Environmental and Social Team leader (National)

Project Description/Background

Ministry of Mines and Petroleum is an enabler of the sector’s development and steward of all mineral and hydrocarbon resources through the implementation of international best practice, policies, regulations and procedures to encourage environmentally and socially acceptable private investment.

It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum to ensure progress in research, exploration, development, and exploitation of both minerals and hydrocarbons. The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum approach is to create the highest level of ministerial competence, promote clear and transparent investment opportunities through modern laws, regulation and policies; and develop a progressive and inviting fiscal regime.

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is engaged in re-negotiation of the Aynak Mining Contract (AMC), awarded in June 2008, between the Government and the MCC-JCL Aynak Minerals Company (MJAM).

In November 2015, MJAM provided MoMP with a revised draft feasibility study (RDFS) for the Aynak Copper Project (ACP), intended to form the basis for re-negotiation of the AMC. At that time, the RDFS showed that the mining project was technically feasible but financially unviable. Certain of the financial provisions of the AMC were identified as having major influence on the viability of the project and would require review.

Subsequently, it has become necessary to revise the technical scope of the project, with further impact on financial viability.

In September 2018 MoMP and MJAM commenced negotiations, expected to lead to the signing of a new, revised AMC, the target date for completion and signature of a new contact being 31 March 2019. The government has established a negotiating team with representatives of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, other ministries and technical and legal advisers.

Comprehensive contract amendments are expected to cover many areas of the AMC; technical, financial and legal. The most critical areas of the contract, currently under review, are those technical and financial components of the contract which significantly affect viability of the proposed mining project.

MoMP requires the support of an Environmental and Social Team Leader to assist in evaluating the environmental models which will form a basis for technical and environmental negotiations, to make recommendations on new environmental provisions in the contract and to support and advise the government negotiating team in the negotiation process.

Assignment Information

Assignment Objective 

Under the oval supervision and guidance of the DM-Technical and in close coordination with Aynak Project Authority, the Environmental and Social Development-Team Lead with a team of social development, environmental and community development specialists will have the responsibility for reviewing and updating the environmental and social management frameworks of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum. ESD-LT will be responsible to develop documents and providing input and/or preparing reports as required for the implementation of the mining projects. The ESD-TL will work closely with the Aynak Project Authority and provide conceptual, operational and technical support in related social and environmental issues. The ESD-TL will also work with the Inspection department to ensure compliance.

During the period of contract. It will be essential for the Environmental and Social Team Leader to be available to consult at all times and to be available to attend negotiating meetings, sometimes at short notice.

The Environmental & Social Team Leader will be required to review Environmental and Social issues to provide Environmental and Social advice and support to MoMP officials in reviewing, understanding and implementing the environmental and social provisions of the Aynak Mining Contract; to assist in preparations for discussions and formal negotiations with MJAM; and to participate in such negotiations, providing sound advice and support at all stages through to any agreed amendments of the Contract and implementation thereafter.

The Environmental and Social Team leader in consultation with International Environmental and Social Specialists and relevant Afghan Government Officials will advise MoMP and contractors which Environmental and OHS Standards to apply in the contract and during the implementation and operation of the Mes Aynak Project.

4. Scope of Work

Below is the outline of activities to be undertaken by the Environmental & Social Team Leader (national)

Specific areas of responsibility

• Developing ESD-Team’s operational plan in consultation with the International and National Specialists in line with the MoMP’s Roadmap, specify time-bound deliverables, and making sure that all priority projects have been considered.
• Reviewing the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and suggest how to operationalize the document.
• Defining steps required to ensure compliance with the Environmental and Social Legal and Policy Framework of the Government of Afghanistan.
• Provide support to the national and International Specialists to establish a monitoring, reporting, providing feedback and making corrective actions about the Environmental, OHS and Social concerns in the projects.
• Develop with the help of International and National Specialists complete set of contract clauses to be incorporated as per the needs in relevant contracts.
• In consultation with National, International Experts and MoMP leadership what Standards to be used/applied during operation of the Mes Ayank Project.
• Identify the relevant Environmental, OHS as well as Social Assessment and Management Instruments, e.g., ESIAs, Site specific ESMPs and etc. to be undertaken by competitive International Level Firms and prepare ToRs for such studies.
• Providing technical expertise and policy guidance for ensuring that broader S&E issues are incorporated in the
• Provide Training on Environmental and Social (E&S) Issues to relevant staff of the Aynak Project Authority and the Inspection Department.
• Planning, designing and conducting field surveys and desk-studies to assess the social and environmental impacts of mining projects (planned as well as currently operational projects)
• Developing success and failure case-studies based on research work and disseminate its findings and recommendations among relevant stakeholders.
• Providing research-based policy inputs/options on the E&S issues to the MoMP leadership for decision-making.
• Working in close collaboration with relevant departments in assessing the overall socio-economic impacts of the priority (planned and currently operational) mining projects and recommending actions to be taken based on the assessments.
• Working in close coordination with Aynak Project Authority on the S&E issues. Ensuring that the Aynak Project social development related issues (such as land acquisition, and compensation for loss of assets) are well-addressed.
• Assisting the Aynak Project Authority in ensuring that S&E grievances are managed effectively and transparently through the grievance redress mechanisms.
• Developing social awareness mechanisms and ensuring that the mining projects are social inclusive; such that local communities have been consulted in each phase of the project development.
• Supervising, directing and guiding E&S Specialists, community mobilizers, and other relevant staff assigned to the ESD-Team.

5. Minimum Qualifications

6. Contract Duration

The Consultant is initially required for 12 months with possibility of extension for another 12 months, However the initial contract will be signed up to Dec-2019, due to budget regulations.

7. Reporting

          Environmental and Social Team Leader reports to Deputy Minister Technical

8. Conflict of Interest

The Consultant is required to disclose on any potential, actual, or perceived conflicts of interest arising out of other assignments or a conflicting involvement in other assignments.

9. Confidentiality

The Environmental & Social Team Leader agrees to keep confidential all information that it receives, directly or indirectly, from the Afghan Government, its agencies or ministries, or any other source, as well as all reports, briefs and opinions prepared by the Consultant, or by third parties, on the basis of such information (collectively, the Material). The Team Leader will use the Material exclusively for the purpose of preparing deliverables relevant to this assignment as requested by the Government of Afghanistan and/or the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum. The confidentiality obligations will not apply to information in the public domain

10. Application procedure:

            Qualified and interested candidates are requested to submit the following documentations:

1. Cover letter including a Brief Note stating why the candidate thinks s/he is the best candidate for the assignment,
2. Personal CV with details of work experience relevant to the announced TOR, submitting previous publications is an asset
3. Submission Guideline

The applicants should submit his/her resume with subject line stating the job title and vacancy no. no later than the closing date.

Note: Only application send to below address will be considered. Applications send to any other address even within the organization will not be considered.

12. Submission Email:  To: procurement@momp.gov.af ,Cc: abdulsattar@momp.gov.af ,

khalid.ahmadzai@momp.gov.af