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Request for Expression of Interest (REOI (Individual Consultants)
Procurement Title: Social Environment and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP) Consultant -Retainer Basis
Name of Project: Financial Access for Rural Markets, Smallholders and Enterprises(FARMSE)
Project Number: 1501
Procurement reference #: FARMSE/386/MW/24
Introduction
The Government of Malawi has received financing from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and NORAD towards the cost of FARMSE, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for the recruitment of consulting services provided by an individual consultant as part of the post of Environmental and Social Management Consultant. The use of any IFAD financing shall be subject to IFAD’s approval, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the financing agreement, as well as IFAD’s rules, policies and procedures. IFAD and its officials, agents and employees shall be held harmless from and against all suits, proceedings, claims, demands, losses and liability of any kind or nature brought by any party in connection with FARMSE.
The overall goal of FARMSE is to reduce poverty, improve livelihoods and enhance the resilience of rural households on a sustainable basis. The Programme’s development objective is to increase access to, and use of, a range of sustainable financial services by rural households and micro, small, and medium enterprises. FARMSE is a ten-year programme beginning July 2018 and finishing in June 2028. The total cost of the programme is US$103 million with IFAD contributing US$72 million, with US$31 being contributions from the Government of Malawi, private sector partners and NORAD.
Rationale for the SECAP Consultant
FARMSE programme developed an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF). The ESMF provides guiding procedures and tools to avoid, minimize and mitigate potential environmental and social risks that are likely to arise during planning and implementation of sub-project level activities/ interventions/ initiatives supported by FARMSE.
The programme seeks the services of a short term SECAP consultant on retainer basis to operationalize the ESMF.
Duties and responsibilities of the Consultant
Under the overall guidance of the FARMSE Programme Coordinator, and in coordination with technical team (all levels), the SECAP Consultant, is responsible for:
- Mainstreaming environment, climate and social considerations into the project and in close collaboration with the Implementing partners as needed.
- Oversee the implementation of the ESMF, screening of sub-projects and development of Environment and Social Management Plan (ESMP) under UPG and CBFO subprojects and its Monitoring Plan in line with its category B status.
- Identify and advise IPs and relevant stakeholders on opportunities to strengthen their positive environmental, social and climate outcomes within the course of implementation.
- Liaise with IFAD to ensure the FARMSE PMU is trained on the compliance aspects of environment, climate and social safeguards.
- Liaise with Ecosystems-Based Adaptation for Resilient Watershed and Communities in Malawi (EbaM) project to ensure that FARMSE beneficiaries are resilient to environmental and climate risks
- Act as the focal point for IFAD on all environmental, climate, social and safeguards matters related to the project.
- Ensure that proper screening tools and guidance are given to IPs to ensure that they do not finance operations that will lead to adverse environmental and social impacts through the funded business plans.
- Capacity building of relevant district council sectoral to conduct regular assessments of due diligence of IPs in terms of their environmental and social policies and procedures, and their capacity to implement them.
- Adequate incorporation of capacity building initiatives on sustainable ENRM and climate change adaptation in the projects activities. This includes trainings on good agricultural practices for entrepreneurs in the agribusiness sector, the promotion of green technologies, etc. and the capitalization of climate risk management capacities.
- Planning and implementing environmental awareness activities for beneficiaries and IPs. This can be done through the capacity building activities where potential environmental issues and good environmental management practices are presented.
- Initiate dialogue with environment and climate risk focused institutions and policy dialogue to improve agricultural strategies.
- Support development and review of existing project documentation, in particular all documentation related to safeguard implementation (project implementation manual, ESMPs, checklist for screening subprojects, monitoring plan etc.). in this review determine whether the coverage is comprehensive, the depth of the analysis is adequate and what various requirements are consistent with IFADs requirements as part of Social Environment and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP)
- Provide leadership to the project in monitoring of compliance and reporting, in close collaboration with the Project Coordinator, Component Leads, and M&E Specialist.
- Build strong relationships with relevant and technical agencies related to the project.
- Support project in the development of Annual Work Plans and Budgets including Procurements plans
- Assist in the development of the grievance redress mechanism for the programme
- Perform related field work as required and produce biannual environmental and social report based on field inspection and document reviews.
Qualifications
The assignment is to be carried out by an individual consultant with a minimum of Master’s Degree in Natural Sciences, Social Sciences or other related qualifications. The consultant should also have the following added attributes:
- A minimum of five years’ experience from similar assignments
- Experience of working in rural development programmes
- Proven five years’ experience in gender responsive and social inclusive programming;
- Excellent analytical, communication and report writing skills
Duration of Contract
The assignment is for a maximum of 110 days spread over a period of one calendar year. The contract may be renewed under the same arrangement subject to satisfactory performance.
This request for expression of interest follows the general procurement notice that appeared in Nation and Daily Times newspapers on 14th- 15th September and 17th September 2018, on the IFAD website and on DgMarket 15th and 14th September 2018 respectively.
The Financial Access for Rural Market, Smallholders and Enterprises (FARMSE) now invites eligible Individual consultants to express their interest in providing the services.
Interested individual consultants should request detailed Terms of Reference through email from the FARMSE email addresses indicated below
Interested individual consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the services in the form of a curriculum vitae (CV). A consultant will be selected in accordance with the individual consultant selection (ICS) method set out in IFAD’ Project Procurement Handbook that can be accessed via the IFAD website at www.ifad.org/project-procurement.
Any request for clarification on this REOl should be sent to the address email below mmanganya@farmse.org/gkabaghe@farmse.org no later than 10.00 hours on 2nd December, 2024. The client will provide responses to all clarification requests by 12.00 noon on 6th December 2024. Request for full TORs can be obtained from FARMSE Website: www.farmsemalawi.org or from the following email addresses:
mmanganya@farmse.org/gkabaghe@farmse.org
Expressions of interest must be delivered to FARMSE, Off Mchinji Road, JAD Office Complex, Behind Automotive Products Limited, Behind NAC, Lilongwe. Malawi no later than 10.00 hours on 16th December, 2024 in a tender box in the conference room. Attn: Manuel Mang’anya- Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (M&EO)
The Chairman
Internal Procurement and Disposal Committee
Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs
Financial Access for Rural Markets, Smallholders and Enterprises (FARMSE)
P.O. Box 30049
Lilongwe 3.
MALAWI.
Email: mmanganya@farmse.org/gkabaghe@farmse.org
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