341 Systems Support Analyst jobs in Nairobi

Vacancy #: 7406 Unit: ESARO - Water Programme Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Location: Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, Nairobi, Kenya Reporting to: Regional Programme Coordinator / Country Representative, IUCN Tanzania Work percentage: 100% Grade: P1 Expected start date: 01 November 2025 Type of contract: Fixed-term (26 months) Closing date: 13 October 2025

BACKGROUND

THIS IS A LOCAL POSITION

Background
IUCN and UNEP-DHI will jointly implement the Climate Resilient Eastern African Transboundary Water Management for Environmental Sustainability (CREATES) project, which will operate in Sio-Malaba-Malakisi (SMM) and Mara transboundary river basins in East Africa (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) and support selected regional water organisations over the period 2025 to 2030.

CREATES will be delivered through a Project Management Unit (PMU) based in Nairobi, Kenya with two Basin Coordinators one each based at the NELSAP basin offices (for SMM – Kakamega and for Mara - Musoma) and other technical staff. The TLs will manage the PMU on a day-to-day basis.

The project is guided by the IUCN ESMS procedures and policies as explained in the ESMS Manual and the standards available at This is interconnected with the IUCN Gender Equality and Women Empowerment policy also available at For the environmental aspects of safeguards, the GESS will work in close coordination with the respective Basin Coordinators for technical inputs.

The Gender, Environmental and Social Safeguards (GESS) Specialist, CREATES will be responsible for applying the IUCN ESMS and Gender policies across the project portfolio. This position will contribute to the region's leadership in safeguard quality assurance, supporting gender transformative programming and will play a key role in improving IUCN's Environmental and Social sustainability practices.

Job Description
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

As the CREATES specialist for the application of the ESMS and Gender Principles, this position is responsible for ensuring that ESMS and Gender procedures, standards and principles are applied across all phases of the project implementation. The GESS specialist will lead the sustainability framework for the active projects, responsible for implementing the crucial cross cutting functions of the project ensuring that all activities of the project are socially and environmentally sustainable and comply with Denmark and IUCN Policies and Standards related to Gender, Environmental and Social Safeguards, and Indigenous People Frameworks.

Key responsibilities include the preparation of ESMS screening reports for projects, advising proponents on safeguard-related improvements of project design, support the preparation of ESIAs and safeguard documents and coordination of the ESMS clearance process. The specialist will also provide ongoing implementation oversight to guarantee that ESMS requirements are complied with. Where a safeguard related grievance is raised, he/she will be instrumental in solving the matter proactively. He/she will also build ESMS capacity to enhance ESMS compliant and Gender transformative project design and ensure effective implementation of the risk management strategies. This involves coaching and training of project team members and partners.

This position will also monitor the application of safeguard tools, distil lessons learned and support the regional ESMS Coordinator in system development and refinements to increase the system's efficiency.

The GEES specialist will provide support to the project team (technical and MEL), partner organizations partners, private sector entities, and other stakeholders on effective integration of cross cutting (women, youth and environment) considerations beyond compliance, by identifying opportunities to add value to the system changes, transformation and paradigm shifts that lead to long term impact and sustainability of CREATES.

SPECIFIC DUTIES;

CREATES ESMS application;

Application of ESMS procedures on the regional project portfolio, specifically;

Environmental and social due diligence at project design stage;

Screen projects on environmental and social impacts, define risk category, identify necessary impact studies and safeguard tools/plans.

Advise proponents on stakeholder engagement during project design and implementation phase.

Support proponents in contracting experts for environmental and social assessments.

Appraise the quality of final ESIA reports, environmental and social management plans (ESMP), gender action plan (GAP) and other safeguard tools.

Ensure appropriate budgeting for ESMS activities.

Conduct final compliance check and prepare ESMS clearance of projects.

ESMS support during project implementation;

Provide ESMS training for executing agency (EA) and relevant partners at project inception.

Appraise any ESMS deliverables that are due in the inception phase.

Support the EA in monitoring safeguard tools and reporting progress on implementation and compliance with all ESMS/GAP requirements.

Contribute to annual project implementation reviews/ supervision missions and to the development of the ESMS specific aspects of the mid-term review and terminal review.

Manage ESMS project data including entries to the Project Portal to assure maintenance of ESMS records.

Grievance management and serious incident reporting;

Support the EA in setting-up a project-level grievance mechanism.

Register and report incoming grievances, monitor progress solving grievances and, where applicable, work with EA to solve grievances;

Ensure timely reporting of serious incidents and implementation of corrective actions.

