Recruitment of Biodiversity Specialist for the Environmental and Social Panel of Experts

Request for Expression of Interest
  BJ-WAPP-409863-CS-INDV
Grant IDA-E1500

The WEST AFRICAN POWER POOL (WAPP) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the REGIONAL EMERGENCY SOLAR POWER INTERVENTION PROJECT (RESPITE) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services to be provided by two Panels of Experts (PoEs): (i) Dam Safety Technical Panel and; (ii) Social-Environmental Panel for Hydropower projects funded by the World Bank under the WAPP Regional Integration and Technical Assistance (RITA)

The projects are essentially focused on activities in Liberia to support pre-investment studies for the optimization of the existing hydro generation at Mount Coffee on the St. Paul River, including the possible development of upstream storage capacity (Via reservoir) and additional hydropower capacity.

Scope of Services

The primary objectives of the two Panels are respectively, for the Dam Safety Panel, to provide an independent and high-level engineering evaluation of Projects as it relates to dam safety; and for the Social-Environmental Panel, to provide an independent and high-level Environmental and social evaluation of Projects relevant to Environmental and Social issues.

Members of the PoEs (individual experts) are requested to provide advisory services and make evaluations and recommendations with the overall purpose of achieving adequacy, efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness of the Project(s) as well as sustainability (including mitigation or compensation for negative environmental, social and health and safety impacts). The WAPP contracts directly each member of the Panel on an individual basis.

The consulting services (“the Services”) financed by RESPITE require, inter alia,  the expertise of a Biodiversity specialist to advise the Client on all aspects of the Project(s) relevant to Environmental and Social issues, including the Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), the Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), Livelihood Restoration Plans for Project Affected Populations (PAPs), Environmental Flows, need for an Artificial Flood, Water Resources Management Options and impacts of Climate Change on water availability, etc. The Biodiversity specialist will join the existing Social-Environmental Panel.

The Panels shall meet as frequently as deemed necessary by WAPP Project Coordinator to assist in formulating scopes of works, at inception stages and at the issuance of key deliverables from various Consultants. Except for emergency and ad-hoc desk expertise, work plan and mobilization will be agreed in principle on a rolling 6-month period between the WAPP Projects Coordinator and Chairmen of the Panels.

Request for Expression of Interest

The WEST AFRICAN POWER POOL now invites eligible individual (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services as Biodiversity specialist. The interested Consultants are asked to provide (i) a signed cover letter of interest demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services; and (ii) a signed, detailed and updated CV.

A contract will be negotiated between the WAPP and the best candidate. The expected date for the commencement of the Services is August 24,2024.

Qualifications, skills and experience

The key requirements for this position are summarized below:

1. Working experience in Africa for 2-3 similar projects with proven knowledge of natural resources, biodiversity, ecosystem and protected areas conservation challenges/opportunities in West African countries
2. Previous experience in hydropower projects is an asset.
3. Sound understanding of hydrological processes to assess the effects of dam construction on aquatic ecosystems, including river flow patterns, sediment transport, and water quality.
4. Experience in including gender dimension in biodiversity strategies/assessment is an asset.
5. Proven ability to collect, verify and analyze information, and to finalize and present work with a high degree of accuracy and technical quality. This would include proficiency in biodiversity assessment methodologies, including field survey techniques, taxonomic identification and data analysis, familiarity with Geographic Information Systems software for spatial analysis and mapping of biodiversity data.
6. Working knowledge of World ESF requirements and guidelines (especially ESS 6, 8, and 10) as well as national and international regulatory standards on diversity issues.
7. Excellent communication skills (oral and written) in English, especially for communicating complex and technical information, particularly in the context of stakeholder engagement processes.

The detailed Terms of Reference for the assignment can be downloaaded HERE.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the selection method for individual consultant set out in the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (Edition –September 2023)

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Consultant Guidelines above setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.     

Further information can be obtained via mail addressed to:

 msdiedhiou@ecowapp.org and copy to shouessou@ecowapp.org
 
Interested candidates are invited to apply strictly online sending their applications to the following address: procurement@ecowapp.org  with copy to : andorere@ecowapp.org and msdiedhiou@ecowapp.org

 Deadline for receipt of applications is June 12, 2024, 23h00 Benin time.  

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