Terms of Reference (TOR) for Consultancy Preparation of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for the AMP Mini-Grid Pilot Locations.

Tender descriptionTerms of Reference (TOR)Consultancy TitlePreparation of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment(ESIA) and Environmental and SocialManagementPlan(ESMP) for the AMP Mini-Grid Pilot Locations.Project Name: Africa Mini-Grid Project-Child ProjectType of ContractConsultancyFirmSwitch Power PlansTOR BackgroundAn Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) was developed for the AMP NationalProject in Somalia to ensure compliance with relevant policies, including UNDP’s Social andEnvironmental Standards (SES)1. That ESMF is amanagementtool to assist in managing potential adversesocial and environmental impacts associated with activities of the AMP National Project in Somalia, in linewith the requirements of UNDP’s SES.In particular, the ESMF identifies the steps for detailed screening and assessment of the project’s potentialsocial and environmental risks, and for preparing and approving the required management plans foravoiding, and where avoidance is not possible, reducing, mitigating, and managing these adverse impacts.Its scope covers all project activities, which include co-financing in terms of in-kind contributions, grantsand equity investment by various government agencies and the private sector needed to implement theproject.The Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MOEWR) is seeking a qualified consulting firm/company(hereinafter referred to as ‘the Firm’) to prepare an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)and its respective Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for a minigrid pilot investment inthree districts in Somalia : Lot 1: Dhobley, Lot 2: Buhoodle, Lot 3: Guriceel.The pilots will be implemented in a challenging environmental and social context characterized by poverty,displacement, institutional-capacity constraints, recurrent droughts and floods, land degradation, weakwaste-management systems and potential conflict over land and natural resources. Particular attention istherefore required to community health and safety, labour and working conditions, land access, genderequality, inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups, climate and disaster risks, biodiversity, culturalheritage, and the management of batteries, fuels and electronic waste.During project preparation, UNDP conducted stakeholder consultations and prepared a Social andEnvironmental Screening Procedure, Stakeholder Engagement Plan and Environmental and SocialManagement Framework. The project was classified as Substantial Risk, requiring site-specificenvironmental and social assessment and management instruments before physical works commence. TheESIA and ESMP shall comply with applicable federal, Federal Member State and local environmental,energy, labour, land, health and safety requirements, as well as UNDP’s Social and EnvironmentalStandards. Where national requirements differ from UNDP standards, the more stringent requirement shallapply. The consulting firm shall verify the current regulatory and permitting requirements for each selectedpilot site and build on the consultations and preliminary assessments already undertaken.3 Project Description and ComponentsThe assignment covers three pilot investments under the Somalia National Project of the Africa Mini-gridsProgram. The pilots will primarily involve the hybridization and expansion of existing privately operateddiesel mini-grids through the installation of solar photovoltaic generation, battery energy storage and1 The ESMF was annexed to the AMP national project documents. It was further refined during implementation phase and thelatest version is available upon request atamp@undp.org.associated distribution infrastructure. The pilots are intended to increase renewable-energy penetration,reduce dependence on diesel, extend electricity services to underserved areas and improve the affordabilityand reliability of supply. The three mini-grid pilots will be implemented in in three districts in Somalia.Lot 1: Dhobley, Lot 2: Buhoodle, Lot 3: