Long Term Consultant: National Specialist: Environment Management and Monitoring Specialist - ADB LAO Sustainable Agrifood Systems Sector Project

Position: National Specialist: Environment Management and Monitoring Specialist   

Background: Winrock International is recruiting a National Specialist: Environment Management and Monitoring Specialist for an Asian Development Bank (ADB) opportunity in Laos focused on Sustainable Agrifood systems. The project will contribute to food security and nutrition improved, and agricultural value addition increased in a climate resilient and gender-responsive manner in Lao PDR.  The project will work in the target value chains of bamboo, cassava, coffee, durian, and tea. This position will be a part-time consultancy that will require a commitment of 9 person months over a 5-year period.  

Location: Vientiane, Laos  

Major Responsibilities:  

Under the supervision of the ISC Team Leader, the consultant will work closely with the other PMU staff, government counterparts (including provincial and district government agencies), and other relevant stakeholders, to ensure effective implementation of the project environmental requirements. Specific duties include the following:  

• Become familiar with project initial environmental examinations (IEE), environment management plan (EMP), and loan- and project-specific assurances related to the environment for the two representative subprojects prepared during preparation 

• With the other ISC specialists, identify whether the DEDs are consistent with the preliminary designs approved during project preparation; and assess whether the EMP requires updating. In the event that updates to the EMP are required, discuss and submit the proposed changes to MOIC and ADB for review and endorsement;  

• Ensure that the water and noise baseline is established before construction;  

• Assist the implementing agency and PMU to implement the grievance redress mechanism (GRM), including:  

• establish and publicize the GRM; 

• collate and evaluate grievances received; 

• Conduct and monitor project compliance with the EMP and all relevant assurances and covenants in the loan and project agreements for environmental safeguards; identify any environment-related implementation issues; and, propose necessary responses in corrective action plans;  

•  Develop procedures to: 

• monitor EMP implementation progress;  

• collate and evaluate data collected in the EMP environmental monitoring program; and  

• prepare and submit the annual environmental monitoring reports to ADB (to continue until project completion report);  

• Undertake simple and cost-effective on-site quantitative measurements to regularly check that the construction complies with the environmental monitoring standards and targets. Verify whether appropriate compensation measures have been conducted (e.g. replacement of trees to be cut);  

• Coordinate the requirements of the IEE under the national legislation requirements; 

• Assist in the preparation of essential environmental safeguard requirements for the as yet design documents for selected subprojects;  

• Establish positive and effective working relationships with stakeholders to ensure the EMP is implemented smoothly and that any compliance issues are reported and addressed quickly; 

• Facilitate on-site inspections by government agencies to ensure timely environmental certification and approvals of the completed civil works; 

• Support the PFIs to ensure the environmental compliance with the project areas of output 1 and output 2; 

• Prepare annual environmental monitoring reports to document the progress for EMP implementation. Submit the reports to the PMU project coordinator and IA for review and consolidation, prior to submission of the progress reports by EA to ADB;  

• Support the PMU project coordinator in other tasks related to environment safeguards as needed; work closely with the Climate change consultant in this ICS and  

• Provide input of environmental protection to progress report, midterm report, project completion report, and other project required documents 

Qualifications  

Education: Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, economics, development studies, gender studies, or an equivalent field 

Experience:  

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in environmental management for rural development oriented projects  

• Demonstrated experience in environmental management, monitoring, and/or impact assessment for projects financed by ADB and/or other multilateral development organizations  

• Experience with national environmental management procedures and national environmental legislation 

• Demonstrate the ability to effectively engage and work with local communities, contractors, and government agencies and facilitate consultations resulting in positive outcomes and dialogue 

• Familiar with the requirements of the international development agencies requirements in financial intermediary designed projects.  

• Experience working in LAO PDR preferred  

• Experience working with ADB preferred.  

• Experience working in ASEAN countries – particularly in Lao PDR, Vietnam, and Cambodia considered as an advantage 

Computer Skills: Proficiency in using Microsoft Office software, including Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Advanced proficiency in Excel is preferred. 

Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills are required, including effective public speaking and the ability to communicate complex issues both verbally and in written form. 

Language: Fluent in English (written and spoken), Thai or Lao language skills (preferred) 

Physical Demands: This position may require regional travel  

This position is based on-going donor funding.  

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal treatment for all people. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability or any other basis protected by law. 

At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity and transformation.