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Date: 22/03/2022

Source: MoPH

Request for Expression of Interest to hire an Environmental and Social Specialist and Grievance Mechanism Officer

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Republic of Lebanon
Ministry of Public Health

Lebanon Health Resilience Project (P163476) and Strengthening Lebanon’s Covid-19 Response (P178587)

Consultancy Services for
Environmental and Social Safeguards
Specialist and Grievance Mechanism (GM) Officer
(Loan No. 87710-LB; Contract Code: LB-MOPH-ICS-003)

The Government of Lebanon (GoL) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of Lebanon Health Resilience Project (LHRP- (P163476)). The LHRP is a five-year project that aims to increase access to quality healthcare services to poor Lebanese and displaced Syrians in Lebanon and to strengthen the Government’s capacity to respond to COVID-19. This project will: (i) provide subsidized packages of essential healthcare services to 250,000 poor Lebanese identified by the National Poverty Targeting Program; (ii) strengthen the technical and organizational capacities of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCCs), and public hospitals; and (iii) strengthen the capacity of the GoL to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. Recently, the GoL has also received approval from the World Bank for financing the ongoing COVID-19 operations in Lebanon, Strengthening Lebanon’s Covid-19 Response - (P178587) This project will finance: (i) Procurement of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine supplies; (ii) COVID-19 detection and case management; (iii) Project Management and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E).

The Ministry of Public Health is seeking to recruit an Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist and Grievance Mechanism (GM) officer to be the focal point for a dual role in monitoring and ensuring implementation of the environmental and social safeguards related aspects of both projects and grievances. The Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and the two addendums to the ESMF under the 4th component and that address the Environmental and Social issues related to delivery and deployment of vaccines pertains to the LHRP and is cleared and disclosed (The link to the ESMF section and all the addendums are available on the MoPH website), and the ESMF for COVID-19 operations in Lebanon which is under preparation and shall form the reference for his/her work.

The tasks for the dual role of the E&S Safeguards Specialist and Grievance Mechanism (GM) officer are exhaustively outlined in the Terms of Reference (ANNEX 1)

The MoPH hereby invites eligible Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the Services.

An Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist and Grievance Mechanism (GM) officer will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank's Procurement in Investment Project Financing Goods, Works, Non-Consulting, and Consulting Services (dated July 2016 and revised in November 2017, August 2018 and November 2020).

Interested Consultants are requested to provide the following information:

A CV showing relevant similar experience, previous academic and professional achievement.
A motivation letter explaining the consultant’s relevant experience, as well as previous academic and professional achievements.

Expression of Interest must be delivered electronically to the address below not later than Monday, April 11, 2022, at 13:00 local time. The subject of the e-mail should be: “E&S Specialist and GM Officer.”

Ministry of Public Health
Attention: Lebanon Health Resilience Project (LHRP), Strengthening Lebanon’s Covid-19 Response (P178587);
Title: Project Management Unit (PMU)
PMU Representatives: Elham El Mais, Ibrahim Assaad
Tel: 961 1 830300 Ext: 274
E-mail: lhr.covid19@gmail.com

ANNEX I
Lebanon Health Resilience Project (P163476) and Strengthening Lebanon’s Covid-19 Response (P178587)
Terms of Reference
Environmental and Social Specialist and Grievance Mechanism officer
PROC REF LB-MOPH-ICS-003

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The MoPH is seeking to recruit an Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist and Grievance Mechanism (GM) officer to be the focal point for a dual role in monitoring and ensuring implementation of the environmental and social safeguards related aspects of both projects and grievances. The Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and the two addendums to the ESMF under the 4th component and that address the Environmental and Social issues related to delivery and deployment of vaccines pertains to the LHRP and is cleared and disclosed (The link to the ESMF section and all the addendums are available on the MoPH website), and the ESMF for COVID-19 operations in Lebanon which is under preparation and shall form the reference for his/her work. Below is a list of the tasks outlined for the dual role for both the LHRP and the new COVID-19 Operations Project:

Tasks and responsibilities under both the LHRP and the COVID-19 Operations Project.

