Safeguards and Gender Specialist – GEF

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Position title:  Safeguards and Gender Specialist – GEF, WWF-Laos

Reports to: National Project Coordinator, WWF-Laos

Department: Conservation

Location: Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR, with frequent travel to Nam Poui GEF sites

1. Background

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has supported conservation in Laos since the late 1980s, initially contributing to biodiversity surveys that helped establish the country’s protected area system. Formally established in 2001, WWF-Laos operates from its head office in Vientiane Capital, with field offices in Savannakhet, Champasak, Salavan, and Xekong. We work closely with government, civil society, and the private sector to address biodiversity loss and promote sustainable, nature-based development.

Our vision is a future where Lao PDR’s unique biodiversity, ecosystems, and cultural heritage are protected and enhanced, contributing to national well-being and regional sustainability. Conservation is at the heart of what we do, delivered through three main practice areas: Forests, Wildlife, and Freshwater.

Under the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, WWF-Laos is scaling conservation impact across three priority landscapes, with a focus on forest and species recovery, freshwater ecosystem protection, and reducing plastic pollution in key urban areas. We integrate cross-cutting themes such as climate resilience, gender and social inclusion, sustainable agriculture, and local capacity-building to ensure lasting results. Find out more from www.wwf.org.la.

As Laos transitions from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, WWF-Laos remains a key technical partner, helping to align national conservation goals with practical, field-based solutions.

2. Major Functions:

Under the direction of the National Project Coordinator, the Safeguards and Gender Specialist will lead the implementation and monitoring of the Environmental and Social Management Framework  (ESMF), the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and the Gender Action Plan (GAP). The overall objective of the National Safeguards and Gender Specialist is to ensure the project’s Environmental and Social Management Framework  (EMSF), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and Gender Action Plan (GAP) are being implemented at all levels of the project implementation as well as monitoring and evaluation. The National Safeguards and Gender Specialist will contribute to this objective through:

• Reviewing the status of implementation of i) ESMF, and ii) GAP, identifying capacity gaps and needs across all levels (provincial, district and communities).
• Strengthening capacity of provincial and district coordinators on gender responsive approaches and practical application of ESMF, GAP at all levels of implementation.
• Enhancing monitoring project implementation to ensure Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) considerations are mainstreamed into project reporting of ESMF, GAP and SEP in all components of the project.
• Closely work with M&E, Communication and Knowledge Management Specialist to ensure reporting, monitoring and evaluation comprehensively address the GEDSI and stakeholder engagement needs of the project-across all the three project components.

3. Major Responsibility

Safeguards and Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead implementation of steps and procedures as outlined in the ESMF, including screening of annual budget/work plans, conduct consultations with local stakeholders;
• Coordinate and track overall implementation of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), and ensure gathered information and feedback from the different stakeholder groups is shared within the team, ;
• Ensure that all documents necessary for full compliance with ESMF, are prepared, implemented, regularly updated and are available to relevant stakeholders;
• Review annual work plans and budgets and provide recommendations to ensure that project activities are designed to include avoidance of potential social and environmental risks, as recommended in the ESMF; and that where such risks are not avoidable, mitigation plans or measures are in place to minimize or mitigate these risks;
• Provide overall Environmental and Social Management oversight during the implementation of the project activities and advise the PMU in addressing the environmental and social issues;
• Communicate with Local Governments, sub-contractors and with the local communities to design, implement, document and report on environmental compliance, as indicated in ESMF;
• Monitor implementation of ESMF by any contractors to ensure that appropriate management process and procedures are in place, that Environmental and Social Safeguards related measures are adequately addressed and to ensure that in the event of a noncompliance agreed remedial actions are applied and documented;
• Support establishment and lead implementation of a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) to handle complaints in an effective manner;

Gender

• Lead and track implementation and monitoring of the Gender Action Plan (GAP);
• Review annual work plans and budgets and provide recommendations to ensure that project activities support GEDSI mainstreaming;
• Provide overall oversight during the implementation of the project activities and advise the PMU in addressing any gender-related issues;
• Work with the Project Manager and the M&E Specialist to design methodologies and implementation plans for the execution of GEDSI-sensitive activities in close collaboration with technical specialists;
• Provide inputs to the development of project workplans and participate in project management meetings and annual reflection workshops to inform adaptive management of the project;

Scope of Work and Tasks

General Tasks: 

• Take lead in the implementation of ESMF focussing on topics: – Environmental and Social Risk Management; Grievance Mechanism; Restriction of Access and Resettlement; Indigenous People;  Community Health, Safety and Security;  -;
• Take lead in the implementation of the Gender Action Plan focussing on GEDSI  in IWRM and

CC; Prevention of Gender-Based Violence;  Women and marginalized peoples’meaningful  participation in decision making; Women and marginalized peoples’ access to consultations and capacity strengthening.

• Lead the implementation and reporting of the project’s SEP.
• Provide overall Environmental and Social Management oversight during the implementation of the project activities and advise the PMU in addressing the environmental and social issues;
• Provide technical support in the implementation of capacity building for government stakeholders and local communities in gender-responsive integrated water resources management and climate change adaptation.
• Identify chances for capacity strengthening for women’s groups on a range of topics, for example, gender-based violence and  climate change, community-based resource management, leadership and community engagement, etc.

