01.08.13

Roads Department of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, as the World Bank Transport Projects' Implementing Agency in Georgia is soliciting applications for the position of Enviromental Consultant

Background

The Government of Georgia has received series of loans from the World Bank for upgrading sections of the East-West Highway. Roads Department (RD) of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure is implementing the Third East-West Highway Project (EWHIP-3) for upgrading Sventi-Ruisi and Ruisi-Agara sections of the Highway and the First East-West Highway Improvement Project (EWHIP-1) for reconstructing the Rikoti tunnel. The Government has also received support from the World Bank for the Forth East-West Highway Improvement Project (EWHIP-4) for upgrading Agara-Zemo Osiauri section of E-60 Highway that requires dedicated management from the RD to ensure successful implementation of these projects.

This Terms of Reference defines the tasks of an Environmental Consultant to supplement in-house capacity of the RD to ensure that rehabilitation and construction works undertaken as part of the World Bank supported operations are carried out in compliance with the national environmental legislation and the environmental policies of the World Bank.

Project Overview

The mentioned projects will mainly focus on the rehabilitation and upgrading of Ruisi-Agara and Agara-Zemo Osiauri sections of the East-West Highway from the present two-lane road to a limited access 4-lane highway. In particular, the World Bank’s financing supports upgrading of the first 11 km west of Ruisi followed by 8 km of Agara-bypass and next 12km of Agara-Zemo Osiauri Section of the East-West highway.

Responsibilities of the Environmental Consultant

The Environmental Consultant will help the RD to ensure that all physical works performed under the TEWHIP and EWHIP-4 are in compliance with the national environmental laws and regulations and strictly follow Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) provided as a part of the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) report of these projects. Similar assistance to the RD shall be provided, upon demand, for the purposes of implementing other ongoing and upcoming World Bank supported projects led by the RD. Carrying out this assignment would imply daily cooperation with the core environmental staff of the RD and will comprise of the following tasks:

Track timely receipt of the monthly environmental monitoring reports from the construction supervision consultant firm hired by the RD, assess these reports and provide recommendations for their improvement as required, prepare reports on a quarterly basis for submission to the World Bank, check adequacy of the corrective measures recommended by the supervision consultant in case of EMP violations; track follow-up on the recorded violations and application of the prescribed corrective measures;
Undertake regular field trips to the project sites for verifying relevance and coverage of the factual information provided in the supervision consultant’s reports, and providing Roads Department’s direct oversight of the outstanding and/or high risk environmental issues related to the project implementation;
Participate in carrying out any supplemental site-specific environmental studies and/or developing site-specific EMPs and assist RD and its consultants (if relevant) if and as required in the course of the projects’ implementation.
Participate in the FPU’s team work for the development of monthly progress reports on the project implementation through provision of write-up on the status of environmental safeguards compliance.
Closely collaborate with the RD environmental staff to ensure involvement in all current issues and provide relevant assistance.
Assist RD in implementation other environmental matters and tasks that may be assigned from time to time.

· Assist in training the local specialists and staff, ensure proper transfer of skills and experience and support in every possible way.

Assist RD in review and refinement of EMPs prepared for further projects and accordingly ensure close collaboration and cooperation with the consultants.
Participate in public meetings together with the RD staff.

Qualifications and Experience of the Environmental Consultant

The Environmental Consultant shall be a qualified professional in the field of natural science with at least 5 years of work experience and shall have relevant practical skills in environmental management. Direct experience in environmental management of infrastructure development projects would be particularly desirable. The successful candidate should have

· Completed high education in the field of natural science.

· Practical background in carrying out environmental assessments of and management planning for infrastructure development projects, and/or implementing of such plans.

· Good grasp of the Georgian environmental law, regulations, and standards.

· Experience in environmental related issues under the projects funded by International Financial Institutions is preferred.

· Strong Georgian and English language skills.

Terms of Emplyment

The Environmental Consultant will report to the RD, in particular, Resettlement and Enviromental Division.

The Environmental Consultant will be mobilized on a full time basis for 12 months contract (including 3 months trial period), with the possibility for downstream work subject to satisfactory performance.

Applications should include Letter of Interest and Curriculum Vitae in Georgian and English Languages. Applications must be submitted via email to info@georoad.ge. Please indicate the position in subject line. Deadline for applications: August 09, 2013.

To obtain detailed information, please contact:

Procurement Organization Unit of Foreign Projects Department of Roads Department of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia

Address: 12 Al. Kazbegi Avenue, Tbilisi, 0160, Georgia

Tel: +995-322-37-05-08 ext. 305

Fax: +995-322-31-30-34

Email: info@georoad.ge

Web-Site: www.georoad.ge