Sierra Leone: Social & Environmental Impact Assessment Expert (Consultant)

May 23, 2016 | UNDP
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The Global Environment Facility (GEF) recently approved the Project Identification Form (PIF) that was presented by UNDP on behalf of the Environment Protection Agency on “adapting to climate change induced coastal risks in Sierra Leone”. This project will be one of the key instruments for implementing the adaptation priorities identified in the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA). It aims to strengthen the ability of coastal communities to systematically manage climate change risks and impacts on coastal infrastructure and local livelihoods. The project will also strengthen government institutional capacity for the development of climate-resilient socio-economic development.

With support from Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF) resources, measures will be taken to improve policy design and implementation to deal with current and long-term climate change-induced risks to sustainable coastal management through the development of appropriate protection measures, policy/legal tools and establishment of integrated coordination mechanisms. It will (1) Enhance the availability of high quality climate risk information that is critical for improving the decision-making process in the coastal zone (2) Develop appropriate protection measures, policy/legal tools and integrated coordination mechanisms to improve and support design as well as implementation of relevant policies (3) Enhance public awareness and promote sustainable alternative livelihoods.

Following the approval of the PIF, a full project document should be developed through the LDCF Work Programme which includes a project preparatory phase that foresees the collection of information and gathering of useful data for project design, the validation of the indicative outcomes and outputs contained in the PIF, the development of a full M&E plan including appropriate indicators and baseline, a participatory plan to involve communities as well as the identification of implementing partners and the negotiations pertaining to the implementation arrangements and co-financing.

The services of an international consultant are sought to conduct a Vulnerability Assessment and Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and propose recommendations as part of the development of a comprehensive Project Document as described above.

The consultant will work under direct supervision of the Lead International Consultant and in coordination with the UNDP Sierra Leone Energy, Environment & Natural Resource Management lead with guidance from UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Advisor for Climate Change Adaptation. The consultant will work closely with government officials, donors, NGOs, CBOs, the private sector and other relevant stakeholders.

Expected tasks for the consultant will include but are not limited to:

• Use the most appropriate investigation methods to collect data on a participatory approach, with a particular focus on women groups;
• Conduct a vulnerability assessment of the proposed pilot sites;
• Evaluation of climatic coastal risks in the different project sites and determine the level of risk for each of these sites through a detailed risk analysis. This will include the risk of coastal erosion, the sea level rise, the impacts of these climatic changes on livelihoods;
• Conduct the full UNDP Social and Environmental Safeguards assessment, and compile a summary report indicating results of the PPG investigation and future actions;
• In consultation with the IC and sectors, identify additional feasibility/baseline study that would arise from the observed risks during the PPG phase so that the feasibility studies do not have to be taken up during the project implementation.
• Analyze the data collected;
• Review drafts of the project document on an ad hoc basis, and provide relevant inputs into its development.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

Based on the scope of work outlined above, the consultant will be expected to deliver the following outputs and will be responsible for the delivery of the outputs within the suggested times;

• Detailed work plan, including timelines and activities that the consultant plans to undertake in order to complete this assignment, to be submitted for review and approval to UNDP  1 Working day after signing of contract;
• First Vulnerability Assessment and Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and propose recommendations report: 18th July 2016 (5 working days);
• Second draft integrating and/or responding to comments and/or recommendations: 20th July 2016 (2 working days);
• Final Vulnerability Assessment and Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and propose recommendations Report to be submitted to the Lead International Consultant and UNDP:   22nd July 2016 (2 working days).

Institutional Arrangement / Reporting Relationships  

• The consultant will work under direct supervision of the Lead International Consultant and in coordination with the UNDP Sierra Leone Energy, Environment & Natural Resource Management lead with guidance from UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Advisor for Climate Change Adaptation. The consultant will work closely with government officials, donors, NGOs, CBOs, the private sector and other relevant stakeholders.
• The consultant is expected to submit the periodic reports as indicated in the deliverables (iii above) to Lead International Consultant with copies sent to the UNDP Sierra Leone Energy, Environment & Natural Resource Management lead and the UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Advisor for Climate Change Adaptation.

Logistics and Administrative support to prospect IC:

• The consultant is expected to work full time from home and is expected to use his/her own laptop access to communication facilitates and internet.
• The consultant will undertake assessment missions to proposed project sites in the northern coast around Kambia and the low beaches of the along the Western Area Peninsular, the Yawri Bay and other vulnerable coastal areas. The cost of the above missions should be reflected in the financial proposals of the consultant. The consultant is expected to arrange her/his own travel and be responsible for vehicle hire and accommodation. The fare will always be “most direct, most economical” at no additional cost to UNDP and any difference in price with the preferred route will be paid for by the consultant. Travel costs (fixed and non-negotiable) for above mission travels shall be included in financial proposal of applicants.

Duration of the work:

The 10 day consultancy will be spread between June and July 2016. The consultant is expected to;

• provide a detailed work plan, including timelines and activities that the consultant plans to undertake in order to complete this assignment, to be submitted for review and approval to UNDP within 1 working day after signing of contract;
• provide  the first draft Vulnerability Assessment and Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and propose recommendations report to be submitted for review and approval by the team lead consultant on or before the 18th July 2016;
• provide  the second draft integrating and/or responding to comments and/or recommendations of the by the team lead consultant on or before the 20th July 2016;
• provide  the final Vulnerability Assessment and Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and propose recommendations report to be submitted to the Lead International Consultant and UNDP on or before the 22nd July 2016.

Payment Milestones and Authority

Payment to the consultant will be made in four instalments upon upon certification of the completed tasks satisfactorily, as per the following payment schedule:

• Installment of Payment/ Period Deliverables or Documents to be Delivered Approval should be obtained Percentage of Payment:
• 1st Installment: provide a detailed work plan, including timelines and activities that the consultant plans to undertake in order to complete this assignment, to be submitted for review and approval to UNDP within 1 working days after signing of contract:          20 %
• 2nd Installment: provide the first draft Vulnerability Assessment and Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and propose recommendations report to be submitted for review and approval by the team lead consultant on or before the 18th July 2016:   40 %
• 3rd Installment: provide the second draft integrating and/or responding to comments and/or recommendations of the by the team lead consultant on or before the 20th July 2016:     30%
• 4th Installment: provide the final Vulnerability Assessment and Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and propose recommendations report to be submitted to the Lead International Consultant and UNDP on or before the 22nd July 2016:   10%.