SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS PROJECT III (P125232) TERMS OF REFERENCE ENVIRONMENTAL RISK MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY

Introduction 
The Government of Mongolia has been implementing specific policies and programs aimed at promoting sustainable social and economic development in the rural areas, reducing rural-urban migration, and creating a healthy and safe living environment for the local communities. The most significant reforms are set through creation of the Local Development Funds as per the Integrated Budget Law in 2013 in order to expand local economic empowerment and to support small scale infrastucture investments in support of soum-level development. 

Any project financed by the Local Development Fund (LDF) that contributes to the local development should meet the requirements of sustainable development and ensure that it does not have a negative impact on the environment. Therefore, in the planning stage of the project, it is required to identify potential impacts of the project to the environment and human health and to plan mitigation measures for eventual negative impacts. The Law on Environmental Impact Assessment should be applicable to any sub-project that will use natural resources and any such sub-project should have an environmental impact assessment performed. 
A previous consultancy under the SLP3 developed a simplified guideline/methodology for conducting environmental screening on LDF supported programs and projects in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and for identifying, implementing and monitoring mitigation measures as required. The overall objective of the environmental screening is to identify those projects that have environmental risk and that would trigger the requirements of the Law on Environmental Impact Assessment.
There is now a need to provide capacity building to, and oversight of, soum environmental officers in screening LDF sub-projects for potential environmental risks. The capacity building would be provided with support from an Environmental Risk Management Consultant (ERMC) under the SLP3.
Objective of the Assignment: 
The objective of the assignment is to strengthen the capacity of the relevant staff of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) and the soum environmental officers to undertake environmental risk screening of LDF sub-projects and, where required, assist in managing Law on Environmental Impact Assessment processes through the MET. 
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output: 
The ERMC will be responsible for undertaking the following tasks:

•    Amending and translating the LDF Environmental Assessment Screening Checklist (Version A 19 September 2018);
•    Facilitating consultation with MET officers to seek feedback on, and ultimate approval of, the initial Environmental Assessment Screening Checklist. In addition, based on the outcomes of the tasks below, the ERMC should make recommendations on improving the Screening Checklist;
•    Finalizing the Screening Checklist in accordance with MET requirements and preparing associated Explanatory Memorandum, and facilitating distribution to all soum environmental officers with LDF environmental assessment responsibilities to allow screening prior to 30 June 2019;
•    Convene and facilitate a “train-the-trainers” workshop with assigned MET officers to provide them with the required knowledge to train soum environmental officers on the environmental screening process. The consultant shall collaborate with the World Bank on developing the workshop design and content which should focus on screening and environmental risk assessment methodologies;
•    Assist MET to establish a network of soum and aimag environmental officers (for example through Facebook) as the vehicle for information provision, capacity building and peer-to-peer collaboration;
•    Provide ad hoc technical support to MET officers and soum environmental officers throughout the screening and environmental assessment process;
•    Facilitate a series of selected field visits to various soums to provide site-based support to soum environment officers in completing the Screening Checklist. The field visit program should be designed to allow the ERMC to accompany each MET officer on at least one field visit to their relevant geographical area of coverage. The field visits should include the following activities:
o    Convening a workshop in the relevant aimag centre for soum environmental officers;
o    Undertake targeted site visits for higher environmental risk LDF projects to enable field-based instruction to soum environmental and MET officers;
•    Develop a series of Environmental Assessment and Management Guidelines for common LDF project types and distribute to soum environmental officers;
•    Develop a capacity building program for environmental risk management for the subsequent year. 

The consultant will carry out the assignment under the supervision of the Director of the SLP3. In addition, he or she will work closely with the SLP3 Project Implementation Unit, MET officers, the Aimag Level Capacity Building Team and the Local Environmental Officers. The consultant will also have to maintain regular dialogue with World Bank environmental specialists to ensure processes adhere to Safeguards Policy requirements.

Expected Deliverables:
The following deliverables are anticipated under the assignment:
•    Revised LDF Environmental Assessment Screening Checklist and associated Guidance Notes;
•    Delivery of the “training-of-trainers” to the assigned MET officers on the environmental screening processes for the LDF sub-projects;
•    Report on field visits carried out to support the rollout process for the LDF screening tool. 
•    Environmental Screening and Assessment capacity building plan developed for soum environmental officers;
•    Environmental Assessment and Management Guidelines for common LDF project types;
Consultant Qualification & Requirements 
•    Master's degree or equivalent in biodiversity, environmental management and/or environmental law;
•    Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in environment management field with special focus at national and provincial level; 
•    Work experience in area of project management including planning, implementation and monitoring;
•    Detailed understanding of environmental assessment requirements under the Local Development Fund Regulation and Law on Environmental Impact Assessment;
•    Experience in providing training and advisory services on environmental screening and risk management;
•    Familiarity and/or experience with World Bank safeguard policies and procedures;
•    Effective report writing skills in English and Mongolian. 
Duration of the assignment: 
The assignment is expected to commence in April 2019 with the expected input of up to 90 days until December 31, 2019. 
 

2019-03-25

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