Environmental Specialist – INVITE - UG-PSFU-413140-CS-INDVTrust job at Investment for Industrial Transformation and Employment (“INVITE”)

JOB DETAILS:
1. Background:
The Government of the Republic of Uganda (GoU) received financing from the World Bank to implement the Investment for Industrial Transformation and Employment (INVITE) project. The Project is complemented and supported by other development partners, including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, through a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) Grant.

The Project Development Objective is to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 on private sector investment and employment and to support new economic opportunities, including refugee and hosting communities.

The Project comprises four components and is being implemented jointly by the Bank of Uganda (BoU) and Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU). The Project Components include Component 1: Mitigating the Impact of COVID-19 with a focus on the Manufacturing and Exporting Sectors Driving Economic Transformation, including Refugee and Hosting Districts; Component 2: Creating New Product and Transformative Assets including in Refugee and Host Districts; Component 3: Enhancing Capabilities in Public Institutions and Private Firms; and Component 4: Implementation Support, Monitoring, and Evaluation.

More details on the project can be found at the World Bank webpage of the project (https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/document-detail/P171607?type=projects).

BoU is implementing component 1.1, Component 1.2, Component 1.3, Component 2.1, Component 2.2 and Component 4b.

Component 1.1 will support loans that have been restructured under the Bank of Uganda COVID-19 response approach, primarily in the manufacturing and exporting sectors by covering part of the added financial cost due to the restructuring, qualifying MSMEs who received an extension of the amortization period on their loans will reduce the MSMEs incremental cost or debt servicing liability. The cost for this rebate will be shared with PFIs to ensure that PFIs.

Component 1.2 will target micro firms, including in RHDs, to enable them to restart or continue their operations as critical units in funding links between producers and aggregators, processors, and distributors. The majority of the micro firms to be targeted will be female owned firms that have been particularly affected. The window will provide a line of credit to Micro Finance Deposit-taking institutions (MFDs), MFIs and SACCOs regulated by the Bank of Uganda and the Uganda Micro Finance Regulatory Authority (UMRA) and in compliance with the project’s eligibility requirements.

Component 1.3 (receivables financing) seeks to provide finance to MSMEs based on security in the form of their receivables. Buyers, which are usually larger formal enterprises, normally pay their invoices with a delay of up to three months, thereby negatively affecting the liquidity of often small, informal enterprise suppliers.

Component 2.1 will target MSMEs with a focus on manufacturing and export supply chains, by setting up a Credit Guarantee Facility (CGF) to share the risks associated with new lending on a proposed 50/50 basis with PFIs and guarantee will be available to those in tier I, II and III institutions that meet the Window’s eligibility requirements.

Component 2.2 will provide long-term financing in the form of subordinated/convertible long-term local currency loans. This instrument targets key economic assets, private and public sponsored projects. It will be available to finance critical projects led by the public sector or the private sector, such as grain storage facilities or collection centers, cold storage, laboratories, SME Centers, industry and manufacturing hubs, etc.

Component 4b will support the establishment of operations systems in the BoU, including the legal advice to set up the INVITE Trust, the environmental and social systems, a management information system, the technical and financial design, risk management framework and the operational support for the financing of components 1 and 2.

BoU under INVITE seeks to engage services of an Environmental Specialist (ES) to be part of the Bank of Uganda/INVITE trust Project Implementation Team (PIT).

2. Job Purpose:
The ES will ensure that implementation of the INVITE is undertaken in full compliance with the Project’s Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP); Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF); Project Appraisal Document (PAD) and the Appraisal Environmental and Social Review Summary (ESRS) for this project found at the World Bank webpage of the project (https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/document-detail/P171607?type=projects); and Uganda laws, regulations and policies.

3. Key Result Areas:
(i) Development and implementation of systems and processes for environmental due diligence for the activities or subprojects under components 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1 and 2.2 and ensuring their environmental adequacy and compliance with the World Bank and National requirements;
(ii) Reviewing and strengthening existing data and data bases on environment at BoU aimed at ensuring their adequacy for efficient and effective reporting on implementation of the standards as spelled out in ESMF and other E&S instruments prepared for the components to be implemented by INVITE Trust;
(iii) Ensuring the assessment of environmental performance of PFIs, enterprises, and contractors engaged on INVITE on environmental compliance;
(iv) Preparation of Quarterly E&S compliance reports and consolidated annual reports throughout project implementation;
(v) Conduct quarterly monitoring and reporting on compliance of PFIs with E&S requirements and provide annual E&S reports to the World Bank;
(vi) Leading INVITE Environmental Risk Management dialogue and strengthening BoU/INVITE trust knowledge and capacity to implement environmental and social standards. This will include training the relevant units and other implementers on mainstreaming environmental issues during project development and implementation;
(vii) Implementation of the capacity building plan as provided in the ESMF.

4. Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
• Support the day-to-day performance of E&S aspects related to the INVITE Trust and the PFIs and their ESMSs during project implementation;
• Support E&S screening of lending or other forms of financial support provided by the PFIs to their borrowers from the proceeds of the IDA funds under INVITE;
• Support the development, maintenance and operation of the Environment Standards compliance monitoring system including reporting progress of implementation of the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and ESS9 standards;
• Detail INVITE Trust’s procedures for E&S due diligence on PFIs’ ESMS and PFI ESMS requirements as well as specific activities financed under INVITE;
• Providing specific time-bound actions and practical steps for integrating Environmental Risk Management into the activities supported by INVITE, including the specific tools to be integrated into the deal flow for each financial transaction type supported under INVITE;
• Prepare specific tools for implementation by PFIs to screen and mitigate environmental risks in transactions supported by the World Bank;
• Monitor and supervise the Environmental performance of the PFIs and their portfolio exposures on the credit line and ensure that each PFI monitors the entire WB-financed portfolio and report to BoU/INVITE Trust.
• Supervise PFI to ensure that subproject sponsors prepare and disclose all risk assessment and management instruments (ESIA/ESMPs, ESA etc.);
• Ensuring that PFIs conduct adequate screening and monitoring of MSME support they provide from the INVITE Trust proceeds in accordance with national legislation and ESMF;
• Provide technical guidance to BoU/INVITE trust and its implementing partners and other stakeholders on ensuring aspects of Environment compliance measures are implemented and adhered to;
• Support the Social Development Specialist to undertake stakeholder engagement and consultations on all sub-projects;
• Support the collection, analysis and utilization of environment information necessary for project implementation;
• Coordinate and Support preparation of Quarterly E&S compliance reports and consolidated annual reports throughout project implementation;
• Conduct quarterly monitoring and reporting on compliance of grant PFIs with E&S requirements and provide annual E&S reports to the World Bank;
• Undertake periodic training and capacity building of key INVITE implementers at different levels on implementing environmental standards under the project, including orienting them on the application of the ESMF and ESMS;
• Ensure adequate Environment standards records and documentation are kept (including photographs,) of works and sub projects and adequate documentation of stakeholders’ consultations;
• Assist in developing ToRs as specified in ESMF and other E&S instruments prepared for the components to be implemented by INVITE Trust;
• Supporting and leading in the development of Environmental and Social (E&S) instruments as spelled out in the ESMF;
• Advice Management on strategies for strengthening implementation of Environment Risk Management measures;
• Ensure environmental aspects are included in the project annual workplan;
• Undertake environmental monitoring and supervision of project works, including development of monitoring checklists, compilation of progress reports to ensure compliance with the environmental requirements spelled out in E&S instruments;
• Support mainstreaming of environmental standards requirements including compliance with OHS into the bidding documents and training;
• Perform any other related duties as may be assigned from time to time.

5. Required Qualifications and Experience:
5.1: Academic Qualification: Applicants should possess:
a) MSc. Degree in Environment and Natural Resources Management; environmental engineering, or a related field from a recognized institution.
b) A bachelor’s degree in Environment Management, Botany, Zoology, Forestry or related field from a recognized institution.
c) Post graduate qualification training in Environment Management and membership to professional bodies will be an added advantage.

5.2: Experience:
a) At least ten (10) years demonstrated experience in the field of Environment Management out of which at least five (05) experience with World Bank (IBRD, IDA, IFC) funded projects or other multilateral-funded projects (ADF, AFD, etc).
b) Broad understanding of National Environmental Laws, Policies, regulations and World Bank Environmental and Social Framework.
c) Demonstrated knowledge of supporting a comprehensive and balanced approach to environmental risk management is required including scoping screening, research, risk assessment, planning, E&S instruments development and implementation, monitoring and reporting.
d) familiarity with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and ESS9 standards.

5.3 Other Required Skills and competence:
a) Ability to independently and effectively plan, organize, manage and evaluate important and complex projects for individual and team work.
b) Ability to make quick and good judgement.
c) Excellent communication skills (verbal and written).
d) Excellent interpersonal skills, including diplomacy and tact.
e) High level of honesty, integrity and versatility.
f) Should be able to work with minimum supervision and deliver under pressure.

6. Deliverables:
(i) Activity and compliance reports.
(ii) Implementable environmental standards as spelled out in ESMF and other E&S instruments prepared for the components to be implemented by INVITE Trust.
(iii) Environment Standards Monitoring data base developed and functional.
(iv) Quarterly E&S compliance reports and consolidated annual reports.
(v) Quarterly monitoring and reporting on compliance of PFIs with E&S requirements and provide annual E&S reports to the World Bank.
(vi) The Environmental Compliance Report within the Project's Implementation Completion Report.

7. Reporting:
The ES will to the Executive Director Finance Bank of Uganda/ INVITE trust for overall supervision and day to day technical matters under the contract.

8. Duty Station:
(i) The ES will be deployed on a full-time basis and the duty station shall be the INVITE-PIU Office in Bank of Uganda-Kampala with frequent travel upcountry.
(ii) Out of pocket expenses towards work related travel will be reimbursed as per rules and regulations applicable to the INVITE-Project.

9. Facilities to be provided by the Employer:
The Employer shall provide office space, with connectivity to internet, printer and access to other office amenities during the term of his contract.

10. Duration of Services:
The ES will be appointed on a contractual basis for an initial period of two (2) years with a possibility of renewal based on performance, business need and budget availability.

Deadline: 07/05/2024

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 120

Level of Education: Postgraduate Degree