Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist – Ethiopia, Somalia

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist for a trade consultancy assignment financed by TradeMark Africa in Ethiopia, Somalia.

Aninver Development Partners SL is currently preparing a proposal for a key regional trade initiative funded by TradeMark Africa across Ethiopia and Somalia. The project focuses on conducting comprehensive pre-feasibility studies, commercial structuring, and investment preparation for a vital cross-border logistics centre and market upgrade along a major strategic corridor. We are seeking an expert Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist to join our multidisciplinary team for this six-month assignment.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in ensuring that all infrastructure planning and pre-investment studies adhere strictly to international environmental and social standards. The expert will lead screening activities, climate resilience assessments, and stakeholder engagement processes, ensuring the integration of robust safeguards and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion principles into the final bankable investment package.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Conduct robust environmental and social screening for the proposed logistics centre and cross-border market upgrade.
• Ensure full alignment with international safeguard frameworks, including IFC Performance Standards and the World Bank ESF.
• Evaluate climate change vulnerabilities and integrate climate resilience measures into the project design.
• Incorporate Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) principles across all project components.
• Facilitate stakeholder consultations with local communities, traders, and government authorities.

Scope of work

• Conduct initial environmental and social impact screening along the strategic trade corridor and target border crossing points.
• Evaluate climate change vulnerabilities and propose adaptation and mitigation measures for the planned infrastructure.
• Integrate Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) principles into the pre-feasibility and masterplanning stages.
• Design and execute stakeholder engagement plans, capturing input from cross-border traders, freight operators, and local institutions.
• Contribute to the legal, institutional, and regulatory assessments regarding E&S compliance.
• Prepare comprehensive environmental and social chapters for the final bankable investment preparation dossier.

Your role as Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist

• Lead all environmental and social due diligence, screening, and impact assessments for the assignment.
• Ensure the project design complies with international safeguards such as IFC Performance Standards and World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF).
• Perform climate resilience assessments and recommend climate-smart infrastructure solutions.
• Mainstream Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) considerations into feasibility studies and technical reports.
• Design and implement stakeholder consultation strategies with diverse groups, including cross-border traders and marginalized communities.
• Coordinate closely with engineering, legal, and financial specialists to embed safeguard measures into preliminary designs and cost estimates.
• Draft clear, actionable E&S management frameworks and inputs for the final investment preparation package.

Requirements

• Education: Degree in Environmental Science or Engineering, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Natural Resource Management or a related field
• Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience in environmental and social screening and impact assessment, climate resilience, stakeholder engagement, and IFC Performance Standards/World Bank ESF
• Languages: null

Desirable

• Prior professional experience working on trade corridors or border infrastructure projects in East Africa.
• Familiarity with private sector participation and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) safeguard requirements.
• Proven track record of working with major international donors such as TradeMark Africa or the UK FCDO.

An experienced Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist with a strong background in applying IFC Performance Standards and climate resilience frameworks to infrastructure projects in East Africa.

Assignment details

• Location: Ethiopia, Somalia
• Financed by: TradeMark Africa
• Sector: Trade
• Estimated duration: 6 months
• Expected input: null
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a TradeMark Africa-financed project in Ethiopia, Somalia.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.