CONSULTANCY - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARD SPECIALIST

Organization:

UN-Habitat Pakistan

Project:

Harmonizing Afghan Refugees and Host Communities in Urban Slums in Pakistan for Peaceful Coexistence and Social, Gender-positive Inclusiveness

Functional Title:

Environmental and social Safeguard Specialist

Duty Station:

Home-based, Pakistan

Duration:

6 months duration spread over 12 months (starting Feb 2026)

Type of Contract:

UNOPS Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA)

Level/Sub-Level:

Equivalent LICA 10

Payment

Lumpsum, output-based

Project locations/communities

Karachi

1. Background

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. UN-Habitat has been a partner with the number of ministries at national and provincial levels, development partners, civil society organizations and academia.

UN-Habitat Pakistan Country Programme is aligned with the Pakistan United Nations Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF 2023–2027), the One UN Programme (OP-III), and the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2020–2025. This alignment is reflected in its four-year plan, structured around four Domains of Change. One of these domains focuses on effective urban crisis prevention and response. This focus is also prioritized in the draft plan for 2026–2029, where “prevention, recovery, and reconstruction after humanitarian crises” is identified as one of UN-Habitat’s key impact areas. Under this impact area, UN-Habitat supports countries and communities in developing disaster risk reduction and resilience strategies and action plans to minimize damage and losses in the context of rapidly growing urbanization.

UN-Habitat is committed to the transformative goal of "Leaving No One Behind" with focus on enhancing access to adequate housing and basic services to promote inclusive prosperity and eradicate poverty and signed an agreement of contribution with government of Netherlands to implement a project in the five cities (Haripur, Kohat, Peshawar, Karachi and Quetta) with Afghan refugee’s concentration to empower and support both communities in selected settlements by promoting inclusive and sustainable urban development that prioritizes issues relating to housing and overcrowding, tenure insecurity, infrastructure, basic services and living conditions, economic opportunities, social cohesion and integration and improved living conditions, including preventing gender-based violence. Project activities include civil works, rehabilitation/construction of community infrastructure and, in accordance with the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) 1997, relevant provincial environmental legislation, and IEE/EIA Regulations of the respective provincial Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs), the project requires preparation of an Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE).

2. Objectives of the assignment.

The objective of this assignment is to conduct an Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE) of the NL Project in line with national and provincial environmental regulations and applicable international safeguard standards. The assignment will identify potential environmental and social impacts at an early stage of the project cycle, propose appropriate mitigation measures, and enhance positive outcomes. It will also determine the need for further assessment in consultation with the relevant provincial Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs) and through appraisal of UN-Habitat’s ESSS methodology.

3. Scope of work:

the scope of the consultancy includes but not limited to;

The Environmental and social Safeguard Specialist will be required to conduct the Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE) for 12 slum settlements in Karachi in accordance with the provincial EPA IEE guidelines and prescribed formats. Due to the repatriation of Afghan refugees, existing settlements may change or be replaced, and additional settlements may be added. Each settlement has developed a Strategic Settlement Plan (SSP) structured around four thematic areas: access and open spaces; basic services and social infrastructure; economic development; and housing and land tenure. The SSP, together with the related procurement packages, provides key information on the proposed activities in each settlement.

3.1. Responsibilities/Tasks

3.2. Responsibilities UN-Habitat:

• Facilitation of meeting with targeted slum communities and other stakeholders.

• Provision of consultant Fee, regulatory fee if any, and local transportation from office to targeted settlements Sharing the relevant documents i.e. plan, Design and BOQ of various settlements, SSPs

• Providing support for identifying and analysing social risks.

4. Competencies:

• Promotes UN’s values and ethical standards (tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation, impartiality).

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

• Proven experience of community engagement, facilitation of discussion regarding design and planning, and ability to design public spaces, create detailed cost estimates and bid documents.

• Ability to proactively and independently follow through on tasks.

5. Expected deliverables

• The Inception report/ IEE methodology and workplan

• Draft IEE report including ESMP

• Final EPA approved IEE report including ESMP

• Training of project staff on environmental monitoring

6. Payment Milestones:

The payments for undertaking the assignment shall be paid to the consultant upon satisfactory of the following outputs/deliverables, as certified Deputy Programme Manager or CTA.

Instalments

Deliveries/Outputs/Payment

1st Payment (20%)

Upon submission of the inception report, IEE methodology, and work plan. Proposed assessment templates i.e. environmental social safeguard checklists, consultation tools.

2nd Payment (30%)

Submission of Draft IEE Report including ESMP to UN-Habitat.

3rd Payment (30%)

Upon clearance of IEE Report from Provincial EPA

Training of aprox. 10 pax on implementation ESMP

4th payment (10%)

Environmental assessment of additional SSPs and revising the IEE if applicable.

5th and Final (10%)

Submission of a Final Consolidated Report

7. Experience and Skills:

• Master’s degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, natural resources management or closely related field.

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in conducting EIA/IEE

• Experience in dealing with Social Safeguard activities in multi-disciplinary working environment is strongly desired.

• Environmental consultants must be registered with the Provincial EPA or any other environmental regulatory body

• Demonstrated experience with provincial EPA procedures and approvals.

• Proven experience in conduction of Environmental and Social Impact studies, developing survey tools, administering assessments and consultation with communities

TOTAL POSITIONS

1

POSTED ON

December 24, 2025

EXPIRY DATE

January 8, 2026

BUSINESS

UN-HABITAT

CATEGORY

Field Operations

JOB TYPE

Consultant

MINIMUM EDUCATION

Masters

CAREER LEVEL

LICA-10 (equivalent to NO-C)

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE

5 Years