Tenders are invited for Iucn Consultancy to Implementation of the Gender and Environmental and Social Management System (Gess) for the Trepa Project - Transforming Eastern Province of Rwanda through Adaptation. Location: Kigali Deadline: Wednesday, 03/12/2025 23:59 Terms of Reference for IUCN Consultancy Title: Implementation of the gender and environmental and social management system (GESS) for the TREPA Project - Transforming Eastern Province of Rwanda through Adaptation. Objective of the Consultancy This consultancy has the following objective(s): Ensure that environmental and social risks of TREPA sub-projects/site-level activities are proactively identified, assessed, mitigated, and reported in accordance with IUCNs Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS), the Green Climate Funds (GCF) Environmental and Social Safeguards policy (ESS), and national safeguard policies and legislative frameworks. Support the systematic application of the ESMS procedures which are established in the projects Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) throughout the project lifecycle. In case adjustments to the ESMF procedures are required (e.g. due to changing context, national policies etc.), ensure timely update and approval by GCF. Integrate risk management strategies into project implementation, supervision, monitoring, and reporting. This includes overseeing compliance with ESMS requirements, supporting the preparation and implementation of safeguard instruments for each sub-project (e.g., ESMPs, GRM, SEP, Gender Action Plan), and ensuring that these tools are effectively embedded in field operations. Deliver technical support, coaching, and training to enhance safeguard understanding and compliance across all actors involved in project implementation to ensure consistent and high-quality application of safeguard standards. Background Project Reference: P03168 Donor reference: FP167 The International Union of Conservation of Natures (IUCN) mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. IUCN projects aim to achieve positive conservation and social outcomes, including benefits for communities that depend on natural resources. However, unintended negative environmental and social impacts may occur when projects are implemented. Within the context of its mission, IUCN intends to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to avoid or minimise negative environmental and social impacts while stimulating positive impacts. To put this intention into practice, IUCN has established an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) as an intrinsic part of IUCNs project cycle. It provides systematic steps and operational tools for managing the environmental and social performance of projects implemented or supported by IUCN. The system allows IUCN to screen potential projects for negative environmental or social impacts and develop suitable measures to avoid, minimise, or compensate for these impacts. It also ensures that the implementation and effectiveness of mitigation measures are monitored and that any impacts arising during execution of the project are addressed. The ESMS requirements are documented in the form of a management manual (referred to as the ESMS Manual) that, together with the ESMS Standards, establishes IUCNs ESMS Policy Framework. The IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) operates in twenty-four countries in the Horn of Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. The current ESARO programming is composed of a suite of mutually interrelated programs and projects designed to address some of the most profound challenges affecting people and nature in the region. Among the projects implemented by IUCNs Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office is the GCF-funded TREPA Project - Transforming Eastern Province of Rwanda through Adaptation. IUCN is recruiting a consultant to support the ESMS implementation of the TREPA project. About IUCN IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. Created in 1948, IUCN is now the worlds largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 15,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards. IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development. Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve peoples well-being. www.iucn.org https://twitter.com/IUCN/ About the Project TREPA - Transforming Eastern Province of Rwanda through Adaptation The TREPA Project intends to restore 60,000 hectares of drought-degraded landscapes into climate resilient ecosystems through re-forestation, agroforestry, restoration of pasturelands, and soil erosion control measures in the Eastern Province of Rwanda, which is the most vulnerable and drought-exposed region of the country. The province covers seven districts namely: Bugesera, Rwamagana, Ngoma, Kirehe, Kayonza, Gatsibo and Nyagatare. In addition, irrigation infrastructure projects in the targeted landscapes of the Eastern Province will be climate-proofed by the TREPA Project. These projects under MINAGRI could include Export Targeted Modern Irrigation (ETI) in Mpanga (600 hectares) and Mahama (1200 hectares), Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project in Kayonza (2000 hectares), Warufu- Mugesera in Gatsibo and Ngoma as well as Rurambi dyke in Bugesera. TREPA will finally support the national and local institutions to effectively plan, manage and monitor climate adaptation outcomes from improved land use at national and decentralized levels. For implementation of the TREPA Project, three components will be considered namely: Component 1: Restored landscapes that support climate resilient agro-ecological systems and livelihoods in Eastern Province. Component 2: Market and value chain development for climate resilient agricultural and tree products linked to financial products and services for sustainable management of agro-ecological systems. Component 3: Strengthened enabling environment to effectively plan, manage and monitor climate adaptation outcomes from improved land use at national and decentralized levels. TREPA is implemented by IUCN (accredited entity) together with the Rwanda Forestry Authority as executing entity in partnership with ICRAF, World Vision, and CORDAID. The project has been screened on social and environmental risks in accordance with the requirements of IUCNs Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS). The environmental and social impacts of the project are overall expected to be highly positive given that it aims to improve the resilience of the communities and ecosystems through a participatory and bottom-up approach. It is considered unlikely that project activities will have significant adverse environmental and/or social impacts that are diverse, irreversible, or unprecedented (hence no high risk). However, land-use changes, physical restoration measures and value chain and enterprise development might trigger mild social or environmental impacts given the sensitivity of the dryland ecosystem, the complexity of the social fabric, and increasing pressure from resource competition. Overall, the identified impacts were expected to be few, generally site-specific, largely reversible, and readily addressed either through project activities or mitigation measures. The project has therefore been classified as moderate risk. The main risk area is the potential need for mostly short-term restrictions on the use of natural resources which might trigger livelihood impacts of resource users. While project activities are already foreseen to provide alternative resources or income, the Standard on Involuntary Resettlement and Access Restrictions was still triggered and a Process Framework (PF) was required (attached to the ESMF) in order to ensure that all people affected by access restrictions put in place by the project would be able to benefit from these measures and as such that negative livelihood impacts are avoided. Any gaps would be addressed through an Access Restriction Mitigation Action Plan that would establish additional measures (guidance provided in the PF). While the geographical focus has been defined as the Eastern Province and its seven districts, it is important to note that the actual sites for field interventions were planned to be selected only during project implementation. Hence, the screening was done as a high-level analysis of impacts, but a more detailed analysis is needed once the sites have been selected, and the activities are formulated in the form of sub-projects. Therefore, an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) was required. The ESMF delineates the process of assessing risks and identifying suitable mitigation measures, spells out require Tender Link : https://www.jobinrwanda.com/index.php/job/terms-reference-iucn-consultancy-implementation-gender-and-environmental-and-social-management
