Haiti: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Consultant

Background

The IRC received a grant from the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) for its Environmental Health (EH) program to carry out desludging and latrine maintenance in 27 IDP camps in four communes of Metropolitan Port-au-Prince (Port-au-Prince, Petionville, Delmas, Tabarre), beginning in March 2012. The IRC began implementing a WASH program in early 2011. The purpose of this grant is to prevent a gap in sanitation services resulting from the end of many actors’ sanitation programming in camps at the end of 2011 and in early 2012. The IRC is addressing the immediate needs of camp residents in view of the imminent rainy season while planning for a handover of sanitation responsibilities to local and government actors. The IRC seeks a consultant to design and execute an environmental impact assessment (EIA) in accordance with Sida requirements, to assist the IRC in measuring the environmental impact of its activities in the target areas and with the target beneficiaries, and to identify major challenges and risks for the IRC’s EH program and for the environment. The consultant will work closely with the IRC-Haiti EH Coordinator and with the IRC EH Technical Advisor (based in Nairobi) to design the intervention and to draft the assessment report.

Scope of Work

The consultant will design and execute an EIA for the IRC’s sanitation program.

Specifically, the consultant will:1. Evaluate the IRC’s needs assessment and describe how well it corresponds to the program 2. Review the current environmental situation, ongoing environmental work, legislation, environmental objectives and environmental regulations and other institutional conditions3. Design and execute an EIA that:a. Includes a baseline of the target areas and recommends indicators to measure impactb. Describes the current environmental situation, ongoing environmental work, legislation, environmental objectives and environmental regulations and other institutional conditionsc. Reports on how the regulations are obeyed to and whether the organization concerned has the expertise and resources to check whether legislation is being followedd. Reports on points of departure, definitions, assumptions, effects, bases for valuations and uncertaintiese. Provides reasons for the selection of focus or alternativesf. Describes the participatory processes and explains the standpoints adopted in issues that have ariseng. Identifies possible positive and/or negative environmental impacts that have already been distinguished at this strategic levelh. Identifies gaps in knowledge that need to be evaluated before EIAs are started for the specific projectsi. Includes plans for the monitoring of environmental impacts. Indicators for monitoringj. Includes plans for involving the local population, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders in monitoring and follow-up activitiesk. Provides proposals for capacity building measures for environmentally sustainable development in the sector/programl. Proposes measures that will help to prevent or minimize environmental damage as well as optimize the project’s impact on sustainable development

Objectives

The EIA will review the program design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation plan, providing feedback and recommendations to ensure that activities are carried out in a way that allows for minimal negative environmental impact; maximizes, where possible, sustainable development; and takes into consideration the role of all related stakeholders.

Specifically, the EIA will:

1. Evaluate how well the IRC considered environmental impacts and related regulations and legislation in designing the current project
2. Assess the IRC environmental impact monitoring and evaluation plan and reporting methodology for the project implementation time.
3. Determine the impact of this program, both direct and indirect, on all environmental factors (e.g. humans, flora and fauna, land, etc.) both short and long-term
4. Assess the involvement of all stakeholders in a collaborative process to identify and avoid potential environmental hazards caused by project activities.
5. Make recommendations for reduced negative environmental impact wherever possible

Timeframe

4 – 6 weeks, approximate start date April 15, 2012

Deliverables

Design and execute an EIA in accordance with the parameters identified herein that achieves the above stated objectives. Provide a detailed report written in English that includes a thorough analysis, key findings and recommendations.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in designing and executing an EIA that covers the legal, technical, and social aspects of program design and impact.• Previous experience managing Port-au-Prince (or comparable urban setting) sanitation programs• Previous experience in Port-au-Prince camp context preferred; work in Haiti a must• Developed assessment skills (e.g. data collection, context analysis)• Ability to work quickly and under a tight deadline• Ability to work independently• Knowledge of Haitian environmental law is an advantage • Strong communication skills• Fluency in English and French, Creole is an advantage• Knowledge of the WHO and DINEPA sanitation standards pertaining to infrastructure design, maintenance and management.