UNDP Jobs - 86912- International Social and Environmental Safeguards

International Social and Environmental Safeguards Consultant

Location :

Home-based with approx. 3 travel missions to Georgia.

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

23-Aug-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

5 months, up to 40 working days including up to three 5-day missions to Georgia.

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

In April 2018, GCF board secretariat approved a 7-year (August 2018 – July 2025) project for Georgia entitled: “Scaling-up Multi-Hazard Early Warning System and the Use of Climate Information in Georgia” (hereafter GCF project). The project will be implemented under National Implementation Modality (NIM) with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MEPA) playing an executing entity’s/implementing partner’s role for it.

An overall objective of the project is to reduce exposure of Georgia’s communities, livelihoods and infrastructure to climate-induced natural hazards through a well-functioning nation-wide multi-hazard early warning system and risk-informed local action. The project will catalyse a paradigm shift in the national climate risk management, climate-proofed disaster risk reduction and early warning approaches. The project innovation and transformative change will also include (a) participatory “Last Mile” communication solutions tailored to the needs of local communities, including CBEWSs; (b) increasing implementation capacities for carrying out cost-effective risk reduction and community resilience measures through such innovative approaches as watershed/floodplain restoration, agroforestry, etc., and combination of structural and non-structural protection measures aimed at reducing exposure and increasing effectiveness of the early warning; (c) combining best available science and local knowledge for vulnerability assessment, hazard and risk mapping, disaster modelling and forecasting etc.

UNDP’s project consists of 3 outputs, and the requested consultant would contribute to part ii) of activity 3.3 under output 3, underlined below. This assignment is implemented under the component “Expertise on Demand” of the Czech-UNDP Partnership for SDGs Project (hereafter: CUP).

Under the activity 3.3, the project aims at the implementation of priority risk reduction interventions that would significantly reduce the risks against which the Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) will operate. For achieving this goal, the project will implement 13 site-specific prioritized risk reduction interventions (structural measures) for areas where risk from climate- induced natural hazards is the highest. Part of these measures will be financed by Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure (MRDI) as part of the co-financing agreement and others will be funded by UNDP through GCF project.

As part of the approved project, Government of Georgia and UNDP prepared an Environmental and Social Assessment Report, which includes an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for the project to ensure that the social and environmental objectives of the project are met. The project has also developed a Grievance Redress Mechanism to deal with any complaints and issues that may arise as a result of the project, which complies with Georgian and UNDP Safeguard procedures.

The site specific ESMP should be developed for 13 project sites and will be used by the project implementers to structure and control the environmental and social management safeguards that are required to avoid or mitigate adverse effects on the environment and communities. The GCF project has already hired a national safeguard officer who is responsible for the preparation of site-specific ESMPs. The international consultant is expected to work closely with the project national safeguard officer and provide technical support and advice to UNDP and MRDI on preparation of ESMPs for the structural measures as well as to provide overall guidance to update Project Environmental and Social Management Framework.

Duties and Responsibilities

Current assignment envisages the implementation of following outcomes and outputs:

Outcome A: Structural measures are constructed with necessary social and environmental safeguards in place:
- Output A.1: Project Environmental and Social Management Framework is updated;
- Indicator A.1: An updated ESMF for the project exists, reflecting the evolution of the project as well as expected standards;
- Output A.2: Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) for the 13 short listed sites for location specific priority risk reduction interventions are submitted for GCF validation;
- Indicator A.2: Staff members from responsible agencies (MRDI and Roads Department) are trained in applying ESMPs.
Outcome B: Local staff is instructed on the application of social and environmental safeguards:
- Output B.1: Capacity to apply ESMP is developed;
- Indicator B.1: Number of site-specific SESMPs submitted;
- Output B.2: Local communities are sensitized to the existence of ESMPs;
- Indicator B.2: Community representatives with raised awareness on ESMPs.