Specific Tasks: 

Task 1: Assist in the development of awareness raising materials and dissemination of project communications

• Assist the Project Team in developing suitable communication materials to be applied in project activities and stakeholder engagement activities, for example, poster or video on GEDSI mainstreaming in IWRM, climate change adaptation.
• Disseminate project information and learning to implementing partners, for instance, consultants.
• Conduct training on ESS (WWF, Project ESMF) and on GEDSI concepts and mainstreaming for project/program staffs and local key partners; and on the implementation of the ESS and GAP materials.

Task 2: Support stakeholder engagement and GEDSI in social and environmental safeguards in on-the-ground implementation

• Lead the implementation of the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes.
• Work closely with i) WWF-Laos’s colleagues: a) Senior Advisor Gender and Inclusive Conservation and b) Environmental and Social Safeguard and Quality Assurance (ESS&QA) Manager and ii) WWF-US Agency team: a) Senior Director – Gender Social Inclusion & Safeguards to ensure the project activities comply with the Environmental and Social policies ofWWF GEF Agency and the GEF.
• Support GEDSI-responsive public consultation at the target villages- Develop simple ESR monitoring checklist for project staffs (including data collection sheet and data management);
• Conduct community meetings with the objective to understand current agricultural practices and livelihood strategies, promote climate-smart agriculture and diversifying livelihoods for resilience, and consult about possible risks and challenges.
• Review the government’s requirements and process for environmental clearance, assist the executing and implementing agencies in securing environmental clearance certificates for each project component as required by the government, and prepare necessary information to comply with WWF and government guidelines as per the project processing schedule;
• Organize precautionary measures for Health and Safety risk management during infrastructure work in line with WWF’s Guidance Note on Labor and Working Conditions

Task 3: Lead implementation of GAP, SEP and Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)

• Work with the National Project Coordinator and the M&E Specialist to design methodologies and implementation plans for the execution of GEDSI-responsive activities in close collaboration with technical specialists;
• Work with the M&E and Communications officer to ensure reporting, monitoring and evaluation fully address GEDSI in the project.
• Identify potential grievances, current institutional strengths and capacity gaps for grievance resolution.
• Support establishment and lead implementation of a grievance redress mechanism (GRM) to handle complaints in an effective manner
• Develop the restricted activities, tool, or input lists of environmentally unsustainable practices that might result in environmental degradation and social conflicts;
• Provide inputs based on the Gender Action Plan to integrate GEDSI into IWRM and Climate Change Adaptation plans to  the DWR and present it to the PMU for endorsement.

Task 4: Participate in project meeting(s) and provide inputs to project progress reporting on implementation of the ESMF, GAP and SEP. 

• Review annual work plans and budgets and provide recommendations to ensure that project activities, being developed as a part of the Project, are designed to include avoidance of potential social and environmental risks, as recommended in the ESMF; and that where such risks are not avoidable, mitigation plans or measures are in place to minimize or mitigate these risks; ensure the workplan and budget include the GAP activities and the budget is GEDSI-sensitive.
• Attend meetings (e.g. monthly, quarterly and annual events)
• Update the achievement of GEDSI Targets
• Provide written inputs to the project Progress Report(s).

4. Requirements Qualifications

• University Degree (Master Degree is preferred) in the area of climate change, water resource management, environmental sciences, natural resource management, international development/development studies, or another closely related field.

5. Required Skills and Competencies

• At least 5 years of relevant experiences in environmental and social safeguards implementation.
• At least 5 years of experience in GEDSI mainstreaming into project activities.
• Proven experience in the development, implementation and monitoring of ESMF, GAP and SEP.
• Experience in conducting participatory stakeholder engagement, including using the FPIC process.
• Previous experiences and good comprehension of the local environment where the Project will be implemented.
• At least 3 years working experience in conservation programming.
• Lao native speaker with proficiency in written and spoken English is preferred.

6. Working Relationships:

• Internal – Interact on a regular basis with the Conservation Director and Country Director, Practice Coordinators, Project Managers,, and Regional Technical Advisors. Engage with and support all WWF-Laos staff.
• External – Interact with all relevant stakeholders at the community, district, and provincial level. Interact with donors, central government partners, and NGOs on an ad-hoc basis.

7. WWF’s Values and Behaviors:

• Adhere to WWF’s values: Courage, Respect, Collaboration and Integrity.
• Demonstrates WWF core value in action of working:
• We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it’s needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home.
• We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability and transparency, and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure that we learn and evolve.
• We honour the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve, and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.
• We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.

8. Contract Duration: WWF-Laos can offer you 1-year initial with possible extension with industry leading benefit and salary package and ample opportunity for professional development. For more information on our work in Laos, please visit: http://www.wwf.org.la.

9. How to Apply:

Step 1 – Please complete the application form by clicking this link: Application for Employment, WWF-Laos – Fill out form. Ensure you answer all questions in the system until you click on the submit button.

Step 2 – Submit your CV and Cover letter in English in PDF format to e-mail: jobs.laos@wwf.org.la and mention the position you apply.

Suggest to name the file of your CV and Cover letter with example below.

(example: Safeguards and Gender Specialist_CV_Khamkeo Santiphab, Safeguards and Gender Specialist_Cover letter Khamkeo Santiphab)

10. Deadline for applications: 09 March 2026. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

WWF does not charge or accept a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. WWF is committed to a fair, respectful, and inclusive work environment where every individual has equal opportunity to apply.  Please indicate if you require accommodation for the application or interview process to jobs.laos@wwf.org.la