Recruitment of one (01) Environmental Safeguards Specialist for the PFCB-2 project.

Bid Reference: BJ-WACA -523967-CS-INDV
Procurement Method: Individual Consultant Selection
World Bank Project No. : P508182

NOTICE OF CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

INTEGRATED PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT (UIGP)

NOTICE NO. 005/UIGP/PFC-B/SPM/SSS/SSEnv/STAS/SGF/SSE/AD dated 19/11/2025

NAME OF THE PROJECT: BENIN CLASSIFIED FOREST PROJECT (PFC-B 2)

FINANCING: WORLD BANK

As part of the implementation of activities for the Benin Classified Forest Project (PFC-B2), the Coordination of the Integrated Project Management Unit (UIGP) is launching a call for applications for the recruitment of one (01) Environmental Safeguards Specialist.

The UIGP cordially invites all qualified individuals who meet the required profiles below to submit their applications.

A-POST : One (01) “ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS SPECIALIST”

Placed under the general supervision of the General Coordinator of the PFCB2 project, the Environmental Safeguards Specialist to be recruited will assist the currently in-place Environmental Safeguards Specialist in achieving the following objectives:

• Ensure the environmental compliance of the project, as well as coordinate and monitor environmental studies ensuring adherence to the various stages of preparation, development, and implementation of environmental safeguards instruments following the requirements of the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) of the World Bank and according to the provisions of national legislation regarding environmental and social evaluation;


• Provide technical support on relevant environmental aspects (environmental safeguards) for the project;


• Ensure capacity building for managers and technical specialists and institutional and local partners involved in the project concerning environmental safeguards and facilitate knowledge transfer and experience sharing and synergy of actions;


• Ensure that climate change, risk prevention, and disaster management issues are integrated into the various project activities and regularly reported;


• Address safeguard issues together with the Social Safeguards, social development, and gender Specialist, ensuring that grassroots participation approaches are implemented.

I-Main Missions

• The Specialist will assist the currently appointed Environmental Safeguards Specialist within the UIGP, particularly to: conduct the environmental and social screening process for the various project activities, in collaboration with the Social Safeguards, social development, and gender Specialist;


• Ensure the preparation and validation of the Terms of Reference for any environmental studies to be carried out;


• Ensure that beneficiary consultations and stakeholder engagement aspects are correctly conducted in coordination with the Social Safeguards, social development, and gender Specialist;


• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and supervision of various project activities, notably considering environmental measures in project monitoring, in close collaboration with the project monitoring-evaluation Specialist;


• Work in collaboration with national, regional, and local environmental protection institutions involved in the environmental and social implementation and monitoring of PFCB2;


• Ensure that national and international legal provisions and the World Bank ESF applicable to the PFCB2 project are taken into account;


• Ensure the planning, coordination, analysis, and validation of environmental safeguards studies and documents within the activities of the PFCB2 project before submitting them for approval;


• Ensure the dissemination of environmental safeguards instruments to stakeholders involved in the project implementation (NGOs, monitoring missions, communes, co-management structures, communities, etc.) and ensure that safeguard management documents are adopted by the PFCB2 project activity teams (including consultants), stakeholders in these activities, and beneficiaries of initiatives such as charity actions (IAK) and honey initiatives (IAM);


• Ensure integration of environmental aspects in the identification, design, and implementation of activities including preliminary environmental and social evaluation (screening) of community activities and micro-projects including IAK/IAM;


• Contribute to the selection process of subcontractors/service providers involved in studies and work related to environmental and social safeguards, particularly by evaluating the consideration of environmental safeguard measures in bidders' proposals;


• Ensure the integration of environmental and social clauses in the bidding documents and contracts with companies, particularly those responsible for construction work;


• Ensure the development of the Environmental and Social Management Plan (PGES) by the firms in charge of the work and its approval by the monitoring mission;


• Review and ensure compliance of firms' Environmental and Social Management Plans (PGES) and their adequacy with the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIES) before work commencement;


