Recruitment of a Senior Social Safeguards Specialist

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Date : 09 Jul 2020 - 22 Jul 2020
Venue : ECOWAS Commission,
Town : ABUJA
Country : Nigeria

ECOWAS REGIONAL ELECTRICITY ACCESS PROJECT (ECOWAS-REAP)

(Phase 1) – P164044

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION)

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Recruitment of a Senior Social Safeguards Specialist

NG-ECOWAS-DEM-178455-CS-INDV

For a Time-Based Contract

 

Date : July 08 – 22, 2020
Venue : ECOWAS Commission, Directorate of Energy & Mines
Town : ABUJA
Country : Nigeria

Project reference No.: P164044

1. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has received a grant from the World Bank toward the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Access Project (ECOWAS – REAP), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for the Selection of a Senior Social Safeguards Specialist for the Regional Coordination Unit (RCU).
2. The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to increase grid electricity access in ECOWAS region. In its Phase 1, the project will finance the strengthening and extension of the distribution network (MV and LV) in three West African countries, namely Guinea Bissau, Mali and The Gambia and to enable cross-border electrification in those countries.
3. The Consultant services (“the Services”) include the following as shown below and the duration of the contract shall be one (1) year renewable subject to satisfactory performance with an expectation duration of 3 years. During the services the Consultant is expected to be available to work part time.
4. The overall responsibility of the Senior Social Safeguards Specialist will be to carry out all social activities of the project including monitoring the implementation of the RAP, preparing reports on all social activities, also providing strategic advices and key milestones monitoring of all social issues raising throughout the implementation of the project. The Consultant will undertake activities which include but are not limited to the following:
5. Oversight of overall social safeguards in the project preparation and implementation under the general management of the RCU Coordinator;
6. Provision of necessary coordination and relevant inputs in preparation of environmental and social studies for the project under preparation and implementation;
7. Assistance in recruitment of environmental and social consultants, including drafting ToR, estimating budget, evaluating consultants, negotiating and preparing contracts;
8. Ensuring that bidding documents and contracts include necessary social provisions;
9. Review of social assessment report and explain the specific environmental and social issues related to the project to the financing institutions;
10. Preparing outlines of social issues or risks to be addressed in the contracts or the financing documents as appropriate;
11. Supervision of contractors’ performance in handling specific social issues and provision of corrective instructions as needed;
12. Preparation of relevant parts of required social monitoring reports, including reports on RAP implementation status;
13. Analysis of project implementation reports to ensure that all work is completed in full compliance with social policies;
14. Help in preparation and implementation of support measures for RAPs;
15. Monitoring of grievance process and assessment of comments and complaints from PAPs on issues of resettlement and other relevant social issues, and recommendation of actions to address identified issues;
16. Review of lists of crop and property and public areas affected by the project and help to get rapid payment of the related compensations;
17. Preparation of reports on the implementation of the Environmental and Social Management Plan and the Resettlement Action Plan, highlighting gender and vulnerable people support measures;
18. Help to ensure the resolution of conflicts through mediation;
19. Analysis of recommendations of supervisory offices or other providers;
20. Ensure good collaboration with government agencies, decentralized institutions and local civil society;
21. Technical support to national PIUs and RCU for capacity building on social safeguards
22. Other activities, as instructed by the RCU Coordinator;
23. Site visits and report to RCU Coordinator to provide inputs for Junior Environmental and Social Specialist.

1. The ECOWAS Commission now invites eligible Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services regarding the following criteria at the next paragraph (§6).
2. The Consultant will have to prove a professional experience including but not limited the following qualification requirements:
3. Qualifications and skills

1. Must hold a minimum Master’s Degree or equivalent in Social Science or Anthropology;
2. Good command of information technology and communication tools;

• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team;

1. Experienced computer user, including excellent knowledge of MS-Office suite;
2. Excellent written, presentation and reporting skills.

• General work experience
• At least 20 years of working experience in social activities particularly in Resettlement Action Plan for infrastructure projects.

Specific work experience

1. Have been involved in at least in five (5) Social Impact Evaluation studies on power project specifically in grid extension or reinforcement projects or electrification projects HV/LV or Power generation in the last ten (10) years;
2. Experience and understanding methodology of environmental and social rules and regulations of the World Bank

• Experience and understanding methodology of environmental and social rules and regulations multi donor funded project (AfDB, USAID, IDB etc…) will be an advantage;

1. Have some knowledge of the issues and problems facing the energy sector in the ECOWAS region.
2. Experience in Social Impact Evaluation studies on power projects of the ECOWAS region will be an advantage;

Language requirement

• Candidates must be fluent at French and English; and have excellent written, presentation and reporting skill; knowledge of Portuguese will be a plus.

1. A Candidate will be selected in accordance with the Selection of Individual Consultant set out in the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (July 2016, revised in November 2017 and August 2018).
2. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours Monday to Friday from 9.00 a.m to 5.00 p.m (GMT + 1) Local Time,
3. ECOWAS Commission, Directorate of General Administration, Head of Procurement,
   Procurement Division, Plot 101, Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro District, Abuja, NIGERIA.

E-mail: kouassi_lambert@yahoo.fr;

with copy to sbangoura@ecowas.int; bdabire@ecowas.int; degnymarcel@yahoo.fr ; and akoumoin@ecowas.int

Expressions of interest must be delivered latest by July 22, 2020 at 5.00 p.m, Abuja Times (GMT + 1) at the above e-mail contacts.