Papua New Guinea Resilient Transport Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(INDIVIDUAL CONSULTING SERVICES)

Country: Independent State of Papua New Guinea.

Project: Papua New Guinea Resilient Transport Project (RTP)

Finance/Loan/Grant Nos.: 7091PG /9379PG /TFOB 8358-8359

Date: November 15, 2023

Assignment Title: “Senior Social Specialist”

Reference No.: PG-DOW-382218-CS-INDV

1. The Independent State of Papua New Guinea has received financing from the World Bank towards the Implementation of RTP and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. Department of Works and Highways (DoWH) is the Implementing Agency (IA) and has established a Project Implementing Unit (PIU), which is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the Project.

2. The consulting services (“the Services”) involve the conduct of social risk assessment planning work for the Project alongside preparatory field investigations and detailed design;  contributing  to the establishment of Project implementing arrangements and systems for environmental and social management; and  initiate the project’s E&S training and capacity building activities for the RTP’s Component 2 Ramu Highway Rehabilitation and Maintenance Project in accordance with PNG law and the World Bank Environmental and Social Standards.

3. Duration of the Assignment: The Services are anticipated to involve 8 staff-months input over an 18-month period from the date of commencement.

4. The detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) for the assignment is attached as Annexure – 1 to this EoI.

5. Department of Works and Highways, PNG 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 (attach curriculum vitae with description of experience in similar assignments, similar conditions, etc.). Firms’ staff may express interest through the employing firm for the assignment and, under such situation, only the experience and qualifications of individual shall be considered in the selection process. The criteria for shortlisting the Consultant are:

Mandatory:

• Advanced Degree in Social science or related discipline
• At least 10 years-experience in social risk or impact assessment, resettlement planning and stakeholder engagement in relation to infrastructure projects.

Desirable:

• At least 5 years' experience in implementing World Bank or other international donor safeguards systems and 
• Experience in Papua New Guinea or other similar developing countries.

6. The attention of interested Consultants (including firms) is drawn to paragraph 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers - November 2020 (“the Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

7. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours or from the contact details mentioned below. (mwindi@works.gov.pg  /  ssuntharesan2@gmail.com )

8. Expressions of interest must be delivered in written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by email) or submitted on or before January 25, 2024, by 1000 Hrs. Local Time. 

Department of Works 

Attn: Mathew Windi – First Assistant Secretary Donor Projects

P.O. Box 1108, Boroko 111

National Capital District

Papua New Guinea

Tel: +675 324 1253

Fax: +675 3241102

E-mail: mwindi@works.gov.pg ; 

All queries/communication must also be “cc” to: ssuntharesan2@gmail.com

Yours Sincerely,

David Ruma Wereh, CMG, FIEPNG

Secretary

Department of Works and Highways

Port Moresby

Papua New Guinea

TEMPLATE FOR CURRICULUM VITAE (CV)

Education: {List college/university or other specialized education, giving names of educational institutions, dates attended, degree(s)/diploma(s) obtained}

________________________________________________________________________

Employment record relevant to the assignment: {Starting with present position, list in reverse order. Please provide dates, name of employing organization, titles of positions held, types of activities performed and location of the assignment, and contact information of previous clients and employing organization(s) who can be contacted for references. Past employment that is not relevant to the assignment does not need to be included.}

Membership in Professional Associations and Publications: ______________________________________________________________________

Language Skills (indicate only languages in which you can work): ______________

______________________________________________________________________

Adequacy for the Assignment:

 Expert’s contact information: (e-mail …………………., phone……………)

Certification:

I, the undersigned, certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief, this CV correctly describes myself, my qualifications, and my experience, and I am available, as and when necessary, to undertake the assignment in case of an award. I understand that any misstatement or misrepresentation described herein may lead to my disqualification or dismissal by the Client, and/or sanctions by the Bank.

                                                                                                                        {day/month/year}

Name of Expert                                 Signature                                                Date

Annexure – 1

PNG Resilient Transport Project (RTP)

Senior Social Specialist (SS)

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Terms of Reference

A. BACKGROUND

The Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG) is implementing the Resilient Transportation Project (RTP) with financing from the World Bank. The Project includes following Components: 

1. improvement and sustainable maintenance of sections of the Ramu and Hiritano highways; 
2. institutional strengthening, project management and technical assistance; and 
3. a contingency emergency response component. Preliminary ESIA and associated instruments have been prepared, adopted and disclosed by The Department of Works and Highways (DoWH) during early preparation[1].

