Project Management and Environmental Assessment

Executive Short Term Course in Environmental Standards

• Track A: Course for Environment and Social Assessment Practitioners
• Overview of the ESIA Terms Of Reference - ES117
• Presented by Dr. Karimatu Abdullahi and Dr. Sherif Arif, Ph.D
• Senior Environmental Consultant to the Environment Global Practice of the West and Central Africa - SAWE4
• Date: May, 2023

What is a Terms of Reference

• Terms of Reference (TOR) for ESIA describes the purpose and objectives of a project Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).
• Prepared by the Environmental and Social Safeguards Officer
• The TOR outlines Background, objectives, components, relevant and applicable ESSs, project description.
• Defines the scope, strategy, and schedule for the EIA process, deliverables, timeline, reporting, and outline of the ESIA or ESMP.

Contents of the TOR

• Background and objectives of the ESIA
• Summary description of the main project features (with location map and project layout diagram)
• Relevance of the Project
• Institutional and legal framework (summary of applicable ESSs, environmental and social screening, and scoping)
• Analysis of Project Alternatives
• Baseline data measurements
• Summary of typical and likely significant environmental and social impacts and risks
• Outline of impact assessment steps and methodology
• Proposed ESMP (mitigation, monitoring, and institutional measures) including deliverables, reporting schedule and suggested workplan
• Stakeholder engagement and consultation requirements
• Sustainability and Key actions of the Environment and Social Commitment Plan
• Services to be Provided by the Borrower
• Management Assignment
• Reporting requirements by the Consultant
• Qualifications and Key Expertise
• Proposed technical Evaluation
• Compensation to the Consultant

Principal Activities: A Description of the Project

• Detailed description of the project, including environmental and social issues, risks, and health and safety aspects.
• Analysis of alternatives, justification, and foundations of the project location.
• Description of the project location and sensitive environmental and social features (map)
• Description of associated facilities, their locations, relations to the project and potential risks/impacts (to/from the project)
• Components and sub-components, schedule, raw materials, labor, support facilities, equipment, off-site activities, and supply chain
• Description of Project beneficiaries, and socio-economic characterization (population, urbanization, health, education)
• Total cost of the Project, its components and sub-components; the source of financing, government/proponent contribution

Relevance of the Project

• Information on the nature and number of beneficiaries affected by the proposed project.
• All organizations and agencies affected by or involved with the proposed project.
• Major problems/opportunities related to the project, experienced by beneficiaries and other parties, along with inter-relationships and inter-sectoral linkages.
• Other interventions or priorities of ministries, agencies, and donors impacting the project/investment.
• Answers to questions including overall project objectives, and purpose, the needed results from the project to the target groups and beneficiaries, the precise scope of project activities, assumptions needed for project results, and measurable indicators/quantified project activities.

B: The Institutional and Legal framework

• Institutions responsible for environmental and social management.
• Implementing ministry (ies) at various government levels.
• Roles and functions of each institution.
• Steering committee if any, PMU composition if applicable, and institutional strengthening needs.
• Third-Party organizations (governments, contractors, operators if applicable), and roles and responsibilities within context of the Project
• Relevant regulations, systems, and requirements for environmental licensing, land ownership and critical authorizations.
• Compliance with international regulations and agreements.
• The Triggered ESS(s) and whether national legislation standards align or not, and the gap that might exist.

Objective of the Consultancy of the Preparation of an ESIA

• Ensuring compliance with World Bank Environment and Social Standards (ESSs) and national legislation in the project.
• Identifying social and environmental impacts, risks and designing measures to prevent and respond to them.
• Preparing an Environmental and Social Assessment (ESIA) and respective Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP).
• Analyzes, evaluates and proposes measures to prevent, control, mitigate, restore or compensate for potential negative impacts, ensuring compliance with World Bank ESSs and national legislation (requirements).

Analysis of the Project Alternatives

• Systematically comparing feasible alternatives to the proposed project site, technology, design, and operation.
• Assessing the feasibility of mitigating environmental and social impacts.
• Evaluating cost (capital and recurrent), suitability based on local conditions, and institutional/training/monitoring required for the alternative mitigation measures.
• Quantifying environmental and social impacts, and attaching economic values possible.
• Justifying the selection of the chosen alternative.

Measurements of Baseline Data

• Collecting air and water quality data at different locations around the project site and its associated facilities.
• Including outdoor air quality (particulate matters, NOx, SOx, etc.), carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, noise and odor, and ozone measurements (at least 2 different seasons, e.g., winter-summer)
• Gathering water quality data including (pH, H2O, DBO5, DCO, Suspended solids, Coliform) from surface and groundwater.
• Comparing collected data with WHO and national standards to identify any gaps, higher applicable standards.