• Monitor and supervise the implementation of environmental measures contained in the various project safeguard documents (PGES, PGPP, PGMO, etc.);


• Conduct and/or supervise environmental monitoring of works to ensure compliance with environmental, health, and safety measures by firms in charge of the work;


• Participate in designing and managing (updating, disseminating, and managing information, etc.) the environmental activity monitoring database;


• Contribute to the development of work plans, annual budgets, and procurement plans defining needs in studies, training, and any other environmental safeguard activities and ensure their realization;


• Participate in determining, measuring, and evaluating environmental risks and effects throughout the project duration;


• Analyze data from environmental monitoring and surveillance and propose measures to improve environmental management of activities;


• Inform, raise awareness, and assist project beneficiary structures to better take into account environmental issues in project activities;


• Develop, with the Social Safeguards, social development, and gender Specialist, periodic reports (monthly, quarterly, and annually) related to environmental safeguard activities of the project, its environmental, social performance, hygiene, and safety, and any notes within its mission;


• Contribute to producing the various project progress reports to ensure the effective and correct consideration of environmental safeguard measures;


• Participate in World Bank support missions for implementation, particularly for reporting related to environmental safeguards;


• Participate in implementing recommendations (related to environmental, health, and safety aspects) from World Bank support implementation mission reports;


• Identify and document good environmental safeguard practices for sharing with other sustainable forest management projects in the country;


• Perform any other task and contribute to any other activity related to the environmental aspects of the PFCB2 project.

II- Required Qualifications

The Specialist to be recruited must:

• Hold a higher university degree (Bac+5) in environmental sciences (ecology, natural sciences, land management, geography, or other relevant field of environmental management);


• Have at least five (05) years of experience in conducting environmental assessments and management studies (preparation of environmental impact studies) or in implementing environmental and social management plans for infrastructure development projects, sustainable natural resource management, or quality control of the environment, hygiene, and safety;


• Have implemented or held a key position in implementing at least two (02) environmental and social management plans for development projects financed by an international development institution (ideally the World Bank);


• Have relevant experience in the procedure of developing, monitoring, and coordinating the implementation of environmental safeguard instruments (CGES, EIES, Environmental Audits) for projects;


• Have experience in environmental and social evaluation and management of forest resources, especially related to biodiversity, health, and safety of forest workers;


• Have good experience in the environmental management procedure of micro-development projects, particularly those financed by the BM and the new environmental and social framework of the World Bank.

III- Skills and Qualities

The Specialist to be recruited must:

• Be familiar with applicable national and international legal texts regarding environmental safeguards, notably the ESF of the BM;


• Be able to work under pressure and have good teamwork skills;


• Be able to work in concert with their hierarchy while still maintaining a certain autonomy;


• Be organized, rigorous, and capable of producing quality results within the deadlines;


• Have good written and oral communication skills and a good writing ability.

V- Duration of the Contract

The Environmental Safeguards Specialist will be recruited for a mission duration of one (1) year, renewable based on needs and after satisfactory performance evaluation.

B-LIST OF DOCUMENTS TO BE PROVIDED FOR APPLICATIONS

• A handwritten motivation letter addressed to the General Coordinator of the UIGP;


• A certified true copy of the diploma(s);


• A complete Curriculum Vitae, detailing the candidate's experience for the mission with specific and verifiable references for each completed mission (certificate, attestation, etc.);


• A notarized photocopy of the birth certificate, identity document, and a criminal record dated less than three (03) months.

The files must be submitted to the secretariat of the Integrated Project Management Unit (UIGP) located in Cotonou, RESIDENCES LAICO/CEN-SAD COMPLEX, UIGP Coordination Building (Villa CICA A8) Rue Steve BIKO before the MAISON ROUGE hotel.

Deadline for submission of files: December 4, 2025, at 12 PM GMT.
For any further information, please contact the Secretariat at: Tel: (+229) 01 99 99 06 08/02.

Only pre-selected candidates will be contacted by phone and/or email for the continuation of the selection.

Eliassou HAMIDOU SEKO

 The General Coordinator of the UIGP.