Georgia

East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project

Loan No. 3861-GEO

Assignment Title:  RESETTLEMENT EXTERNAL MONITORING CONSULTANT

Reference No: SAPR/CS/ICS-01

Georgia has received financing from the Asian Development Bank towards the cost of East-West Highway (Shorapani-Argveta Section) Improvement Project consulting services to be procured under this project, which will be jointly financed by the Government of Georgia.

The Roads Department of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia (RDMRDI) now invites Individual Consultants (Consultants) to express their interest in providing the following services: Resettlement External Monitoring Consultant. 

The objective of the assignment is to:

(i) verify that resettlement has been implemented in accordance with the approved final LARPs, including any corrective action plans (CAPs) and addendums thereto;

(ii) ensure that APs have been able to at least restore their livelihoods and living standards;

(iii) review the project impacts on vulnerable groups and assess the effectiveness of the mitigation measures adopted; and

(iv) assess the effectiveness of public consultations and communications with APs and the management of the grievance redress process.

To achieve the objective of this assignment, the Resettlement External Monitoring Consultant is expected to:

(i)  review all compensation tallies and verify that compensation has been provided to all APs in the amounts defined in the LARP and in the AP contracts;

(ii) review and evaluate the adequacy of compensation given to the APs as well as livelihood opportunities and incomes and quality of life of APs;

(iii) evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of the consultative process with APs, particularly those vulnerable, including the adequacy and effectiveness of grievance procedures and legal redress available to the APs, and dissemination of information about these;

(iv) review the information disclosure of LARPs and information pamphlets, verify that the process was conducted as stipulated in the LARP, and asses the satisfaction of the APs with the information campaign;

(v) conduct a AP satisfactory survey at field level with a 30% random sample of the APs, including assessment of whether resettlement objectives have been met (sampling procedure to be described);

(vi) conduct a survey of 30% random sample of APs who registered grievances, and evaluate functioning of the grievance redress process in accordance with the provisions of the LARP (sampling procedure to be described);

(vii) review the legalization process and assess its effectiveness;

(viii) assess of the rehabilitation program for severely affected and vulnerable APs;

(ix) provide a description of lessons learned and recommendations for improvements; and

(x) in conclusion, provide an overall assessment of LARP implementation and recommendations to ADB regarding the provision of a no objection letter to commence civil works.

The estimated duration of assignment is 120 days (intermittent).

Interested individuals shall follow the link to participate in the selection: https://selfservice.adb.org/OA_HTML/adb/xxcrs/jsp/ADBCsrnFwd.jsp?sel=157965

A consultant will be selected in accordance with the “Selection of Individual Consultants” procedures set out in Asian Development Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for ADB Borrowers” on the basis of substantial responsiveness of the best evaluated CV with respect to compliance with technical and other related aspects specified in the Terms of Reference.  

Required Qualification of the Consultant:

• An advanced degree in Sociology, Political Science, Law, Geography, Urban Planning, Engineering, Land Management or similar;
• A minimum of 3 (Preferably 5) years of experience in developing and implementing LARPs/RAPs on infrastructure projects, including road rehabilitation or reconstruction projects classified as Category A for Involuntary Resettlement as defined by ADB and/or WB;
• Prior experience in conducting external resettlement monitoring for development projects;
• Working knowledge of the ADB Safeguards Policy Statement 2009, and the World Bank Involuntary Resettlement Policy (OP 4.12); and
• Working knowledge of the Georgian land administration/management laws, regulations, and standards.
• Strong oral and written Georgian and English language and communication skills.
• Knowledge of participatory methods and consultation practices, with direct experience in working with the general public.
• Computer skills: Proficiency in standard and specialized desktop computer applications, including Word, Excel, electronic mail.