Recruit Safeguard Specialist for Federal PCU

Source: World Bank — Urban Productive Safety Net and Jobs Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES -INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION)

MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

URBAN FOOD SECURITY AND SAFETY NET OFFICE

Urban Productive Safety Net and Job Project (UPSNJP)

Grant Number D732-ET

Assignment Title: Safeguard Specialist

Ref #. ET-MOUDI-325894-CS-INDV

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) has received financing from the World Bank to the cost of the Urban Productive Safety Net and Job Project (UPSNJP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The Consulting Service (The Services) include to obtain the services of a qualified and experienced Environmental and Social Safeguard Specialist who will assist in providing capacity building and monitoring services to the federal implementers, regions and their respective UPSNJP beneficiary in the preparation and implementation of Social and Environment risk management instruments required and prepared for the UPSNJP  and the World Bank Environmental and Social Safeguard Management System to  achieve  the project objectives and the required compliance.

The Safeguard Specialist among others will have the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Ensure effective participation of citizens in the planning process that helps to meet service delivery priorities identified by citizens.
2. Provide technical support and ensure the establishment of clear systems and procedures for environmental and social risk management in regions and cities.
3. Ensure that eligible investments for potential environmental and social safeguard impacts are screened against the set of environment and social criteria in the planning stage.
4. Review environmental and social screening reports submitted by regions and cities and their proposed categorization as required.
5. Follow up with the respective environmental authorities for timely categorization of projects as per the national laws and the requirements of the World Bank Policies and standards as reflected in the ESMF.
6. Establish clear guidelines for the preparation of ESIA, ESMP,RAP, CDP, LRP, GRM and other necessary instruments as set out in the ESMF and RPF and monitor the proper follow up of procedures by consultants and other relevant bodies.
7. Provide technical support to project participating regions and cities in conducting public and stakeholder consultation, establishing Grievance mechanism as per the stakeholder management plan;
8. Provide technical support to project participating federal institutions, regions and cities in preventing and responding to gender issues, gender based violence (GBV) and sexual exploitation, and Community and Occupational Health and Safety issues;
9. Provide technical support to federal stakeholders, regions and  cities in environmental and social risk management activities including: a) developing TORs for consultancy and procurement of qualified consultants for the preparation of relevant environmental and social risk management instruments such as ESIA, ESMP, RAP and ARAP, ESAC, SEP, GRM b) review and quality control  of draft documents produced by consultants hired by federal stakeholders, regions and cities prior to submission to the World Bank c)Follow up and ensure that Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), and Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs) are prepared in time and approved by the Regional/Zonal or City Environmental Protection Agency as required;
10. Compile and prepare annual safeguard plan including Livelihoods Restoration Plan (LRP, Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), Stakeholders Engagement Plan (SEP), capacity building and training, and monitoring prepared by federal stakeholders, regions and cities and send to the World Bank.
11. Provide technical support to federal implementers, regions and  cities in the implementation of Labor Management procedure including the establishment and functionality of workers’ grievance redress mechanism;
12. Establish a robust monitoring and evaluation system for the implementation of the ESMF, RPF, OHS, ESCP, LMP, and SEP including systems for timely data collection and reporting for each of the cities.
13. Closely monitor the implementation of environmental and social risk management instruments ESMPs, RAPs, LMP, GRM, SEPs and OHS
14. Conduct quarterly site visit to project investment activities and supervise the management of environmental and social risks on site,
15. Provide specific technical advice on mitigation measures for labor intensive sub projects;
16. Meet with stakeholders and beneficiary citizens during site visit and receive feedback to improve the quality of environmental and social risk management in respective cities.
17. Be responsible for collating accurate data on environmental and social risk management, prepare and submit regular reports to MUI and the World Bank.
18. Compiles and synthesizes quarterly, biannual and annual safeguard compliance monitoring reports of federal implementers, regions and cities and send/share to the MUI and the World Bank.
19. Provide overall project safeguard coordination and assistance in the implementation of the ESMF, LMP, ESCP, SEP, and RPF for the UPSNJP.
20. Ensure that key consultant positions are in place for management of environmental and social risk management in UPSNJ Project in the regions and cities.
21. Liaise with the Ethiopia EPA on a regular basis;
22. Liaise with the MUI and World Bank  to ensure the Project’s compliance with the ESMF, RPF,OHS,ESCP, LMP, and SEP and RPF and all resettlement aspects of the Project;
23. Raise awareness among key stakeholders and regions and proactively create demand for  technical advice among federal implementers, regions and city experts in environmental and social risk management;
24. Facilitate cross learning and exchange among regions and cities where appropriate and develop  other ways to improve environmental and social risk management in regions and cities
25. Plan, organize and provide technical and awareness creation safeguard trainings to federal implementers, regional officials and professionals and city officials and experts to build their capacity on project safeguard tools implementation and environmental and social risk management system.
26. Participate on trainings facilitated by UFSSO, the region and other stakeholders on related issues of her/his responsibility.
27. Participate in project meetings and consultation activities including in the preparation of country specific entitlement matrix under the UPSNJP
28.  Collaborate and closely work with other FPCU team members
29. Perform other duties assigned by the Project Coordinator.

