Description
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE (IITA)
TECHNOLOGIES FOR AFRICAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION (TAAT) PHASE II
TAAT PROGRAM MANAGEMENT UNIT
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SERVICES
SECTOR: Agriculture
CONSULTANCY SERVICES: Environmental & Social Safeguards Consultant
Financing Agreement reference: P-Z1-AA0-139
Project ID No.2100155041681
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This request for expression of interest (REOI) follows the General Procurement Notice for this Project that appeared on the African Development Bank Group’s Internet Website(www.afdb.org) 12th August 2022.
The International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has received financing from the African Development Bank toward the cost of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Phase II and intends to apply part of the agreed amount of this grant to payments under the contract for TAAT Environmental & Social Safeguards Consultant who will be based in IITA Headquarters Ibadan, Nigeria.
The services included under this project are to manage environment and social safeguards in line with the TAAT Environmental and Social Framework (ESMF), the Bank’s ISS and National regulations in host countries. The services will ensure that there is an established process of environmental and social screening, allowing the executing and implementing agencies to identify, assess and mitigate the adverse consequences of the proposed and ongoing interventions throughout the TAAT program implementation period.
Specifically, the consultant shall provide overall technical environmental and social safeguards oversight for the project preparation and implementation under the general management of the TAAT Program Coordinator; coordinate closely with the project team, including the PMU, Compact leaders, consultants, contractors, and implementing partners in planning, managing, monitoring and reporting environmental and social risks and performance in the program; undertake regular field visits to project sites to assess environmental and social impacts and verify monitoring information provided in the reports of implementing partners; coordinate screening of sub-projects identified under the program, ensuring the screening process complies with the ESMF; and advise on the site-specific safeguards ‘instruments required; coordinate (or manage other consultants) safeguards due diligence and impacts of projects and develop implementable safeguards action plans for implementation; coordinate recruitment of safeguards regional and country specific E&S consultants, including drafting TORs, estimating budgets, aiding in shortlisting and evaluation firms/individuals consultants proposals; recommend hiring of subject matters specialists when significantly complex issues are identified in projects; provide guidance to Compacts on management of complex E&S risks; ensure that bidding documents and contracts include necessary safeguards monitoring provisions; develop environmental indicators for Project evaluation and monitoring; review adequacy of proposed project budgets to cover for the management of the environmental and social risks and impacts during implementation.
The selected consultant will also provide necessary coordination and relevant input into the Environmental and Social management Framework (ESMF) and other safeguards documents deemed necessary during implementation; Analyze project implementation reports to ensure that all work is completed in full compliance with AfDB’s environmental and social policies under the ESMF; prepare relevant parts of required environmental monitoring reports; provide coordination support to review safeguards instruments and liaise with the AfDB for clearance; keep accurate records of safeguards supervision of project activities; provide description and justification for additional suggested E&S instruments proposed; ensure that the assigned management consultant firms have competent Environmental and Social experts for project implementation; conduct site visits as agreed with the Consultant firms and advice on identified issues; ensure that identified non-compliances are adequately communicated to the beneficiary, and relevant Corrective Action Plans developed; prepare the Annual safeguard monitoring reports for all the components/compacts; other deliverables as agreed with Project Coordinator and Project Management Unit over the course of the consulting engagement; train and offer technical support to the Project Implementation Unit staff and the program beneficiaries to enhance Environmental and Social Safeguards capacity and improve on Environment and Social performance in the project. Continuous provision of Capacity Building for all TAAT implementation stakeholders where required; Where required, additional draft TORs for E&S Instruments
The selected Consultant will be a member of TAAT PMU to be based in Nigeria and the assignment shall be for an initial period of One (1) year and subject to renewal with satisfactory performance
The selected consultant should possess a master’s degree or equivalent in the field of Environment or Social Sciences related fields. A PhD in a relevant field is of added advantage; at least 10 years of relevant experience, working with multilateral/ bilateral international financial institutions and/or working on projects financed by multilateral/ bilateral international financial institutions in Africa. Experience in the Agricultural Sector will be a plus. The relevant experience should be in the application of Environmental & Social safeguards standards of multilateral/ bilateral international financial institutions in conducting environmental due diligence assessments, monitoring, and evaluations for private sector projects and/or public-private partnerships (PPPs). These multilateral/ bilateral international financial institutions include but not limited to the African Development Bank, the World Bank Group (the International Finance Corporation, MIGA), the Asian Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, FMO, Proparco, DEG, and KfW, among others; The Consultant must also possess substantive experience conducting environmental due diligence work in any of the following sectors: agriculture, water, mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, hospitality, health, education, transport, energy, and ICT. Excellent understanding of agriculture sector governance and management issues and demonstrated E&S management experience of complex scope such as TAAT is desirable; Extensive knowledge of E&S risks across sectors, commodities, and geographies and experience assessing and mitigating risks on complex commodities supply chains is required; Regional experience and flexibility to travel to several countries in Africa; Experience in development and delivery of training to commodities compacts related to E&S safeguards is required. Proficiency in English is a must and working knowledge of English and French languages is required.
The IITA now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (including their detailed CV and letter of motivation detailing past related experience similar to this assignment.).
Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Bank’s Procurement Framework, October 2015, which is available on the Bank’s website at https://www.afdb.org/en/projects-and-operations/procurement/new-procurement-policy
Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours (0800-1630hrs).
Expressions of interest should be delivered to the address below on or before 21st July 2023.
Attn: Chrysantus Akem; PhD
TAAT Program Coordinator | Program Management Unit
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, www.iita.org
Headquarters & West Africa Hub
PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan 200001, Oyo State, Nigeria
International Mailing Address: IITA, Carolyn House, 26 Dingwall Road, Croydon, CR9 3EE, UK
Tel: +234 2 7517472 | USA Tel: +1 201 6336094 | Fax: +44 208 7113785 | Mobile No: +234 8169020531
Email: C.Akem@cgiar.org and
Copy: m.a.bakare@cgiar.org