The tasks related to the GM role include:

Act as a focal point for grievance redress in the Lebanese Health Resilience Project (LHRP) and the COVID-19 Operations Project at the preventive medicine department and the Primary Healthcare Department (PHC) at the MoPH.
Coordinate between various GM uptake channels including grievance mechanisms at MoPH central level, and follow up on investigations and output.
Coordinate with the relevant department to redrafting or amending the Terms of Reference (if needed) of the current MoPH third party hotline contract.
Coordinate and develop guidance on how to refer complaints on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse/Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH) using the existing grievance mechanism and as per the recommendations of the ESMFs following survivor-centric approach and the principles of confidentiality and anonymity.
Follow up with the hotline on grievances uptake, handling and reporting; document in a GM log and prepare periodic quarterly reports on the nature and number of grievances, departments to which grievances were channeled and if cases are closed.
Ensure that the GMs for both projects allow anonymous grievances to be raised and addressed (including for doctors, other medical service providers and patients).
Ensure that the GM has an appeal process for unresolved grievances and as per the recommendations of the ESMFs.
Monitor service standards for handling of GM based on standards of World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Follow up with the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) specialists and report on grievances according to the results framework indicators
Perform capacity building for Project Management Unit (PMU) and hospital personnel on GM periodically and as required, and develop the appropriate material for GM training manual targeting the PMU and hospital personnel.
Contribute to the development of communication material to beneficiaries regarding GM.
Document grievances in a GM log and provide updates in the regular progress reporting.

The tasks related to the Environmental and Social Specialist role include:

Supervise and monitor the workflow of the COVID-19 isolation centers with respect to the ESMFs for both operations and follow up with the appropriate managers and medical teams.
Coordinate with hospitals to ensure the proper COVID-19 waste collecting, transferring and processing.
Ensure that the biological waste at the public hospitals and vaccine outlets are being properly handled and coordinate with medical waste certified institutions. According to the ESMFs; all hospitals and vaccine outlets that will receive funds under the World Bank Project have already contracted one of the certified institutions that handle medical waste in Lebanon.
Coordinate in conducting inclusive and meaningful consultations sessions as per the both ESMFs and the SEP of the new COVID-19 project while ensuring implementation of COVID-19 preventive measures as per the World Bank Technical Note on conducting consultations during times of constraints like COVID-19 (ANNEX 1).
Coordinate with the World Bank social and environmental safeguards team to ensure the social and environmental aspects are well-considered along the various stages of the project and as per the relevant safeguards’ instruments.
Contribute to the regular environmental and social reports to be submitted to the World Bank. The reports should include all the needed support documents for the various conducted activities as per ESMFs for both operations and that address the Environmental and Social issues related to delivery and deployment of vaccines.
Monitor and supervise the implementation of mitigation measures according to the ESMFs for both operations, so that the negative EHS impacts of the project are minimized or mitigated to an acceptable level.

The specialist shall become familiar with the project works through the review of the relevant documents, including but not limited to: (i) the ESMFs of LHRP and the related addendums(ii) ESMF of COVID-19 operations Project, and (iii) World Bank technical notes including but not limited to the: Technical Note on how to conduct consultations during times of constraints (ANNEX II);, Technical Note on the Use of Military Forces to Assist in COVID-19 operations (ANNEX III); and, any other relevant technical specifications and site visits.

Specifically, the specialist is expected to assist in:

Phase I: Strengthening EHS management

Assisting in preparing/ reviewing the ESMPs if needed for any rehabilitation activities or extension for an existing facility as per ESMFs.
Reviewing of standard bidding documents as per above activities which might be prepared by the MoPH and instructing on specific content regarding EHS requirements.
Preparing and executing a training program targeted to the PMU and the MoPH concerned staff on implementing ESMPs.