Proceeding from mentioned outcomes, the following are the activities to be implemented under this assignment:

A.1.1 Review the updated Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) - The service provider will provide guidance to national Safeguards Officer on Best Management Practices (BMP’s), to minimize erosion, sedimentary and other pollutant discharges; provide general instructions/guidance/trainings in occupational health and safety; define general list of necessary protective equipment suitable for the project.
A.2.1 Oversee the drafting of 13 site-specific ESMPs - As a part of the ESMP support in development of: a) Erosion, Drainage and Sediment Control Management Plan (EDSCP) and b) Contaminated Soil Disposal Management Plan (CSDMP).
A.3.1 Revision of ESMPs based on comments from GCF - The submitted ESMPs will be reviewed by GCF and will likely be returned with comments to be addressed. The service provider is expected to address the potential comments that may be received in order to assure high quality of ESMPs.
B.1.1 Conduct trainings to improve ESM Capacity - Relevant staff of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure and ministry’s relevant agency will need to be familiarized with the methodology and contents of ESMPs in order to ensure their being applied timely and correctly. The service provider is expected to conduct a training, jointly with the national safeguard officer.
B.2.1 Advice in organizing, and participation in the Community forum(s) - In order to familiarize the involved communities with measures under ESMP, a forum will be organized. The service provider will be expected to participate in the preparation of, as well as the execution of the forum and contribute to the familiarization of concerned communities with the ESM measures.

The international consultant will report to the Project Coordinator as well as Team Leader in community-based processes and structural measures and work closely with National Safeguard Officer, PMU staff, other stakeholders, and implementing partners.

He/she will be responsible to inform the CUP managers about the implementation of the project. The consultant is expected to initiate and conduct at least two (2) meeting at the Czech Embassy in Tbilisi – at the beginning of the first mission and at the end of the last one.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Ability to work as a part of a team, sharing information and coordinating efforts within the team;
Ability to work under tight deadlines;
Very good inter-personal skills and demonstrated ability to engage and work with local communities;
Strong analytical skills;
Exceptional ability in communication and networking, negotiations and mediation.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management or relevant scientific discipline is required.

Experience:

At least 5 years of experience in conducting environmental and social impact assessments (minimum requirement);
Experience in designing safeguard measures for physical infrastructure projects (minimum requirement);
Experience in similar assignments in the Czech Republic (minimum requirement);
Familiarity with health and safety standards is an asset;
Familiarity with Erosion, Drainage and Sediment Control is an asset;
Experience in working in the ECA region is an asset;
Previous working experience in Georgia will be an asset.

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in written and verbal English and Czech languages is a must.

Evaluation:

Offerors will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis method, against combination of technical and financial criteria. Maximum total obtainable score is 100, out of which the total score for technical criteria (desk review and interview) equals to 70 and for financial criteria – to 30;
Offerors that do not meet any of the Minimum Requirements will be automatically rejected, while the rest will form the long list;
Technical evaluation will comprise of desk review and interview stages. Offerors who pass the 70% threshold, is obtain minimum 35 points as a result of the desk review will be invited to the interview;
Offerors passing 70% threshold as a result of the interview (i.e. obtain minimum of 14 points) will be recommended for financial evaluation.

Financial Proposal, * Lump sum contract:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the ToR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount;
Maximum 30 points will be assigned to the lowest price offer. All other price offers will be scored using the formula (inverse proportion): Financial score X = 30* the lowest price offer/suggested price offer. All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal as well.

Deliverables and Payment Schedule:

Report on the support provided during the update of Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) – 20% of lumpsum satisfactory completion;
Preparation of 6 out of the 13 site-specific ESMPs (general oversight, quality control) 40% of lumpsum satisfactory completion;
Revised ESMPs based on GCF comments – 10 % of lumpsum satisfactory completion;
Reports on trainings conducted on ESM – 20% of lumpsum satisfactory completion;
Report on the support provided during the conducting (including advise/support in organization as well as participation) of the community forum – 10% of lumpsum satisfactory completion.

All of the deliverables will be done in English. The communication during the implementation of the assignment will be conducted in English.