Consultant – Environmental and Social Risk Management

Context and Core Functions / Responsibilities

As a part of economic recovery and basic service improvement of conflict affected, climate and other economic affected areas in Iraq, Transition and Recovery Division (TRD) of IOM Iraq implementing livelihood and infrastructure projects to improve living conditions of the population and support economic development and employment creation. As part of this program, IOM involving with private sector businesses and various development projects which need increased attention to manage the environment and social risk mitigation. As part of that TRD has developed Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) to implement for all related projects and working on further development and capacity building of staff and stakeholders.

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Transition and Recovery Division (TRD), and the direct supervision of the Infrastructure Coordinator and in close coordination with Sr. Livelihood Program Coordinator , the Consultant (Environmental and Social Risk Management) is responsible to review and develop the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), develop industry specific E&S mitigation measures and guidelines for Infrastructures and businesses, develop field staff training model and assist environmental officer to training staff and to support monitor E&S mitigation measures.

Core Functions / Responsibilities

Deliverable 1 – (Five weeks): Desk Review and Data Collection

1. Conduct a comprehensive literature review focusing on the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), with particular attention to the KFW and World Bank Environmental and Social Standards.
2. Examine relevant national, international, institutional, and legal frameworks related to Environmental and Social (E&S) management, identifying gaps in baseline information.
3. Review IOM’s overarching E&S policies and principles and explore ways to integrate them with the current ESMF to ensure alignment.
4. Conduct field visits to various Enterprise Development Fund (EDF) businesses, Infrastructure projects, and Employment for Public Work (EPW), engaging with stakeholders, interviewing staff and business owners to assess local contexts, practices, and challenges in implementing the ESMF.
5. Prepare an inception report summarizing the key findings from tasks 1–4. This report should outline the next steps, including practical approaches for implementing the ESMF.

Deliverable 2 – (Eight weeks): Revision of the ESMF and Development of an ESMF Implementation Manual

1. Revise the IOM Iraq Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) to ensure it aligns with current programmatic needs, including infrastructure projects, the EDF, and EPW initiatives.
2. Prioritize high-risk sectors by developing sector-specific risk assessment methodologies and a process for risk categorization.
3. Draft guidelines for IOM staff and develop simplified, sector-specific guidelines and promotional materials to assist vendors, contractors, and business owners in implementing ESMF principles.
4. Prepare a Compliance Action Plan or Monitoring Plan for the Infrastructures, EDFs, and EPWs assessed, detailing steps to ensure adherence to E&S standards.
5. Develop sample risk mitigation strategies, drawing on examples from EDF businesses, infrastructures, and EPW projects.
6. Develop a robust E&S monitoring mechanism for infrastructure, EPW, and EDF-related businesses.
7. Create and implement health and safety guidelines specifically tailored for infrastructure and livelihood projects, along with procedures to monitor adherence.

Deliverable 3 – (Five weeks): Development and Implementation of a Capacity Building Program

1. Design a comprehensive capacity-building program for IOM staff, beneficiaries, and relevant government authorities, focusing on enhancing E&S management capabilities.
2. Provide training to field staff on risk identification, mitigation measures, negotiation, implementation, and monitoring to strengthen on-the-ground capacities.
3. Conduct field visits to locations, working alongside field staff to perform onsite risk assessments, propose mitigation measures, and guide the implementation process.
4. Refine documents based on field experiences and provide final recommendations and a comprehensive report, incorporating lessons learned and offering actionable insights for future ESMF implementation.

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results

Deliverable 1 – Desk Review and Data Collection

1. Completion of desk review and inception report including literature review, legal framework analysis, field visits, and recommendations, within the 5-week timeline.

Deliverable 2 – Revision of the ESMF and Development of an Implementation Manual

1. Completion of the revised ESMF and implementation manual aligned with programmatic needs, including risk assessments, guidelines, and monitoring mechanisms, by the end of 8 weeks.

