DRC: Environmental Safeguards Specialist

Oct 18, 2020 | Fonds Social de la République Démocratique du Congo
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Fonds Social de la République Démocratique du Congo (FSRDC) is the Government's Executing Agency. Its mission is to participate in the reconstruction effort of the Democratic Republic of Congo by contributing to:

  • improving the living conditions of the Congolese population and their access to social services through the rehabilitation and reconstruction of community economic and social infrastructure;
  • the creation of income and jobs in rural and urban areas through the execution or establishment of income-generating micro-projects to alleviate poverty and promote economic and social development.

1. Context

The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has obtained funding from the World Bank (WB) to the tune of USD 445 million to finance the “STEP 2” Project, additional funding to the Project for the Stabilization of Eastern DRC for Peace (“STEP”). The Ministry of Finance, the supervisory authority of the project, signed a Subsidiary Agreement with the Social Fund of the DRC (FSRDC) for the implementation of the Project.

This social protection project aims to improve access to means of subsistence and socio-economic infrastructure in vulnerable communities in the country. The STEP 2 Project has five components: three technical components, a management component, and an emergency response component. The technical components include, among others, the construction and rehabilitation of community infrastructure, a large program of social safety nets, and support for the structuring of the social sector. Five provinces will initially benefit from the project: Kasaï Central, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, North Ubangi.

As such, the FSRDC is recruiting an Environmental Safeguards Specialist (SSAE) to join the team dedicated to the implementation of the STEP 2 Project.

Details on the Project and the FSRDC can be obtained at the following links:

https: //projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P17 ...

https://www.fondsocial.cd/

2. Challenges

  • Project implementation requires close monitoring of activities in 1,000 communities in several provinces, ie a multitude of sites to be managed at the same time and a very large number of beneficiaries , estimated at 2.5 million.
  • The Project includes a large component of rehabilitation and construction of community infrastructure, as well as a sub-component of road maintenance through labor-intensive works (THIMO), which involves the permanent control of the compliance with various environmental requirements .
  • The Project requires a robust complaints management mechanism (PMM) to ensure accountability and the safeguard of beneficiaries and communities.
  • The Project requires rapid deployment and a sustained pace of implementation to achieve its objectives in 3.5 years .

3. Mandate

In general, the mission of the SSAE is to ensure the effective taking into account of the prescribed environmental safeguards policies applicable to the activities of the STEP 2 project, in accordance with the Environmental and Social Management Framework (CGES) of the project, as well as the implementation place and effective functioning of the complaints management mechanism (PMM).

Specifically, the SSAE is responsible for:

  • On the technical side:
    • Develop a forward-looking vision of environmental issues, ensure their integration into the activities to be carried out under the STEP 2 Project and provide advice to the Project Management Unit in collaboration with the Social Safeguards Specialist;
    • Carry out a preliminary environmental assessment (environmental and social screening) of all activities and determine the appropriate instrument to prepare before their implementation;
    • Ensure the monitoring, evaluation and supervision of works financed by the STEP 2 project in order to assess the effectiveness of the inclusion of environmental measures;
    • Support the provincial branches of the FSRDC in monitoring the consideration of environmental aspects by service providers (companies, design offices, etc.), by building the capacities required by each actor at different levels of activity achievement;
    • Ensure the consistency and quality of the data collected by those responsible for environmental and social safeguards in the provincial offices, and reconcile these with data from the MARTA * system with a view to drawing up the various environmental and social reports;
    • Work in close collaboration with the Social Safeguards Specialist to better take into account environmental and social concerns at each level, and facilitate the process of feeding and updating data;
    • Together with the Social Safeguards Specialist, ensure the respect and operation of the complaints management mechanism (MGP) of the STEP 2 project;
    • Support the General Coordination of the FSRDC in responding to any request for data on the Program from the Government, the World Bank or other partners in environmental and social matters;
    • Ensure the technical preparation of the supervision and review missions of the World Bank and ensure the monitoring of the implementation of recommendations relating to safeguards;
    • Contribute and participate in the development and implementation of annual work plans and budget. **

* Monitoring Automated for Real Time Analysis (MARTA) is the remote monitoring system based on the KoboToolbox platform, which was developed by the FSRDC for monitoring work activities.

