Background

The Climate Change, Resilience and Energy (CCRE) portfolio of UNDP is organized around the thematic areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation; disaster management and resilience; and access to clean and efficient energy. The Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) Expert (National Consultant) will work directly under the supervision of Chief, CCRE. Primary responsibilities will include carrying out Environmental and Social Safeguards related tasks, including review, revision and development of the various safeguards documents associated with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) project “Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities”.

UNDP and the Government of India (GoI) developed the project on “Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities” through a consultative process underpinned by feasibility study, gender studies and site visits. The project was approved by GCF in October 2018.

This project supports the GoI to enhance the resilience of lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable populations, particularly women, in the coastal areas of India to climate change and extreme events, using an ecosystem-centered and community-based approach. The project aims to advance climate change adaptation across India’s coastal zone, with major gains for resilience in the three target states – Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha. The project includes three interrelated outputs: 1) Enhanced resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems and their services; 2) Climate-adaptive livelihoods for enhanced resilience of vulnerable coastal communities; and 3) Strengthened coastal and marine governance and institutional framework for climate-resilient management of coastal areas.

The project is in the planning stages for the restoration and livelihood support activities and will be starting field implementation (delayed due to Covid-19) in 2021. A SES expert is required to review, revise and strengthen (if determined appropriate) the project’s safeguards documents (prepared during the project design and feasibility study), and support the various safeguards related tasks, including carrying out safeguards monitoring missions to project landscapes as required. The documents to be reviewed and strengthened include (but is not limited to) the project’s Social and Environmental Screening Template, the Environmental and Social Management Framework (including the Social Inclusion Planning Framework for indigenous people), as well as the project’s Risk Register and Stakeholder Engagement Plan. The assignment would also include development of a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Document as per the project’s ESMF.

As part of the requirements of UNDP and GCF, all project activities need to be assessed on their impact on the environment and social conditions of the people, and before commencing any activities for the implementation of the project, detailed Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) are to be prepared. Any activities that can potentially affect indigenous people (those belonging to India’s Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) will trigger the project’s Social Inclusion Planning Framework (SIPF), and Social Inclusion Plans (SIPs) would have to be prepared along the lines of the SIPF for each State.

It is with this requirement that a consultancy is being advertised for revision of the SESP, ESMF, project Risk Register, and Stakeholder Engagement Plan; development of a ESMP and SIP template; and development of a Grievance Redress Mechanism process document (which will include procedures outlining the governance of the GRM) among others, to ensure compliance with requirements of the Government of India, GCF and UNDP. The SES expert will also train members of the project management units (PMUs) on developing ESMPS and SIPs, and will provide oversight to the PMU for development of atleast 1-2 ESMPs and SIPs. The SES expert may also have to carry out occasional safeguards monitoring missions to project landscapes as may be required, possibly starting with Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives:

To review, revise and strengthen the project’s various safeguards documents and support the UNDP Country Office with all Environmental and Social Safeguards related tasks under the project.

Description of responsibilities

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Undertake review of the SESP, ESMF (including SIPF), Project Risk Register and Stakeholder Engagement Plan, and update and strengthen them as required. This would mean identifying any gaps in the present safeguards documents and assess the adequacy of the proposed measures to avoid, mitigate and/or manage identified environmental and social risks and impacts in the same. This will be done in line with current good practice and lessons learnt. 
• To review compliance of project activities with UNDP Social and Environmental Standards.
• To develop an outline for the project ESMPs (based on the updated ESMF), and SIPs (based on SIPF) and train the project management units (PMUs) on carrying out the necessary environmental and social assessments required for completing ESMP and SIP for target landscapes, in compliance with the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
• To provide oversight to PMU team members in preparing site-specific ESMPs and SIPs for 1-2 landscapes, in discussion with relevant Government officials, other relevant stakeholders and UNDP team members.
• To develop a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) process document (including the procedures outlining the governance of the GRM) for each project district and at the national level, as agreed, based on the UNDP and national guidelines and regulations.
• To carry out safeguards monitoring missions as required to project landscapes, possibly starting with Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh.

Expected Outputs and deliverables

Deliverables: Scope of work/Expected Output

The duration of the assignment will be for approximately 65 days spread over 8 months. As part of this consultancy, the SES expert will be required to submit the following deliverables:

I. Updated SESP, ESMF, SIPF, Risk Register and Stakeholder Engagement Plan;

II.Development of ESMP and SIP Templates in line with the respective frameworks;

III.Training on preparing ESMP and SIP for project management units (PMUs), in line with FPIC;

IV.Oversight to PMU team members on the development of ESMPS and SIPs for 1-2 landscapes, in discussion with relevant Government officials, other relevant stakeholders and UNDP team members;

V.Development of a Grievance Redress Mechanism process document (for each project district and at the national level) in consultation with the Government (national and subnational) and UNDP CO;

VI. Safeguards Monitoring Mission Reports to project landscapes (if required).

VII. Any other tasks as required by Chief, CCRE, UNDP India

The estimated person days and schedule proposed is as follows:

Institutional arrangements/reporting lines

The Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) Expert (National Consultant) will work directly under the supervision of Chief, CCRE, and in close discussion with the UNDP Regional Technical Advisor (RTA). The SES expert will also work in close collaboration with the National Project Management Unit (NPMU) at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), as well as the three State Project Management Units in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha. The SES expert will also consult with relevant key officials at MoEFCC and the three State Governments.

The consultant is expected to have her/his own office space, laptop and access to internet, printer etc. during the assignment.

If situation permits, the SES expert may also have to carry out occasional safeguards monitoring missions to project landscapes as may be required, possibly starting with Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh.  If travelling is not possible and safe due to the Covid-19 pandemic, necessary stakeholder consultations with key stakeholders from project sites may be conducted virtually. Any safeguards monitoring missions undertaken by the consultant to project landscapes will be arranged or reimbursed as per actuals by UNDP and need not be included in the financial proposals.

Payment Modality

Monthly payment on submission of monthly reports of work done. Payment to the individual contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked, deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by Chief, CCRE.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies

Professionalism

• Results-driven, initiative-taking, ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines;
• Remains calm and in control even under pressure, and consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Ability to work under minimum supervision.

• Highly motivated with a positive attitude and problem-solving approach.
• Self-motivated with an ability to accept responsibility and accountability for decisions and actions.

Communication

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively.
• Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience.
• Good interpersonal and networking skills, supports and encourages open communication.

Client Orientation

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with clients.
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective.
• Keeps the client informed of problems or delays. 
• Consults with clients and ensures their needs are represented in decision-making processes.

Required Skills and Experience

I. Academic Qualifications: An advanced degree or equivalent in environmental and social science, preferably in the field of ecology/ natural resource management/ law or environmental law/ environmental management/ environmental and social impact assessment and planning.

II. Years of experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in environmental and social due diligence and review and monitoring safeguards of projects and programmes and the use of established national and international safeguards standards; demonstrated knowledge and experience of UNDP SES is desirable.
• Experience in climate change, climate resilience, coastal ecosystems, and/ or coastal communities with a track record of having done EIAs in India; experience with EIAs in coastal landscapes is an advantage;
• Demonstrated capacity to provide concise, to-the-point, and thorough reports of assessments, recommendations, or project or programme due diligence or performance reviews.
• Previous experience with International organizations and Central and State Governments of India on similar assignments; experience with UN/ World Bank/ ADB desirable;
• Demonstrated experience with stakeholder consultations and FPIC;
• Proficiency in computer application and information technology;
• Experience in establishing Grievance Redress Mechanisms is desirable.

III.  Language: English and Hindi (essential)

Evaluation Criteria?