Expression of Interest For Consulting Services: Annual Environmental And Social Performance Audit

Expression of Interest for Consulting Services. Date Added: October 27, 2026 Deadline: 10/11/2026 Category: Consultancy 1.1. The Federal Government of Nigeria has received Financing from the African Development Bank (ADB) in various currencies towards the cost of implementing the Yobe State Environmental and Climate Action Project (ECCAP) for Ministry of Environment in the 17 LGAs. It is intended that part of the proceeds of this loan will be applied to eligible payments under the contract for the Annual Environmental and Social Performance Audit. 1.2 Project Development Objective The development objective of the project is to enhance resilience to climate change and reduced food insecurity through creating opportunities for food production and incomes in Yobe State. This will be done by (i) renovating existing nurseries where tree seedlings would be produced and subsequently used to establish shelterbelts, orchards, and woodlots as well as stabilize sand dunes; (ii) expanding agricultural production area by rehabilitating degraded oasis; (iii) promoting agriculture water management schemes in riverine areas; (iv) developing and deploying carbon sequestration through multiple approaches including tree planting in institutions and implementing regreening methodologies in communities and providing incentives for natural regeneration of trees; (vi) establishment of MSME that are not dependent on forest wood; (vii) creating alternative clean cooking energy for both industrial and domestic needs thus generating green jobs at scale and reducing dependency on firewood overtime; and (viii) creating systems to access carbon market. All these would be to improve agricultural production (livestock, crops, and fish) activities, as well as support other non-forest dependent livelihoods. The project is also aimed at building the resilience of local communities against the impacts of climate change, environmental degradation and effects of desertification. Sand dunes have devastated rural livelihoods with rapid encroachment on arable lands and oasis in the State. It will also promote income generation and job creation through supporting the establishment of MSMEs that are not dependant on forest wood. The project will also establish frameworks and guidance to optimise gender, environmental services and climate change benefits such as Payment of Ecosystem Services, and Carbon Credit. 2.0 Objectives of the Audit The objective of the Annual Environmental and Social Performance Audit (ESPA) is to assess the level of compliance of the project with the applicable Environmental and Social Safeguards (E&S) requirements. The audit will focus specifically on assessing the extent of compliance with the projects financial agreement provisions, including national legislations, regulations norms and procedures, the Banks environmental and social requirements, and Good International Industrial Practices (GIIP) of the projects sector. The audit will also identify non-compliance and shortcomings, and the direct and root-causes of such non-performance and then recommend corrective actions. It shall be an independent evaluation of both the Borrower/Client and the Bank performances through the overall project E&S performance. 3.0 Audit Requirements/Criteria The E&S requirements of the loan/grant agreements; The applicable national E&S legislations, regulations, norms, standards, and procedures; The requirements of the African Development Bank Integrated Safeguards System (ISS); Approved and/or published project environmental and social documents, including aide-memoires and project progress reports, etc.; The Good International Industrial Practices (GIIP) of the Projects sector, if any. 4.0 Tasks a) Identify African Development Bank Integrated Safeguards System (ISS) requirements relevant to the project, including social risks (GBV/SEAH, Forced Labour, Child Labour, Modern Slavery, etc.), vulnerability/adaptation to climate change. b) Identify the applicable national legislations, regulations, norms, standards, and procedures, including national legal Authorizations, Permits and Certificates required prior to actions. c) Analyse available reports on the project including the project appraisal report, the Loan/grant agreements, the project periodic implementation reports, the aide-memoires, any relevant documentation, and records available and necessary for the assessment of the project E&S performance. d) Organize an opening meeting with the project team (borrower/client) and, if applicable, representatives of the project implementing agency, contractors, supervising engineers, third-party monitoring actors, etc. e) Organize an opening meeting with the Banks project team. f) Determine and agree on the scope, methodology and specific set of criteria for the compliance audit with the Project Implementation Entity. g) Update/analyse the actual/effective capacity of the project team (borrower/client) in relation to the management and monitoring of the implementation of agreed mitigation measures and related E&S documents applicable to the project. h) Hold consultation(s) with the relevant regulatory agencies and stakeholders (including but not limited to the project implementation unit (PIU), local beneficiaries, project affected persons, civil society, government ministries, and contractors, etc.), on the status of the project with respect to identified E&S risks and impacts as well as planned. i) Carry out project site visits to evidence the implementation of the environmental and social risks and impacts management activities, including the performance of the contractors and supervising engineers, and the residual/unforeseen environmental and social risk and impacts. j) Evaluate the overall performance of the borrower and that of the project coordination unit. k) To assess the Banks performance in terms of the effectiveness and quality of the assistance it has provided to the borrower, whenever necessary. l) Prepare a comprehensive report. The report should present a cogent analysis on findings and causes as related to the predetermined performance audit scope and criteria. It should present a logical (qualitative and quantitative) examination of the effectiveness of mitigation measures, residual risks, environment health and safety (EHS) issues, etc. The report will also include a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) summarizing the concrete recommendations for follow-up actions on findings and remedial measures including clearly estimated costs, specific roles, and responsibilities. m) Organize a closing meeting with the borrower/client and its contractors and those responsible for the functions audited (including the Bank). The purpose of this meeting is to present the audit findings to ensure that they are clearly understood and acknowledged by the borrower/client. Any outstanding disagreements between the audit team and the auditees should be discussed and recorded. 5.0 Deliverables The main deliverable from this exercise will be annual E&S performance audit report, including a Corrective Action Plan (CAP). The audit report should provide information that will enable the Borrower (Government), Bank and clients to identify and prevent environmental and social risks that are not sufficiently considered, with a view to their correction and the prevention of reputational risk. Clear recommendations (executable, measurable, cost, timelines, responsibilities) should be formulated to prioritize and develop the corrective action plan (CAP) for its efficient implementation. 6.0 Duration of the Assignment The assignment is expected to last 30days. 7.0 Interested Consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the assignment. Specifically, Consultants are to provide the following information: a) A full company profile, with all details (Address, contact person, Phone numbers, e-mail) b) General Organizational capability and resources (staffing, years of experience) c) Evidence of intended Joint Venture partnership agreements where Consultants intend to associate if any d) List of Key Experts highlighting their specific experiences. 8.0 Eligibility criteria and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Banks Procurement Policy for Bank Group Funded Operations, dated October 2015, which is available on the Banks website at http://www.afdb.org/en/projects-and-operations/procurement/new-procurement-policy/ 9.0 Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours [8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday]. 10.0 The Consultant shall submit One (1) Original and Four (4) copies of Expressions of Interest (EOI) with a soft copy on a flash drive and must be delivered to the address below on 10th November, 2026by 12:00 Noon. Tender Link : https://etenders.com.ng/yobe-state-environmental-and-climate-change-action-project-eccap-request-for-expressions-of-interest-for-consulting-services-3/