  • In terms of studies and monitoring of indicators
    • Contribute to the development of indicators of environmental and social activities (indicators of procedures, impacts and results) as well as their monitoring tools according to the methods appearing in the framework plan;
    • Coordinate the monitoring of environmental performance indicators for STEP 2 project activities according to the evolution of the problem in the Project area;
    • Define the needs for studies and / or audits necessary for good environmental monitoring, develop the terms of reference for these studies and audits, ensure the monitoring of the implementation and dissemination of results;
    • Produce the terms of reference for Environmental and Social Impact Studies (ESIA), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP) or other appropriate environmental assessment reports in collaboration with the social safeguards specialist and have them validated with the Congolese Environment Agency, if applicable;
    • Proceed in support with those in charge of environmental and social safeguards to the identification of potential environmental impacts not sufficiently identified or treated by the communities or entrepreneurs and to provide them with mitigation measures or a compliance plan (PMC) ;
    • Analyze and validate in collaboration with the Social Safeguards Specialist the environmental assessment reports (ESIA, ESMP, Audit, etc.), and support the coordination of the project in their validation by the Congolese Environment Agency (ACE) ;
    • Ensure the integration of environmental requirements in the tender documents (DAO) and / or quotation request file (DDC) as well as in the contract of service providers (SME, BE) and the agreements of local agencies of executions (ALE);
    • Ensure the integration of mitigation measures and the inclusion of their cost in the cost of sub-projects during the preparation of BDs and / or SDCs.
  • In terms of coordination
    • Define a standard and daily organizational plan for performance management, supervision and support for environmental and social safeguards officers in the provincial branches of the FSRDC;
    • Design and make available to those in charge of environmental and social safeguards, the tools for implementing and / or monitoring environmental safeguards at the level of the provincial branches;
    • Monitor and evaluate the implementation of the quarterly operational work plans of those responsible for environmental and social safeguards at the provincial branches;
    • Monitor the performance of institutional actors and service providers in the management of environmental issues;
    • Ensure the proper functioning of the MGP and the coordination of the complaints management committees (CGP) at the level of each intervention site of the STEP 2 project, in close collaboration with the Social Safeguards Specialist.
  • In terms of capacity building
    • Identify, in collaboration with the Social Safeguards Specialist and those responsible for environmental and social safeguards, the training and capacity building needs of stakeholders (project staff, partners and service providers) on environmental issues;
    • Ensure ownership of the environmental management instruments of the STEP 2 project by the FSRDC team, the partners involved in its implementation and the beneficiaries, in particular, the Environmental and Social Management Framework (CGES);
    • Train partner entities and Project staff members in the proper use of environmental data collection tools;
    • Raise awareness among decision-makers and various partners of the need to take environmental issues into account in the implementation of sub-projects and activities of the STEP 2 project;
  • In terms of reporting
    • Produce within the prescribed time the quarterly, half-yearly and annual reports of activities in collaboration with the Social Safeguards Specialist and those responsible for environmental and social safeguards;
    • Produce circumstantial reports in the event of an incident or accident and send them immediately to the Operations Manager;
    • Develop an alert system and draw the attention of the Operations Manager to the delays observed in the implementation of environmental requirements.

4. Expected results

The following criteria will be used for the evaluation of the performance of the SSAE :

  • The standard organizational plan for the management, supervision and support of those responsible for environmental and social safeguards is regularly updated according to the development of project activities;
  • The training report for FSRDC partners and staff on the Project's environmental requirements is updated regularly and reflects the level of progress of activities;
  • The required reports (periodic, quarterly, semi-annual, annual) are produced and transmitted regularly to the COP and the World Bank within the deadline;
  • The activities related to the environmental aspects foreseen in the budget and chronogram under his responsibility are within the deadline and executed at 100%.

5. Hierarchical supervision

Placed under the institutional authority of the FSRDC General Coordinator, the STEP 2 Project COP supervises and evaluates the performance of the SSAE .

The latter will work in close collaboration with the other experts of the Project and the staff of the General Coordination of the FSRDC (in particular the Technical Director).

6. Qualifications and skills

The qualifications and skills required for this assignment are as follows:

  • Hold a higher education diploma (BAC + 5) or an equivalent higher diploma in civil or rural engineering, environmental science, or other related field;
  • Have a proven technical expertise of at least 7 years in the field of environmental assessment of building and public works projects;
  • Have a professional experience of at least 3 years at least as a Specialist in Environmental Safeguards in an international organization or a project with international funding;
  • Have a good knowledge of the World Bank's environmental and social safeguards policies and of national environmental legislation;
  • Have a very good command of French .

In addition, the following qualifications and skills are an asset:

  • Have experience of community development and social protection projects funded by international donors, preferably the World Bank;
  • Have a good capacity for analysis, writing and synthesis, a spirit of initiative and rigor in the treatment of files;
  • Be able to communicate in Lingala or Swahili and Tshiluba as well as in English;
  • Be able to work in a multidisciplinary team;
  • Have a very strong motivation for a complicated mission, and be very dynamic.

7. Place and working conditions

The SSAE will work in Kinshasa, at the FSRDC headquarters, where offices are located for the Project team and carry out frequent field missions.

The Project will provide the SSAE with the equipment and materials necessary for the performance of its mission. In the event of travel, the Environmental Safeguards Specialist will work in the provincial offices of the FSRDC, equipped with internet.

8. Contract conditions

  • Immediate availability;
  • 12 months, renewable on the basis of performance evaluation; after a probationary period of 6 months and notice of no objection from the WB
  • Type of contract: standard monthly flat-rate contract, signed between the General Coordinator of the FSRDC and the SSAE after notice of no objection from the World Bank;
  • Remuneration and miscellaneous costs: attractive salary, negotiated amount and terms of payment, return ticket and installation, communication, health insurance and social security costs.

This mission of the SSAE is entirely financed by World Bank funds paid into a dedicated account of the FSRDC. Any external service provided by the SSAE must obtain prior authorization and will be without additional remuneration as long as it has a full-time (100%) contract with the FSRDC.

How to apply

The Consultant will be recruited on the basis of his academic qualifications, relevant professional experience and ability to carry out the assignment. The stages of recruitment are as follows: (i) preselection of candidates on the basis of essential qualifications and skills; (ii) comparison of application files, (iii) individual interview of the three best candidates from the shortlist, and (iv) no-objection notice from the WB on the successful candidate.

Each candidate must provide:

  1. A curriculum vitae (3 pages maximum and in PDF), including two references that the FSRDC can contact by email.
  2. A cover letter (2 pages maximum and in PDF) specifying (a) the useful training, (b) the relevant experience, (c) the added value to be brought by the candidate in the face of the challenges of the implementation of the Project and (d) immediate availability of the candidate.

Certificates and diplomas do not have to be attached to the application file. Proof of education and experience will be required from selected applicants after their interview.

Failure to comply with these provisions will result in the automatic rejection of the application.

To be sent before October 22, 2020 at midnight (Kinshasa time), to the following two email addresses: fondsocialrdc@fondsocial.cd and fondsocialrdc@yahoo.fr with the job title and the name of the candidate in the subject line (STEP 2 - Specialist in Environmental Safeguards - First Name Last Name) and the two attachments.