Social Impact is a global development management consulting firm. We provide monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, and capacity building services to advance development effectiveness. We work across all development sectors, including democracy and governance, health and education, the environment, and economic growth. Since 1997, we have worked in over 100 countries for clients such as US government agencies, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and nonprofits.

Purpose of Proposal:

The upcoming World Bank Third-Party Monitoring Consultant (TPMC) Services will perform monitoring services in Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), procurement, and financial management, including verification that the projects’ financial management and procurement arrangements comply with World Bank requirements, and that the physical implementation of projects is in accordance with signed contracts and approved ESF instruments, which are prepared based on the requirements of the World Bank ESF and relevant laws and regulations of Ukraine.

Summary of Role

Social Impact seeks a Senior Environmental Specialist to provide environmental safeguard management services and monitoring the implementation and compliance of ESF-related requirements of the upcoming World Bank Third Party Monitoring Consultant (TPMC) Services. The expected duration of this assignment is 12 months with the possibility of extensions based on business needs.

Please note this role is only open to Ukrainian Nationals

Duties and Responsibilities:

Clients’ ES capacity assessment

• Assess the respective Project Implementation Units (PIUs) and Project Management Teams (PMTs) on the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) knowledge and implementation capacities.
• Verify that the PIUs engaged for each project implementation have the assigned Environmental and Social (E&S) staff as specified in the project documentation, particularly ESCP.
• Provide training as needed to enhance and strengthen the counterpart’s capacity in E&S risk management.
• Review ESF-related documents of the selected project(s) to gain understanding on ESS requirements at the project level, and to also develop familiarity with the instruments that have been developed & expected impacts to be monitored; and
• Liaise with participating ministries and implementing entities for inquiry of relevant data and information regarding project related environmental and social (E&S) issues.

ES documents preparation, disclosure and reporting

• Carry out field site visits to monitor and report on implementation of site-specific E&S requirements in line with ESF instruments.
• Confirm that all required Environmental and Social Impact Assessments were duly conducted and all necessary licenses and permits were obtained.
• Verify the Client`s compliance with regular ES reporting requirements of the World Bank and all required ES documents (including site specific Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs)) have been developed, publicly disclosed, consulted, and finalized as required by the ESCP.
• Verify if the ESIRT procedure has been developed and all sub-projects’ implementation parties are familiarized with it. In case any ESIRT cases happened, analyze measures taken by the Client and lessons learned
• Verify if any required site-specific RAPs are developed and implemented according to ESS5 requirements.
• Document field findings (site visits, interviews, photos, etc.); and provide additional inputs, review or site visits at the request of the Bank team.

ES requirements in bidding documentation

• Ensure ESMPs are included in the contract bidding documents for the civil works; and contractors have a Code of Conduct signed by the workers with respective child and forced labor provisions.

Site specific ES management

• Assess the E&S management capacity of all Contractors and Construction Supervision Engineer consultants
• Verify if site specific CESMPs were developed, disclosed and approved by the Clients.

Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)

• Verify if the GRM on each project was established, and assess its accessibility for all stakeholders (including workers, vulnerable and disadvantaged groups).
• Verify if SEA/SH procedures are developed for each project and specific GRMs are established.
• Monitor if all grievances, including SEA/SH, were promptly addressed, responded to, and included in the grievance log; and
• Confirm if reference to the Bank’s GRS is included in ES documents for each project to encourage full transparency where complaints are directed to the Bank as opposed to the Borrower.

Stakeholder engagement

• Confirm compliance of Client`s stakeholder engagement activities according to the Stakeholder Action Plan/Engagement Program developed as part of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan for each project.
• Overview stakeholder engagement activities undertaken by the Clients and assess their effectiveness.
• Confirm if all required public consultations were conducted; and
• Conduct site visits to verify that all project related activities are taken in compliance with ESS and E&S documentation requirements.

Site visits

• Verify that ESHS measures have been implemented by contractors, assess if any additional measures need to be introduced on sites, provide the respective recommendations; and
• Identify/verify if any associated facilities identified and required ESS mitigation measures have been taken.

Beneficiary feedback

• Conduct beneficiary satisfaction surveys for each of the projects (including development of methodology, field survey, and report preparation);
• Carry out field site visits to monitor and report on implementation of site-specific E&S requirements in line with ESF instruments.
• Assess whether there are any changes in the Social or Environmental risk levels than were originally envisaged. This assessment will be based on field site visits, interviews with the implementing entity staff, community leaders, randomly selected beneficiaries, and other data sources.
• Verify compliance with Social and Environmental requirements, process and procedures as defined by ESF documentation for each project.
• Document field findings (site visits, interviews, photos, etc.); and
• Develop and propose corrective measures, if needed, for the PIUs/PMTs to be approved by the Bank to address non-compliance issues or to enhance environmental and social performance.

Required Experience

• A university degree in environmental science or engineering with relevant experience in the field of environment.
• 10 years of practical experience in environmental safeguard management, preferably in Ukraine.
• Knowledge of institutional arrangements and environmental issues in Ukraine.
• Demonstrated ability to work in and travel to targeted areas.
• Familiarity with World Bank environmental and social framework.
• Some prior experience either in Bank/IFI financed projects and/or large infrastructure projects.
• Fluency in Ukrainian and working knowledge of English.
• Proficiency in PC-based applications such as MS Word, Excel, Microsoft Project, data management, and excellent in Web research and navigation tools.

How to Apply:

https://phg.tbe.taleo.net/phg02/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=SOCIIMPA2&cws=39&rid=5161