Procurement Notices

Consultancy Title: Environment and Social Impact Assessment Specialist.

Project Name: Supporting Mainstreamed Achievement of Roadmap Targets on Energy in Nauru (SMARTEN).

Duty Station: Nauru and homebased.

( 1 x trip to Nauru – 7days in Nauru  / 21 days homebased

Duration of the Contract

• Number of working days: 28
• Commencement date (tentative): 1st July 2019
• Completion date (tentative): 9th August 2019

If the selected/successful Candidate is over 65 years of age and required to travel outside his home country; He/She will be required provide a full medical report at their expense prior to issuance to contract. Contract will only be issued when Proposed candidate is deemed medically fit to undertake the assignment.

Objectives

1. To review the initial draft project document of the UNDP-GEF SMARTEN Project and assess the potential environmental and social impacts of the planned project activities (inclusive of those on capacity development and stakeholder engagement), as well as a review of the pre-determined social and environmental risks, and the proposed measures to mitigate pre-determined social and environmental risks.  In doing so, the socio-cultural, economic, historical, institutional, behavioral, and political context are also considered.
2. To confirm and recommend mitigation measures (preventive and alleviative) that are necessary to address the identified social and environmental risks and impacts, and, design a monitoring plan for tracking the results of the implementation of the proposed mitigation measures.
3. To recommend the SMARTEN principles, rules, guidelines and procedures for screening, assessing, and managing the potential social and environmental impacts of the proposed SMARTEN Project activities.
4. To review and update the UNDP Social and Environmental Screening Procedure annex of the SMARTEN Project
5. To prepare the Environmental and Social Management Plan for the specific project activities that are assessed as having moderate to high social and environmental risks.    

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), acting as an Implementing Agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), has been requested by the Government of Nauru (GoN) through the Department of Commerce, Industry & Environment (DCIE) to support with the development and implementation the planned GEF Full Size Project (FSP) Supporting Mainstreamed Achievement of Roadmap Targets on Energy in Nauru (SMARTEN). The objective of the planned project is enabling the increased applications of feasible renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies for supporting socio-economic development in Nauru in accordance with the country’s energy roadmap targets. The project consists of four substantial components, namely: 1) Energy Policy & Regulatory Framework Strengthening; 2) Supporting Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Initiatives; 3) Promotion of Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Technologies Applications; and, 4) Improvement of Energy Sector Capacity. The project concept, including a project preparation grant (PPG), was approved by the GEF in June 2018,[1] a logical framework analysis (LFA) workshop was conducted in August 2018, and, in November 2018 the PPG Team Leader - Project Development Specialist visited Nauru for the first time. As part of the detailed project design, inputs from an environmental and social impact specialist are required to prepare the UNDP-GEF Project Document and the GEF CEO Endorsement Request Document.  

Scope of Work

The expected outputs of the consultancy are:

1. Report on the review of the pre-determined social and environmental risks, and the proposed measures and an assessment of potential environmental and social risks and impacts of the proposed activities (inclusive of those on capacity development and stakeholder engagement) presented in the draft project document of the UNDP-GEF SMARTEN Project.
2. Report on the suggested mitigation measures (preventive and alleviative) that are necessary to address the identified social and environmental risks and impacts, an overall action plan on what are the mitigation measures, how can they be addressed, including a monitoring plan for tracking the results of the implementation of the proposed mitigation measures.   
3. Report on the proposed principles, rules, guidelines and procedures for screening, assessing, and managing the potential social and environmental impacts of the proposed SMARTEN Project activities.
4. Reviewed and updated UNDP Social and Environmental Screening Procedure annex of the SMARTEN Project.
5. The Environmental and Social Management Plan for the project, specifically targeting specific project activities that are assessed as having moderate to high and social and environmental risks.

Activities for the consultancy will include, but not necessarily be limited to the following (in relation to specific deliverables):

Inception Note    

• Summarize the understanding of the consultant about the consultancy assignment and associated tasks by providing comments on this TOR; outline the final proposed approach and methodology; provide the final work plan for the consultancy assignment; and identify any issues crucial to the viability of the consultancy. Subsequently, if required and approved by UNDP Pacific – Fiji Office and DCIE the proposed consultancy approach and activities can be elaborated, modified, etc.).

Debriefing Notes  

• A non-technical summary of the key findings, conclusions and recommendations (vis-à-vis successful completion of this consultancy) for the mission to Nauru.

Social and Environmental Screening Procedure

• Review the preliminary UNDP Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP) that was prepared for the SMARTEN PIF.
• Review the SMARTEN PIF and Project Logical Framework Analysis report.
• Review the initial draft SMARTEN UNDP-GEF Project Document, including annexes, particularly the one on the demonstration activities (especially considering a pumped water storage activity, which might have environmental impacts that will have to be mitigated).  
• Summarize relevant baseline social and environmental data and identify and estimate the extent and quality of available data, key data gaps and uncertainties associated with predictions.  
• Assess the scope of the area(s) to be studied and describe relevant social and environmental conditions.   
• Consider current and proposed development activities within the project area(s) that are not directly connected to the project, and the social and environmental issues (if any) related to such projects.
• Assess and consider all relevant social and environmental risks and potential impacts of the project, including those related to UNDP’s Overarching Policy and Principles and Project-level Standards (SES).
• Analyze alternatives, including: 1) compare feasible alternatives (including a "without project" situation) to the proposed project site(s), technology, design, and operation regarding their potential social and/or environmental impacts; 2) assess the alternatives’ feasibility of mitigating the adverse social and/or environmental impacts; 3) estimate the capital and recurrent costs of alternative mitigation measures, and their suitability under local conditions; 4) outline the institutional, training, and monitoring requirements for the alternative mitigation measures; 5) for each of the alternatives, to the extent possible quantify the social and/or environmental impacts and attach economic values; and 6) set out the basis, including criteria, for selecting the particular detailed project design.

