REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL Environmental Compliance and Management Technical Support

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Meghan Ramsey
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1 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL Environmental Compliance and Management Technical Support 1. Background and Introduction PAHAL is a five-year USAID funded initiative designed to achieve food security among the vulnerable populations in 14 districts in the middle and high hills of Mid and Far Western Nepal 1. Taking a holistic approach to food security programming, PAHAL is designed to tackle the underlying shocks and stresses that contribute to food security, build resilience capacities that allow households to manage food security threats, and contribute to improved agricultural production, income growth and health strategies to ensure food security outcomes. The program s integrated components include: agricultural production; market systems development, including in off-farm markets; off-farm employment creation; financial services; water, sanitation and hygiene; disaster risk reduction; natural resource management,; and health and nutrition. In addition the program recognizes that gains in these sectors can only be achieved and sustained if there are strong institutions, and supportive social systems. Accordingly, PAHAL has a cross-cutting Gender Empowerment and Social Inclusion (GESI) and governance component that works across all sectors to create the right conditions for inclusive, impactful and resilient growth in food security. PAHAL is a Food for Peace (FFP) Development Food Assistance Program (DFAP) within the USAID/Nepal s Community Resilience Portfolio. PAHAL is being implemented by four international partner organizations: Mercy Corps Nepal (lead), Plan International, Tufts University s Feinstein International Center, Geo Hazards International; and four national partner organizations: Rupantaran, Support Activities for Poor Producers in Nepal (SAPPROS, Resource Identification and Management Society (RIMS) and Nepali Technical Assistance Group (NTAG). 2. Scope of work Purpose The principal objective of this Scope of Work is to provide to Mercy Corps with focused Environmental Compliance and Management technical support to its Nepal Food for Peace (FFP) Development Food Assistance Project (DFAP), the Promoting Agriculture, Health and Alternative Livelihoods (PAHAL) for the and 2019 fiscal years. This proposed technical assistance intends to, 1) ensure the PAHAL project is in full compliance with USAID environmental regulations (22 CFR 216) and, 2) strengthen key aspects of PAHAL project implementation in order to encourage project sustainability, climate risk management, and beneficiary adoption of sound environmental practices in their day-to-day livelihood activities. Proposed Technical Assistance Mercy Corps is currently considering the following role for external environmental compliance and management technical support during Fiscal Years and 2019: 1. Review existing approved PAHAL IEE, EMMP and SUAP and, in view of a recent program re-design, determine if amendments to the documents are required. If needed, consultant would assist in drafting the amendments, understanding USAID s requirements and expectations. 2. Review PAHAL s water related interventions in its most recent work plan and compare against what is described in the IEE and EMMP and determine if a specific USAID-compliant Water Quality Assurance Plan (WQAP) is needed to cover all planned PAHAL interventions. 1 PAHAL s district include Dailekh, Jajarkot, Pyuthan, Rolpa, Rukum, Salyan, Surkhet in the Mid-West and Achham, Baitadi, Bajhang, Bajura, Dadeldhura, Darchula, Doti in the Far West.

2 3. Work with PAHAL Environmental Compliance Manager to develop a checklist-based Environmental Monitoring System (EMS) and EMMP Toolkit tailored to PAHAL interventions and the PAHAL EMMP. Checklists will enable field-level spot checks of interventions and systematic data collection and reporting on the monitoring of the PAHAL EMMP. 4. Provide PAHAL senior management team Training on US Regulation 216 Environmental Compliance and the EMMP Toolkit. Consultant will develop a workshop agenda, presentations, and handouts. 5. Consultant will then work with PAHAL s Environmental Compliance Manager to develop a training curriculum to be rolled out to all district partners introducing them to the EMMP and EMMP toolkit and to set expectations regarding environmental compliance, management, monitoring and reporting. 6. Development of Visual Communication Aids with environmental messaging in Nepali local language for use at field level. Content of these visual communications tools to be determined in conjunction with MC Nepal, but would likely include topics such as safe pesticide use, water collection and treatments, etc. 7. Provide remote backstopping to the PAHAL Environmental Compliance Manager to ensure that the EMMP is being carried out and that technical support is available. 8. Provide guidance, oversight and QA/QC to the PAHAL Environmental Compliance Manager on the development of FY18 and FY19 Environmental Status Reports (ESR) in accordance with USAID expectations and processes. 9. Provide assistance to integrate climate risk and vulnerability in project activities and decisionmaking as per the Climate Risk Management Executive Order #13677 for USAID projects and activities. 10. Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment. Results from this assessment may be integrated into the program s climate change vulnerability and adaptation approach. 11. Provide additional Climate-Smart Agriculture and Integrated Pest Management Training to PAHAL staff. Design and conduct a climate smart agriculture workshop for PAHAL agriculture technical staff following a Training-of-Trainers approach with the intention to extend to District Partners and Lead Farmers. Quarterly Reporting. Provide Mercy Corps with quarterly reports detailing accomplishments of the quarter and anticipated activities for the next quarter. Quarterly reporting schedule will be provided by PAHAL, including the format for the report. 3. Deliverables FY The following deliverables for have been clearly defined below based on the current needs of the program and are intended to align the environmental compliance documentation of the program with a recent re-design undertaken by the program, as well as to build the capacity of program staff to better understand and more effectively manage environmental compliance according to donor expectations and U.S. regulations.

