Social Practitioner (Infrastructure Projects): Umtata – Eastern Cape at MECS (Pty) Ltd

• Ensure the management of social aspects during the implementation of various projects.
• Monitor the social compliance of the projects in line with the Environmental Authorization, Environmental Management Programme, Legislation, International Standards and best practices.
• Coordinate the implementation of social strategy and provide leadership to the project stakeholders. Establish and maintain good relationships between the project and key stakeholders.
• Ensure the continual identification of project social risks and management thereof.

Requirements:

• 5 years fixed term contact.
• Must reside in the Umtata area.
• Fluent in Xosa.
• B Degree: Social Sciences, Community development, Communications, Public Relations & Environmental Management, and related fields
• Minimum 5 years of Experience as a Social Practitioner
• Experience in dealing with social matters. Experience in engaging communities, Traditional Councils, municipalities, service providers, contractors, consultants, and donors in a project environment. Experience with environmental and health & safety aspects in infrastructure or mining projects.

Key Performance Areas:
Implementation of the project's social strategy.

• Facilitate education and awareness of the profile and dynamics of the project area's social environment in relation to the project activities.
• Ensure that adequate social monitoring is undertaken.
• Co-ordinate implementation of social strategy and provide leadership to stakeholders.
• Fast-track processes to obtain social approvals (e.g., land zoning for Resettlement purposes, agreements for servitudes on communal land).
• Prepare operational plans for the implementation of the social strategies and budgets.
• Supervise the implementation, impacts, and effectiveness of social mitigation measures.

Establish and maintain a relationship between all project key stakeholders.

• Development and maintenance of a stakeholder database.
• Records keeping, address and provide prompt feedback if issues are raised by stakeholders, and complete.
• Record of all projects interested and affected Persons (including interested parties, stakeholder groups, and stakeholder sectors), their contact details, and all interactions.
• Develop and sustain good relations with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proactively engage with project-specific interested and affected parties.
• Develop and maintain social dialogue with stakeholders (through structured meetings and normal communication) throughout the project life cycle.
• Develop contingency plans and standing protocols for crisis management on site, e.g., work stoppages, vandalism and intimidation, & community protests

Strengthening Social Compliance

• Monitor the compliance of the project against social aspects identified in the Environmental Authorisation, Environmental Management Programme, Socio- Economic Development, Baseline, Health and Safety plans, legislation, and best practices.
• Document lessons learnt in relation to the social aspect of the project.

Support and provide Input to land acquisition processes

• Identify social risks related to land acquisition and resettlement requirements
• Facilitate meetings required by land acquisition specialists for information disclosure to the landowners, affected parties, and communities
• Assist in the facilitation of consultation processes with affected parties.
• Facilitate processes relating to compensation queries and finalisation of claims and acquisition agreements with landowners and affected community members.
• Arrange required follow-up meetings to clear off any queries/ concerns that may arise from affected parties.

Support the implementation of Community development ( CSI Legacy) Projects

• Facilitate processes towards project-specific community development ( LED/CSI Legacy) projects identification and implementation
• Mobilise and coordinate stakeholders involved in the community development projects.

Management Reporting and Improvement in Communication

• Responsible for social input into the monthly, quarterly, and annual progress reports on the status of various project activities, risks, and mitigation measures proposed.
• Ensure reporting on social activities as per contractual specifications.
• To constitute and ensure the effective operation of a social facilitation Committee comprising of representatives from DWS, Sector Departments, Water Bords, Professional Services Provider and the contractor.