Phase II: Inspection and monitoring of implementing activities

Establishment and maintenance of the following records and procedures throughout the project implementation:

record-keeping requirements during inspection;
EHS monitoring checklist which will be used during the implementing works as per ESMFs for both operations.
EHS emergency procedures (related primarily to the event of accidental leaks, spills or emissions);

Validating and confirming the adequacy and accuracy of the EHS monitoring data, equipment, locations, procedures and locations of sensitive receivers.
Carrying out quarterly monitoring checks on monitoring and supervision data, etc. as per ESMFs for both operations.

Additional tasks and responsibilities for the E&S specialist role under COVID-19 Operations (Project) only

In line with the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), the Specialist will be responsible for updating, implementing, and monitoring the implementation of the following E&S documents:

Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP): The SEP will i) identify stakeholders to be consulted during project lifecycle; ii) conduct consultations related to the environmental and social impacts of Project proposed activities; iii) establish an approach for stakeholder engagement; and iv) ensure appropriate project information disclosure (ANNEX II). Consultant’s Tasks include i) identifying new stakeholders to be consulted during project lifecycle; ii) conducting consultations related to the environmental and social impacts of Project proposed activities; iii) establishing an approach for engagement with new stakeholder engagement, and iv) ensuring appropriate project information disclosure. Ensure the project will also establish a Grievance Mechanism. Disclosure of information is required at the central level and at the local level.

Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP): The ESCP will be an accurate summary of the material measures and actions to address the potential environmental and social risks and impacts of the project in accordance with the mitigation hierarchy. ESCP will set out measures and actions required for the project to achieve compliance with the relevant Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) over a specified timeframe.
Consultant’s tasks include updating the ESCP when needed, including when the project is restructured or when a major change occurs on the Project, and monitoring the compliance of the project with the measures and timeframe added.

Labor Management Procedures (LMP): The LMP is an E&S instrument that will be prepared as part of the ESF Environmental and Social management plan. All instruments are required to be prepared either as standalone documents or as separate chapters within ESMF.
Consultant’s tasks include updating the LMP when needed and monitoring requirements under labor-management such as Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), treatment of different categories of workers, grievance mechanisms, worker organizations, and emphasis on non-discrimination and equal opportunity.
Further information on the E&S instruments and their purposes is available on the World Bank Website (ESF Link)

DURATION

The contract period is for one year, extendable upon satisfactory performance and mutual agreement. The first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period, based on which the consultant’s performance will be evaluated. The contract may be terminated with no remedy if the performance was evaluated as not satisfactory

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS and DELIVERABLES

The Environmental and Social Safeguards specialist and GM officer will report to the PMU Project Manager and prepare quarterly and semi-annual progress reports on GM reporting and the implementation of the E&S as per the cleared and disclosed E&S instruments. The specialist is also expected to report weekly on the COVID-19 surveillance and will be expected to work closely with the PMU staff and team members.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

University degree in Environmental Engineering or Environmental/Social Science with experience in health projects
MD degree is desirable

Knowledge and Experience:

Three to Five years direct experience as a GM officer
Three to Five years direct experience as an EHS specialist
Experience in working with International Health Organizations is desirable
Knowledge of the World Bank OP 4.01 environmental and social safeguards policies and guidelines and regulations and the World Bank ESF is an asset
Familiar with the WB ESF

Skills & Abilities:

Ability to use analytical tools and qualitative and quantitative techniques
Fluency in English (reading, writing) and in Arabic.
Strong interpersonal skills and pro-active approach to problem solving.
Demonstrate ability to assume a leadership position in a team-based environment.
Demonstrate ability to motivate and promote collaboration amongst diverse teams and team members.
Availability, dependability, and willingness to be flexible.
Maintain and enthusiastic and positive attitude towards helping others.
Strong communication skills.