Department of Works and Highways (DoWH) is the Implementing Agency (IA) and has established a Project Implementing Unit (PIU) is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the Project. DoWH needs to assign two Environmental and Social Safeguards Officers and a Lands/Valuation Officer to work on the project.  DoWH will also appoint an Employer’s Project Manager (EPM), that will be responsible for supporting DoWH with all aspects of Project implementation including the strict application of the environmental and social safeguard provisions. The EPM is expected to be hired by Q4 of 2024. The PIU will be supported by DoWH’s in-house Environmental and Social Safeguards Branch (ESSB).

Priority activities during early project implementation include establishing project institutional arrangements and systems, conducting field investigations, completing detailed design, and finalizing the project’s environmental and social assessment (ESA) and associated instruments. A Project Support Adviser, Performance Based Contracts Adviser, Social Specialist and Environment Specialist will support the completion of these activities.

B. ASSIGNEMENT OBJECTIVES

DoWH requires a Social Specialist to lead: 

1. the conduct of social risk assessment planning work for the Project alongside preparatory field investigations and detailed design; 
2. contribute to the establishment of Project implementing arrangements and systems for environmental and social management; and 
3. Initiate the project’s E&S training and capacity building activities; and
4. handover to the EPM , E&S specialists when they come onboard[2].

The Social Specialist will be contracted directly to DoWH and will report to the Project Manager; and will also coordinate with the Assistant Secretary ESSB – seeking quality assurance on key deliverables. The Social Specialist will work closely with the Environment Specialist, and DoWH’s assigned safeguards officers as well as the Project Support Adviser and Performance Based Contracts Adviser.

C. SCOPE OF SERVICES

Stakeholder Engagement 

• Review, update and implement the Project’s Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) including: i) confirming project stakeholders - Identify/confirm communities, community representatives and vulnerable groups; ii) confirming the consultation plan and information disclosure activities; iii) developing stakeholder engagement tools and materials; iv) confirm and operationalize the strategy for engaging with indigenous peoples; v) confirm and operationalize monitoring and reporting arrangements.
• Operationalize the Project’s Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM) as outlined in the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) in the form of a GRM operating procedure including i) confirming the grievance redress procedure; ii) establishing modes of receiving grievances; iii) establishing roles and responsibilities for grievance management (i.e. in ToRs); establishing tools for monitoring, tracking and reporting.
• Lead the DoWH social safeguards team in the conduct of stakeholder engagement activities to inform and source feedback from communities on the potential impacts and opportunities arising from the project and how these can be managed and to document community support for the project.

Final Environmental and Social Assessments/Environmental and Social Management Plans 

A preliminary ESIA was completed during project preparation but must be updated, consulted, disclosed and approved to reflect design works and a number of studies prior to the commencement of the bidding process for each sub project. In this context, perform the following: 

• Lead the DoWH E&S team in the conduct of socio-economic surveying with project affected wards and villagers (i.e., ward survey and focus group discussions) on the Ramu and Hiritano highways to collect up-to-date cultural and socio-economic baseline information to inform the final ESA/ESMPs.  
• Lead social aspects of the conduct and preparation of final ESAs/ESMPs for a) Ramu Highway Range Section Reconstruction*; b) Ramu Highway Rehab and Maintenance; and c) Hiritano Highway Rehab and Maintenance** in coordination with the Environment Specialist. 

* To be confirmed.

** While the scope of the Hiritano Highway socio-economic surveying will remain focused on the Laloki to Brown River section, the scope of the final ESA/ESMP will be revised to cover the potential to for additional financing of rehabilitation and/or maintenance of the entire length of the Hiritano Highway. 

Integration of Social Aspects in Project Design

• Provide inputs into relevant technical studies that will inform design works. Review outputs to ensure relevant social risks and mitigation measures have been incorporated.
• Work closely with the Project Support Adviser and Environment Specialist to ensure that the alignment and arrangement of the road infrastructure minimizes adverse impacts on social values and community safety. This will include identifying, mapping and conducting site planning for key markets and other sensitive receptors/vulnerable groups (i.e. communities, schools, PMV stops etc) and coordinating on road safe construction and design for these sites.

Land Due Diligence and Resettlement Planning

Lead the DoWH social safeguards team to:

• Conduct land due diligence for each contract to a) confirm the history/status of the road corridor acquisition for the Ramu and Hiritano highways in consultation with the GoPNG and affected communities and b) the need for further resettlement planning.

