Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa

Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)-Djibouti

Request for Expression of Interest

(Consulting Services – Individual Consultant Selection)

Name of project: FOOD SYSTEMS RESILIENCE PROGRAM FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

Project No.: (P178566) Grant No: IDA-E 0820

Assignment Title: Recruitment of Safeguards Expert

Contract No.: DJ-IGAD-373372-CS-INDV

1. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has received financing from International Development Agency (IDA) towards the cost of the Food systems resilience program for Eastern and Southern Africa and intends to apply part of the proceeds of this Grant to payments under this contract: Recruitment of Safeguards Expert

1. The overall objective of this consultancy is to offer technical support through the recruitment of a Safeguards Expert who will be working under the supervision of the Project Manager for Food systems resilience program for Eastern and Southern Africa. The Environmental and Social Safeguards Expert will be responsible to prepare a pro-active strategy and action plan for environmental and social safeguards implementation in the overall project activities; to ensure that national and World Bank guidelines, regulations and procedures are strictly adhered to during project preparation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation; provide expert guidance and support for the project and identify, frame, evaluate risk management opportunities/strategies including capacity building mechanisms for the project.
2. The specific tasks shall include the following points:

1. Ensure that project implementation is in compliance with World Bank’s Environmental and Social safeguard principles and that the project activities are not in violation of the safeguards regulations.
2. Supervise project compliance with Framework and Safeguard Policies as provided in the environmental and social assessment documents and management plans
3. Prepare reports on social safeguards aspects of the project taking into account inter alia social outreach, impacts, constraints and risk.
4. He/she will ensure that the populations impacted by the project are adequately and fully consulted and included in the entire process of preparation, implementation and monitoring of project as per the Development Plan of the project;
5. Prepare an environment and social screening tools/checklist and support the subproject risk categorization process. Closely follow up the integration of safeguard issues in the subproject preparation and implementation process. Closely follow up the E&S instrument requirements and preparations under the project.
6. Undertake environmental, social, health and safety (ESHS) audits to ensure compliance with the environmental and social risk management documents (ESCP, SEP and EWMP); and providing inputs and/or preparing reports as required for the implementation of the project;
7. Lead communication with governments and other partners in sharing project progress, and seeking feedback to improve social development related issues
8. Ensure adequate public consultation during the preparation of safeguards instruments as defined by the safeguard frameworks and Project implementation Manual;
9. Prepare regular environmental and social safeguards monitoring reports for the PCU, to be included in project progress reports submitted to the World Bank
10. Undertake to follow up monitoring to ensure that proposed mitigation measures are implemented according to an agreed-upon environmental and social mitigation implementation plan
11. Together with the project implementation teams, advise on the establishment and operationalization of project Grievance Redress Mechanism(s);
12. Any other tasks related to project requirements will be entrusted by the Project Managers and the head of Agriculture and Food Security Unit.

1. The consultant shall possess the following qualifications:

The Consultant shall be suitably qualified and experienced for the tasks identified above and shall have the following basic minimum qualifications and experience:

1. Master's Degree or equivalent in Engineering, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Geography, or a related field from a recognized university
2. Experience at least Seven (7) years of general experience in the relevant field and at least five years (5) years of specific experience in the last 10 years
3. Experience in preparation of Environmental and social Assessment /Management Plans;
4. Strong experience in environmental and social problems prioritization, tools and methodology development, project management experience at local and regional level;

1. The Consulting Services Contract is expected to be for a period of Twelve (12) calendar months from the date of commencement, subject to renewal on annual basis throughout the project lifetime upon satisfactory performance.

1. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) now invites individuals to express their interest in providing the services. Interested individuals must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (attach curriculum vitae (CV), copies of documentary evidence of Academic qualifications, and Professional Qualifications.

1. An Individual Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Selection of Individual Consultants method set out in the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated November 2020 (Regulations).

1. Interested individuals may obtain further information at the address below from 0900 to 1700 hours East African Time (EAT) from Monday to Friday EAT).

Expression of interest shall be sent by e-mail by 24th October  2023 at 1700hours EAT to:  recruitment@igad.int  copy: Hassan.salah@igad.int , with subject line ‘FSRP/EARDIP Safeguards Expert’