ENVIRONMENT SAFEGUARD SPECIALIST

The Government of Mongolia has received a Loan from International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and International Development Association for Mongolia Transport Connectivity and Logistics Improvement Project (MTCLIP). The Project aims to remove critical bottlenecks in the selected road networks and improve maintenance, deliver infrastructure and logistic services effectively to unlock the potential of the meat supply chain across the major freight routes and address information asymmetry and administrative barriers by delivering timely information to the right parties. The project components are (i) infrastructure investments; (ii) transport and logistics services; (iii) technical assistance and capacity building; and (iv) contingent emergency response.

This project is seeking a professional for the position of Environmental Safeguard Specialist. The selected candidate will report directly to the Project Coordinator.

Objective of the assignment: The main objective of the assignment is to lead the preparation and to ensure high quality application of  Environmental and Social (E&S) Standards to all project activities, as required by the World Bank Group. These E&S Standards are implemented through various applicable World Banks E&S instruments including Environmental and Social Management Framework, Environmental and Social Management Plan, and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment.  The specialist will be responsible for the development of these E&S instruments for the project with support from consultants, and provide technical support to the Ministry of Road and Transport Development (MRTD), Project Implementing Entity (PIE), Project Management Office (PMO), contractors, and beneficiaries of the project for fulfilling the environmental safeguard requirements. The Environmental Safeguard Specialist will also be responsible for Grievance Redress Mechanism implementation of the project and will ensure environmental monitoring and reporting requirements are met as agreed in relevant E&S instruments.

Contract: Full-time for one year with possible extension based on performance starting from January 2024.

Duties and responsibilities: The Environment Safeguard Specialist will have the following duties (but are not limited to):

1. Proactively contribute to sub-project design to identify opportunities for managing E&S risks and to promote quality project outcomes based on global good practices contextualized to the specific conditions;
2. Manage the environmental safeguard work plan for the project to identify and find workable solutions to resource requirements, timelines, milestones, budgets, bottlenecks, and align project-related safeguards tasks with the PMO’s work plan;
3. Work closely with other PMO staffs to ensure key aspects of the E&S instruments and areas of opportunity to improve development outcomes are captured in the bidding documents and contracts;
4. Develop and maintain a safeguards capacity building plan for the project through regular training, awareness raising on project safeguards, policies, and instruments;
5. Coordinate and oversee development and implementation of E&S instruments including Environmental and Social Management Framework, Environmental and Social Management Plan, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Stakeholder Engagement Plan, Code of Conduct.
6. Assist and advise the MRTD and Project Implementing Entity (PIE) in carrying out environment management screening when identifying subprojects under the project;
7. Manage the quality and timeliness of the implementation of E&S instruments including ESMF, SEP, and ESCP to ensure compliance and adherence to the World Bank, GOM (Government of Mongolia), and EPA standards, provide technical review;
8. Prepare written notice documents and/or recommendation letters to the contractors on the assessed and disputed proposals. Detailed assessment report on addressing argument or recommendation may be required;
9. Prepare and develop the handbook to the MRTD to screen the Environmental Screening Questionnaires based on the screening forms in the ESMF, assess the Environment and Social Management Plan, and the Monitoring Plan;
10. Monitor implementation of the environment safeguard related activities of the project, work with PMO to resolve any issues and submit periodic progress reports to the Project coordinator and MRTD;
11. Support and engage in the preparation of environmental and social impact assessments, environmental management plans, environmental audits for subprojects, and other requirements as part of the project implementation and;
12. nsure these instruments are consistent with the World Bank's Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and the national laws and regulations, and translated, disclosed, and disseminated to relevant stakeholders as required in the ESMF and SEP;
13. Manage responses to environment safeguard-related incidents and/or any major environment safeguards-related non-compliance issues in compliance with E&S instruments, national legislations, and/or World Bank policies, provide timely advice to the key stakeholders on these issues;
14. Contribute to the implementation of the project for all components on reviewing TORs for any technical assistance funded by the project to ensure the safeguard policies and instruments are adequately covered, review sub-project proposals in terms of fulfilling the ESMF requirements;
15. Supervise contractor and review contractor’s Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and supervise the implementation of the ESMP for physical investments if needed. This may involve site visits and training site supervisors to undertake environmental monitoring;
16. Review and update the environmental and social safeguard section of the Project Operation Manual throughout the project period, if necessary;
17. Undertake such other tasks as may be reasonably requested and/ or assigned by the Project coordinator and MRTD.

Essential requirements:

• Master’s or higher degree in relevant discipline such as environmental management, environmental science and environmental engineering;
• A minimum 5 years of professional experience on preparing environmental impact assessments and implementation of management plans. Experience preparing and implementing World Bank safeguard standards or equivalent development partner policy implementation is strongly preferred;
• At least 2 reference letters to prove these required skills and on successful completion of similar scope and nature assignments from previous clients;
• Prior experience with international institutions on environmental and social management activities would be advantage;
• Proven ability to conduct field work and travel locally;
• Good interpersonal, communication and participatory skills with the ability to function effectively and collaboratively in a team environment;
• Excellent computer literacy, particularly, with MS Office and spreadsheets;
• Fluency in English and Mongolian languages (both oral and written).

If you possess the above qualifications, please submit a cover letter indicating why she/he considers her/himself suitable for the position, detailed public servant CV highlighting skills/experience, copy of diplomas or certificates, one reference letter from last two employers no later than 16:00, 22 March 2024. Only those successful candidates will be contacted. The application documents under the name of Project coordinator shall be submitted in person to the below address. The submitted documents will not be returned to the applicants. Incomplete applications would not be considered. If you need any further details, please feel free to contact us.

Contact address:  Ministry of Road and Transport Development, Government Building-13, room 210, Chinggis Avenue 11, Ulaanbaatar 14251, Mongolia Contact person: Bayanzul.L

Tel: +(976) 51263179