Expertise: Environment and Social Safeguards Expert
Expertise Group: Biological Sciences & Ecology
Consultant Source: National
TOR Keywords: Environment and Social Safeguards Expert
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
To ensure compliance with ADB and government environmental and social safeguard standards throughout
project implementation by overseeing adherence to regulatory requirements and facilitating effective
coordination among government stakeholders, project management unit (PMU), ADB, and project
implementation assistance consultants (PIAC). This role will support project implementation while
enhancing stakeholder engagement and institutional alignment.
Scope of Work
The Environment and Social Safeguards Expert will oversee the adherence to the project environment and
social safeguards and facilitate coordination on safeguards issues and matters with government
stakeholders, PMU, ADB and PIAC. The Environment & Social Safeguards Expert will report to the PMU
Manager.
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
(i) ensure that the project is implemented in accordance with ADB’s social and environmental safeguards
requirements and government policies;
(ii) coordinate safeguards efforts with the PIAC team and other PMU members, develop and/or contribute
to the public awareness and community outreach campaign to foster community understanding and support
for the project with a focus on water resources, sanitation, and related climate change issues;
(iii) review and provide comments on site selection criteria and identification of no-go areas or red
flags for options and site selection for water supply and sanitation facilities, ahead of decisions
being taken to identify preferred options that will be included in the ensuing project;
(iv) review and provide comments on the initial screening (based on the screening and categorization
tools to be agreed with ADB and Department of Environment (DOE) of the social and environmental
conditions at the subproject sites to determine existing conditions and likely impacts. The ADB will
also review the screening information and determine if any, specialist environmental or social surveys
are required;
(v) review and provide comments on the environmental categorization of the options/subprojects, prepare
the detailed terms of reference (TOR) and contents of the assessment reports including any specialist
studies that may be required. The TOR will need to be agreed with ADB prior to commencement of the
studies;
(vi) ensure that all consultations are coordinated with the specialist undertaking the social safeguards
and gender work streams;
(vii) review and provide comments on draft environmental assessments, including Construction Environment
and Social Management Plan (CESMPs) and submit to ADB for review and comments;
(viii) support the PMU to make the application to DOE for development consent for the project overall,
or individual subprojects, as may be determined by the DOE;
(ix) work with the Project Readiness Facility (PRF) team to ensure that recommendations (avoidance and
mitigation measures) in the environmental assessment (including the CESMP) and any conditions of the
development consent (clearance under the country system) are incorporated into the detailed design;
(x) review and provide comments on bidding documents and civil works contracts, especially provisions
requiring contractors to comply with the mitigation measures in the Environment Management Plan (EMP)
and that relevant sections of the project CESMP (or updated CESMP, if prepared) and conditions of the
development consent are incorporated in the bidding and contract documents. This includes the
requirement for the contractor to develop and implement their construction EMP based on the project
CESMP and preparation of the TOR for the contractor’s environmental, health and safety officer;
(xi) work closely with the PIAC environment specialists and other government staff on environmental
safeguards throughout the period of the PRF;
(xii) provide other inputs as may be required by the Project Manager;
(xiii) participate in ADB review missions and participate in safeguard specific training programs
organized by ADB.
(xiv) prepares the environmental and social semi-annual safeguards monitoring report presenting (and not
limited to) environmental and social updates including any non-compliances and mitigation measures, the
Grievance Redress Mechanism, trainings and stakeholder consultations.
(xv) provides safeguards inputs into the project quarterly progress report as required.
(xvi) ensures that environmental and health and safety incidents are being adequately documented and
reported to the PMU and ADB following national and ADB incident reporting requirements.
(xvii) provide or organize environment and/or social safeguards capacity building workshops with
government, contractors, consultants and project beneficiaries, if necessary.
(xviii) ensure project records and documentation are complete and filed to enable easy retrieval for
purposes of responding to ad hoc request for information or for preparing the project completion report.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
The Environment and Social Safeguards Expert will have a post-graduate degree in environmental science,
environmental planning or environmental engineering (or similar field) and at 7 years’ experience in
environmental assessment and preparation of environmental management plans. Experience in the water
sector and/or working for an international financing institution will be an advantage.
Minimum General Experience: 7 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 5 Years
