Technical Assistant to the Environment & Climate Change Safeguards Officer

Kano State SAPZ - Technical Assistant to the Environment & Climate Change Safeguards Officer

Location: Kano Estimated Duration of the Assignment: twelve (12) months with the possibility of extension based on program needs, satisfactory performance and conduct

Background

• The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has secured a facility from the African Development Bank (AfDB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to implement a five-year ADB/IFAD/IsDB-Assisted Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program in partnership with the State Governments and Private Investors in seven (7) participating states of Imo, Kano, Kaduna, Cross River, Kwara, Oyo and Ogun as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the first phase of program implementation.
• The implementation of a government enabled private sector driven SAPZs is a major investment program of the Federal Government of Nigeria, driven by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) in collaboration with relevant Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to develop agro-processing clusters in areas of high agricultural production across the country. It is a strategic move to rapidly develop modern Agro-processing capacity to serve the vast and growing local markets, create sustainable market for farmers and reduce post-harvest losses of local agricultural produce and thereby create wealth for farmers, promote import substitution and create sustainable agriculture-related jobs.
• This clustering approach is to help address investment challenges in the development of Agro-processing enclaves across Nigeria, including port access to quality infrastructure, inadequate feedstock supplies and other challenges confronting agro-processing environment. SAPZs, therefore, will be developed with requisite infrastructure for Agro processing environment which will help reduce: cost absorptions and engender competitiveness in agro-industrial production that is critical to further unlocking the potentials of Nigeria's agriculture to create ready markets and wealth for farming communities and reduce rural poverty.
• "The SAPZ is made up of two building blocks which include the Agricultural Transformation Centres (ATs), which are community-based rural institution within the host community, supported with provision of quality production drivers for the production of feedstock and the Aggregation Centre (AC) for primary storage; and the Agro-Industrial Hub (AIH) equipped with desirable infrastructure to create modern Agro-processing environment where secondary value addition will take place.
• The Agro-Industrial Processing Hub (AIH) will draw its processing feedstock from the ATs where activities of the production clusters and Aggregation Centres are being coordinated.

Objective

• The Objective of this technical assistance is to engage an Environmental and Social Safeguards Expert with technical expertise on review and assessment of Environmental and Social Assessment Policy and procedures to fast-track implementation of these safeguards instruments to achieve the desired E&S performance target of the project.

Specifically, the Assignment seeks to:

• Obtain technical support for SAPZ phase 1 and Phase 2 to fast-track review and assessment of the E&S Safeguards instruments and procedures.
• Support Phase 2 states to meet up with the E&S due diligence and documentation towards onboarding,

Scope of Work and Responsibilities

• The assignment would be implemented in accordance with the terms and conditions stated in the consultancy agreement to be entered into between the State and the Individual Consultant.

The TA will assist the E&CC Officer with the following tasks:

• Standardization/update of parameters for documenting project E&S data information in a form of template and guide to a unified format to track performance of E&S compliance.
• Conduct technical review of Draft SAPZ E&S safeguards instruments and Action Plans prepared by the participating SAPZ states
• Support in organizing and conducting scheduled E&S compliance monitoring visits to participating states projects.
• Develop a comprehensive E&S management and monitoring framework and plan
• Assist in coordinating mid-term review of the overall E&S performance, impacts, and outcomes for intended beneficiaries.
• Maintain and update E&S project progress tracker.
• Provide Technical support in organizing E&S workshops, training, and capacity-building sessions for project officers and Staff of relevant institutions. Train Project Staff on Implementation of E&S Operational Safeguards and compliance with loan covenant
• Assist in review of Terms of Reference (ToRs) for E&S Studies of sub project activities
• Support in review of E&S monitoring reports to ascertain compliance activities.
• Support in review of E&S monitoring reports to ascertain compliance with the material measures and actions set out in the Environmental and Social Management Plans.
• Support in consolidation of Monthly E&S performance reports to the funders
• Help coordinate third-party E&S monitoring activities, ensuring the quality and relevance of data collected by external Environmental and Social sustainability Consultants.
• Support the E&CC Officer in the preparation of Annual work plans, budgets, and E&S performance indicators.
• Provide technical backstopping on E&S information gathering, review and reporting, and facilitate capacity-building initiatives to enhance overall E&S due diligence across program stakeholders.
• Liaise with National approving authority in support of obtaining approvals for official disclosure of E&S documents and other documentation requirements
• Perform any additional tasks assigned by the National Program Coordinator to ensure the effective execution of program E&S Safeguards sustainability.

Expertise Required:

• The Individual Consultant should have minimum of 10 years or more experience in Environment and Social Sustainability, Review of E&S Safeguards instruments in a Development Partner Project related to Agro-industrialization.
• The highly experienced Environmental and Social sustainability consultant should have minimum of master's degree in Environment, Sociology, Economies/Agricultural Economics or other related fields. University degree with specialized experience in review of E&S Policy and procedures is key
• Experience working in development financial institution is advantage
• At least 5 years of extensive experience in Agricultural infrastructure projects

Qualifications and Skills

• A minimum of Master's Degree in environmental sciences, Impacts assessment, Sociology, or a related field is desired.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in Environmental and Social impact assessment, Biodiversity conservation and ecosystem Services Environmental and social management, with preference for experience in donor-funded development projects.
• Understanding and experience in Stakeholder engagement, implementation of E&S safeguards, and F&S framework development
• Excellent report writing and presentation skills, strong organizational, analytical, and communication and technical skills, with experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent review and assessment of E&S policy and procedures and action plans.

Application Closing Date

13th October, 2026; 12:00 noon local time.