OEAPM- Request For Expressions of Interest Environmental Specialist

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST

National Consultant

 REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Strengthening Moldova’s Disaster Risk Management and Climate Resilience Project

Project ID No. P504278

Reference No.: MD-OEAPM-498556-CS-INDV

The Republic of Moldova has received financing from the World Bank Group toward the cost of the Strengthening Moldova’s Disaster Risk Management and Climate Resilience Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for contracting an Environmental Specialist.

Environmental specialist will lead, manage, monitor and report on the environmental aspects of the Project for each site-specific activity (sub-project) in accordance with the national laws of Moldova, Project financial agreement, World Bank Environmental and Social Framework and best international practices.

This is a full-time activity that will begin in July 2025. The contract will be concluded for an initial period of twelve (12) months, with the possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance of the Environmental Specialist and agreement of the Parties and Bank’s no objection until the project closing date, on September 30, 2029.

For more information, please see the Terms of References attached below.

The PI Office for External Assistance Programs Management, as PIU of the Project, now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services.

Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The Consultant should meet the following minimum qualifications requirements:

• University degree in the environmental science natural resources management, environmental or civil engineering, or related discipline;
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience, including applied experience in Environmental risk management in investment projects (international and local);
• Knowledge of international good practice for management of E&S risks, including World Bank ESF/Safeguards policies and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Sustainability Framework and supporting documents such as Guidance Notes, EHS Guidelines;
• Strong analytical skills, ability to think strategically, analyze and synthesize diverse environmentally related data and information;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Romanian, including the ability to draft memos, letters and internal regulations, and reports;
• Computer literacy.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers - PROCUREMENT IN INVESTMENT PROJECT FINANCING Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services, dated September 2023 (hereinafter referred to as “the Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant (IC) method set out in the World Bank Procurement Framework.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 08:30 to 17:30 local time.

The applications should include letter of Expression of Interest, CV, and related recommendation letters.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by e­mail) by July 23, 2025, 17:00 o’clock, Moldova local time.

PI Office for External Assistance Programs Management,

attn: Raisa Cantemir, Director

57/1 Mitropolit Banulescu Bodoni str., office 304, MD-2005.

Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

Tel: 373 22 23 29 63, 23 82 48

E-mail:ogpae@ogpae.gov.md

  TOR for Project Environmental Specialist (ES)

1. Project Background

The Strengthening Moldova’s Disaster Risk Management and Climate Resilience Project (SMORE) aims to enhance Moldova’s preparedness and response to natural hazards and climate-related shocks, and in case of an eligible crisis or emergency, respond promptly and effectively to it.

The Strengthening Moldova’s Disaster Risk Management and Climate Resilience Project comprises the following 5 components:

Component 1: Investments and Institutional Strengthening for Emergency Preparedness and Response;

Component 2: Improving Hydrometeorological Services;

Component 3: Policy and Regulatory Support for Risk Reduction of Critical Infrastructure and Fiscal Resilience;

Component 4: Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC);

Component 5: Project Management.

The Public Institution “Office of External Assistance Programs Management” (OEAPM) under the Ministry of Finance will have the role of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU). The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA) together with the General Inspectorate for Emergency Services (GIES), Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development and Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environment together with State Hydrometeorological Services (SHS) will be the Project Implementing Agencies (IAs) bearing the overall responsibility for the Project implementation.

2. Objectives

Environmental specialist will lead, manage, monitor and report on the environmental aspects of the Project for each site-specific activity (sub-project) in accordance with the national laws of Moldova, Project financial agreement, World Bank Environmental and Social Framework and best international practices. He will also provide information and guidance to government officials, businesses, and the public about possible environmental hazards and mitigation measures needed to be taken sin specific situation.

