National Consultant to Conduct an ESIA and Prepare the ESSP and ESMP for the Rehabilitation of 11 Community ponds and 6 CBO Tree Nurseries
Position Circumstances
- Career Category: Advisor / Individual Consultant
- Schedule:Short-term
- Salary: N/A
Project Title: Building resilient livelihoods through nature-based solutions in the Tonle Sap Basin and Siem Reap/Phnom Kulen landscape
Post Level: Social and Environmental Specialist
Assignment Title: Conduct an ESIA and prepare the ESSP and ESMP for the rehabilitation of 11 community ponds and 6 CBO tree nurseries
Contract Type: Contractual Agreement
Duty Station: The Consultant will be home-based, with work carried out in Siem Reap Province and at the GDPS/MoE office
Expected Place of Travel: Siem Reap Province, Cambodia
Assignment Duration: Output-based payment for 40 working days. The assignment is expected to commence in early November 2026 and be completed by the end of December 2026.
Reporting line: National Project Manager and Project Coordinator
Scope of Work
The National Consultant (NC) will conduct an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and prepare the Environmental and Social Screening Procedure (ESSP) and Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for the rehabilitation of 11 community ponds and 6 Community-Based Organization (CBO) tree nurseries across six target districts in Siem Reap Province.
The NC will work closely with the project team, including the International Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), and coordinate with relevant stakeholders throughout the assignment. At the beginning of the assignment, the NC will prepare a common inception report outlining the methodology, work plan, division of tasks and responsibilities, and expected deliverables.
The key roles and responsibilities of the NC are as follows:
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Prepare an Inception Report
- Prepare an inception report outlining the background, objectives, scope of work, methodology, work plan, and expected deliverables for the assignment.
- Define the approach and procedures for conducting the ESIA and preparing the ESSP and ESMP.
- Establish a detailed work plan, including key activities, timelines, coordination arrangements, responsibilities, and deliverables, in consultation with the project team and the International CTA.
- Conduct the ESIA and Prepare the ESSP and ESMP
- Conduct an ESIA and prepare the ESSP and ESMP for the rehabilitation of 11 community ponds and 6 CBO tree nurseries across the six target districts: Soutr Nikom, Svay Leu, Banteay Srei, Run Ta Ek Techo Sen City, Angkor Thom, and Varin.
- Assess potential environmental and social impacts and risks associated with the proposed rehabilitation activities, including impacts on natural habitats, climate change, pollution, waste management, community health and safety, livelihoods, gender equality, vulnerable groups, human rights, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, physical and economic displacement, and cultural heritage.
- Review applicable national laws, policies, regulations, institutional arrangements, UNDP Social and Environmental Standards (SES), and other relevant international requirements, and identify any gaps between national requirements and applicable international standards.
- Conduct consultations with relevant district and provincial authorities, local communities, and other stakeholders to identify environmental and social concerns, validate assessment findings, and inform the preparation of the ESSP and ESMP.
- Review and update the Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP), as applicable, and assess and categorize environmental and social risks at the community and site levels in accordance with applicable project requirements and UNDP SES.
- Prepare an environmental and social risk register and identify appropriate mitigation measures, including measures to address risks related to stakeholder engagement, the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process where applicable, and the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM).
- Develop practical, site-specific ESMPs based on the ESIA findings, the ESSP, and relevant project documents and plans, including the Gender Action Plan.
- Define appropriate mitigation measures, environmental and social monitoring indicators, reporting requirements, implementation responsibilities, timelines, estimated costs, and capacity-building needs, Include additional management plans, where applicable, such as a Waste Management Plan, Pesticide and Chemicals Management Plan, and Cultural Heritage Management Plan.
- In addition, the national consultant needs to be prepared the ESSP on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Natural Resource Management Climate Change and Disaster Risks Community Health, Safety and Security Cultural Heritage Displacement and Resettlement Indigenous Peoples, Labor and Working Conditions Pollution Prevention, accountably, gender, human rights, displacement,
- Ensure that the ESMP measures are integrated into project implementation, monitoring, and reporting system, includes Gender Action Plan and Stakeholder Engagement.
- Facilitate the FPIC process in collaboration with the project team and relevant stakeholders where required by applicable standards and circumstances.
- Coordinate with the project's Gender and Safeguards Officer to ensure that gender considerations, the needs of vulnerable groups, stakeholder engagement, and grievance-handling procedures are adequately addressed throughout the assessment and planning process.
- Submit the Final Reports
- Revise and finalize the ESIA, ESSP, and ESMP by incorporating comments and feedback received from the project team, relevant authorities, and other stakeholders, these include anticipate and avoid, minimize and reduce, mitigate risks.
- Submit the final ESIA, ESSP, and ESMP reports, together with supporting documentation, in accordance with the agreed work plan and reporting requirements.
- Attach records of stakeholder consultations to the final reports, including consultation summaries, participant lists with signatures, and photographs, subject to informed consent and applicable privacy requirements.
- Where FPIC is applicable, document the process and provide the relevant consent records and supporting evidence in accordance with applicable standards.
- Work closely with the project's Gender and Safeguards Officer to establish or strengthen the GRM, ensure that affected communities are informed of the available grievance channels, and document the GRM arrangements in the relevant reports and management plans.
- Present the final findings, recommendations, and proposed mitigation measures to the project team and relevant stakeholders, as required.
Expected Profile of Candidates
Languages:
- Khmer - Fluent
- English - Fluent
Qualifications:
- Master's Degree in Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Science, Development Studies, or another closely related discipline.
Work History:
- Progressively responsible professional experience in environmental and social safeguards, environmental and social impact assessments, and related fields for 7 years as a minimum
Skills & Knowledge:
General & Technical Skills
- General Professional Experience: At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in environmental and social safeguards, environmental and social impact assessments, and related fields.
- Technical Expertise: Demonstrated experience in conducting Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs/EIAs), preparing Environmental and Social Screening Procedures (ESSPs), Environmental and Social Management Systems (ESMSs), and related safeguard instruments, as well as undertaking environmental and social monitoring, facilitating Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and establishing or strengthening Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRMs).
- Environmental and Social Safeguards Experience: At least five (5) years of demonstrated experience applying the environmental and social safeguards and standards of UNDP, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), or other international development partners. Direct experience applying the UNDP Social and Environmental Standards (SES) and Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP) is required.
- Core Technical Competencies: Proven ability to manage ESIAs; identify, assess, and prioritize environmental and social risks; develop appropriate mitigation measures and monitoring plans; monitor project and contractor compliance; assess socioeconomic and livelihood impacts, including risks to livelihood security; conduct stakeholder consultations; establish and strengthen GRMs; prepare technical reports; and support environmental and social audits and corrective actions.
- Safeguard Instruments: Demonstrated ability to prepare, review, and update Social and Environmental Screening Procedures (SESPs), Environmental and Social Management Frameworks (ESMFs), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), environmental and social risk registers, and other relevant safeguard documents.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Social Inclusion: Demonstrated experience in stakeholder consultation and engagement, gender equality and social inclusion, and the assessment and management of risks affecting vulnerable groups, Indigenous Peoples and ethnic minorities, livelihoods, land acquisition and resettlement, labor and working conditions, community health and safety, and grievance mechanisms, as relevant to the assignment.
- Excellent Khmer and strong English communication and technical report-writing skills. Fluency in Khmer is highly desirable for fieldwork in Siem Reap.
