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The joint United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and European Union (EU) Project “Building capacity for Strategic Environmental Assessment and environmental conventions implementation in Belarus”, implemented at the national level by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus (Ministry of Environment), aims to assist Belarus in developing domestic capacity for an effective integration of environmental concerns into the national decision-making through enhancing environmental conventions implementation in the country.
One of the project components, funded by OSCE, has the target to improve cooperation, involve a wide range of stakeholders and the public in the development and assessment of major projects in Belarus with a potential cross-border impact on the environment. The UNECE Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) is used as the main instrument to achieve this.
The International Consultant (pilot EIA peer review) should provide distant peer review and relevant recommendations to the full transboundary EIA process in Belarus (including review of the EIA report), applied to the planned hydropower plant on the Neman River in Belarus. In addition, he/she should provide advisory assistance to the local expert team in preparation of the guide on the implementation of the Espoo Convention in Belarus, as well as visit Belarus for participation and presentations of the progress and positive experience in the field of transboundary EIA within a one-day workshop in Minsk (preliminary scheduled for October 2010) and within a one-day regional conference in Minsk (preliminary scheduled for November 2010).More information about the project can be found at www.ecorazvitie.by.
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Duties and Responsibilities
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The consultant will provide distant peer review of the EIA process (including EIA report) of the planned hydropower plant on the Neman River in Belarus in accordance with the provisions of the Espoo Convention, based on relevant legislation, implementing the provisions of the Espoo Convention. He/She will develop relevant recommendations to improve the EIA process in a transboundary context in Belarus, assist the local expert team in preparation of the guide on the Espoo Convention implementation in Belarus and make presentations during the mid-term workshop in Minsk (Belarus), preliminary scheduled for October 2010, and during the regional conference in Minsk (Belarus) preliminary scheduled for November 2010. The International Consultant (pilot EIA peer review) will work in close cooperation with the Task Coordinator (SEA-Conventions) of the project. He/She directly reports to the Task Coordinator (SEA-Conventions) on the work done for further approval of the results by UNDP and the Ministry of Environment.
Specific Responsibilities:
The International Consultant (pilot EIA peer review) shall:
Make the peer review report in Russian (about 20 pages, A4 format) of the EIA process/EIA report of the planned hydropower plant on the Neman River in Belarus with the focus indicatively on the following issues:
- Content of the EIA report according to the provisions of the Espoo Convention;
- Adequacy and relevance of the description of the local environmental and socio-economic conditions in the EIA report;
- Quality of the in-depth EIA analysis according to the requirements of the Espoo Convention;
- Assessment of the transboundary issues in the pilot EIA;
- Assessment of the reasonable alternatives and also the no-action alternative;
- Proposed measures to mitigate the negative impacts of the planned activity;
- Monitoring proposal for the adverse impacts of the planned activity;
- Strategy for involving the relevant stakeholders and interested Parties in the EIA process;
- Comprehensiveness of non-technical summary.
Provide written recommendations in Russian (approx. 15 pages, A4 format) to the following aspects of the EIA process in a transboundary context, based on the results of the pilot EIA of the planned hydropower plant on the Neman River in Belarus, in line with the requirements of the Espoo Convention and the UNECE Guidance on practical application of the Espoo Convention, Guidance on Notification according to the Espoo Convention and Guidance on public participation in EIA in a transboundary context:
- Notification of the public, stakeholders involved and interested Parties (terms, deadlines, procedure);
- International consultations (terms, deadlines, procedure, participants);
- Public hearings (planning, announcement, procedure, participants, expected results, integration of the conclusions).
- Assist the local expert team in development of the guide on the Espoo Convention implementation in Belarus (structure, content, public participation, work with interested Parties and stakeholders);
- Prepare the presentation on the pilot EIA peer review report and recommendations to the EIA process in a transboundary context in Belarus (approx. 10 slides) for its delivery during the mid-term workshop;
- Participate in the one-day mid-term workshop in Minsk, Belarus (preliminary scheduled for October 2010), deliver the presentation to the workshop participants;
- Participate in the one-day regional conference in Minsk, Belarus (preliminary scheduled for November 2010), prepare and deliver the presentation on the pilot EIA in line with the conclusions and recommendations of the mid-term workshop;
- Facilitate group discussions/debates within the mid-term workshop and the regional conference;
- Summarize the conclusions of the workshop and the conference; prepare the reports with recommendations on the events (about 3 pages per each report, A4 format, excluding annexes).
Expected Results/Deliverables:
- The first draft peer review report (about 20 pages, A4 format) submitted to the Task Coordinator (SEA-Conventions) for consideration and comments by the Ministry of Environment/UNDP by 1 October 2010;
- The final peer review report submitted to the Task Coordinator (SEA-Conventions) for approval by the Ministry of Environment/UNDP by 11 October 2010;
- Written recommendations (approx. 15 pages, A4 format) on improvement of the EIA process in a transboundary context in Belarus submitted to the Task Coordinator for consideration and approval by the Ministry of Environment/UNDP by 6 October 2010;
- Assistance to the local expert team in preparation of the guide on the Espoo Convention implementation in Belarus provided;
- Two presentations to the workshop and regional conference (approx. 10 slides per each one) prepared and delivered at the events;
- The reports (about 3 pages per each report, A4 format, excluding annexes) with the conclusions of the workshop and regional conference provided to the Task Coordinator (SEA-Conventions) within 5 days after each event.
Payment Schedule:
The lump sum payment, 100% of the total of the contract fee, will be paid after completion of the assignment upon written confirmation from the Task Coordinator (SEA-Conventions), based on the expected results/deliverables. The Consultant will be responsible for all administrative expenses associated with undertaking this assignment, including telephone and electronic communications, and report copies incurred in this assignment. Travel to Minsk for participation in the mid-term workshop and conference is anticipated in association with this assignment and is covered by a travel allowance, included in the total amount of the contract for this assignment to cover transportation and DSA.
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Competencies
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- Outstanding analytical, presentation and communication skills;
- Excellent spoken and written Russian;
- Good knowledge of written and spoken English would be preferable;
- Advanced computer literacy (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet and e-mail).
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Required Skills and Experience
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- Master’s Degree in natural resource management, environment, biology, geography science or equivalent. PhD Degree would be preferable.
- At least, 5 years of work experience with EIA and the Espoo Convention;
- Practical experience in implementation of the EIA in a transboundary context is a must;
- Experience of work with CIS-countries in EIA would be a strong asset;
- Experience in developing environmental assessment manuals or guidance is a strong asset;
- Knowledge of internationally recognized EIA quality evaluation methodologies, such as the EU’s Guidance on EIA-EIS Review, is strongly desirable;
- Experience of evaluating EIA/SEA reports, especially of energy development projects, is desirable.
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