M+E Social Coordinator

Apply via Eden's website: M+E Social Coordinator

Reports to: MEAL Manager
Department: MEAL
Position classification: Full-time
Location: Olokeri Landscape Project office, with regular travel to implementation sites
Employment type: LOCAL NATIONALS ONLY; employment is through Compassionate Carbon Africa (Kenyan-registered affiliate of Eden: People+Planet)

COMPANY INFORMATION

We believe the social foundation of basic human needs can be met for all people within the Earth’s ecological limits. By collaborating with communities to restore degraded environments and protect essential ecosystems, we foster a resilient foundation that supports both people and planet, recognizing the health of both are inseparable and interdependent. Our work de-risks the future by designing and implementing holistic systems that address the foundational needs of people, restores essential biodiversity, and directly impacts the effects of climate change through collaboration with local stakeholders, regional authorities, and global partners.

Compassionate Carbon Africa (CC) works in developing regions of the world to facilitate landscape restoration and community development through nature-based solutions. CC's mission is to foster healthy relationships between communities and the land on which we all depend through landscape restoration and conservation. We envision a world where communities thrive in healthy and restored environments.

POSITION SUMMARY
The Monitoring + Evaluation (M+E) Social Coordinator is the primary focal point for community-centered MEAL activities and social safeguard monitoring (e.g., Free, Prior + Informed Consent (FPIC), community consultations, and grievance mechanisms) in the project’s MEAL/MRV system. This role delivers accurate, auditable tracking of community outcomes and safeguards documentation to meet carbon standard requirements. Working closely with the M+E GIS Coordinator, the role integrates social data and community feedback into a unified monitoring system to support decision making and strengthen accountability to project stakeholders.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Social Safeguards + Data Systems: Oversee social safeguard monitoring within MEAL/MRV. Ensure FPIC, community feedback, and social indicators are accurately captured, stored, and audit-ready; coordinate with GIS Coordinator to enable integration with spatial data.
• Community Engagement + FPIC: Document stakeholder engagement processes, with a focus on FPIC. Maintain clear records and serve as the main point of contact for community participation data.
• Social Data Collection + Quality: Design and implement data collection (surveys, interviews, participatory methods). Train field teams, oversee ethical data collection, and ensure QA/QC of all social datasets.
• Grievance Mechanism Administration: Administer the GRM and feedback channels. Track, resolve, and analyze grievances in line with project standards, and support management in addressing systemic issues..
• Data Analysis + Reporting: Analyze social data to assess community outcomes and risks. Produce clear reports for internal use and external verification, integrating insights with GIS outputs where relevant.
• Audit Readiness + Compliance: Maintain complete and verifiable documentation (FPIC, engagement logs, benefit-sharing). Support audits and ensure alignment with carbon standards (e.g., Equitable Earth, VCS/CCB).
• Cross-Team + Community Coordination: Coordinate with GIS Coordinator and project teams to align fieldwork, reduce duplication, and ensure culturally appropriate engagement. Backstop the GIS Coordinator when needed on community entry aspects of technical fieldwork, just as the GIS Coordinator supports with technical mapping for community initiatives.

EDUCATION + WORK EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree Social Sciences (e.g., Sociology, Anthropology), Community Development, Natural Resource Management, Development Studies, or a related field. A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Social Development, Environmental Policy) is a plus.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in monitoring + evaluation, social research, or community development, including direct field experience in stakeholder engagement or social safeguards in environmental, conservation, or development projects.
• Experience with FPIC processes and community-based monitoring in rural settings is strongly preferred.
• Experience designing and conducting surveys, interviews, focus groups, or participatory monitoring, with familiarity in carbon project co-benefit standards (e.g., CCB, Equitable Earth) and stakeholder engagement.

SKILLS + ABILITIES

• Models the Ethos in all professional interactions, demonstrating a commitment to the organization's values, vision, and conduct standards.
• Strong skills in social research and community M&E, including surveys, participatory methods, and qualitative analysis; solid understanding of social safeguards and FPIC.
• Experience managing social datasets, ensuring data quality (verification, validation, cleaning), and maintaining audit-ready records.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to engage communities, lead participatory processes.
• Strong writing skills to produce clear, concise reports and safeguard documentation for internal use and external auditors.
• Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and build positive relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Can manage conflicts or grievances with empathy and fairness, working toward mutually beneficial solutions.
• Strong organization and adaptability, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in remote field settings.
• Ability to analyze and present data clearly (reports, charts, visualizations) for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency with standard tools (MS Office, data collection and analysis tools).
• Familiarity with EarthRanger and Ecoscope is an advantage.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken), is required; proficiency in Kiswahili and/or Maa is a strong asset.

WORK CONDITIONS

• Work Environment: Combination of office, home office, and field settings, including regular visits to forested and rural project sites under varied weather and terrain conditions. Frequent interaction with local communities and multi-stakeholder teams may involve basic field accommodations and extended time in remote areas.
• Work schedule: Full-time role, typically standard office hours on weekdays, with frequent adjustment for community events (e.g., early morning or weekend meetings to accommodate participant availability). Flexibility is required, with compensatory time off as appropriate.
• Physical Requirements: Moderate physical activity needed. Field duties can involve walking or hiking to remote villages or forest areas, carrying supplies, and standing for extended periods during meetings. The role also requires stamina and the ability to work in challenging environments while engaging effectively with community members. Work also involves typical office tasks (computer use, meetings) when not in the field.
• Travel: Regular domestic travel within Kenya to remote project sites for monitoring and community consultation, sometimes involving difficult travel conditions and overnight stays.
• Safety + Special Conditions: Adherence to all applicable safety protocols and alignment of activities with established environmental and social safeguards. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Disclaimer: This document outlines primary duties but may not cover all responsibilities or conditions. Compassionate Carbon may assign extra tasks or modify roles for business needs or employee accommodation, per applicable law.

Compassionate Carbon is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a team representing a variety of backgrounds, viewpoints, and skills. Candidate selection is based on technical qualifications and position requirements; employment will not commence until applicable background and reference checks are completed.

Safeguarding: Compassionate Carbon holds strict safeguarding principles and does not tolerate behaviors that harm others, including sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, and other injustices. Employees are expected to abide by company policies.