Build ESMS and Gender capacity in the project jurisdiction;

To Enhance ESMS-compliant And Gender-sensitive Project Design And Ensure Effective Implementation Of The Risk Management Strategies, It Is Essential To Strengthen Capacity In Those Crosscutting Functions. This Involves

Train and coach staff and project proponents on ESMS and gender related procedures, principles and standards to ensure not only consistent application but also pro-active integration of ESMS and gender principles into project design;

Support the regional ESMS Coordinator and gender specialists in the development of training materials and delivery of training sessions for ESMS and Gender;

Build the capacity of projects staff, implementing partner organizations, and other stakeholders to effectively integrate GAP into their workplans.

Contribute to the recruitment, hiring and on-boarding of new project ESMS/gender personnel in the region.

ESMS development, refinement and learning;

Supporting the regional ESMS Coordinator in system development, refinements and learning. This involves:

Monitor ESMS and GAP implementation in the project to capture lessons learned and feed-back.

Contribute to refining tools, templates, guidance notes based on project experience.

Support documentation of good practices, success stories and case studies for regional knowledge sharing.

Development, refinement and learning of Gender-in-conservation concepts and applications

Ensure That Principles Of Gender Equality And Youth Engagement In Nature And Natural Resources Conservation Are Integrated Into All Aspects Of The Project. This Involves

Develop and/or review, implement and monitor the implementation of Gender Action Plan in the project areas,

Support the MEL Officer, CREATES to track, analyse and report against Gender and Youth disaggregated data within the project output as appropriate and on regular basis - quarterly, semi-annual, and annual.

Develop and propose evidence-based policy and project interventions to reduce gender disparities, particularly focusing on enhancing women's role in nature and natural resource management efforts,

Contribute to enhancement of the system (including development of tools, templates, guidance notes etc) to increase effectiveness of application of gender principles.

Generate lessons on the gender application identifying good practices and synthesising these practices for dissemination to stakeholders.

Requirements

• POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Education;

Master's degree in social sciences, Social Work, Gender/Women Studies, Development Studies, Community Development, Sociology or related field.

Advanced training in Gender and Development studies.

Professional or post graduate certification in Environmental or Social safeguards is an added advantage.

Work Experience;

At least 7 years' experience in advocacy for gender and ESMS issues and evidence-based results in gender analysis and mainstreaming especially in institutions which deal with climate change, environment and natural resources management.

Significant experience with gender issues and social impacts is required.

Previous experience in project management or monitoring and evaluation is an advantage.

Demonstrated experience of working in challenging knowledge-based and results-based environment.

Experience of capacity building and training Development Program

Experience in natural resource management projects, promoting rights-based approaches, improving socio-economic benefits and addressing and managing environmental, social risks or gender matters.

Technical Knowledge;

Expert knowledge and practical experience in the application of safeguards/performance standards including carrying out environmental and social assessments and designing safeguard tools; familiarity with GEF and GCF and national safeguards requirements in the region.

Practical experience in engaging with indigenous peoples, marginalized, vulnerable or minority groups and local communities, conducting FPIC and addressing gender risks desired.

Familiarity with addressing risks related to environmental law enforcement is an advantage.

Language requirements;

Fluency in English, both written and verbal is a must.

Working knowledge of Kiswahili or local languages is an added advantage.

Core Competencies;

Transparency: Able to build trust and contribute to informed and responsible decision making by carrying out the work of IUCN in a transparent manner; provides clear guidance to ensure that objectives and desired measurable results are understood by members of the team.

Inclusiveness: Understands and accepts cultural diversity, and provide a tolerant, positive, and supportive working environment that fosters respect for diversity, demonstrates ability to work in a multicultural, multiethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.

Professionalism: Promote the organization's interests, objectives, and values in a diligent and professional manner.

Accountability: Takes responsibility of individual and collective actions, promotes the IUCN One Programme approach.

Function Competencie;

Adheres to IUCN ESARO core values of Transparency, Inclusiveness, Professionalism and Accountability.

Excellent interpersonal skills to support building networks and partnerships.

Must be a strong team player with proven diplomacy skills and ability to work effectively with multicultural and multidisciplinary teams displaying sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Must possess excellent interpersonal skills.

Demonstrated ability to work with limited supervision to prioritize tasking and manage workflow in a high-pressure environment.

Hands-on, highly motivated, results driven and resourceful individual.

Demonstrated ability to work under pressure managing competing demands and complex situations and deliver satisfactory and timely results.

Must be a proactive individual who is able to energize and motivate teams.

Committed to continuous learning and proactive and mature attitude towards self-development.

Willing to travel frequently within the region.

APPLICATIONS

Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.

Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.

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About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.

Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world's largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.

IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.

Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people's well-being.