Terms of Reference for Provision of Service for Environmental Assessment of Never Again Rwanda

1. Introduction and Background

NEVER AGAIN RWANDA (NAR) is a non-governmental organization committed to promoting peacebuilding and social justice in Rwanda. Recognizing the crucial link between environmental protection and the overall well-being of communities, NAR seeks to undertake an environmental assessment to assess and mitigate potential environmental impacts of its various interventions.

The environmental assessment aims to evaluate the potential impacts of specific projects, programs, or activities on the environment, ensuring sustainable practices are implemented. This assessment will consider the ecological, social, cultural, and economic factors that interact with the environment.

The assessment will consider the delicate balance between our interventions and environmental conservation, seeking to identify measures that promote sustainable practices, protect natural resources, and minimize adverse effects. It will also emphasize the importance of stakeholder engagement and participatory decision-making processes to ensure the inclusivity and effectiveness of environmental management efforts.

By conducting this environmental assessment, NAR aims to contribute to the sustainable development goals of Rwanda, promoting environmental stewardship, resilience, and the long-term well-being of communities. The findings and recommendations of this assessment will guide NAR and its stakeholders in making informed decisions that prioritize environmental protection in its program design and implementation.

Through its commitment to peacebuilding and social justice, Never Again Rwanda strives to create a future where environmental sustainability and human prosperity go hand in hand.

2. Objectives

The objectives of the environmental assessment are multifaceted, aiming to comprehensively evaluate the environmental aspects of specific projects, programs, or activities. Specifically, this assessment will:

• Evaluate the potential environmental consequences, both positive and negative, of specific projects, programs, or activities on the natural environment.
• Assess the current and projected impacts of climate change and other environmental degradation in the area where the project activities are implemented and how these impacts might affect the sustainability of the project interventions.
• Identify measures to mitigate adverse effects: Identify and recommend practical and effective measures to mitigate and minimize adverse environmental impacts associated with the assessed projects, programs, or activities. These measures should focus on promoting sustainable practices, enhancing environmental protection, and ensuring the long-term conservation of natural resources.
• Enhance positive environmental impacts: Identify opportunities to enhance positive environmental impacts and sustainable practices associated with the assessed projects, programs, or activities. This objective aims to highlight and promote environmentally friendly actions that can contribute to the conservation of natural resources, biodiversity, and ecosystems.
• Provide recommendations for sustainable practices: Offer specific recommendations and guidelines for implementing sustainable practices that can be integrated into the assessed projects, programs, or activities. These recommendations should focus on resource efficiency, waste reduction, renewable energy, conservation, and other environmentally sound practices.
• Promote stakeholder engagement and participation: Encourage active engagement and participation of relevant stakeholders, including local communities, governmental bodies, NGOs, and experts, throughout the environmental assessment process. Foster inclusive and transparent decision-making processes to ensure that diverse perspectives and concerns are heard and considered.
• Foster awareness and capacity building: Contribute to raising awareness and understanding about the importance of environmental protection and sustainable development among stakeholders involved in the assessed projects, programs, or activities. Identify opportunities for capacity building and knowledge transfer to enable stakeholders to implement sustainable practices effectively.
• Promote the integration of environmental considerations into program design frameworks and foster the adoption of environmentally responsible practices.

3. Methodology

The proposed methodology for the environmental assessment conducted for Never Again Rwanda will include data collection through site visits, surveys, interviews, and literature review. It utilizes internationally recognized assessment tools and frameworks, analyzes direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts, and employs statistical and analytical methods for data interpretation. Stakeholder engagement is emphasized, and recommendations for impact mitigation and enhancement measures are provided. The assessment also includes monitoring and evaluation to track the implementation and effectiveness of recommended measures.

4. Processes and Deliverables

The expected deliverables under this assignment include:

• Comprehensive Environmental Assessment Report: A detailed report outlining the findings of the assessment, including an overview of the current and future climate trends, analysis of potential environmental impacts and recommendations for mitigation measures.
• Environmental Impact Analysis: In-depth analysis of direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts associated with the assessed projects, programs, or activities. 
• Mitigation Strategies and Recommendations: Development of specific strategies and recommendations to mitigate adverse environmental impacts and promote sustainable practices.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Participation Plan: Detailed plan for engaging relevant stakeholders throughout the assessment process, ensuring inclusivity and informed decision-making. 
• Capacity Building and Awareness Initiatives: Design and implementation of programs to enhance stakeholders’ understanding of environmental issue and promote environmentally responsible behavior.
• Monitoring and Evaluation Framework: Development of a framework to monitor the implementation of recommended measures and evaluate their effectiveness in achieving desired environmental outcomes. 
• Knowledge Documentation and Sharing: Documentation and sharing of knowledge gained during the assessment, including best practices, lessons learned, and successful case studies. 

