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To ensure compliance of all activities carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO) and/or its partners with the principles and safeguard standards established in the WHO’s Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework (ESSF). The project management tool, the Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS), is critical for managing environmental and social risks associated with project activities. The ESMS will be developed through a structured process that includes risk identification, categorization, mitigation planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, thereby promoting responsible management of environmental and social risks throughout the project lifecycle.
1. Risk Identification and Analysis
a) The consultant will assess environmental and social risks for proposed project/programme activities with support from the WHO Environment and Social Safeguard Team (WESST), using the ESSF and corresponding screening checklist.
b) Conduct stakeholder consultations to gather input on potential risks.
c) Utilize the Environmental and Social Risk Assessment (ESSRA) tool for initial risk screening.
d) Analyze screening results to categorize and prioritize identified risks as very low, low, moderate, or high based on the WHO risk matrix.
e) Create a comprehensive risk register documenting all identified risks. This will include assessing WASH-related risks at healthcare facilities and challenges in maintaining IPC standards.
2. Risk Mitigation Planning
a) Based on the results of the risk assessment, the consultant, with support from WESST, will develop a proportionate environmental and social risk response plan to avoid, mitigate, or offset adverse impacts.
b) Develop detailed mitigation strategies using insights from the ESSRA tool.
c) Assign responsibilities for implementing mitigation measures.
d) Estimate resources required for effective implementation of strategies.
f) The plan will focus on healthcare facilities by ensuring safe water supply, sanitation, waste management, and handwashing stations to support IPC.
3. Implementation
a) Integrate risk mitigation plans into overall project planning.
b) Ensure effective communication with stakeholders regarding risk management strategies.
c) Implement preventive measures and response plans as necessary.
d) The risk response plan will inform the environmental and social information sheet submitted by the consultant to WESST for review.
e) Healthcare facility interventions will involve upgrading water systems, ensuring safe sanitation and waste disposal, and training staff to reduce infection risks.
4. Monitoring and Control
a) Regularly update the risk register to reflect new information or changes in project scope.
b) Track identified risks continuously and reassess their status.
c) Evaluate the effectiveness of implemented mitigation measures.
d) WESST will decide if additional information is needed for high-risk projects/ activities via an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).
e) Monitoring activities will evaluate the effectiveness of WASH systems and IPC compliance in healthcare facilities.
5. Evaluation and Improvement
a) Document lessons learned throughout the project lifecycle.
b) Update risk management procedures based on evaluations to improve future practices.
c) Development of Key Documents
6. Risk Reporting
a) Risk reporting ensures that relevant risk information relating to the project is available in a timely manner to inform decision-making. Project risk reporting will be included in project progress reports by the consultant as per the project reporting cycle. At a minimum, these reports must include the status of identified mitigating actions and any emerging risks to the project.
b) The assessment should be completed at the onset of the programme/project to facilitate the integration of specific environmental and social safeguards and mitigation measures into the design. Risk assessments must be updated whenever there are changes in the scope of work that may impact related factors or when changes to programme/project activities are anticipated.
c) In graded emergencies, key performance indicators in the incident management system and updated emergency frameworks provide requirements for completing ESS risk assessments.
7. Develop essential documents:
a) Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP): Guides stakeholder interactions throughout the project lifecycle.
b) Labour Management Procedures (LMP): Ensures fair treatment of project workers.
c) Indigenous Peoples' Plan (IPP): Addresses specific needs related to Indigenous communities affected by the project.
d) Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM): Establishes a system for addressing stakeholder complaints.
e) Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP): Outlines commitments to address environmental and social risks.
The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.
The incumbent is expected to work with other technical units from WCO, including Health Cluster team, ERM field coordinators and Event Based Surveillance officers, as well as with other UN Agencies, National and International NGOs working on the field of WASH and environmental health, to build and sustain close working partnerships with d/f government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve WASH output results .in both routine and acute onset emergencies with a WASH and environmental health component, the incumbent will also regularly engage with the Health and WASH clusters as required.
The primary objective of this consultancy is to develop an ESMS that effectively integrates WHO standards and principles outlined in the ESSF. The consultant will facilitate the identification and management of environmental and social risks throughout the project lifecycle.