Deliverable 3 – Development and Implementation of a Capacity Building Program

1. Successful design and delivery of the capacity-building program, including staff training and field visits, with final recommendations and report completed within 5 weeks.

Reporting and Coordination

The consultant must adhere to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Data Protection Principles (IN/138) and maintain confidentiality.

The consultant will be responsible for following IOM writing guidelines and latest glossaries in all given assignments for accurate translation.

The consultant is not an official representative of IOM during the assignment.

Education and Experience

• University degree in Environment Engineering/Environmental Sciences/Environmental Studies or related field with 10 years relevant experience or Master degree in the same field with 7 years’ experience
• Similar experience on working and developing E&S Management Framework for World Bank or KFW or similar projects.
• Demonstrated experience in environmental management and environmental sustainability and supervision of environmental aspects of infrastructure projects.
• Ability to express and report results in a concise and clear manner; and
• Demonstrated ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team environment, while demonstrating initiative and self-motivation.

Field Experience:

• Conducting field surveys and data collection in various environments.
• Interacting with local communities and stakeholders to understand their concerns and perspectives.
• Gathering firsthand information about the physical environment, ecosystems, and social dynamics.

Project Experience:

• Participating in or leading environmental and social impact assessments for different projects.
• Managing assessment teams and coordinating data collection efforts.
• Implementing mitigation measures and monitoring their effectiveness.

Data Analysis:

• Processing and analyzing environmental and social data using appropriate software tools.
• Identifying trends, patterns, and potential risks from data sets.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Experience in conducting effective stakeholder consultations and engagement.
• Managing conflicts and addressing concerns raised by different stakeholders.

Report Writing and Communication:

• Drafting clear and comprehensive assessment reports for various audiences.
• Communicating complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders.

Regulatory and Legal Understanding:

• Navigating and applying relevant environmental and social regulations.
• Ensuring assessments comply with legal requirements and standards.

Collaboration and Teamwork:

• Collaborating with professionals from different disciplines to achieve a holistic assessment.
• Understanding the roles of various experts in an assessment team.

Problem Solving and Decision Making:

• Making informed decisions based on assessment findings and potential impacts.
• Developing strategies to address challenges and uncertainties during the assessment process.

Ethical Considerations:

• Incorporating ethical considerations and social responsibility into assessment methodologies and recommendations.

Project Management:

• Managing assessment projects, including planning, resource allocation, and timeline management.

Review and Improvement:

• Evaluating past assessments to identify areas for improvement.
• Learning from previous experiences to enhance the quality of future assessments.

Industry-Specific Knowledge:

• Gaining experience in specific industries or sectors that have unique environmental and social risks.

Languages:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Arabic and/or Kurdish.
• Ability to present information and deliver training programs in a clear and concise manner, adapting the content to the knowledge level and cultural context of the target audience.

Time Management and Reporting:

1. Demonstrated ability to manage project timelines, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality outputs within the specified timeframe.
2. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail to ensure accurate and comprehensive reporting on the assessment findings, program development, and monitoring and evaluation activities.

Previous Experience in Iraq or Similar Contexts:

1. Prior experience working in Iraq or similar contexts, understanding the local cultural dynamics, and navigating relevant administrative and cultural contexts is essential.
2. Familiarity with the work of international organizations and experience collaborating with them on similar projects.

References:

1. Provide references from previous clients or organizations with whom you have worked on similar environmental and social assessment and management programs, highlighting successful program implementation and impact.

Competencies Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
  • Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
  • Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies – behavioral indicators

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.

  • Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action-oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
  • Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
  • Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility
  • Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

  for own action and delegated work.

Submission of application

Please submit your application package including the following documents:

• CV of the applicant.
• Technical and budget proposal documents, based on the current ToR, outlining the proposed methodology.
• Examples of similar work
• Travel required: Yes

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via this link:

https://iraqdatacenter.iom.int/Vacancy/Apply/EOI2024IRQ223

In order for an application to be considered valid, IOM only accepts online profiles duly completed. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.