Background

In March 2010, land extending north from Port-au-Prince was declared public utility. Since then, the site has rapidly become a new settlement with over 160,000 people relocating to the area . This process of urbanization has taken place outside of any formalized urban development planning, scaled technical assistance or joint decision making with authorities. The evolution of this site has been mostly organic, led by the community, and financed through speculative land transactions, remittances, savings and redirected subsidies. The new settlement, which spreads over 1,100 hectare, is known collectively as “Canaan”, “Jerusalem” and “ONAville”.

The Haitian Government, institutional donors and non-governmental organizations working in Haiti have recognized that there is a window of opportunity for the emerging city of Canaan, including Jerusalem, Canaan, ONAville that should not be missed to ensure these private sector investments support resilient developmental gains.

Habitat for Humanity working with a local firm is addressing the immediate needs of Canaan residents through a market based solution in view of improving public health issues and preventing human illness and diseases. Habitat for Humanity seeks an Environmental Compliance Specialist (ECS) to design an Environmental Mitigation Plan and Report (EMPR) in accordance with USAID regulations, to assist Habitat for Humanity in measuring, with target beneficiaries, the environmental impacts of a sanitation project in Canaan.

Objectives of the EMPR

In close collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Associate Director of Programs and the Sanitation project manager, the ECS will be responsible for the preparation of the Sanitation project EMPR. The EMPR objective is to provide an issue-driven analysis of potential adverse environmental impacts stemming from the implementation of the Sanitation project in Canaan. Specifically, this EMPR will:
o determine the environmental impacts of the Sanitation project;
o assess the involvement of all stakeholders in a collaborative process to identify potential environmental hazards related to the implementation of the Sanitation project;
o identify means to prevent negative environmental impacts whenever possible;
o make recommendations to mitigate and monitor avoidable environmental impacts.

Scope of the EMPR
This scope of work addresses the preparation of an EMPR as per the guidance in Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 216 (22 CFR 216) USAID Environmental Procedures. Considering the area involved, the project is considered to have a Negative Determination under the USG Environmental Regulations Threshold Decision by adding mitigation measures to the project design and implementation. Findings of the EMPR will guide the environmental protection requirements to be applied by Habitat for Humanity, during and after the project implementation. The preparation of the EMPR must take into consideration the Government of Haiti environmental regulations that stipulate in “The Decree on Environmental Management, Articles 56, 58, 59” that all entities planning activities with potential impact on the environment must prepare an environmental and social assessment at the expense of the entity proposing the activity.


Specific Tasks for the EMPR:

The preparer of the EMPR will undertake the following principal tasks:
1. Review meeting: The ECS shall meet with the Habitat for Humanity Associate Director of Programs, and the Sanitation project manager to review expectations, background documentation, scope of work, proposed schedule and deliverables for the EMPR.
2. Desk review of proposed project activities, related work planning materials, and other documents;
3. Detailed methodology and work plan submission: Within 2 days of the Review Meeting, the ECS shall submit a work plan with timeline and detailed methodology to Habitat for Humanity for approval;
4. Site visits to observe and document environmental conditions of the project site. This phase includes basic data for the EMPR and development of the environmental profile of the target area. The ECS shall visit the site and surrounding areas as necessary to develop the EMPR;
5. Consultations: consultations (Interviews of individuals and focus group meetings) with Habitat for Humanity office staff, the Municipal Council of Croix des Bouquets, Habitat for Humanity representatives in Canaan, and other Sanitation project stakeholders. The objective of this step is to engage the primary stakeholders in the identification of issues or concerns about the Sanitation project. The ECS shall be responsible for preparing written summary of all meetings (dates, times, attendees, items discussed and comments received).
6. Socioeconomic and environmental Effects: Address socioeconomic as well as the physical and biological environmental effects, both positive and negative, including the magnitude, location, and duration of potential impacts resulting from the Sanitation project implementation. As per the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 216 (22 CFR 216), cumulative and indirect effects must be included in the analysis.
7. Environmental mitigation plan: the ECS will prepare an environmental mitigation action plan for adverse effects of the Sanitation project. The ECS will be required to fill out an Environmental Mitigation Plan for the project that includes:
o The Environmental Screening Form;
o The Identification of Mitigation Plan;
o The Environmental Monitoring and Tracking Table.
8. Submission of reports:
o Preparation and submission of the EMPR draft report;
o Debriefing with Habitat for Humanity;
o Habitat for Humanity comment incorporation and EMPR draft report finalization;
o Submission of EMPR final report;


Deliverables

o Detailed methodology and work plan submission (electronically) to the Habitat for Humanity Associate Director of Programs for approval;
o EMPR preliminary draft submission (electronically) to the Habitat for Humanity Associate Director of Programs for review;
o EMPR final draft revision and submission (electronically) to the Habitat for Humanity Associate Director of Programs by taking into account Habitat for Humanity comments.

Reporting

The ECS will report to the the Habitat for Humanity Associate Director of Programs.

Qualifications

o Previous experience in preparing an EMPR that covers the legal, technical, and social aspects of program design and impact;
o Knowledge of USAID Environmental Procedures;
o Previous experience in urban settlement context preferred; work in Haiti a must;
o Developed assessment skills (e.g. data collection, context analysis);
o Ability to work quickly and under a tight deadline;
o Ability to work independently;
o Knowledge of Haitian environmental law is an advantage;
o Strong communication skills;
o Fluency in English and French, Creole is an advantage

mprevilon@habitat.org / GLaroche@habitat.org

Priere de mentionner le numero de reference dans le sujet du mail de soumission.