General Information: The Ministry of Transport and Communications intends to engage a highly qualified individual consultant to provide services as Environmental and Social (E&S) Specialist to the Project Implementation Unit (the ,,PIU’’) for implementation of the two projects financed by a loan from the World Bank, the Trade and Transport Facilitation Project and the Local Roads Connectivity Project (under one name ,,the Project”). The PIU will be established in the premises of the Ministry of Transport and Communications and headed by the Project Director.
Project Background: The Trade and Transport Facilitation Project will include a combination of investments, technical assistance and regulatory and institutional reforms. It will primarily focus on adoption and implementation of a National Single Window (NSW) solution, improvement of the border crossing facilities on the two selected trade corridors BCP at Deve Bair and BCP at Kjafasan, deployment of an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) on the A1 motorway, and technical assistance. The Local Roads Connectivity Project is envisaged to support the selected Municipalities by investments in reconstruction, rehabilitation and upgrading of local roads/streets that will enhance their mobility, connectivity and road safety. Moreover, the investments may include: sidewalks, bike paths, street lighting, slope and landslidе stabilization, junction improvement, pedestrian crossings, water drainage and capacity building of the municipal staff.
Position Objective: To plan, monitor and control all project activities by components, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and Communications and other agencies. In addition he/she will develop, according to the project cycle and Procurement Plans, the implementation of activities as per contract specifications and in compliance with legal/regulatory framework of the World Bank. Thus, he/she will ensure that the works, goods and services are satisfactorily completed on time and within budget aligned with the contractual requirements. The Consultant is envisaged to assist the PIU in preparation and reviewing of the required Environmental and Social Management Plans for the sub-projects in the area of transport, road safety, cross border infrastructure, waste and water supply, trade, local transport infrastructure, street lighting, water drainage. The consultancy will cover the preparation, assessment and implementation phase of each sub-project.
Tasks and Responsibilities: As the part of the ESMF, the Consultant will prepare draft ESMP Checklist for minor works and other works with forseable impacts (e.g. road rehabilitation); Conduct revisions, address comments and make necessary corrections to the draft versions of ESMF and ESMP/ESMP Checklist according to WB and Client's comments; Assist the Client in information dissemination and conducting public consultations of draft ESMF and ESMP/ESMP Checklist, CP, SCP and RPF revisions, preparation of minutes of the meetings and finalization of the documents; Make site visits as a part of environmental assessment or/and consultation process of prepared documents. Assess baseline condition of sites as a part of sub-projects due dilligence; Conduct meetings with stakeholders in perparation of ESMF and ESMP/ESMP Checklist, CP, SCP and RPF; Provide information and assist sub-project applicants (municipalities) in preparing environmental part of application package (Environmental Questionnaire) where necessary; Carry out environmental screening of subprojects and activities, and assist in environmental assessment including preparation of Environmental Management Plans (EMPs and EMP Checklists) for subprojects which should ensure compliance with national legislation and WB safeguards policies; Carry out environmental screening of subprojects and activities, prepere Environmental Management Plans (EMPs and EMP Checklists) for subprojects which should ensure compliance with national legislation and WB environmental and social standards; Prepare the Environmental and Social Management Plans for the sub-projects, in accordance with the Environmental and Social Management Framework; Review and propose improvements and/or changes of draft Environmental and Social Mitigation Plans, contained in the respective feasibility studies and detailed designs of the sub-projects, in accordance with the Environmental and Social Management Framework; Supervise the implementation of the Environment and Social Mitigation Plans and Environment and Social Monitoring Plans during implementation of works in the municipalities; Help municipalities implement their respective gender action plans in accordance with PADs; Prepare Environmental and Social Monitoring Reports including Project Progress reports for each ongoing sub-project, in accordance with PADs and POMs; The consultant should understand that working papers under World Bank project can be subject to the review by the PIU, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Municipalities and/or World Bank designated staff; Participate in regular supervision missions; The consultancy activities will be conducted in accordance with the articles stated in the Projects POMs; Help municipalities to prepare abbreviated Land Acquisition Plans as necessary. Assist the Project Director in preparing the PIU Reports (quarterly, midterm and completion).
Knowledge, experience, skills and competences:
Educational qualifications of at least a University Degree in Environment/Technology/Natural Resources Management/Anthropology/Sociology/Social policy/Social development (where a university degree has been awarded on completion of a minimum of three years of study in a university or equivalent institution);
Area of professional expertise: Environment and Social Inclusion;
Minimum 3 years professional experience in both, the field of Environment, preparing, control and implementation of environmental plans, multidisciplinary environmental assessments, EIAs and the field of social standards/safeguards and/or social development (e.g. gender, community-driven development and citizen engagement);
Additional experience or training: Contract Management;
Excellent knowledge of English language (reading, speaking and writing) and fluency in Macedonian language;
Knowledge of national legislation on Environment;
Experience with Similar assignments in the Country or the Region;
Computer skills: Word, Excel;
Managerial skills: Self-planning & organizing, problem solving, work under pressure, communication, teamwork, initiative;
Applications: The candidates should e-mail their Letters of Application, CVs, and Letters of Motivation (all documents in English language) to the following e-mail: konkursi@mtc.gov.mk or to submit them to the archive of the Ministry of Transport and Communications to the following address: str. Dame Gruev No.6 in Skopje. The deadline for submitting the applications is 15 days from the date of publishing. The candidates can find the ToR for the announced job position in the following link
MKD Environmental and Social Specialist TOR MoTC