The duration of assignment will be for one-year contract, with a possibility of extension upon satisfactory performance of the consultant.

 Required Competencies

The Safeguard Specialist/ Consultant should have a good understanding and knowledge of social and environmental safeguards that are associated with projects such as the UPSNJP and a high level of technical competence in the implementation of ESMF, RPF, OHS, ESCP, LMP, ESCP, SEP, RPF, Gender and GBV/SEA and Grievance redress mechanism.

The Specialist should therefore possess the following qualifications:

• MSc or BSc or MA or BA degree or equivalent in Environmental Science, Sociology, Geography, Economics, Occupational and Environmental Health/Public Health, Anthropology, Development Studies or other related fields of studies ;
• A minimum of 8/10 years relevant experience for MSc/MA and BSC/BA respectively in environment, social welfare and community development, including experience in similar projects and geographic areas, with 5 years of experience in aspects of environmental and  social welfare involving community development and urban development in general. And social and environmental safeguard screening against resettlement criteria in the planning stage and resettlement action plans (RAPs) and ESIAs in the implementation stage of Projects in particular.
• Experience in working with World Bank or other DP related projects, local governments and/or knowledge of the urban sector in Ethiopia will be an added advantage.
• Good understanding of Gender and GBV issues
• Excellent writing and communication skills in both local languages and English.

Urban Productive safety Net and Job Project under Urban Food Security and Safety Net Office now invite eligible individual consultants/Specialists to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are: Qualification and Experience as safeguard specialist in Social Protection projects and their capability on the basis of academic background, general and relevant experience, and knowledge of local condition.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III paragraph 3.16 and 3.17 of The World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers Procurement In Investment Project Financing Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services (recent Edition) (“Procurement Regulation”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. 

A Consultant will be selected in accordance to Section VII para 7.34 to 7.39 of The World Bank Procurement Regulation based on qualification and relevant experience of the applicants to the assignment.

Remunerations: will be as per the Ministry of Finance channel one salary scale.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 8:30 am to 12 in the morning and from 2:00 to 5:00 pm local time in the afternoon.

Expressions of interest (including recent and comprehensive CV with a letter of application and other relevant supporting documents) must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by April 10, 2023 on or before 4:00pm

The address:-Attn:Ato Birhanu Teshome-

Head, Urban Food Security and Safety Net Office 

Email- sbirhanu1@gmail.com

and

Ato Yihenew Mengstie

Urban Productive Safety Net and Job Project Procurement Specialist

Email- ymengstiejobfsa@gmail.com

In front of National Bank of Ethiopia, Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure, 5th floor, Project UPSNJP Procurement Section

Country: - Ethiopia