Local recruitment: Environment Specialist (Tajikistan nationals)

Expertise: Environmental Management
Expertise Group: Biological Sciences & Ecology

Consultant Source: National
TOR Keywords: environment specialist; environmental management

Objective and Purpose of the Assignment

1. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will engage consultants following the ADB Procurement Policy (2017,
   as amended from time to time) and its associated project administration instructions and/or staff
   instructions. ADB will lead the identification, evaluation, and selection of the technical assistance
   (TA) consultants. This Terms of Reference (TOR) refers to the consulting service under Output 3, using
   individual consultants’ recruitment.
2. ADB will supervise and monitor the consultants’ output to be delivered. The output will be reviewed
   by both the executing agency and ADB, and the consultants will incorporate comments and suggestions
   before finalizing the deliverables.
3. There are three outputs under the TA: (i) sector regulatory capacity developed; (ii)
   Dushanbevodokanal management effectiveness improved; and (iii) Dushanbevodokanal’s climate adaptive
   capacity increased. A multidisciplinary team of international and national experts will be recruited to
   develop and implement TA activities under Output 3. Output 1 is sector regulatory capacity developed and
   Output 2 is Dushanbevodokanal management effectiveness improved.
4. Output 3: Dushanbevodokanal’s climate adaptive capacity increased. The output’s objective is to build
   resilience at DVK and ensure that WSS investments adequately address climate change and disaster risks.
   The TA will undertake a systems-level resilience analysis of DVK, develop risk-based investment planning
   and processes, and embed climate actions into corporate and operational documents. The TA team, in close
   coordination with DVK, will collect data, hold consultations, develop climate models, assess climate
   change impact and vulnerability, identify risk mitigation measures, prepare reports and presentations,
   and organize training workshops to increase awareness of climate change risks and disaster risk
   management. Based on these assessments, the TA will support the feasibility and preliminary design of a
   Type 2B adaptation project.
5. International and national consultants will conduct systems-level climate resilience analysis,
   stakeholder consultations, identification of priority projects, and carry out the feasibility study
   covering concept design, in addition to required ADB due diligence with respect to economic, financial,
   environment safeguards, social safeguards, gender, social development, climate change and procurement.
   The consultants will also prepare draft documents for ADB’s RRP including related sector assessment,
   problem tree, cost estimates, and timeline. The team leader will be responsible for overall coordination
   of the team of consultants, overall quality of documentation prepared, and liaison with the client and
   other consultants. In collaboration with the DVK engineering team, the consultants will prepare
   strategic procurement planning, draft procurement plan, preliminary design incorporating climate
   proofing measures with bill of quantities, cost estimates and proposed packaging of all civil works,
   goods and consultancy services completed in all respect and accepted by the DVK and ADB. The
   deliverables will be a joint responsibility of the implementing agency, and international and national
   consultants.
6. The consultants will be responsible for completing feasibility study and ensuring compliance with ADB
   and government requirements. The feasibility study will involve conceptual and preliminary design for a
   priority project based on the climate change risk assessment. It is essential that the work complements
   the outputs of climate change experts, with the aim of enhancing DVK’s resilience at the system level.

Scope of Work

The national Environment Specialist will be closely working with the international Environment
Specialist; and is expected to perform the tasks as indicated, but not limited to, the detailed tasks
and/or expected output below.

The national environmental specialist will conduct activities required for environment safeguards, in
close coordination with the appointed international environment specialist and prepare initial
environmental examination, environmental management plan, and other environment-related deliverables.
The national specialist will also undertake any other project related work assigned by the team leader.

Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output

The national Environment Specialist will coordinate and assist the international Environment Specialist
in

(i) screening the project early on to identify past, present, and future involuntary resettlement
impacts and risks and determining the scope of resettlement planning through a survey and/or census of
displaced persons, including a gender analysis, specifically related to resettlement impacts and risks,
(ii) reviewing national and local laws and regulations, administrative arrangements and requirements,
and budgetary processes relevant to LAR. Analyze relevant laws and regulations vis-à-vis ADB’s
involuntary resettlement safeguard requirements, as described in the ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS
2009), and recommend gap filling measures as needed;
(iii) identifying potential land acquisition and resettlement (LAR) impacts of proposed project
components and conduct the necessary preparatory surveys (inventory of loss, socioeconomic survey of
project-affected households);
(iv) working closely with other TA consultants in exploring design options to avoid LAR impacts for
proposed project components;
(v) determining the replacement costs of all categories of losses, together with the specialist engaged
to conduct the replacement cost study (RCS);
(vi) preparing a Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan (LARP) and/or Social Safeguard Due Diligence
Report (SDDR) in accordance with ADB’s SPS1:
(vii) conducting meaningful consultations with affected households and other relevant stakeholders. Work
closely with government agency responsible for resettlement and assist the government in initiating a
participatory process for RP preparation and approval;
(viii) advising the executing agency, participating local government(s), and implementing agencies (IAs)
on ADB’s Safeguard Policy (2009) requirements and procedures.
(ix) assessing the capacity and commitment of the responsible institutions to plan, update, and
implement LARPs, and propose capacity building/training programs, as needed;
(x) ensuring overall Project compliance with ADB’s involuntary resettlement safeguard. Work closely with
other TA team specialists to ensure LAR impacts, mitigation measures and required resources are
reflected in the overall project design, cost estimates, and other relevant project documents. Enhance
existing project social impact reports, where appropriate.
(xi) developing a project-specific grievance redress mechanism to handle complaints in an effective and
culturally appropriate manner – in close coordination with the other TA specialists.
(xii) preparing LAR-related sections for loan documentation including the ADB Report and Recommendations
of the President (RRP) and loan agreements, if appropriate and directed by ADB and TA team leader, and
ensuring that comments received are appropriately addressed.
(xiii) preparing the Involuntary Resettlement (IR) checklist along with the project IR categorization
form.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

The specialist is preferred to have a master’s degree and/or equivalent qualification in environmental
studies and assessments.
Minimum of 10 years national experience in undertaking environmental impact assessment, including
preparation of domestic EIA reports (preferably involved in preparing environmental impact assessment
according to international finance institutions requirements), including experience in water management
and water supply and sanitation (WSS) projects including nature-based solution implementation, and
knowledge of current best-practice techniques.
Demonstrated ability to assess a broad range of environmental attributes, including ecology, air, soil,
noise, and water.
(iv) experience in preparation of EIAs and Initial environmental Examination (IEE) for ADB or other
international development banks; and
(v) proficiency in spoken and written English.

Minimum General Experience: 10 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 7 Years