NATIONAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE COMMITTEE
Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) Project – GESD 2.0
Agreement No: IDA-E6540
Individual Consultant– Environmental Safeguard Specialist (ESS)
No: MW-NLGFC-563908-CS-INDIV
Date of Issue: 20th August ,2026

1.0 Background

The Government of Malawi (GoM) through the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) has received financing towards the cost of Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) Project – GESD 2.0. The NLGFC intends to apply part of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under the contract for hiring Environmental Safeguard Specialist (ESS) on a three – year contract renewable annually based on performance and availability of financial resources or mutually agreed by both parties.

NLGFC therefore invites applications from suitably qualified and interested candidates to fill the position of Environmental Safeguard Specialist (ESS) tenable at the NLGFC Offices.

The terms of Reference (TORs) for Environmental Safeguard Specialist (ESS) are as follows:

2. The Objectives of the Assignment

The Environmental Safeguard Specialist will ensure that GESD 2.0 activities comply with the World Bank ESF and ESH guidelines as outlined in the governing Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), and Project Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) including all the supporting management plans as appropriate.

3. Duties and Responsibilities

The duties will include but will not be limited to:

• coordination and provision of technical supervision, monitor and report on Environment safeguards in line with the national laws and in conformity with the Environmental and Social Framework of the World Bank and international best practices under the project;
• Provision of preventive and protective measures, including modification, substitution, or elimination of environmental risks and impacts; and
• Design and development of training programme for district officers, contractors and workers etc.
• Support the eligible local authorities in conducting environmental and social screening followed by the timely development and disclosure of Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) of all sub-project activities implemented by local authorities with the aim of incorporating due processes as standard practice in social and environmental safeguards implementation;
• Conduct reviews of ESMPs of all the subprojects developed by the local authorities in compliance with Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and the Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF), RAPs, and other relevant E and S instruments to ensure quality and timely submission;
• Provide and review environmental and social inputs into the planning, design and contracting of investments, including the preparation of tender documents in line with the Environmental and Social Frameworks (ESF);
• Develop and implement an internal administrative tracking system for the PIU in order to monitor the progress of project activities in terms of meeting environmental and social safeguard requirements. The system will include the planning, assessment, approval, implementation and monitoring phases of GESD 2.0 Project activities. The system will be computer based (using a spread sheet or Microsoft Access) and designed for easy data entry and report generation. Reports generated by the system should be simple to produce, showing progress of a specific project activity, and highlight critical items such as pending or overdue actions;
• Design and deliver, or arrange for the delivery of, an environmental and social safeguards capacity building program for local authorities’ staff and other relevant stakeholders with the purpose of strengthening capacity of local authorities to implement environmental and social safeguard requirements effectively within the context of larger GESD 2.0 activities;
• Following up implementation of environmental screening and implementation of ESMPs and Social response operations at sector and district levels through EDOs (local authority staff);
• Undertaking review of CESMPs and provide feedback to local authorities;
• Undertake spots checks on compliance monitoring of Contractors Environmental and Social Management Plan for PBG sub-projects;
• Undertaking site visits and reviewing contractors’ compliance with site-specific CESMPs, Labour Management Procedures (LMPs), Codes of Conducts etc. including determining and suggesting remedial actions in collaboration with the Environmental Expert and Occupational Safety and Health (OHS) Expert;
• Preparation of non-compliance reports and keeping track of respective responses/actions undertaken and preparation of periodic Environmental Compliance Monitoring Reports;
• Participating at the official meetings with the Bank and other forums related to the project;
• Undertake internal E&S Audits and support consultants in the preparation of external E&S Audits, and track the implementation of the corrective and remedial action plans by the district and municipal councils;
• Provide inputs and materials to Communication Specialist for devising communication strategy, knowledge products and dissemination of results;
• Timely preparation and submission of monthly, quarterly, annual and period reports to the Project Coordinator, Executive Director and World Bank task team; and
• Performing any other duties as may be necessary for the effective implementation of the project as assigned by Project Coordinator and or Director of Social and Economic Services.

4. Qualifications and Experience

The candidate should meet the following qualifications:

• A master’s degree in environmental sciences, Environmental Engineering, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Policy and Analysis; Environmental Management and Economics
• A minimum of 8 years of experience in the field of environmental management at National level or international organization, and donor projects handling environmental and social aspects of planning, assessing and managing civil works projects of various scale in Malawi or similar African countries
• Working knowledge of World Bank environmental and social frameworks, especially Environmental and Social Assessment (ESS1), Land Acquisition, Restriction on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement (ESS5), and have demonstrated experience in successfully preparing ESIAs, ESMPs and RAPs in line with World Bank standards, policies will be considered an advantage
• Working knowledge of regulations in Malawi related to Environmental and Social issues;
• Experience with designing and delivering capacity building programs
• Familiarity with Article VI of Paris 21 Agreement; environmental, social and economic conditions prevailing in Malawi or similar African countries;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, as well as team participation and management skills;
• Strong organizational and communications skills and ability to interface with grassroots, district and sector players in the discipline
• Demonstrated Computer Skill (Proficiency in using computer desktop application MS Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint);
• Knowledge of the decentralized local government systems in Malawi; and
• Upholding of anticorruption and antibribery ethics

5. DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT

The Contract is for a period of 3 years with yearly review. The renewal of the contract is upon satisfactory appraisal results.

6. LOCATION OF EMPLOYMENT

The Environmental Safeguards Specialist will be based at the NLGFC offices in Lilongwe. The Environmental Safeguards Specialist will occasionally be required to travel to all local government authorities in Malawi where the GESD 2.0 Project is implementing its activities to engage with district officials to guide and improve project implementation (environmental safeguards).

7. REPORTING

The Environmental Safeguards Specialist will report to the Project Coordinator for all administrative operations and to the Head of Environmental Safeguards Unit and Director of Social and Economic Services at NLGFC for technical issues, and will work in collaboration with local authorities and other specialists under the project, Social Safeguards Specialist, Occupational Health and Safety Specialist, and Project Engineers.