1 TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE SOCIOLOGIST - PIU
1.1 Background
The Government of Uganda (GoU) has received funding from the World Bank for the implementation of the Electricity Access Scale-up Project (EASP) to be implemented over a period of five (5) years. EASP will support GoU’s efforts to increase access to electricity for households, refugee and host communities, industrial parks, commercial enterprises and public institutions. This is intended to spur socio-economic transformation, in line with Uganda’s Vision 2040, the National Development Plan (NDP III), the 2018 – 2027 Electricity Connection Policy (ECP) adopted in January 2018 and to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) of achieving universal energy access by 2030. EASP activities will build on earlier Government initiatives in the energy sector, to support the expansion and strengthening of the electricity distribution network, scale-up service connections within the network, and increase access to off-grid electricity in refugee settlements and their host communities (outside the existing electricity distribution network), and to clean cooking services and technologies.
The Electricity Access Scale up Project (EASP) will contribute to supporting the realization of the ECP objectives and will be implemented on an Investment Project Finance (IPF) approach. The EASP will be implemented by two main entities, namely the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) and the Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company Limited (UECCC). The two main entities will implement closely with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Water and Environment (MoWE), Ministry of Local Government (MoLG), Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT), electricity distribution Service Providers, and other relevant sector stakeholders to implement the various project activities.
A Project Implementation Unit (PIU) will be established at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) to implement activities relating to grid expansion and connectivity, including scaling up of last-mile connectivity while supporting the necessary network expansion and strengthening through construction of grid extensions, upgrades, and intensification. Grid extension will involve investments in MV and LV network, together with the necessary transformer installations, to enable connection of households and high-priority areas such as industrial parks, commercial consumers, and public institutions. For industrial parks, the project will finance construction of internal distribution networks and MV networks required for connection of the parks to the main transmission system. The PIU at MEMD will also be responsible for expansion of the enabling infrastructure that is critical to increase access to electricity within Refugee Hosting Districts (RHDs), including implementation of last-mile connection of household, commercial, industrial, and public institution consumers within the RHDs.
In order to support the effective and efficient overall management and implementation of grid expansion and network strengthening activities, as well as electricity service connection activities under EASP, MEMD seeks to engage the services of a Sociologist under the PIU to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the EASP.
1.2 Objective of the Assignment
The Sociologist will support the implementation and management of the social and safeguards component of the EASP project under the PIU at MEMD.
1.3 Scope of Services
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i. Supervise and monitor the development of the Terms of Reference (TORs) for Environmental and Social Assessments, including but not limited to Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), RAPs, Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Environmental and Social Audits for EASP.
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ii. Support the implementation of all social risk management activities; facilitate the preparation and implementation of action plans and review documentation of social risk management activities required by the funding agencies to ensure that social issues have been adequately addressed and that the project is in compliance with the safeguard policies, particularly those on involuntary resettlement, refugee specific issues and social inclusion;
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iii. Support the development of RAPs, stakeholder consultation and, ensure the quality of the required reports and supporting documents;
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iv. Review reports produced by the RAP preparation and implementation consultant to ensure that they adequately address the social dimensions of the project, including gender issues and women’s empowerment;
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v. Support the RAP implementation processes.
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vi. Promote and contribute substantively to analyses of strengthening social aspects such as gender, child protection, HIV/AIDs, social inclusion, grievance management, land acquisition and compensation of the EASP;
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vii. Provide advice on major or sensitive matters relating to social impacts and risks during preparation and implementation;
viii. Advise and/or provide quality operational support on safeguards and non-safeguards related social development issues at both the design and implementation phases, including advice on identification of social impacts associated with the environmental assessment process in close collaboration with Environmental Officers;
ix. Advise and/or participating in the design and implementation of operational mechanisms that take into account social opportunities, impacts, constraints and risks under the programme;
x. Support the mainstreaming of social issues in project design and implementation in accordance with agreed safeguard instruments (Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), Resettlement Policy Framework/Resettlement Action Plan (RPF/RAP) and Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups Framework (VMGA) and how they are applied in RHDs in liaison with refugee stakeholders (OPM, UNHCR and INGOs);
xi. Support and facilitate stakeholders including district and community members in identification, prioritization and mitigation of social, equity and gender issues during the project design and implementation, as well as monitoring and evaluation of social impacts of the EASP;
xii. Identify potential sources of grievances, design and implement appropriate grievance redress mechanisms with special attention to land related matters;
xiii. Continuously monitor social, equity, gender and refugee issues concerning the project and participate in assessment and evaluation of the social impact of project interventions;
xiv. Ensure continuous stakeholder engagements as per provisions of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and the RAP; including relevant government agencies, Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (Attn: Chief Government Valuer) and other local officials are well informed on issues related to the preparation and implementation of RAP/s.
xv. Conduct awareness creation and sensitization of the communities on social, equity and gender dimensions of the project along with suggested safeguards;
xvi. Ensure that all social issues including safeguard implementation are assessed and reported in the periodical reports, midterm reviews and completion Reports;
xvii. Support the operationalization of the social safeguards instrument including Resettlement Policy frameworks and support preparations of the resettlement actions plans including instituting appropriate mechanism of consultations and information relay on rights and legislation on involuntary land acquisition, stakeholder engagement, complaint handling mechanisms, etc;
xviii. Integrate social inclusion (with respect to refugee status, gender, age, ethnicity or any other relevant factor) into analysis, policies, institutions and operations;
xix. Undertake project site visits to assess and enforce compliance and make the necessary remedies.
xx. Generate periodical reports and continuously assess capacity gaps in implementing social issues and recommend relevant capacity development needs.
xxi. Carry out any other duties as assigned by the Social Development Specialist provided these duties contribute to achieving the development objectives of the EASP project.
1.4 Personal Specifications
a) Qualification
i. Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and Social Administration, Sociology, Anthropology, Applied Social Sciences from a recognized University/Institutions;
ii. Master’s degree in Social Work and Social Administration/sociology, Anthropology, Social Sciences/ Natural Resources Management/ Public Administration from a recognized University/Institution;
iii. Demonstrated knowledge of the World Bank best practices and/or guidelines and procedures on social safeguards, social assessment, social analysis, effective stakeholder engagement and participation and complaint resolution systems, and the regulations and legal framework governing environmental and social management;
b) Experience
i. At least eight (8) years of relevant professional experience in social safeguards management;
ii. Demonstrated experience in conflict resolution in the context of development projects as well as the experience in at least two projects financed by the World Bank or, any development partner having the same standards in terms of safeguards.
iii. He or she should have experience in Land Acquisition for infrastructure development projects and in managing issues related to involuntary resettlement.
c) Competencies:
i. Technical
a. Human Resource Management
b. Strategic thinking
c. Analytical skills
d. Results oriented
e. Problem solving and decision making
f. Information communication technology
g. Financial Management
ii. Behavioural
a. Assertiveness and Self confidence
b. Ethics and Integrity
c. Problem Solving and Decision Making
d. Communication skills
e. Self-control and stress management
f. Concern for quality and standards
1.5 Reporting Obligations
The Sociologist will report to the Social Safeguards Specialist, EASP-PIU.
1.6 Duration of the Assignment
The Sociologist shall undertake the assignment on a full-time, EASP project-exclusive basis for a period of eighteen (18) months, renewable subject to satisfactory performance.
1.7 Duty Station
The Sociologist shall be based in Kampala and stationed at the MEMD with travel to the project implementation sites / areas for monitoring or as and when need arises