Ministry of Agriculture
Country: Malawi
Name of Project: Agricultural Commercialisation (AGCOM) Project
Vacancy: Social Safeguard Specialist (SSS)
Credit Number: 6048-MW
Reference No.: MW-MOAIWD-321255-CS-INDV
Date of Issue: 16th November, 2022
Project Background
The Government of Malawi, with financing from the World Bank Group, is implementing the
Agricultural Commercialisation Project (AGCOM) at an estimated cost of US95 million through the International Development Assistance (IDA) Credit. The project is being implemented for a period of six (6) years from 2018 to 2023. The key implementing agencies are Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development (MoAIWD) as lead, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism (MoITT) and Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MoLHUD).
The objective of the Project is to increase commercialisation of agriculture value chain products selected under the Project. The Project consists of four Components namely: (i) Building Productive Alliances; (ii) Support Investment Enabling Services; (iii) Contingent Emergency Response; and (iv) Project Coordination and Management.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development therefore invites applications from suitably qualified and interested candidates to fill the position of Social Safeguards Specialist (SSS), to be recruitedas an individual Consultant.
1. Objective of the Position
The Social Safeguards Specialist (SSS) is part of a larger Project Management Team, which
comprises the Coordinator and other specialists. The SSS will be responsible for ensuring
deliverables under component two are done according to schedule, which in turn would
facilitate the timely implementation of the other project components. Specifically the SSS shall be responsible for the day-to-day facilitation and coordination of all activities related with social safeguards under the Agriculture Commercialization project, including ensuring compliance with social safeguard guidelines established in the project’s approved and disclosed safeguard instruments, namely the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF), and Process Framework (PF). The SSS is expected to work in close coordination with particularly the environmental safeguard specialist.
2. Tasks and Responsibilities
The SSS will lead the social component in the overall project execution process. He/She will be responsible for overall monitoring of implementation of all safeguards measures as described in the Environmental and Social Impacts Assessment (ESIA) and Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF), including compensation for resettlement, loss of access to land, and livelihood restoration activities. He/she will provide the necessary support to the entire project team to ensure compliance to social safeguards requirements on the project;
The tasks and responsibilities of the SSS shall include, but not limited to the following:
- Review the Project related documentation to better understand the implications of proposed environment and ensure social safeguards have been considered in the documentation.
- Interface with relevant national authorities to ensure implementation of social safeguards, including ensuring that Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMP) ESIAs, ESMPs,RAPs, Process Frameworks, and Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRMs) are developed and conform with Government and World Bank / AfDB requirements.
- Provide supervision for set-up and implementation of last mile infrastructure development for project-affected communities.
- Facilitate and provide oversight for RAP formulation and its implementation, including ensuring that resettlement compensation for replacement of lost assets and land access, as well as livelihood restoration activities, are successfully carried out.
- Coordinate with the Environmental Safeguards Specialist to ensure smooth integration for compensation due to construction of last mile infrastructure, development of new irrigated land allocation and business development schemes.
- In coordination with Environmental Safeguards Specialist, monitor and evaluate the
implementation of ESGs, ESMPs, and RAPs prepared for the sub-projects under the
Programme to ensure conformity with national and World Bank requirements. - Facilitate integration of relevant and cross-cutting environmental and social issues including in procurement documents/ToRS/RFPs for works contracts and construction supervision contracts
- In collaboration with team members of the PIU and relevant national authorities, organize and conduct training workshops, in accordance with the capacity building plan, on relevant social safeguards management topics.
- Be the lead on community sensitization meetings to ensure that communities are
continuously aware of social safeguards issues including HIV/AIDs, Child labour, GRM etc - Coordinate stakeholder engagement to ensure that relevant stakeholders are continuously updated on project progress and other issues of interest to the stakeholders.
- Periodically, carry out the necessary coordination activities for social safeguards activities and perform related field work as required and submitting clear and concise written reports based on field inspections.
- Support gender integration strategies and provide guidance on appropriate interventions on mainstreaming of gender needs across the project.
- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to be submitted to the management as a follow-up on the implementation and monitoring of the sub-projects’ social safeguards activities vis-à-vis the respective ESMPs, ESGs, EMPs, RAPs, and Process Framework, as well as any other issue that is encountered with regard to social safeguards.
- Support project in the finalization of Annual Work Plans and Budgets including Procurements plans.
- Support in the preparation of mid-term reviews, final evaluations, and environmental and social audits.
- Assist the National Project Coordinator in any other tasks relevant to the expertise including preparing various reports and other documents required by Management and DPs.
3. Qualifications and Experience
The Social Safeguards Specialist shall have the following qualifications and skills:
- A minimum of postgraduate degree in sociology or any relevant field (e.g. Anthropology, Sociology, Social Development, and/or Gender Studies) demonstrating social safeguards management or community development capacity.
- At least 10 years postgraduate experience with relevant and proven track record in similar assignments related to implementation or supervision of agriculture, irrigation, or other projects involving community participation in natural resources management.
- Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in addressing social safeguards issues, ideally in donor funded programmes (World Bank / AfDB) will be an added advantage.
- Knowledge of involuntary resettlement (including temporary or permanent physical and/or economic displacement) and implementation of grievance redress mechanisms,
- Proven work experience in stakeholder engagement with civil society organizations,
development partners, project beneficiaries and Government agencies, - Evidence of accomplishments of work objectives of similar magnitude and scale while
creating an enabling environment for team and collaborators. - Understanding of assignment objectives, effective planning of activities and ability to adjust to changing circumstances.
- Ability to work independently and under pressure to meet strict deadlines.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a team and capacity to foster teamwork and establish
harmonious working relationships in a multicultural environment; - Full and fluent command of English, including the ability to set out a coherent argument in English in writing, presentations and group interactions.
- Good working knowledge of Windows-based computing programs, and electronic
communication.
4. Reporting
The SSS will on a monthly basis present a brief progress report to the Coordinator, highlighting a synthesis of progress against planned actions, key challenges, and proposed management decisions on social safeguards. The SSS will assist in this process through supporting the delivery of timely reports. The report will be included in the overall monthly project progress report.
5. Location of Employment
The Social Safeguards Specialist will be based in Lilongwe, but will be required to travel regularly and extensively to the project sites.
6. Duration of Assignment
The AGCOM project runs up to 2024 but the initial contract is for 12 months. However, the
contract will be renewable based on strong performance for the remaining period.
7. SELECTION CRITERIA
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016 Revised November 2017 and August 2018 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant (INDV) selection
method set out in the Procurement Regulations. Each selected consultant shall be allocated a
cluster at the contract signing, as indicated above.
8. METHOD OF APPLICATION
Interested and eligible consultants/candidates must submit a written application together
with a detailed CV and copies of supporting qualification documents, including names of three traceable referees to reach the under mentioned no later than 30th November, 2022
Address for delivery of applications/expressions of interest:
The Chairperson
Internal Procurement Committee
Ministry of Agriculture
Agricultural Commercialisation (AGCOM) Project,
Off Paul Kagame Road – Opposite MRA Domestic Taxes Offices,
P.O. Box 727,
Lilongwe
Malawi
Email: teddie.nakhumwa@agcom.gov.mw
Copy:Silvester N. Tsokonombwe, E-mail: tsokonom@yahoo.co.uk and
Helton Gondwe E-mail heltongondwe@yahoo.co.uk