UNOPS Safeguards, Risk and Inclusion Specialist: Remote Retainer Opportunity with the Global Fund for Coral Reefs|Deadline: 18 September 2026

Overview

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is recruiting a Safeguards, Risk, and Inclusion Specialist on a retainer basis to support the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR). The post is home based, at the mid-level ICS-10 category under an IICA 2 retainer contract. It starts with a one-year duration and provides for up to 80 working days.

GFCR was launched in 2020 as a coalition mobilising public and private finance to protect climate-resilient coral reefs. It uses blended finance, combining grants, technical assistance, concessional finance, risk-sharing and private investment, across four pathways: Sustainable Ocean Production, Sustainable Coastal Development, Circular Economy and Pollution Management, and Financial Mechanisms.

What you get

The specialist joins the GFCR Secretariat under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director, providing strategic and technical advice on environmental and social safeguards, grievance redress, gender equality, disability and social inclusion, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, and private-sector engagement. Work includes assessing implementing partners' safeguards, risk, inclusion and grievance systems against GFCR requirements, recommending corrective actions, reviewing programme documents and risk registers, advising on risk screening and mitigation, improving grievance procedures, preparing guidance tools and templates, and running capacity-building sessions.

Requirements

Applicants need a Master's degree in a relevant field such as environmental management, social sciences, international development, human rights, environmental law or development finance, with five years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree with seven years. Experience must include safeguards or accountability requirements in programmes of UN agencies, international organisations, development finance institutions or climate or conservation funds. Biodiversity, marine and coastal, blue economy, climate adaptation or ESG experience is desirable, as is engagement with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. Retainer personnel must complete unpaid mandatory courses in their own time before starting.

Key dates

Applications close before midnight Copenhagen time on 18 September 2026. UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes and does not ask candidates for payment.