SOW.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Environmental and Social Performance Consultant

A. Introduction

On January 23, 2003, the United States established the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), an innovative foreign assistance program designed to reduce poverty by promoting sustainable economic growth. MCC, a U.S. government corporation, is based on the principle that aid is most effective in countries that promote good governance, economic freedom, and investments in people.

MCC recognizes that the pursuit of sustainable economic growth and a healthy environment are related. Economic growth that doesn’t adequately address the associated risks of environmental degradation can leave the poor particularly vulnerable. MCC’s Environmental and Social Performance (ESP) Practice Group works with partner countries to integrate internationally-accepted principles of environmental and social sustainability into the design and implementation of MCC funded programs. In collaboration with MCC, partner countries are striving to achieve sustainable economic development through their MCC-funded activities while at the same time minimizing environmental and social risks and enhancing environmental and social benefits.

B. Countries

Tunisia, Morocco, and any other MCC eligible country, if required.

C. Scope and Objectives

MCC seeks an Environmental and Social Performance Advisor (Advisor) to advise on ESP impacts, risks and opportunities associated with activities that are under development or implementation in Tunisia, Morocco, or any other MCC eligible country, if required. The Advisor will assist MCC’s efforts to integrate environmental and social sustainability into the design and implementation of MCC funded programs specifically through the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and integration of environmental engineering research methods and analysis.

D. Tasks

The Advisor shall assist MCC’s efforts to support the design and implementation of activities in various sectors, including (but not necessarily limited to):

· Water: drinking water supply, wastewater treatment and reuse, watershed management, groundwater management, transfer facilities, drainage, impoundment

· Rural land: cadastral mapping, titling, crop selection and climate resilience, soil management and irrigation

· Industrial/logistics zones: site evaluation, pollution abatement, risk management, resource efficiency, waste disposal, material transport

More specifically, the Advisor shall:

1. Identify major environmental and social impacts and opportunities associated with investment being considered by MCC and propose mitigation measures for any negative impacts identified and recommendations for site selection, enhancing project design and/or benefit streams from an environmental and social perspective;

2. Carry out desk reviews to provide assurance that funding should be continued and that projects are on track to meet agreed-upon objectives, standards, specifications, schedules, and budgets;

3. Assist in technical reviews of project-related documents including concept papers, feasibility studies, environmental and social impact assessments and management plans, consultant terms of reference, construction bidding documents, work plans, and performance monitoring plans to ensure compliance with the International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability;

4. Assist MCC in the development of, or reviewing, Terms of References for specific sector activities;

5. Provide appropriate guidance, tools, and assistance to help strengthen institutional capacity and policies to integrate internationally accepted principles of environmental and social sustainability into the design and implementation of MCC-funded projects; and

6. Maintain a productive, collaborative working relationship with key sector actors, donors, donors’ consultants, MCC and MCC’s partner countries.

Other Technical Assistance

From time to time, and as required, the Consultant may be required by the MCC COR or PM to provide other advice and counsel. This may include but is not limited to:

1. Advise MCC on the use of GIS and associated technologies for MCC funded activities, including stakeholder engagement;

2. Review proposal evaluation reports from technical panels and procurement agents;

3. Review proposed implementing entity agreements and cooperation agreements between government entities;

4. Travel to the MCC-eligible countries;

5. Assist MCC in reviewing qualifications of key MCC-eligible country technical staff prior to their engagement;

6. Assist MCC in reviewing the adequacy of all deliverables that are provided by country counterparts, contractor(s), Implementing Entity and Accountable Entity, and that the reports fulfill the reporting requirement obligations of these entities under their specific Program to assist MCC’s authorization of disbursement requests; and

7. Undertake missions to project sites, as required by MCC, and provide review of project risks and recommend mitigation with regard to environmental and social performance.

The Consultant would be precluded from bidding on work and services (design, assessment, program implementation) to be procured by the host country’s Compact program management entity or using funds advanced under a Compact or Threshold Program in the country where services are being provided to MCC. The designated Consultant would be expected to coordinate with local authorities responsible for MCC Compact implementation as well as other donors, where relevant. However, designated Consultant would report directly to the designated COR/PM.

E. Deliverables

The Consultant shall provide services to MCC on an as needed basis to support MCC in the flexible and timely manner needed to meet the evolving needs of Compact development and implementation, technical directives under this statement of work will be issued and the Consultant deployed each time the Consultant’s services are needed over the course of this contract. No additional tasks shall imply any additional costs to the Government beyond the amount allowed for in the initial call order; however, this call order may be amended to reflect additional costs associated with implementation planning and oversight requirements in additional countries.

Deliverable 1: Trip reports, ad hoc reports or information as may be requested by the COR/PM.

Deliverable 2: Final report, including comments by MCC, due as per agreement.

F. Place and Period of Performance

All work under this contract will be completed between effective date of the contract award through a five year base period.

The estimated level of effort is estimated at up to 883 hours per year for a total of 4,415 hours with an estimated 6 trips per year. MCC anticipates this level of effort but does not guarantee this level of effort as it may increase or decrease.

Consultant shall perform the tasks under this contract in MCC-eligible countries, in MCC offices in Washington DC, and at Consultant’s own facilities.

G. Timing and Reporting

All formal communication with MCC, including reports, will be submitted to the Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COR), Program Manager (PM), and other designated MCC personnel. The COR/PM for this requirement will be identified via separate correspondence.

The COR/PM will have technical responsibility for monitoring the contractor’s performance. The COR/PM will review and evaluate the contractor’s performance, and also will coordinate any communications with relevant counterparts and other donor agencies and organizations.

Any changes in the terms of the ToR will be made in writing and approved by the Contracting Officer. No representation of the COR/PM shall serve as a basis for an alteration in the general scope of this ToR or of the terms and conditions of the ToR unless confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer. The contractor must communicate with the Contracting Officer on all matters that pertain to the Contract terms. Proceeding with the work without proper contractual coverage could result in nonpayment for that work.

H. Evaluation Criteria

Mandatory Qualifications:

· An advanced degree in environmental engineering, natural sciences, planning or a related field;

· Proven ability to work as part of multi-disciplinary project teams involving environmental, social, legal and construction activities typically associated with the sectors noted above;

· French language skills (ability to read, write and communicate verbally at a professional level);

· Minimum five (5) years of experience providing technical and administrative support on the assessment of environmental and social risks/impacts and/or promoting sound environmental and social performance of development projects;

· Excellent oral and written communication skills in English;

· Detailed knowledge and demonstrated experience of utilizing Geographic information systems (GIS)

· Proven competency with the following software: ArcGIS, QGIS, Adobe Premiere Pro, Microsoft Office.

Preferred Qualifications

· Previous experience working with MCC and MCC country partners