Background
Duties and Responsibilities
Make the peer review report in Russian (about 20 pages, A4 format) of the EIA process/EIA report of the planned hydropower plant on the Neman River in Belarus with the focus indicatively on the following issues:
- Content of the EIA report according to the provisions of the Espoo Convention;
- Adequacy and relevance of the description of the local environmental and socio-economic conditions in the EIA report;
- Quality of the in-depth EIA analysis according to the requirements of the Espoo Convention;
- Assessment of the transboundary issues in the pilot EIA;
- Assessment of the reasonable alternatives and also the no-action alternative;
- Proposed measures to mitigate the negative impacts of the planned activity;
- Monitoring proposal for the adverse impacts of the planned activity;
- Strategy for involving the relevant stakeholders and interested Parties in the EIA process;
- Comprehensiveness of non-technical summary.
Provide written recommendations in Russian (approx. 15 pages, A4 format) to the following aspects of the EIA process in a transboundary context, based on the results of the pilot EIA of the planned hydropower plant on the Neman River in Belarus, in line with the requirements of the Espoo Convention and the UNECE Guidance on practical application of the Espoo Convention, Guidance on Notification according to the Espoo Convention and Guidance on public participation in EIA in a transboundary context:
- Notification of the public, stakeholders involved and interested Parties (terms, deadlines, procedure);
- International consultations (terms, deadlines, procedure, participants);
- Public hearings (planning, announcement, procedure, participants, expected results, integration of the conclusions).
- Assist the local expert team in development of the guide on the Espoo Convention implementation in Belarus (structure, content, public participation, work with interested Parties and stakeholders);
- Prepare the presentation on the pilot EIA peer review report and recommendations to the EIA process in a transboundary context in Belarus (approx. 10 slides) for its delivery during the mid-term workshop;
- Participate in the one-day mid-term workshop in Minsk, Belarus (preliminary scheduled for October 2010), deliver the presentation to the workshop participants;
- Participate in the one-day regional conference in Minsk, Belarus (preliminary scheduled for November 2010), prepare and deliver the presentation on the pilot EIA in line with the conclusions and recommendations of the mid-term workshop;
- Facilitate group discussions/debates within the mid-term workshop and the regional conference;
- Summarize the conclusions of the workshop and the conference; prepare the reports with recommendations on the events (about 3 pages per each report, A4 format, excluding annexes).
- The first draft peer review report (about 20 pages, A4 format) submitted to the Task Coordinator (SEA-Conventions) for consideration and comments by the Ministry of Environment/UNDP by 1 October 2010;
- The final peer review report submitted to the Task Coordinator (SEA-Conventions) for approval by the Ministry of Environment/UNDP by 11 October 2010;
- Written recommendations (approx. 15 pages, A4 format) on improvement of the EIA process in a transboundary context in Belarus submitted to the Task Coordinator for consideration and approval by the Ministry of Environment/UNDP by 6 October 2010;
- Assistance to the local expert team in preparation of the guide on the Espoo Convention implementation in Belarus provided;
- Two presentations to the workshop and regional conference (approx. 10 slides per each one) prepared and delivered at the events;
- The reports (about 3 pages per each report, A4 format, excluding annexes) with the conclusions of the workshop and regional conference provided to the Task Coordinator (SEA-Conventions) within 5 days after each event.
Competencies
- Outstanding analytical, presentation and communication skills;
- Excellent spoken and written Russian;
- Good knowledge of written and spoken English would be preferable;
- Advanced computer literacy (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet and e-mail).
Required Skills and Experience
- Master’s Degree in natural resource management, environment, biology, geography science or equivalent. PhD Degree would be preferable.
- At least, 5 years of work experience with EIA and the Espoo Convention;
- Practical experience in implementation of the EIA in a transboundary context is a must;
- Experience of work with CIS-countries in EIA would be a strong asset;
- Experience in developing environmental assessment manuals or guidance is a strong asset;
- Knowledge of internationally recognized EIA quality evaluation methodologies, such as the EU’s Guidance on EIA-EIS Review, is strongly desirable;
- Experience of evaluating EIA/SEA reports, especially of energy development projects, is desirable.