The main objective of the assignment is the following:

As part of the ESCP and ESMF requirements, the Specialist will conduct the whole environmental screening process and determine the environment impacts and vulnerabilities, assess an environment risk category/level, and identify risk management opportunities/strategies as to determine the adequate plan of mitigation measures to be used for the specific site and specific activity of the subproject

3. Scope of Work

The scope of work and activities of the ES will include the following:

• Provide assistance to the Project to determine the exact impacts that can be generated by proposed activities supported under Project activities, as well as prescribe the required mitigation actions to be taken;
• Conduct screening against E&S standards and local relevant legislation and identify any elements that have an environmental impact.
• Ensure that proper mitigation measures are included in the Environmental and Social Management Plan for the proposed investments;
• The ESMP will be part of the bidding documentation and will become part of the Works contractor obligations.
• ESS triggered supplementary to the ones mentioned in ESCP (ESS1,2,3,4,10) would require a modification of the Loan Agreement and of the ESCP. Any activities under the Bank Projects will be required to have an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) in place prior to physical start of Works on site that would identify potential environmental impacts and provide adequate mitigation measures. The ESMP/ ESMP checklist needs to be cleared by the Bank, pass through a public consultation process, completed with the results of public consultation and its final version cleared by the Bank. Review procurement documents to ensure that relevant environmental aspects of the project’s ESF instruments are properly included. The Contractor will develop his own Contractor –ESMP in implementation of the Works.
• Monitor and report, on a regular basis, the environmental impacts of Project financed activities and ensure that mitigation actions are carried out. The Environmental Specialist will also have to visit each Project location, and ensure proper monitoring for all activities;
• As part of the PIU, support the Project beneficiaries in environmental procedures covering legal and administrative conditions in terms of completeness and appropriateness with regard to the Project activities;
• Ensure that each Project beneficiary has a separate individual file that would be filled in with the set of environmental documents according to the planned activities and assigned risk category (Checklist, Environmental Impact Assessment, necessary authorizations);
• Conduct quality control of ESS instruments in line with ESF requirements prior to Bank submission and dealing with the comments as may be received from the Bank;
• Elaborate the environmental checklist according to the Environmental and Social Management Plan;
• Monitor the Environmental and Social Management Framework implementation and provide technical assistance provision;
• Provide support and coordinate with the M&E experts in analysis of the environment impact related topics;
• Draw up narrative reports on Project beneficiaries after field visits, including facilitating the development and issuing of environmental advice upon hand-over of the sub-projects;
• Co-ordinate with Social Specialist to ensure that Labor Management procedures (LMP) of the Project are duly implemented and guide the Project staff/workers to conduct screening of the site specific in accordance with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements of the Republic of Moldova legislation and best international practice;
• Prepare quarterly progress reports on management of environment aspects in the Project including any actions taken;
• Prepare semestrial reports on ESCP and ESMF progress and implementation status;
• Report to the Project Manager on these activities.

4. Qualifications

The Environmental Specialist is expected to demonstrate the following main requirements on qualifications and experience:

Mandatory Qualifications:

• University degree in the environmental science natural resources management, environmental or civil engineering, or related discipline;
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience, including applied experience in Environmental risk management in investment projects (international and local);
• Knowledge of international good practice for management of E&S risks, including World Bank ESF/Safeguards policies and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Sustainability Framework and supporting documents such as Guidance Notes, EHS Guidelines;
• Strong analytical skills, ability to think strategically, analyze and synthesize diverse environmentally related data and information;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Romanian, including the ability to draft memos, letters and internal regulations, and reports;
• Computer literacy.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Working experience with international organizations and / or similar projects for at least 2 years;
• Experience of implementing similar assignments at the local, regional or national level;
• Previous experience with World Bank-funded projects as environmental reviewer and an understanding of its requirements;
• Experience of working with large, multi-sources, international project budgets;
• Experience in delivering trainings, coaching others.

5. Duration

This assignment is scheduled for the period from July 2025 to September 2029. The contract will be concluded for an initial period of twelve (12) months, with the possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance of the Environmental Specialist, agreement of the Parties and Bank’s no objection.

6. Client Input for the Specialist:

• Provision of working space and related utilities at the PIU/OEAPM office;
• Access to office equipment and communication facilities;
• Transportation required for the execution of the assignment;
• Any other necessary means and support to assist the Specialist in carrying out the assignment.