1. Background:
The Government of the Republic of Uganda (GoU) received financing from the World Bank to implement the Investment for Industrial Transformation and Employment (INVITE) project. The Project is complemented and supported by other development partners, including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, through a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) Grant.
The Project seeks to support private sector investment, employment, and new economic opportunities in the manufacturing and exporting sectors, including refugee and hosting communities.
The Project comprises four components and is being implemented by the INVITE Trust and Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU). The Project Components include Component 1: Supporting Manufacturing and Exporting Sectors Driving Economic Transformation, including Refugee and Hosting Districts; Component 2: Creating New Product and Transformative Assets including in Refugee and Host Districts; Component 3: Enhancing Capabilities in Public Institutions and Private Firms; and Component 4: Implementation Support, Monitoring, and Evaluation.
More details on the project can be found at the World Bank webpage of the project (https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/document-detail/P171607?type=projects).
The INVITE Trust is responsible for implementing Windows 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2 and 4b. Window 1.2 will target micro firms, including in RHDs, to enable them to restart or continue their operations as critical units in funding links between producers and aggregators, processors, and distributors. The majority of the micro firms to be targeted will be female-owned firms that have been particularly affected. The window will provide a line of credit to Micro Finance Deposit-taking institutions (MFDs), MFIs and SACCOs regulated by the Bank of Uganda and the Uganda Micro Finance Regulatory Authority (UMRA) and in compliance with the project’s eligibility requirements.
Window 1.3 (receivables financing) seeks to provide finance to MSMEs based on security in the form of their receivables. Buyers, which are usually larger formal enterprises, normally pay their invoices with a delay of up to three months, thereby negatively affecting the liquidity of often small, informal enterprise suppliers.
Window 2.1 will target MSMEs with a focus on manufacturing and export supply chains, by setting up a Credit Guarantee Facility (CGF) to share the risks associated with new lending on a proposed 50/50 basis with PFIs and guarantee will be available to those in tier I, II and III institutions that meet the Window’s eligibility requirements.
Window 2.2 will provide long-term financing in the form of subordinated/convertible long-term local currency loans. This instrument targets key economic assets, private and public sponsored projects. It will be available to finance critical projects led by the public sector or the private sector, such as grain storage facilities or collection centers, cold storage, laboratories, SME Centers, industry and manufacturing hubs, etc.
Window 4b will support the establishment of operations systems in the INVITE Trust, the environmental and social systems, a management information system, the technical and financial design, risk management framework and the operational support for the financing of components 1 and 2 among others.
INVITE Trust seeks to engage the services of a Senior Environmental and Social Specialist (S-ESS) to be part of the INVITE trust Project Implementation Team (PIT).
2. Job Purpose:
The Senior Environmental and Social Specialist (S-ESS) will be responsible for the implementation of INVITE Trust’s Environment Social Management System (ESMS), providing technical support to participating financial institutions (PFIs) in the implementation of their ESMS, managing the resources for E&S risk management and associated training.
3. Key Result Areas:
(i) Oversee the Trust’s E&S risk management and the implementation of its ESMS.
(ii) Coordination and integration of E&S risk management procedures with
the Trust’s internal credit process.
(iii) Technical support to PFIs in enhancing and implementing their respective ESMS
(iv) Reporting of any major E&S issues to senior management and secure support for approval of E&S risk management measures by senior management.
(v) Preparation of Quarterly E&S performance reports and consolidated semi-annual annual reports throughout project implementation;
(vi) Conduct quarterly monitoring and reporting on performance of PFIs and other direct borrowers with E&S requirements and provide semi-annual E&S reports to the World Bank;
(vii) Implementation of the E&S capacity building plan for effective implementation of the project
4. Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
(i) Provide the day-to-day oversight of E&S risk management in line with INVITE Trust E&S policies and procedures.
(ii) Evaluate environmental and social compliance of PFIs and targeted client firms for Trust’s direct financing, with applicable requirements during due diligence, such as site visits, collection of necessary E&S documentation and preparation of E&S due diligence reports (or an E&S section of the credit application).
(iii) Ensure that all investment decisions are supported by appropriate due diligence documentation, including, but not limited to, an E&S section in each final Investment Offering/ Memorandum.
(iv) Providing specific time-bound actions and practical steps for integrating
(v) Environmental and social Risk Management into the activities supported by INVITE. Ensure that appropriate environmental and social representations, warranties, and covenants are incorporated in each loan or investment agreement.