Analysis of the Environment and Social Impacts

• Developing a methodology/grading system to record impact severity.
• Identifying, analyzing, and rating environmental and social risks/impacts of the project.
• Considering all planned activities and associated facilities.
• Assessing positive/negative, direct/indirect/induced, and cumulative impacts.
• Evaluating impacts on transboundary river/basin impacts, air sheds, ecosystems , migration, and international relations.
• Assessment of global impacts like greenhouse gas emissions, ozone depletion, loss of biodiversity and desertification.
• Considering loss of cultural diversity, heritage, and public perception (sensitivity).

Summary of Impacts

• Assessing impacts in relation to pre-construction, construction, operations, and decommissioning phases.
• Using a scale system ranging from --- to +++ to represent impact magnitude

The Environment and Social Management Plan (ESMP): Mitigation Measures

• Detailed description of Environmental and social control and mitigation measures essential for managing the entire project/investment.
• Including activities during construction and operation (air and landscape management, hazardous material and fuel, transportation and packing, emergency evacuation/contingency plans).
• Identifying measures for preventing, minimizing, mitigating adverse impacts, and compensation measures for environmental performance enhancements.
• Schedule, responsibilities and costs for each mitigation measure/component must be outlined.

Mitigation Measures for ESS 1

• Table outlining proposed measures for pre-construction, construction, operation/maintenance, and decommissioning phases.
• Listing the potential impacts and corresponding mitigation measures/approach.
• Defining institutional responsibilities and cost estimation for each measure.

Additional Plans for Triggered ESSs

• Table listing additional plans required for various issues such as labor, working conditions, resource efficiency, community health, land, biodiversity, etc.

ESMP: Monitoring Measures

• Key conditions (e.g., noise/vibrations/dust, emissions, wastewater, waste, odors) to be monitored during different construction and operation stages.
• Monitoring locations/methodology/equipment/duration for specific environmental components/areas
• Responsible authorities/costs.

SUMMARY TABLE FOR MONITORING MEASURES

• Table summarizing proposed mitigation measures, monitored parameters, location, measurement methods, frequency, responsibilities, and associated costs

Institutional Strengthening Measures

• Plan for strengthening capacities of the World Bank staff, implementing partner staff, and contractors.
• Knowledge and skills for environmental and social sustainability.
• Regulatory requirements (including the Host country's regulations).
• Developing the capacity development plan based on needs assessment, implementing plan's steps, and monitoring/evaluation of the plan.

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING

• Training activity, participants, types of training, contents (modules), scheduling, and cost estimation Table.

Public Consultation and Disclosure Procedures

• Stakeholder analysis to involve affected/interested parties (rating system).
• Consultation process aligning with local regulations/procedures and reporting on feedback and suggestions.
• Stakeholder dialogue/interaction methodologies.

Sustainability and Key Measures and Actions for ESCP

• Assessing the sustainability of the proposed project based on factors like demand/economic, financial, institutional/management, environmental/sociocultural, and regulatory/operational sustainability in the context of the World Bank ESS.

Services by the Borrower/Proponent to the Consultant

• Key services the Borrower/Proponent provides to the Consultant (visas, communications, meetings with local officials, documents, reports).

Management of the Assignment

• Identifying the Contracting Authority (CA).
• Project core team to provide guidance/support/technical advice, as required by the Consultant.
• Mutual agreement between the Consultant and CA, in case of changes to the Terms of Reference.

Deliverables and Reporting Requirements by the Consultant

• Reporting requirements for each phase of the assignment (inception, environmental/social screening, draft ESIA/ESMP, final reports).
• Deliverable timelines for various reports and supporting materials.

QUALIFICATIONS AND KEY EXPERTISE

• Required experience, qualifications, and competencies of the consultants from the Contractor.
• Required years of experience conducting ESIA/environmental analyses in the context of the proposed project in various similar projects, engineering/maintenance aspects of the project, pre-feasibility/feasibility studies, and proven expertise in the sector/context.

Proposed Technical Evaluation

• Technical evaluation criteria and weighting guidelines (70 points).
• Financial evaluation (30 points).
• Evaluating skills, approaches, technical methodology and work plans of the consultant, knowledge/experience in preparing an ESIA , track-record of conducting project work, and proven expertise/knowledge/experience in the African context along with experience with World bank procedures.

Compensation to the Consultant

• Compensation models (Best Effort and Fixed Price Contracts) related to payments based on personnel months versus output/deliverables.

Appendices to the Contract

• List of individuals/organizations involved with the ESIA.
• References used in the assessment.
• Record of meetings/stakeholder consultations/engagement means.
• Relevant data and supporting tables. List of additional associated reports/plans

References

• References used to create the ESIA, including relevant World Bank, African Development Bank, and UNDP materials.

This quiz explores key concepts in project management and environmental assessments, including water quality measurements, baseline data collection, and compliance with environmental regulations. Test your understanding of the project cycle, grading systems for assessing impacts, and the role of third-party organizations in ensuring project success.