Environmental and Social Management Plan

• Review the template and requirements of the UNDP Environment and Social Management Plan (ESMP) – Indicative Outline.
• Identify measures and actions in accordance with the mitigation hierarchy that avoid, or if avoidance not possible, reduce potentially significant adverse social and environmental impacts to acceptable levels.
• Identify monitoring objectives and specify the type of monitoring with linkages to the impacts assessed in the environmental and social assessment and the mitigation measures described in the ESMP.
• Describe institutional arrangements, identify which party is responsible for carrying out the mitigation and monitoring measures and, where support for strengthening social and environmental management capability is identified, recommend the establishment or expansion of the parties responsible, the training of staff and any additional measures that may be necessary to support implementation of mitigation measures and any other recommendations of the environmental and social assessment.
• Outline measures to engage in meaningful, effective and informed consultations with affected stakeholders.
• For all four above aspects (mitigation, monitoring, capacity development, and stakeholder engagement), provide: a) an implementation schedule for measures that must be carried out as part of the SMARTEN project, showing phasing and coordination with overall project implementation plans; and b) the capital and recurrent cost estimates and sources of funds for implementing the ESMP.

Environmental and Social Management Framework Document

• Review the template and requirements for the UNDP Environmental and Social Impact Management Framework – Indicative Outline.
• Specify the most likely applicable social and environmental policies and requirements for reviewing and addressing potential social and environmental issues and impacts of specific project activities, sub-projects, policies, or regulations to be adopted during implementation.
• Specify how those requirements will be met through procedures for the screening, assessment, approval, mitigation, monitoring and reporting of social and environmental risks and impacts associated with the activities to be supported.
• Describe mechanisms to provide stakeholders and potentially affected communities avenues to provide feedback or grievances, and receive responses, regarding the implementation of specific activities, policies, or regulations.
• Define the monitoring and evaluation arrangements in order to monitor the implementation of the ESMF and specific social and environmental management plans/measures.
• Outline budget required to implement the ESMF.  

Environmental and Social Screening Table

• Consult the UNDP Social and Environmental Screening Template.
• Based on the results of the above-mentioned activities, provide answers to the following questions as per the Social and Environmental Screening Template: 1) How Does the Project Integrate the Overarching Principles in order to Strengthen Social and Environmental Sustainability?; 2) What are the Potential Social and Environmental Risks?; 3) What is the level of significance of the potential social and environmental risks?; 4) What is the overall Project risk categorization?; 5) Based on the identified risks and risk categorization, what requirements of the SES are relevant?, and, 6) What social and environmental assessment and management measures have been conducted and/or are required to address potential risks (for Risks with Moderate and High Significance)?
• Fill-in the Social and Environmental Risk Screening Checklist.

Resources Provided

PPG Team Leader - Project Development Specialist

• Management of the PPG Team, including coordination of the assignments of the various consultants.    
• Review of draft deliverables, including ensuring that UNDP-GEF requirements are met.  

Department of Commerce, Industry & Environment, Government of Nauru

• Desk space and access to phone (local calls).
• Assistance for setting up meetings. 
• Provision of relevant information, including documents.
• Commenting on draft deliverables. 

UNDP

• Provision of background information, including documents.
• Review of draft deliverables, including checking that UNDP-GEF requirements are met.  

Supervision/Reporting

The consultant will be contracted by UNDP and report to the Team Leader, Resilience and Sustainable Development (RSD), UNDP Pacific – Fiji Office (or his/her designate) and the International Consultant – Project Development Specialist (GEF PPG Project Development Specialist).

Requirement for Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum University degree (or equivalent) in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Environmental Engineering or a related field relevant to the tasks required.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant and practical working experience with environmental and/or social impact assessments.    
• Substantial, relevant and practical working experience in UNDP/GEF project development, including design.
• Substantial, relevant and practical working experience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and/or other developing countries. Working experience in Nauru is an asset.
• Excellent working knowledge of written and spoken English.

Payment Schedule

Evaluation

The proposals will be evaluated using the cumulative analysis method with a split 70% technical and 30% financial scoring. The proposal with the highest cumulative scoring will be awarded the contract. Applications will be evaluated technically, and points are attributed based on how well the proposal meets the requirements of the Terms of Reference using the guidelines detailed in the table below.

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract may be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

1. Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
2. Having received the highest score out of the pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the Technical Evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation. Interviews may be conducted as part of technical assessment for shortlisted proposals.

Proposal Requirements

Technical Proposal

• A statement of how the applicant meets the qualifications and experience requirements.
• A Detailed CV with contact details of minimum 3 referees  
• Proposed methodology/approach including preliminary work plan (covering deliverables, key activities and due dates). 

Financial Proposal

• A completed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) Assignment including Annex A: Breakdown of Cost by Components.

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on a Lump Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the Individual Consultants (IC´s) duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs. In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the IC, prior to travel and will be reimbursed

Template for confirmation of interest and Submission of Financial Proposal is available under the procurement section of UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji website (www.pacific.undp.org)

Women candidates are encouraged to apply

Interested Candidates must accept UNDP General Terms and Conditions for Individual Consultants