3 Deliverables Oct Dec 2017 Jan March April June July Sept. Comprehensive analysis of 2017 updated PAHAL Theory of Change, Log Frame and Technical Narrative to understand activities, scope and potential impact. Comparison with current PAHAL IEE/EMMP to determine whether there is a need for and IEE/EMMP amendment. Amendment to IEE and EMMP if revision determines the need for them. Preparation for field trip to Nepal and development of all materials for the Regulation 2016 and EMMP Toolkit workshop. Development of preliminary EMMP Toolkit draft in coordination with PAHAL ECM, which will be refined during Field Trip #1. Nepal Field Trip #1 Implement Regulation 216 and EMMP Toolkit Workshop: intended to train key PAHAL staff on Reg. 216 requirements and gather feedback from key staff to assist in the completion of an effective Environmental Monitoring System (EMS) and EMMP Toolkit. Refine and finalize the EMS, EMMP Toolkit and develop detailed instructions and protocols for Environmental Reporting procedures. Comprehensive analysis of 2017 updated PAHAL Theory of Change, Log Frame and Technical Narrative and discussions with PAHAL staff regarding pesticide use. Compare most up-to-date plans with current governing Pesticide Analyze Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan to determine whether a PERSUAP amendment or SUAP is needed. Carry out data collection and develop the PERSUAP Amendment or SUAP as needed. Review and revise potable water project component. Develop Water Quality Assurance Plan (WQAP). Develop materials and curriculum for the Environmental Monitoring System training-of-trainers Design materials and tools for climate change vulnerability assessment Nepal Field Trip #2

4 Carry out Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Conduct training-of-trainers workshop with PAHAL staff and local partners on the PAHAL EMMP and the use of the Environmental Monitoring System and EMMP Toolkit. Review all EMMP monitoring data collected from the implementation of the EMMP Toolkit and oversight and QA/QC support to the development of the FY 18 ESR Carry out remote environmental compliance and related backstopping FY2019 Depending on technical support provided in FY, a work plan will need to be developed and submitted for the FY19 technical support in the quarter prior to implementation, in coordination with MC and PAHAL in-country staff. For the consultant s proposal, an anticipated list of activities for FY2019 is included below, which can be used for consultant s narrative and for budgeting purposes. On an as-needed basis, perform any updates to the project IEE, EMMP and Environmental Monitoring System based upon internal PAHAL feedback and/or Bureau Environmental Officer conditions or comments on the FY 18 ESR. Provide oversight and technical support on the review and adjustment of the EMS and Toolkit, should any adjustments be required. Develop and finalize EMMP and SUAP visual aids, including direction on safe pesticide use, and any other priority environmental issues/topic identified in coordination with MC Nepal. Development of materials for and implementation of the EMMP and SUAP Visual. Conduct a Communication Aids training-of-trainers workshop with PAHAL Staff. Check on progress of the implementation of the Water Quality Assurance Plan and refine and adjust as needed based upon PAHAL experience. Possible Nepal Field Trip #3. Provide additional Climate-Smart Agriculture and Integrated Pest Management Training to PAHAL staff. Climate smart agriculture workshop for PAHAL agriculture technical staff following a Trainingof-Trainers approach with the intention to extend to District Partners and Lead Farmers. Review of all EMMP monitoring data collected from the implementation of the EMMP Toolkit and provide oversight and QA/QC support to the development of the FY 19 ESR. Remote environmental compliance and management backstopping. 4. Timeline: October 1, 2017-September 30, 2019 (FY and FY2019) 5. Supervision and Coordination: The PAHAL COP will provide overall supervision of the consultant. Regular coordination will be provided by the PAHAL Environmental Compliance Manager. 6. Qualifications: The consultant should be able to field an interdisciplinary team of specialists in environmental compliance, food security, water quality sustainable livelihoods, climate smart agriculture and adaptation, biology, communications, etc., which align with the program s sector interventions and strategies. Each proposed team member should have a minimum of five years relevant professional experience and academic qualifications. The consultant must identify a team leader and demonstrate a strong understanding of U.S. Regulation 216, including a track record of providing similar support on similar, large, US government funded, multi-sectoral food security programs.

5 7. Proposal Submission Details A soft copy of the proposal to be submitted to: nepalffp-submissions@mercycorps.org by 27 th September 2017 COB EST. Questions should be submitted to nepalffp-questions@mercycorps.org by 20 th September 2017.

DISTRICT COORDINATOR. Position Description. About Mercy Corps. Program / Department Summary. General Position Summary

DISTRICT COORDINATOR. Position Description. About Mercy Corps. Program / Department Summary. General Position Summary DISTRICT COORDINATOR Position Description Location Accham, Nepal Position Status Full-time, Regular Salary Level O2 Current Team Member N/A About Mercy Corps Mercy Corps is a leading global organization