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CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITY

EIA Consultancy

 

Undertaken by SPREP with Funding Support by NZAID

A REVIEW OF INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING APROACHES AND PROCEDURES IN THE PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES

Background:

1. A key focus of SPREP’s activities is to enhance the range of tools available to its Member Countries (Pacific Island Countries & Territories – PICTs) to enable sound environmental decision-making in the pursuit of sustainable development. Tools for the promotion of integrated assessment and environmental planning in a manner that mainstreams environment, as part of the development process must be developed and capacity built at the national level for effective use. Toward this end, SPREP has over the past two decades been active in organizing training, supporting awareness raising activities and providing consultancy and technical advisory services on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for its Member Countries.

2. In 1997 SPREP undertook a review on the status of EIA in the PICTs to provide a clear direction for defining more clearly its role in this core area of integrated assessment and environmental management. The outcomes of this review recommended ‘properly structured studies to identify country-specific EIA issues, problems and needs’ in order ‘to permit development of a concerted approach to improving EIA capacity in the Pacific Island countries’. Since that time SPREP has assisted PICTs in the development of policies and legal frameworks for integrated environment impact assessments and planning approaches, as well as providing technical training to enhance human and institutional capacities for the effective implementation of these frameworks.

3. Over the last ten years, economic and social development has exerted further pressures on the environmental conditions in the region. The vulnerability of Pacific islands to the impacts of climate change and other natural and man-made threats is also well recognized. These factors call for a more effective approach to building capacity and commitment at the national level for EIA and SEA.

4. The 2006 SPREP Meeting agreed that a review of integrated environmental planning approaches and procedures in the region be undertaken to guide regional priorities. In this regard, SPREP is seeking the services of a competent Consultant to undertake a comprehensive review of integrated environmental assessment approaches and procedures in the region and provide advice on regional priorities.

Objectives:

5. The objectives for this consultancy are to:

• Update the information and review the outcomes and recommendations of the SPREP review on the status of EIA in 1997;
• Establish baseline information on existing human and institutional capacities for effective EIA and SEA in the region;
• Identify institutional, legal and capacity needs and barriers to addressing effective integrated environmental assessment of development resulting from local, national and global environmental change impacts;
• Identify key regional priorities for effective integrated environmental assessment approaches, and the institutional and human capacities and resources needed to implement those priorities; and
• Identify potential opportunities and make recommendations for the long-term improvement of EIA and SEA quality and commitment in PICTs.

Methodology:

6. The Consultant will undertake a desktop literature review of relevant literature and information references, including the SPREP review of EIA in 1997. The Consultant will also have face-to-face consultations with staff of SPREP and other relevant regional and national agencies and NGOs dealing with and/or possessing experience and expertise on EIA and SEA management in PICTs.

7. The Consultant must visit a representative sample of at least 3 PICTs to collect further literature and conduct face-to-face consultations with EIA/SEA specialists and relevant national and regional NGOs and civil societies working in the area of integrated environmental planning and assessment, including an atoll island state; and a volcanic country; and must cover all the 3 sub-regions.

Specific Tasks:

8. The consultant shall undertake the following specific tasks:   

• Carry out a literature review of integrated environmental planning and assessment approaches used in the region, including the SPREP review on the status of EIA in 1997 and hold consultations with relevant staff at SPREP and as well as staff of other relevant international, regional and national organisations in Samoa;
• Visit three countries outside of Samoa and hold face-to-face consultations with relevant staff and experts of national, regional and international organisations and civil societies dealing with EIA and SEA;
• Analyse information from the review of relevant literature and face-to-face consultations;
• Establish baseline information on existing human and institutional capacities for effective EIA and SEA in the region, taking into consideration the three main modern governance systems – British, American and French – that countries in the region have followed in the formulation of their policy and legislative frameworks for the development of these tools;

• Submit a draft report of review findings and recommendations to SPREP for comment; and
• Submit a final report, which incorporates comments on the draft to SPREP.

Required Outputs and Timelines:

9. These are the main outputs the Consultant is expected to produce within the duration of the consultancy:

• A final plan and agenda of visits to the three selected countries for purposes of the consultancy to be submitted to SPREP within the first week of commencement of the consultancy;
• A Draft Report to be submitted to SPREP for comment by 21 st March 2008 ; and
• A Final Report to be submitted to SPREP on or before 18 th April 2008 , after incorporating comments from SPREP on the draft report.

Required Expertise and Inputs:

10. The Consultant should meet the following requirements:

• Appropriate tertiary educational qualifications in applied science, economics, environmental and/or resource management, or related discipline;
• A sound knowledge of the current theory and practice of EIA and strategic environmental assessment;
• Demonstrated experience in EIA and or SEA work, preferably in the Pacific islands region;
• Proven ability to write and communicate orally in a clear and concise manner;
• Proven ability to meet strict deadlines; and
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of the Pacific Islands context would be a distinct advantage.

Contract Duration and Timeframe:

11. This consultancy is to be conducted between February and April 2008. The Draft Report should be submitted to SPREP by 21 st March 2008 and the Final Report by 18 th April 2008.

Application Deadline and Requirements:

12. Submission of proposals responding to this letter of invitation should be received at the SPREP Headquarters by 4:30pm on Thursday 24 th January 2008 (Samoa date and time).

13. Submissions should include the following:

• A letter of expression of interest;
• A schedule of planned activities and methodology;
• Names of the selected three countries to be visited and an explanation on justifications for choosing those countries;
• A proposed budget, clearly specifying the cost components for travel, consultancy fee, etc;
• Detailed curriculum vitae, including examples of previous work that are of relevance to the objectives of this consultancy;
• Names and contact details of three referees; and
• Date of availability to take up consultancy.

14. All applications must be addressed and sent to the address below and clearly marked “ TENDER FOR EIA CONSULTANCY” :

The Director

SPREP

PO Box 240

Apia, Samoa

15. An electronic copy of the application is to be sent to this email address: sprep@sprep.org with the subject title “TENDER FOR EIA CONSULTANCY”.

For further information:

16. Contact SPREP at the following addresses:

• Phone: +685 21-929 ext 275
• Fax: +685 20-231
• Name & email: Mr Tepa Suaesi, Environmental Officer at tepas@sprep.org

SPREP

Apia, Samoa

10 December 2007