Cultivating New Frontiers In Agriculture (CNFA)- Request For Proposal For NAIA Environmental Compliance Monitoring Consultancy

DEADLINE: 20TH AUGUST, 2023
CULTIVATING NEW FRONTIERS IN AGRICULTURE (CNFA)
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR NAIA ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE MONITORING CONSULTANCY

Section 1: Introduction, Technical Background and Scope of Work

(1.1) Introduction: The five-year USAID Feed the Future Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity (hereafter referred to as “the Activity”), implemented by CNFA with Connexus Corporation and J.E. Austin Associates as sub-contractors, aims to strengthen the business enabling environment to promote private sector investment in agriculture. To achieve this goal, the Activity focuses on four interrelated components: improving the enabling environment for agricultural sector growth; broadening access to finance by mitigating the credit risks of agribusinesses; promoting and facilitating investment opportunities for agribusinesses to expand and scale up operations; and sustainably enhancing the performance of agribusiness micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). In line with the U.S. and Nigerian governments’ commitment to growing the non-oil-based economy, these efforts will increase the depth, breadth, dynamism, and competitiveness of Nigeria’s agribusiness sector. 

Background of the Environmental Compliance Assessment and Objective of the Consultancy

The Agribusiness, Finance & Investment sub sector is critical to the economy and has the potential to contribute significantly to the growth and development of the country. However, this sector is also known to have significant environmental impacts, especially on water, land, and air quality. As part of its commitment to sustainable development, the Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity is seeking an environmental compliance consultant to provide technical assistance to its clients in the agribusiness, finance, and investment sectors.

The Activity has an Environment Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) which overall purpose is to ensure that possible negative environmental impacts due to the activities of our partners are mitigated and/or eliminated. Some of the mitigation actions outlined in the EMMP include training of finance recipients on environmental compliance, issuance of Environmental Review Forms (ERFs), and where applicable Environmental Review Reports (ERRs) to respective agribusiness partners. The objective of this consultancy is to confirm the implementation of the recommendations in the EMMP, ERR, and ERF as well as to ascertain if the recommended measures are effective.

Offerors are responsible for ensuring that their offers are received by CNFA in accordance with the instructions, terms, and conditions described in this RFP. Failure to adhere with instructions described in this RFP may lead to disqualification of an offer from consideration.

1.2: Scope of Work: The Environmental Compliance Monitoring Consultant will work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) to ensure Activity’s Environment Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) is in line with the Activity’s efforts towards ensuring that possible negative environmental impacts are mitigated and/or eliminated. The consultant will be responsible for undertaking environmental compliance monitoring visits to agribusiness partners in each of the Activity focal states(Niger, Kaduna, Cross River, Delta, Kebbi, Ebonyi and Benue States)  to confirm the implementation of the EMMP vis-à-vis implementation of the recommendations in the Environmental Review Reports (ERRs)/ Environmental Review Forms (ERFs), to ascertain if the recommended measures are effective as well as provide recommendations.

TERMS OF REFERENCE:

The Environmental Compliance Monitoring Consultant or Lead Consultant (For Firms) should have the following qualifications:

(1) A Master’s degree in Environmental Management, Environmental Science, or a related field.

(2) At least 5 years of experience in environmental compliance monitoring in Nigeria.

(3) Knowledge of Nigerian environmental regulations and standards.

(4) Experience working with agribusinesses and understanding of their environmental impacts.

(5) Well organized, strong analytical skills, creative thinker, innovative, demonstrated personal initiative, stress tolerance, integrity, and ethics.

(6) Sound knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint applications.

(7) Excellent written and oral communications skills in English and sound skills in report writing, analysis, and presentation.

(8) Ability to produce various quality informational products under tight deadlines.

(9) Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks.

(10) Fluency in English and local languages in the Activity’s focal states will be an added advantage.

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