Environmental Safeguards Specialist

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Objective of the Assignment

To provide technical assistance to the facility manager and provide support services for environmental and social safeguard issues. The consultant will be expected to ensure that all documents mainstream environmental and social safeguards issues so that the project under component 2 does not detrimentally influence the environment and social well-being of the populations
The K-OSAP project has triggered the following Environmental and Social Safeguards policies of the World Bank (a) Safeguard OP 4.01.Environmental Assessment ; (b) OP 4.10,Indigeneous People ,(c) OP 4.04 Natural Habitats, and (d) OP 4.12, involuntary Resettlement. Additionally, it has triggered relevant laws and regulations of the government of Kenya concerning Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups (VMG’s)

Scope of the Assignment
The Environmental Specialist will report to the Project Co-ordinator-SNV/Sun funder and will have the following major duties and responsibilities: -

Familiarization with each of the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Safeguards policies that have been triggered for the project
Develop a comprehensive Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP for E-waste/WEEE-Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment  and ensure compliance of the same by the Solar Home Systems providers
Appraise the entire management processes including de-manufacturing, collection, storage, recycling, transport and disposal) in accordance with the Environmental Management and Co-ordination (E-waste Management Regulations 2013) and World Bank Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines
Develop a project-specific environmental code of practice (ECOP) as a guidance on approach for the collection, transport, storage and disposal/reuse of spent batteries, Solar panels and waste generated from Cook stoves with the aim of ensuring that risks to the environment and human health are prevented or mitigated
Develop an elaborate and specific plan on recycling and disposal of spent batteries, solar panels and cook stoves for the solar home systems providers at the end of their useful lives.
Develop a Stakeholder Engagement strategy that will seek to inform discussion and build awareness of all stakeholders, including rural remote community members, vendors/suppliers of products and service providers, around safe management, handling and disposal of E-waste/WEEE including used batteries.
Supervision and monitoring of the implementation of environmental and social instrument-ESMP-WEEE in accordance with the respective Bank’s guidelines and policies
Supporting Solar companies in the review of documentation pertaining to environmental and Social compliance
Supervision and overseeing the implementation of the EPOC and World Bank’s safeguard procedures triggered for KOSAP in the operations of the solar home systems and cook stoves providers
Contribute to project’s Component 2 progress reports pertaining to overall implementation of Environmental and Social requirements of the project
Preparing training materials and conducting technical training workshops to Solar Companies and Microfinance organization on environmental and Social Safeguards requirements
Prepare environmental information materials and disseminating the information to the relevant stakeholders; and organize environmental and social orientation & awareness, consultations, and training programs;
Generate a screening checklist, guided by the ESMF against which solar home systems providers and cook stoves companies will be gauged as a precondition for accessing debt facility and Result Based financing to assess their preparedness on safeguard issues
Review bid documents to ensure environmental and social factors and mitigations are incorporated, and they are in harmony with environmental and social requirements;
Support the formation of the grievance/complaints redress mechanism and committees and communication of the grievance mechanism to all the stakeholders and other relevant procedures
Working with the social specialist, appraise the social aspects of the Project interventions. Advice on how the programme activities can be more gender sensitive to meet the priories of both men and women beneficiaries in K-OSAP project area
Ensure that each activity under the project-component 2 is subjected to the Project ESMF process and procedures, and carry out environmental screening of activities, and prepare specific Environmental and Social Management Plans (EMPs)
Undertake routine site visits during project execution and operation to assess how environmental and social screening and mitigation measures are succeeding or have succeeded in minimizing impacts
Preparation of environment and Social monitoring and evaluation reports and, perform tasks and responsibilities related to the social issues including sexual Exploitation and Abuse by solar companies staff, Gender-based violence, HIV/AIDS program, issues related to labour influx and child labour (people coming into the project area for project related work
Facilitate communication among various project stakeholders to promote socially and environmentally sound project implementation with sustainable development outcomes
Liaise on a regular basis with the Ministry of Energy and other implementing Agencies
Produce and document environmental and social safeguards implementation reports; and Undertake other duties as per the requirements of the project or as directed by Project Coordinator.

Deliverables/Consultant’s Reporting Obligations

The Consultant will be required to submit reports as follows:

­One copy of quarterly progress on activities undertaken and solutions to challenges
One copy of annual progress report; and
One copy of project completion report after the completion of the task period

Qualifications

The candidate should have, as a minimum, a postgraduate degree from any recognized institution in the area of Environmental science, Environmental Engineering, Natural Resource Management or any related discipline with combination of appropriate trainings;
Registered with NEMA as a Lead expert
A minimum of ten years of relevant work experience in environmental and social issues, experience in development project is an added advantage. Direct experience in working on implementation of ESIA and ESMF, environmental and social safeguard issues preferably in Conservation organization or large industries in any private or public sector
At least 8 years experience working on projects financed by the World Bank with a good knowledge and understanding of the World Bank’s Operational Policies and Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines
Experience with Community development, gender mainstreaming issues, VMG’s and participatory  approaches are an added advantage
Good communication skills both verbal and written
Fluency in English is essential and fluency in Kiswahili is an added advantage