single rural development program has addressed so far. The program development efforts are focused on helping the poor in dealing with many of the risks they face in their lives  – such as unemployment, low house hold income, low agriculture production, poor irrigation systems, lack of accessibility to market, lack of education and health facilities, lack community based disaster risk reduction infrastructures and insufficient potable water.

Under the portfolio of the Regional Programs the Arghandab Integrated Water Resources Development Project (AIWDP) funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB) will improve the availability and use of water resources for irrigated agriculture in the Arghandab River Basin and the Kandahar region. The project comprises 5 outputs: (i) Dahla dam capacity increased; (ii) reliability of irrigation water supply increased; (iii) climate resilient and productive irrigation technologies and practices introduced; (iv) post-farm value chains developed; and (v) capacity in water resource management and use strengthened. AIWDP is a joint project between Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAIL) and Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW). MRRD will contribute to outputs 1 and 2

Job Description:

Key responsibilities

The Environment Officer will provide environmental review and technical support to ensure environmental safeguard compliance of AIWRDP projects particularly for Kandahar PIU administered projects in terms of donor's environmental safeguard policy and guidelines. The incumbent will report to the provincial PIU head

Provide day-to-day guidance and advice on environment safeguard compliance issues for the projects team and CDCs, and contribute to resolution of environment safeguard compliance issues in consultation with AIWRDP Principal Environment Specialist and Sustainable Development, as required.
Undertake activities such as reviewing technical assistance (TA) papers, concept papers, environment monitoring reports, and Project Completion Report (PCR) and participating in project processing missions, grant review missions; and mid-term grant review missions as needed.
Support project officers to advise executing and implementing agencies (EAs/IAs) on the improvement of environment policy compliance documentation; and monitor project related environment issues during project implementation.
Provide environmental inputs for contract processing and scope changes, assist in initial environment examination (IEE) and environmental impact assessments, and responsible to obtain ADB environmental safeguard compliance approvals, including for initial environmental categorization, project concept paper, and management consideration.
Conduct climate change risk screening; supervise in-depth climate risk assessments; and monitor implementation of climate adaptation elements for projects.
Provide environment capacity training to EAs and RM staff to enhance their capacity to implement projects with significant environment components.
Develop and prepare knowledge briefs for use by EA/IA and donor in environment assessments and environmental projects.
Maintain database of project environmental reporting and grant covenant compliance related to projects.

Job Requirements:

Qualifications/Experiences, Skills and Abilities required

Bachelor's degree in environmental science, Agriculture sciences, and engineering, or related fields in natural resources, biological or environmental management, preferably with advanced training.
At least 4 years of relevant professional experience in environmental management.
Familiarity with ADB or other multilateral development institutions' environment safeguard compliance requirements or international best practices is an advantage.
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
Able to guide Administrative Staff to facilitate work planning, delivery and quality review
Able to liaise and work effectively with government officials within own work location
Able to work collaboratively with teams as a constructive team member.
Fluent in Dari and Pashto.

Travel Requirements

Knowledge of and the ability to travel throughout the subproject location areas is vital to accomplishing the duties for the position. Candidates must be able to travel to all proposed subproject areas.

Reporting Relationship: Provincial Manager

Submission Guideline:

Interested applications electronically through vacancies.hrcsd@mrrd.gov.af
While submitting your applications please mention the Title of the position plus Vacancy Number in the subject of the e-mail; please do NOT submit any other supporting documentation or educational certificates with your application. If you are short listed, you will be asked to submit electronic Afghans with the required qualifications and experience should submit their copies of your educational certificates and if you are invited to written test you will be required to present the original certificates. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date of the position. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for written test Note: In the interests of open and fair competition and a merit based selection process applicants are advised that lobbying for a position , whether by the applicant or by any person acting on his or her behalf, shall result in the immediate disqualification of the candidate from further consideration. Applicants are strongly advised to inform potential supporters of this restriction which shall be strictly enforced.

Please don’t forget to type the Vacancy Announcement Number (1699/020/HRCSD/AIWRDP/RPCO/MRRD) in Subject while applying online. Application without vacancy number will not be accepted.

Submission Email:

vacancies.hrcsd@mrrd.gov.af