(vi) Supervise portfolio projects’ on-going compliance with the applicable requirements on a regular basis, which may include:
• Conducting site visits and monitoring the implementation of E&S action plan (if any) by the clients,
• Reviewing clients’ reports, and recording clients’ E&S ongoing performance
• Resolving E&S issues in case of non-compliance, and where needed,
• Preparing a time-bound corrective action plan with specific follow-up procedures
(vii) Conduct quarterly monitoring and supervise the Environmental and social performance of the PFIs and their portfolio exposures on the credit line and ensure that each PFI monitors the entire WB-financed portfolio and report to INVITE Trust.
(viii) Coordinate and support preparation of E&S semiannual and annual performance reports based on the quarterly performance reports provided by clients and PFIs.
(ix) Conduct quarterly monitoring and reporting on compliance of PFIs and other direct borrowers with E&S requirements and provide semi-annual E&S reports to the World Bank.
(x) Undertake periodic training and capacity building of key INVITE implementers at different levels in line with the capacity building plan and on need basis. ;
(xi) Ensure adequate records and documentation are kept (including photographs).
(xii) Advice Management on strategies for strengthening implementation of environment and social risk management measures;
(xiii) Perform any other related duties as may be assigned from time to time.
5. Required Qualifications and Experience:
5.1: Academic Qualification: Applicants should possess:
a) MSc. Degree in Environmental management, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management; Agricultural Sciences, Environment and Social Assessments, Environment and Social Sustainability, Environmental engineering, or related science fields from a recognized institution.
b) Any bachelor’s degree in the science fields including but not limited to BSc. Environment, Agriculture, Botany, Zoology, Forestry, Geography, Chemistry, Climate Change Science, Environmental or Chemical Engineering or BA. Environment Management or related fields from a recognized institution.
c) Post graduate Diploma or Certificate trainings in Environment and Social Impact Assessments or Environmental Audits or Environment Social Governance (ESG) or Environment and Social Risk Management or ISO 14001-Environmental Management System or WBG (IFC, IBRD, IDA, MIGA) E&S performance standards.
5.2: Experience:
a) At least ten (10) years demonstrated experience in the field of Environment and Social Risk Management in either public or private sector.
b) Broad understanding of National Environmental, Labour, Health and Safety Laws, Policies, regulations and World Bank Environmental and Social Framework.
c) Demonstrated knowledge of supporting a comprehensive and balanced approach to environmental and social risk management is required including screening, scoping, research, risk assessment, planning, E&S instruments development and implementation, monitoring and reporting.
d) Demonstrated experience in implementing World Bank Group (IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA) Environment and Social standards or other bilateral and multilateral funders’ E&S standards (ADF, AFD, etc).
5.3 Other Required Skills and Competence:
a) Ability to independently and effectively plan, organize, manage and evaluate important and complex projects for individual and team work.
b) Ability to make quick and good judgment.
c) Excellent communication skills (verbal and written).
d) Excellent interpersonal skills, including diplomacy and tact.
e) High level of honesty, integrity and versatility.
f) Should be able to work with minimum supervision and deliver under pressure.
6. Deliverables:
(i) E&S Due diligence reports.
(ii) Time-bound E&S Action plans for Moderate, Substantial and High risks investments
(iii) Implementable environmental standards as spelled out in ESMF, ESMS and other E&S instruments prepared for the components to be implemented by INVITE Trust.
(iv) Environment and Social Standards Monitoring data base developed and functional.
(v) Quarterly E&S performance reports and consolidated semiannual annual reports.
(vi) Quarterly monitoring and reporting on compliance of PFIs with E&S requirements and provide semiannual and annual E&S reports to the World Bank.
(vii) Training/ Capacity building reports
(viii) The Environmental and Social Performance Report within the Project's Implementation Completion Report.
7. Reporting:
The SESS will report to the Trust Manager for overall supervision and day to day technical matters under the contract.
8. Duty Station:
(i) The SESS will be deployed on a full-time basis, and the duty station shall be the INVITE Trust Office in Uganda-Kampala with occasionally travel upcountry.
(ii) Out of pocket expenses towards work related travel will be reimbursed as per rules and regulations applicable to the INVITE-Project.
9. Facilities to be provided by the Employer:
The Employer shall provide office space, with connectivity to internet, printer and access to other office amenities during the term of his contract.
10. Duration of Services:
The SESS will be appointed on a contractual basis for an initial period of two (2) years with the possibility of renewal based on performance, business need, and budget availability.