National Social Safeguards and Gender Specialist – SURAGGWA

ABOUT FAO

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations works internationally to eliminate hunger, improve food security, reduce rural poverty and promote sustainable agriculture and natural-resource management.

JOB SUMMARY

The National Social Safeguards and Gender Specialist will support implementation of the SURAGGWA Project in Nigeria by ensuring that environmental and social safeguards, gender equality and social inclusion are properly integrated into project activities.

The Specialist will support implementation and monitoring of the Environmental and Social Management Framework, Environmental and Social Management Plans, Gender Action Plan and other safeguards instruments required by FAO and the Green Climate Fund.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Implement actions identified in the Environmental and Social Management Framework and Environmental and Social Management Plans.

• Ensure gender-responsive and socially inclusive approaches are incorporated into project implementation.

• Monitor environmental, social, gender and inclusion safeguards across SURAGGWA activities.

• Support mitigation and remediation measures linked to technical and financial assistance provided to farmers and communities.

• Ensure women, men, youth and vulnerable groups participate equitably in project interventions and benefit-sharing arrangements.

• Integrate gender-differentiated needs, priorities and capacities into natural-resource management, restoration and agrifood-system activities.

• Support training and capacity-building activities relating to environmental and social safeguards and gender mainstreaming.

• Provide guidance to project teams on application of GCF social and environmental safeguards and FAO gender policies.

• Support development of safeguard indicators including sex-, age- and disability-disaggregated data.

• Mainstream environmental and social safeguards, gender equality and social inclusion into institutional strengthening and stakeholder-engagement activities.

• Support gender-responsive development of Non-Timber Forest Product value chains.

• Analyse qualitative and quantitative information generated through project implementation.

• Monitor indicators related to gender equality, women’s empowerment, youth, vulnerable groups and indigenous populations.

• Support implementation of accessible and culturally appropriate complaints, feedback and conflict-resolution mechanisms.

• Provide technical inputs for donor, partner and FAO reporting.

• Support reporting on safeguards, Gender Action Plan implementation and gender-related outcomes.

• Develop tools that integrate gender, youth, indigenous peoples and vulnerable groups into project activities.

• Support integration of gender-responsive approaches into land-use planning and management of soil, forests, water and biodiversity resources.

• Prepare technical reports, Terms of Reference, presentations and implementation documents.

• Perform other safeguards and gender-related duties assigned by the project coordinator or FAO.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• National of Nigeria.

• Advanced university degree in Agricultural Economics, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Natural Resources Management, Forestry, Agriculture, Rural Development or a related discipline.

• At least three years of relevant professional experience.

• Experience implementing FAO, government or donor-funded programmes related to environmental and social safeguards, natural-resource management, land restoration or rural development.

• Working knowledge of English.

• Hausa is mandatory.

• Knowledge of Kanuri and/or Fulfulde is an advantage.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

• Environmental and social safeguard implementation.

• Environmental and social risk management.

• Gender mainstreaming.

• Social inclusion.

• Stakeholder and community engagement.

• Grievance-redress mechanisms.

• Accountability and community-feedback systems.

• Sustainable landscape management.

• Land and ecosystem restoration.

• Non-Timber Forest Product value chains.

• Climate-resilient livelihoods.

• Monitoring and safeguards reporting.

• Experience working in northern Nigeria is desirable.

FAO CORE COMPETENCIES

• Results Focus.

• Teamwork.

• Communication.

• Building Effective Relationships.

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications must be submitted through FAO’s official recruitment platform.

FAO does not charge applicants any recruitment fee.

Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

Deadline: 24 September 2026.