Environmental Compliance Consultant at Creative Associates International

Estimated Level of Effort: 30 days (6 working weeks) from June 14th until July 31st

Project Summary:

The USAID-funded West Africa Trade and Investment Hub Project (hereinafter referred to as the Trade Hub) is a five-year, $116 million trade and investment facilitation activity that seeks to improve private sector competitiveness in West Africa through a market-based approach. By working in partnership with the private sector and fostering co-investments, the project will generate new private-sector capital investment into key sectors to create jobs and increase trade between the U.S. and West Africa, including through increased utilization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The project comprises of three main components:

1. Design and administration of a Co-Investment fund for private sector partnerships, including a portion for partnerships in Research and Development (R&D) towards innovating and modernizing practices in Nigeria across five targeted value chains;
2. Technical assistance (TA) that directly supports, coordinates, and engages with qualifying recipients (i.e., partners and grantees) to achieve USAID’s trade and food security objectives; and
3. Urgently respond to the secondary economic impacts of COVID-19, notably to increase the access of working capital with financial actors, prevent job loss, and respond to supply shortages by scaling up local response.

Through this Co-Investment fund and technical assistance, the Trade Hub will improve companies’ abilities to expand business operations, increase productivity, and create jobs that build on the talents and aspirations of West Africa’s growing population. The Trade Hub will collaborate on specific commercial opportunities with firms, service providers, research organizations, as well as other business network actors to access private capital that will contribute to large-scale jobs, exports and investment, particularly with strong demonstrated or potential links to the U.S. companies and investors. 

Position Summary:

The Environmental Compliance (EC) Consultant will be responsible for applying the Trade Hub’s Environmental Review process and enforcing all policies and procedures stipulated within the Trade Hub’s approved Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP), USAID’s Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), and other relevant documentation for all activities. In particular, the EC Consultant will provide guidance to report EC-related activities carried out by the trade Hub’s co-investment partners/grantees.   

Reporting and Supervision:

The Environmental Compliance Consultant will report to the MEL Director, coordinate with other EC staff and the Chief of Party.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Review and revise Environmental Review Reports about 50 (ERRs) submitted by grantees based on the completed activity and, when necessary, coordinate communication with the grantees;
• Review submissions from grantees in relation to their USAID-approved activity Environmental Monitoring and Management Plans (EMMPs) to ensure compliance;
• Report all EC monitoring completed in remaining USAID quarterly and final reports for all activities;
• Revise ERRs and EMMRs to take into account new activities or USAID regulations with regards to environmental compliance;
• Provide any additional support as requested by supervisor.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

•  BA/BS degree required, and MA/MS degree desired in environmental science, environmental management, agronomy conservation, or a similar field;
• At least 5 years of experience providing environmental compliance monitoring and supervision on projects, particularly in agriculture and in countries in West Africa;
• At least 5 years of work experience in international development, ideally with USAID or USAID-funded activities;
• Solid understanding of donor regulations and procedures pertaining to environmental compliance with a preference in USAID regulations (Regulation 216);
• A good understanding of the range of environmental impacts and mitigation measures covering Trade Hub focus sectors, including agriculture, livestock production, processing, aquaculture, water and sanitation, renewable energy, and construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure.
• Demonstrated ability to work on several activities at once independently;
• Ability to review EC docs and provide adequate guidance based on established procedures; and
• Preference for working knowledge of French, but not mandatory.

Results and/ or deliverables

Deliverable

1. Review grantees EMMR submissions in relation to their USAID-approved Activity EMMP to ensure compliance. (10 days)
2. Populated and track existing Trade Hub EC Tracker (8 days)
3. Work with the environmental compliance manager/specialist to develop the close out environmental review report. (12 days)