Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist /Consultant

The primary objective for Consultants is to assist in the environmental and social due diligence assessment of projects financed by the OPEC Fund in accordance with the Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) Policy. In this regard, the Consultants must have a broad range of operational and analytical experience and be familiar with the Environmental and Social Safeguards policy requirements of OPEC Fund and other Multilateral Development Banks or International Financial Institutions. Two individuals will be engaged as Consultants.

Scope of services

The Consultants will conduct a due diligence assessment of the Environmental and Social (ES) risks and impacts of the projects financed by the Fund. This includes desk review of the project details and relevant ES documents. He/She will coordinate with the Project Management Unit of the Client to ensure that the implementation of ES commitments are complied with satisfactorily. This assignment is for 8 days over a period of one year, but renewable, depending on performance and business needs.  

The Consultants will assist the OPEC Fund ES specialists in the following tasks: 

1. Participate in Project Preparation, which may include Appraisal Missions, as the Environmental and Social Safeguards specialist of the Team. The Consultants will conduct a Due Diligence Assessment of the proposed project/activity to be financed by the Fund. This includes assessing the projects’ risks and impacts, ES instruments prepared, capacity of the counterpart to implement ES arrangements, adequacy of consultations done, disclosure of ES information.
2. Assess the environmental and social conformity of the project as per policy guidance, technical appropriateness and sustainability of project activities and investments including associated facilities.
3. Provide inputs to or prepare diverse operational products/outputs (e.g. technical reviews, due diligence assessments, case studies, back to office reports, etc.) if needed.
4. Assist in building the capacity and providing technical assistance to the Project Management Units, other government implementing agencies and project beneficiaries in the field of Environmental and Social Safeguards.
5. Monitor the project progress and implementation of agreed safeguards arrangements, review reports submitted by the Client, and visit project site/s as needed. 
6. Participate in knowledge management events and forums, and disseminate/share information to the Team Members.
7. Perform other related functions that would be assigned from time to time.

Deliverables 

The consultant is expected to deliver the following tasks:

1. Prepare a comprehensive Back to Office Report after a mission to the project site. The BTOR includes:

• Summary of conditions on site.
• Main ES risks.
• An Assessment of the quality and adequacy of ES instruments prepared.
• Capacity of Client to implement and monitor ES performance of project.
• Consultations and Disclosures completed.
• Identification of any gaps in complying with applicable ES Framework.
• Agreed next steps.

     2. Prepare a presentation summarizing the findings of the Due Diligence Assessment of the assigned Project.

Qualifications and Experience

• Consultants should have an Advanced Degree in Environment or Natural Sciences/Humanities/Social Studies (or an equivalent of at least 5 years relevant work experience in the field of environmental and social due diligence assessments).
• Excellent technical and practical working knowledge on environmental and social management, institutional strengthening, environmental and social assessment, plus a good understanding of global environmental and social issues. Actual work experience on ES due diligence of projects based on projects done in the last (5) years).
• Previous work experience with international organizations such as MDBs/IFIs involving ES Due Diligence Assessments.

The Proposal, as well as all related correspondence exchanged by the Consultants and OPEC Fund, shall be written in English.

The extent of activities performed is estimated at about 8 working days (with a working day corresponding to 8 hours of work/day). Working days will spread from March 2024 (tentatively) to the end of December 2024. Given ample notice, the Consultant will be available during the time period to perform tasks under the scope of services based on the request of OPEC Fund.

Interested consultants should submit proposals by email only to [email protected] no later than 15:00h on February 15, 2024 (Central European Time).

Any questions are to be directed to [email protected]. All questions submitted to and answers of OPEC Fund will be shared with contractors that have received the request to submit proposal.

For more inforation visition visit the OPEC Fund Procurement website under: https://publications.opecfund.org/view/1021577115/