Ogun State Government Recruitment for Environmental Specialist

The Ogun State Government is requesting assistance from the World Bank to fund the Ogun State Economic Transformation Program (OGSTEP) through an Investment Project Financing instrument, The funds will support the Ogun State Development Plan (SDP) (2018-2030) with a focus on business environment, skills development and public sector governance.

The ministry of budget and planning has the responsibility for project implementation and ensuring that the project development objectives are met and coordinated by the Project Implementation Unit (PIU).

Below is a critical role / activities that are needed to be filled or carried out for the preparation and implementation of the program:

Job Title: Environmental Specialist

Reference No.: OG/CS/PPA/35/2020
Location: Abeokuta, Ogun State
Project Title: Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) – Agric Sector Project Development Support.
Reports to: Project Manager – OGSTEP Agric
Duration of Employment: 2 Years (Renewable upon satisfactory performance)

Project Development Objective

• The Project Development Objective is to increase agricultural production and stimulate private sector participation in the agricultural, industrial and skills sectors of the Ogun State economy.

The project consists of two main components. The project components include:
Component 1: Increasing Agricultural Production and Industrialization:

• Sub-Component 1.1: increasing Agricultural Production
• Sub-Component 1.2: Improving Business Environment.
• Sub-Component 1.3 Developing Skills.

Component 2: Technical Assistance to Strengthen Capacity to Implement the Program:

• Component 2.1 Agriculture
• Component 2.2 Business Environment
• Component 2.3 Skills
• Component 2.4 Public Sector Reform and PFM
• Component 2.5 Project Implementation support

Background Information

• The Ogun State Government through the Federal Government of Nigeria has received a credit from the International Development Association (hereinafter referred to as IDA) Bank towards the financing of the OGUN STATE ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION PROJECT (OGSTEP). The Project Coordinating Office of OGSTEP intends to apply part of the proceeds of this credit to payments under contracts for the Consultancy Services:
• The OGSTEP is in line with the Ogun State Development Plan 2017-2030 (SDP) reform agenda to accelerate strategic reforms and foster public investment to enable greater private sector participation in the State’s economy which is organized around five cardinal programs covering agriculture production and industrialization, infrastructure and rural development, education, health, and affordable housing and urban renewal.
• The OGSTEP Agriculture component seeks to help address key constraints to increased private sector investment in agriculture. The Agriculture component will support three types of activities: First, support the development and implementation of the international best practice Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agricultural Investments (FRILIA) in Ogun State ; Second, foster the engagement of Value Chain Development Firms (VCDF), and finally, develop critical infrastructure to strengthen market linkages to production areas where value chain development alliances are being promoted.
• The project will promote farming operations in the following priority value chains: 1. Food Crops, 2. Horticulture, 3. Livestock and 4. Fiber.
• Based on the afore-mentioned, it is therefore important that as part of efforts towards project implementation, (including front end activities, pre-implementation activities etc.) a Social Specialist is required to support the activities of the Project Manager and sector lead

Objective:

• The Environmental Specialist will be responsible for the day-to-day management of tasks executed by OGSTEP Agric in relation to project preparation and project implementation geared towards the farmers and firms, while working closely with the Project Manager

Scope of Work:
The project will seek to enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of rural community-based agriculture enterprises by way of informing the business development strategy with respect to current market needs and trends both locally and internationally as well as ensuring alignment with broader development goals.

The Environmental Specialist work assists Ogun State to meet Disbursement-Linked Indicators (DLIs) for the World Bank assisted, “Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP),” scheduled to start March 2020. The Environmental Specialist(s) will therefore be required to support the OGSTEP Agric Sector Technical Team and the Project Manager and the Agriculture portfolio in terms of the evolving trends and demands for products as well as to provide assistance in the areas of enterprise development and competitiveness. The Environmental Specialist will therefore be required to:

• Coordinate and carry out environmental and technical studies required for comprehensive environmental impact assessment.
• Undertake reporting approvals and compliance issues to both the project team and atlas leadership team.
• Development and implementation of Environmental Management plans.
• Timely submission of EMPs and other safeguards instruments together with work plans for activities
• Facilitate awareness among the project team in relation to approval/ compliance-related information requirements.
• Contribute to establishment and development of project, environmental implementation strategy and system.
• Carry out field visits to review compliance with EMPs and other safeguards instruments and prepare semi-annual reports as inputs to the project progress reports
• Develops and manages complex agriculture and environmental activities as well as providing leadership in monitoring and evaluation. S/he serves as the Sectors Environment Officer and will work across the sector to ensure environmental compliance with Agency regulation for all technical offices.
• Perform other duties that may be required by the Project Manager and the Honorable Commissioner of Agriculture.

Report and Schedule of Deliveries:

• The Environmental Specialist will be required to provide reports, documents and deliverables as required by the project and as directed by the Project Manager regarding his/her activities.

Services to be provided by the Client:

• The OGSTEP Sector Technical Team working closely with the PIU and Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for the provision of an office for the implementation of the duties.

Institutional and Organization Arrangements:

• The Environmental Specialist will work directly with the Agric Sector, Project Manager and the Honorable Commissioner for Agriculture.

Recruitment Qualifications/ Competencies
Education:

• Master’s degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Environmental Science or a related field is required.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of agriculture, environment and related activities including two years of experience managing donor-funded assistance programmes in the agriculture or environment sector is required.
• Thorough knowledge of agriculture development and environmental resource management is required.
• Experience in research and statistical analysis;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and experience in working with a wide range of individuals in government, private sector and civil society;
• Commitment to quality and control of data and resultant information;
• Experience in data collection;
• Experience in working in teams;
• Experience in similar project and programmes

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in both written and spoken English

Payment and Fee for Service
Payments shall include the agreed consultancy fees and reimbursable expenses associated with the performance of the consultancy activities. The payment of the consultant will be based on sign off of deliverables by the Project Manager and sector lead.

Application Closing Date
16th September, 2020.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Applications clearly labelled “Consultancy for Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) – Agric Sector Environmental Specialist ” to: ogstep@ogunstate.gov.ng / ogstep.p4r@gmail.com

Click Here to Download Term of Reference

Applications should include:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Profile of previous work done related to this project.
• Contact details (office address, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses).

Note: Application materials are non-returnable, and we thank you in advance for understanding that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the next step in the application process.