Agriculture Fast Track (AFT) Environmental/Social Impact Assessment (EIA) Specialist

Job Description

Company Profile: SSG Advisors is an international consulting firm based in Burlington, Vermont, USA, that works with a variety of government and commercial clients on market-driven sustainable development solutions around the world. Since 2005, we have completed assignments in nearly 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

Project Summary: In partnership with USAID and the African Development Bank (AfDB), SSG is supporting the development in the AfDB of the Agriculture Fast Track Fund (AFT). The AFT will make grants to investors (private or public sector) to allow them to procure consulting services to businesses engaging in agriculture infrastructure projects in six countries in Africa (Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, and Tanzania). These consulting services will include activities involved in preparing investment plans to seek financing, such as: feasibility studies, market research, financial analysis, business plan development, technical and engineering designs, and environmental and social impact assessments. The overall goal of the project is to help investors prepare better investment proposal and thereby increase their success in securing financing. SSG itself will provide some of the consulting services needed for two of these assignments.

Position Summary: SSG has an immediate opening for an Environmental/Social Impact Assessment Specialist with extensive experience conducting EISA’s for agriculture infrastructure projects in Africa for financial institutions and investors to participate on one or more of these consulting assignments. She/he must be able to plan and conduct impact assessments to the international standards of financial and/or donor institutions and already be familiar with the most common standards and procedures of key potential lenders.

Responsibilities: The position is expected to begin in May 2013 and require approximately four to eight weeks’ total commitment per assignment, including travel. The responsibilities of the Environmental/Social Impact Assessment Specialist include:

• Working with management of companies to plan, and conduct EISAs of their proposed projects (projects could include: irrigation, agricultural production, transport infrastructure, processing facilities, etc.);
• Working in conjunction with company management, implementing partners, and donor institutions to lead the EISA process for proposed project activities;
• Ensuring that all EISA requirements of likely lenders are met and satisfied;
• When necessary, providing advice and technical support company management to develop a detailed plan to mitigate against potential negative environmental and social effects of a proposed project and assist in writing up that plan.
• The assignment will involve international travel to one or more of the target countries.

Qualifications: SSG is seeking a qualified environmental and social impact analyst with relevant agribusiness/food industry experience and prior experience conducting such work in Africa.

• 10+ years’ professional experience conducting environmental/social impact assessments of agriculture and food industry projects;
• Demonstrated EISA experience in at least one of the six target AFT countries with knowledge of country specific EISA requirements and laws;
• Experience completing an EISA for a commercial investment project in Africa as part of meeting financing requirements.
• A strong record of environmental compliance and mitigation efforts in the international context (particularly in Africa).
• Knowledge of current international EISA best practices and the specific requirements of multilateral finance institutions (e.g., AfDB, IFC, Islamic Development Bank, World Bank, etc.) and bilateral development agencies;
• Written and spoken fluency in English and oral fluency in French.

Interested candidates should send a CV, cover letter, and three references to jobs@ssg-advisors.com with “AFT EISA Specialist” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis, and the position will be open until filled. Only finalists will be contacted for interviews. No phone calls please.