And for sections where resettlement planning is deemed necessary:

• Conduct census and land and asset inventory by identifying and enumerating affected persons and land and other assets within the existing road corridors using aerial/drone and/or GoPro imagery and communicate the cut-off date to project affected peoples.
• Where necessary, consult with traditional landowners to obtain free, prior and informed consent for use of the existing road corridor and for any addition land acquisition.
• Coordination with Project Support Adviser and design teams to avoid/minimize involuntary resettlement impacts in accordance with the project’s Resettlement Framework.
• Prepare, obtain approval and facilitate disclosure of resettlement plans for necessary sections of the road(s) in accordance with the project’s Resettlement Framework.
• Implement resettlement plans and prepare obtain approval before the signing of works contracts for relevant sections of the Ramu and Hiritano highways (including regular engagements with affected communities to prevent further encroachment until implementation is complete).  

Labour Management 

• Work closely with the Project Support Adviser and Project Director to operationalize the Project’s Labour Management Procedures and Worker GRM.

Gender and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment

• Ensure that gender and SEA/SH considerations are incorporated into design, final ESA/ESMPs and bid documents.

Civil Works Procurement and Management

• Provide inputs for the preparation of works bid documents. Coordinate with the Environment Specialist to ensure that social risk requirements outlined in the ESIA and associated documents are clearly and consistently articulated. Develop practical guidelines/templates for the CESMP and sub-plans based on good international industry practice and incorporate relevant GoPNG legislative requirements and DoWH guidelines requirements

• Support DoWH to respond to bid responses and contribute to bid evaluation ensuring that relevant social management requirements are properly incorporated and nominated contractor personnel are appropriately qualified.
• Review Contractor Environmental and Social Management Plans (CESMPs) and any associated sub plans to ensure compliance with the ESIA. Technical support and capacity building may be provided to the Contractor as required.
• Complete regular site inspections to monitor the Contractor’s compliance with the CESMPs and associated sub plans. Track any non-compliances and associated remedial actions and provide technical support and capacity building to the Contractor as required to ensure compliance.

Implementation Arrangements, Training and Capacity Building

• Work closely with the DoWH E&S officers and Land Officer to define their roles for Project social management functions during design, construction and operation and maintenance and develop clear position descriptions and work plans.
• Work closely with DoWH’s ESSB to conduct a capacity assessment and outline a capacity building plan for supporting and developing DOWH Project social management functions.
• Contribute to the development of the EPM Terms of Reference including the scope of support for social management functions.
• Work with the Environment Specialist to develop environmental and social monitoring and reporting tools to be used during project implementation.
• Provide training, support and mentoring to DOWH staff in understanding and implementing the project’s social risk management requirement including leading 4 x structured training sessions of at least 3 hrs in length (with presentation and discussion) 
• Ensure an effective hand over to incoming EPM E&S specialists who will take on E&S responsibilities during the construction phase.
• Participate as required in World Bank implementation missions and ensure aide memoire actions are followed-up and closed-out.
• Complete other duties as required by the project manager from time to time.
• Carryout training on the World Bank Social management requirements 
• Upskilling officers with monitoring tools or equipment.

D. KEY DELIVERABLES

• Updated Stakeholder Engagement Plan 
• GRM operating procedure
• Final ESAs/ESMPs for Ramu Range Section, Ramu Highway and Hiritano Highway
• Land Due Diligence Reports, Resettlement Plans and Resettlement Completion Reports for Ramu Range Section, Ramu Highway and Hiritano Highway (Laloki to Brown River) as necessary.
• Project Operations Manual E&S Section and relevant annexes
• 4 x structured training sessions
• Inputs into regular progress reporting
• Other outputs as needed/assigned by the DoWH Project Director.
   

E. DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT AND INPUT

The Social Specialist will be recruited by March 2024, and provide time inputs for ~ eight (8) months over a period of 18 months with at least 75% time in PNG with extensive travel to project sites.

F. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE 

Mandatory: 

• Advanced degree in social science or related discipline.
• At least 10 years-experience in social risk or impact assessment, resettlement planning and stakeholder engagement in relation to infrastructure projects.

Desirable: 

• At least 5 years’ experience in implementing World Bank or other international donor safeguards systems; and
• Experience in Papua New Guinea or other similar developing countries.

Attributes: 

• Demonstrated ability to prepare high quality assessment reports and plans (Examples of previous work will be requested); and
• Highly developed project and people management skills, including demonstrated cross-cultural communication skills.

[1] Refer https://www.works.gov.pg/downloads.html

[2] EPM E&S specialists are expected to perform a supervision role during the sub-project construction period.