Job Description

1. Background

The Government of Somaliland has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of Enhancing Public Resource Management Project (SERP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services (individual consultant). to develop a lean, portfolio-focused coordination and performance management function that strengthens oversight, reduces implementation fragmentation, and promotes institutional learning across the World Bank-financed portfolio. Therefore, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) intends to hire an International Environmental Specialist. The Environmental Specialist consultant will fill this gap through portfolio-level advisory support, monitoring, and knowledge transfer.

1. Objective(s) of the Assignment

The Environmental Specialist will provide technical advisory support, portfolio-level environmental safeguards oversight, environmental risk monitoring, and systems strengthening support across World Bank-financed operations in Somaliland. The Specialist is also expected to ensure knowledge transfer to designated government counterparts, while implementation responsibility remains with the respective PIUs and implementing entities.

1. Scope of Work and Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical advice on environmental risk management across all World Bank-financed projects in line with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) during project preparation and implementation stages, including providing oversight to PIUs Environmental Specialists to ensure compliance or projects to the Bank’s environmental standards during project implementation.
• Support the responsible implementing agencies in developing or providing inputs to World Bank-required documents at the project preparation stage, including the, ESCP, SEP, ESMF, LMP, and ESSA/Program Action Plan, as applicable to the financing instrument and project context.
• Provide technical guidance to implementing agencies on environmental screening and scoping processes and review outputs to ensure compliance with ESF requirements.
• Develop and update project-level environmental risk management instruments in close coordination with the CEPCU team and implementing units and advise on implementation of environmental risk mitigation measures as outlined in the ESCP, ESMF, and LMP.
• Ensure all advisory support is aligned with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework, including applicable ESSs and Good Practice Notes.
• Prepare and provide advisory support for the implementation of environmental framework instruments (including ESMPs) to meet the World Bank's Environmental and Social Standards for IPFs and Program Action Plans.
• Provide advice to the PIUs Environmental and Procurement Specialists on integrating environmental risk management provisions into procurement activities, ensuring mitigation measures are factored into procurement planning and are adequately resourced.
• Conduct regular monitoring of compliance to existing environmental mitigation measures across the portfolio and provide technical backstopping in the preparation of environmental assessment and monitoring reports and provide a portfolio wide report on environmental compliance, risks, and proposed mitigation measures to MoFED and the World Bank through the Head of CEPCU.
• In close coordination with the Social Development Specialists, monitor the grievance redress mechanism(s) of the portfolio and provide advice to PIUs on addressing environmental and social-related grievances and incidents.
• Develop and maintain a portfolio-level environmental risk tracking system, including consolidated ESCP compliance monitoring across all Bank-financed operations.
• Develop and implement a structured capacity-building plan, including training modules, on-the-job mentoring, and performance assessments of the PIUs.
• Conduct structured knowledge transfer on all the above activities to civil servants assigned to the CEPCU for environment and ensure counterparts are ready to assume the role by January 2028.
• Consolidate lessons learned from portfolio implementation and project completion to inform future operations.

1. Selection Criteria

 The selection shall be based on qualification, experience and skills of the candidate and followed by an interview. The qualifications, experience, and skills should be included:

Experiences and Qualifications

1. Consultant’s Qualifications and Experience
2. Education:

• Master's degree in environmental sciences or a related field, including Ecology, Natural Resources Management, Geosciences, Environmental Policy, or equivalent disciplines

2. Professional Experience

• Minimum of ten (10) years of relevant professional experience in environmental impact assessments, environmental audits, legal and policy review, and formulation of environmental safeguard management action plans for projects financed by international donor agencies, preferably the World Bank.
• At least 8 years of experience in donor-funded programs, with a proven track record in applying the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) or equivalent standards.
• Demonstrated experience in developing environmental instruments (e.g., ESMF, ESIAs, ESMPs, screening tools, guidelines, training materials) and providing quality assurance, advise or oversight functions.
• Knowledge of relevant Somaliland and Somalia environmental laws and regulatory frameworks is an advantage.
• Experience working in fragile and conflict-affected environments is an advantage

3. Competencies

• Proven ability to advise on and support project environmental assessment and preparation.
• Excellent interpersonal, writing, and communication skills; English proficiency is essential.
• Knowledge of ICT-based Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Demonstrated capacity to provide on-the-job training on environmental standards and achieve successful knowledge transfer

1. 
   Reporting and other Deliverables: The Environmental Specialist will report to the Head of CEPCU and work under the overall guidance of the Director General, MoFED
   
   Duration of Assignment: The assignment is expected to take 12 months.
   
   G. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development with the Center of Excellence for Portfolio Coordination Unit (CEPCU) invites potential candidates for Environmental Specialist as per the Terms of Reference. Interested Individual Consultants shall provide the following: (i) Curriculum Vitae (CV) with 3 reference persons; (ii) copies of certificates of academic qualifications; and (iii) cover letter indicating that they are qualified to perform the services.

Skills Required

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