Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
In response to the request from the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (the government), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing a technical assistance grant for the preparation of the Issyk-Kul Ring Road Improvement Project (the project). The transaction technical assistance (TRTA) will help the government (i) prepare the project to acceptable technical, safeguards, and procurement standards; (ii) design the continuity of the ongoing reform in road asset management and road safety with gender-perspective; and (iii) contribute in transitioning to green economy.
The executing agency will be the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) and the implementing agency will be the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of MOTC. The detailed design of the road is being prepared by a national design consultant engaged and financed by MOTC.
ADB will engage a consulting firm and individual consultants to assist ADB and MOTC with preparing a project to the standard required for processing ADB financing. The consultants will be recruited in accordance with ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and its associated project administration instructions and/or staff instructions.
The consultants are expected to be recruited in phases. Key individual international and national consultants to undertake safeguard due diligences will be recruited and mobilized by November 2022. The international consultants, supported by the national consultants, will be responsible for deliverables in their respective expertise fields, and will report to the ADB Project Officer and to the Team Leader to be separately engaged by ADB (para. 5).
A group of international and national consultants, including the Team Leader is expected to be recruited and mobilized by January 2023 to (i) carry out technical, economic, and financial due diligence and (ii) formulate non-investment project components. The Team Leader of the group will be responsible for timely preparation of various reports to be produced under TRTA, including those to be produced by individual international consultants.
The consulting services will be provided in Bishkek, and at the project location, as required. MOTC/PIU will provide the consultants all reports, documents, and other information that they have reasonably available.
Scope of Work
As part of the due diligence activities under the TRTA, ADB is seeking to engage an individual international consultant—International Environment Expert/EIA Study Team Leader, who will support the Team Leader and other team members in preparing safeguards assessments for environment, and preparing appropriate mitigation plans in accordance with the provisions of ADB’s Safeguards Policy Statement 2009, recommending a categorization for impacts, and estimating budgets needed for implementing the mitigation plans.
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
The detailed tasks and/or expected outputs are as follows:
• Lead the preparation of the EIA study following ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS)
• Lead and coordinate with other experts in the project preparatory team for the preparation of the EIA Study, relevant project documents required for due diligence, integration in bidding document/s of resources required, costs, and provisions on environment, health and safety, and other deliverables that maybe required by the borrower in relation to ADB SPS requirements.
• Present the information on the project description in relation to the background environment of the area as per the detailed design;
• Study the relevant baseline information, including soil, geology, hydrology, biodiversity, noise, air quality and water quality; conduct baseline surveys for each parameter to establish ambient environmental conditions in the area. For noise, acquire baseline data on a 24-hour basis at representative points and prepare a constructed baseline using these;
• Perform an impacts analysis for the construction and operation stages of the project and propose mitigation measures to minimize and/or remove the impacts; conduct noise, vibration and air dispersion modelling using the traffic projections for the project to establish likely environmental impacts in the area; provide detailed assessment on soil/ slope stabilization and erosion, hydrology, etc.;
• Assess environmental impacts of the project and its ancillary activities and also discuss cumulative environmental impacts;
• Perform a clear analysis of project alternatives such that the environmentally most feasible option emerges as the selected alignment;
• Develop an environmental sensitivity mapping of the project area using the baseline data collected; include data on noise, vibration, social indicators, water and soil;
• Perform a risk based environmental impact analysis of the likely impacts of the project based on the findingsand results of the noise and air emissions modeling, biodiversity baseline and other sensitiveenvironmental parameters along the alignment;
• As part of the environment impact assessment (EIA)/Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), prepare an environmental management plan (EMP), including the use of appropriate mitigation technologies, an environmental monitoring plan with monitoring indicators, and institutional arrangements and responsibilities, including cost estimates and training;
• Conduct an institutional environmental capacity review with regards to the implementation capacity of the executing agency with regards to environmental safeguards. Prepare a capacity development program to deal with each of the identified capacity gaps.
• Conduct meaningful public consultation with communities and relevant stakeholders in the area of influence of the project at least twice during the environmental assessment process, once at the planning stage and once when the final detailed design is available for sharing with all stakeholders. Consult all local and national level stakeholders, including community-based organization and national and international NGOs actively working in the area. Ensure, and provide evidence that the findings and concerns of the communities have been addressed in the EIA report;
• The EIA and its EMP should contain the requirement for the preparation of a site specific EMP by the contractor (using a risk-based approach) to ensure that the mitigation measures are customized to the needs of the various aspects of the project and the alignment;
• The EIA should contain maps and figures to explain the details and all supporting data and studies performed as part of the EIA should be duly annexed;
• Prepare a Grievance Redress Mechanism that is operational for the project, including community representation along the entire alignment of the road;
• Prepare indicative costs, terms of reference, and relevant provisions on environment, health and safety to be included in the works bid documents
• Provide briefing to borrower/client on the findings and recommendations of the EIA Study, prepare action plan to ensure the EIA Study is updated based on detailed engineering design, and others as required for full understanding by the borrower/client on environmental safeguards.
• Overall responsible for the quality of the EIA Study, coordinating with the borrower/client and other EIA team members to address clarifications from ADB, and support the borrower/client on the disclosure requirements per ADB SPS.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
The minimum qualification requirements are as follows:
• Bachelor’s degree or above in environmental engineering, civil engineering, environmental science or other appropriate qualification;
• At least 10 years of experience in environment impact assessment (EIA) preparation, implementation, and addressing environment issues for development projects. Part of this experience should preferably have been in institutional and physical environments similar to those prevailing in the Kyrgyz Republic or similar geographical conditions;
• Proven practical experience in preparing EIA studies and conducting stakeholder consultations; and
• Familiar with transport sector (roads projects) and IFI financed projects.
Deadline of Submitting EOI: 07-Oct-2022 11:59 PM Manila local time
