The USAID/Jordan Higher Education for Innovation and Growth (HEIG) Activity is a 5-year cooperative agreement designed to enhance Jordanian higher education institutions' ability to provide student-centered, market-relevant education while fostering innovation in partnership with industry. The project involves activities that range from education, technical assistance, and training programs to incentivizing research and development within higher education institutions. Given the project's potential environmental and social impacts, compliance with USAID’s environmental regulations, particularly under 22 CFR 216, is critical. The project’s Environmental Monitoring and Mitigation Plan (EMMP) outlines the necessary steps to ensure that all activities adhere to USAID’s environmental standards, particularly those activities that may pose limited environmental and social risks. To support the implementation and monitoring of this plan, the HEIG Activity requires the expertise of an environmental compliance consultant.
The objective of this consultancy is to ensure the HEIG Activity's full compliance with the environmental regulations and standards set forth by USAID. The consultant will provide oversight, conduct environmental reviews, and develop mitigation and monitoring strategies as outlined in the EMMP. The consultant will also ensure continuous monitoring, documentation, and reporting to meet USAID’s compliance requirements.
The Consultant Shall Undertake The Following Tasks
- Environmental Review and EMMP Development
- Conduct initial environmental reviews of sub-grant activities under the Partnership Incubator Fund (PIF) to determine if they fall within categorical exclusions or require further environmental assessment.
- For activities requiring further assessment, develop a detailed EMMP that includes mitigation measures, monitoring indicators, and implementation plans.
- Ensure that no activities requiring mitigation are initiated before sub-grantees have signed the EMMP.
- Monitoring and Compliance
- Establish a monitoring schedule to ensure that all mitigation measures outlined in the EMMP are implemented effectively.
- Conduct field visits as needed to monitor compliance and document findings, including any issues identified and resolutions implemented.
- Complete and maintain Records of Compliance to document adherence to environmental mitigation measures.
- Health and Safety Considerations
- Provide guidance on the procurement of materials for HEIs, particularly in the acquisition of equipment and chemicals that may pose health and safety risks.
- Develop safety protocols and provide training to HEI staff on the proper handling and installation of such materials.
- Climate Resilience and Sustainability
- Advise on integrating climate resilience strategies into HEI activities, including sustainable practices, resource efficiency, and climate adaptation measures.
- Recommend and support the implementation of green building standards and energy efficiency measures where applicable.
- Reporting
- Prepare an annual Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Report (EMMR) summarizing the effectiveness of mitigation measures, compliance issues, and lessons learned. The report should include relevant attachments such as site photos, verification of local inspections, and product warranties.
- Deliverables
- Initial Environmental Reviews for all applicable sub-grant activities.
- Detailed EMMPs for activities requiring environmental mitigation.
- Records of Compliance (ROC) for each activity as appropriate.
- Annual Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Report (EMMR).
- Health and Safety Protocols and Training Materials.
- Reports on field monitoring visits and compliance checks.
- Consultancy Period
The consultancy will be for a period of 1 year, with a maximum of 30 days of work, based on the Level of Effort (LOE) approved by IREX.
Interested Consultants Are Required To Submit The Following
- Daily rate.
- References.
- Technical experience relevant to the scope of work outlined above.