5. Duration of Assignment 

The duration of the assessment will be 30 days calendar and will be counted from the date of contract signature. The workplan and timeline will be revised by NAR jointly with the consultants during the inception report review and planning meeting to fit into the proposed duration of the assignment.

6. Assignment Workstation

The assignment will primarily take place at the Never Again Rwanda (NAR) office in Kigali. Visits to various locations, including intervention districts, will be conducted as needed for data collection and other essential assessment activities.

7. Qualifications

The required experience for the consultant for the environmental assessment task include the following:

• A master’s degree in environmental science, Environmental Engineering, or a similar discipline. 
• Proven track record in conducting environmental assessments, with a focus on non-governmental organizations operating in rural communities.
• Experience across various types of environmental assessments, including Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs).
• Involvement in community-based projects that span different geographic locations, climates, and ecosystems, providing a broad perspective.
• Proficiency in national-level environmental laws and regulations is essential to navigate compliance requirements effectively.
• Experience in navigating regulatory processes, including permitting and compliance, which is a valuable asset in ensuring project adherence to legal requirements.
• Demonstrated experience in engaging with various stakeholders, including government agencies, local communities, and non-governmental organizations, to foster collaboration and address environmental concerns effectively.
• Proficiency in collecting and analyzing environmental data, including fieldwork and data interpretation, ensuring accurate assessment results
• The ability to produce high-quality, well-organized assessment reports that effectively communicate findings, recommendations, and action plans.
• Expertise in sharing sustainable practices that can be integrated into the assessment processes, promoting environmentally responsible actions.
• Possession of relevant certifications, such as Certified Environmental Impact Assessment (CEIAP) or other industry-specific credentials is an added advantage.
• Excellent speaking and writing skills in English, facilitating effective communication and reporting.
• Ability to work within tight deadlines, ensuring the timely completion of environmental assessments.

8. Criteria for proposals evaluation

The proposals will be evaluated as follow:

• Understanding of the Terms of Reference:  10 Points
• Quality of technical proposal (strong design, and methodology as well as sound work plan): 40 Points
• Capacity and experience (experience in conducting similar assessments, qualifications, and experience of proposed team):  20 points.
• Financial proposal : 30 points

9. General terms and conditions

Both individuals and companies are allowed to apply. A foreign applicant must demonstrate experience in conducting similar assignments in Rwanda and have an experienced local consultant who understand the context. All rights reserved to Never Again Rwanda.  Never Again Rwanda reserves all rights to reject all applications not fulfilling the requirements associated to this request. Never Again Rwanda will not be responsible or liable for any cost and time allocated by applicants to the preparation and submission of Expressions of Interest. Never Again Rwanda reserves the right to engage other companies or individual consultants if required.

10. Conflict of interest

Any conflict of Interest involving an applicant must be fully disclosed to Never Again Rwanda. When failed to discose  any conflict of interest , the application will be disqualfied and no award will be made in such case.

11. Instructions for Applications

For individual consultants/evaluators, kindly submit your expression of interest (no longer than 5 pages and inclusive of understanding of Terms of Reference, the proposed methodology for the evaluation, framework for gender analysis, and work plan,), financial proposal detailing all costs involved (in francs), and an updated CV for lead consultant and proposed team members.

For consultancy companies, please submit your expression of interest (of no longer than 5 pages describing understanding of Terms of Reference, your capacities, experience in conducting evaluations, the proposed methodology for the evaluation, framework for gender analysis, work plan), financial proposal detailing all costs involved (in francs), updated CVs of proposed team/staff, Company registration certificate, RRA tax clearance certificate, and RSSB clearance certificate.

The applications and selection will be done on a ruling basis till 10^th October 2023 (not later than 5:00 pm) via email info@neveragainrwanda.org

Never Again Rwanda endeavors to build a workplace that is” respectful, diverse, inclusive, and healthy” by helping staff develop and maintain an environment where dignity and uniqueness of individuals are recognized and where equity and diversity are meaningfully leveraged in our workforce and in communities we engage.