Consultancy for Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for Gambia TVET Centers

Request for Expressions of Interest for Consulting Service Country: The Republic of the Gambia Project Title: Resilience, Inclusion, Skills, and Equity (RISE) Project Grant Number: IDA-V4880 Project ID NO: P179233 Assignment Title: Consultancy for the Preparation of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the two TVET CoEs for Fisheries in Tujeren and Agribusiness in Nbambane Procurement Method: Consultants’ Qualifications Selection (CQS) Reference No .

GM-CPCU - MOFEA-519498-CS-CQS Background: The Gambia, with its vibrant youth population and commitment to development, is poised for a promising future, yet faces several challenges. In the realm of basic education, the focus is on improving learning outcomes, particularly in the early grades, to ensure every child acquires necessary foundational skills.

Especially for the youth, technical and vocational education, and training (TVET) must be of higher quality and relevance to meet labor market demands, a challenge recognized and prioritized by the Government of The Gambia. For the large population living in poverty, the goal is to provide a second chance through access to social protection measures, skills training, and income-generating opportunities.

These challenges, while significant, are being addressed with determination and a vision for a resilient, inclusive, skilled, and equitable Gambia. To address these challenges, The Gambia Resilience, Inclusion, Skills, and Equity Project (The Gambia RISE Project – P197233) is a multi-sectoral, five-year initiative of The Government of The Gambia, funded by the World Bank.

The project aims to increase the foundational skills of students in early grades (Component 1), provide job-relevant training to youth (Component 2), and boost income-generating opportunities, including for the poor and vulnerable (Component 3), in The Gambia.

The planned activities are closely aligned with the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) 2016-2030 and The Gambia National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) 2015-2025.

The project will be implemented by multiple Implementing Entities (IEs): the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), and the National Nutrition Agency/National Social Protection Secretariat (NaNA/NSPS). Each of these IEs will lead technical activities within their respective domains.

The RISE Project is coordinated and managed by a Central Project Coordination Unit (CPCU) within the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs. The project aims to increase the foundational skills of children in early grades in The Gambia. The planned activities are closely aligned with the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) 2016-2030.

The Gambia’s National Development Plan 2023-27 prioritizes Human Capital Development (Pillar IV) and Empowerment, Social Inclusion and Leaving No One Behind (Pillar VI). Sectorial Context and Objectives The Gambia RISE Subcomponent 2.2 is focus on the Establishment of two TVET Centers of Excellence focused on priority economic sectors/trades.

This subcomponent will support the establishment, construction, and operationalization of two TVET CoEs in the inland regions of The Gambia, creating strong links with the local labor markets and addressing regional skill gaps through programs aligned with priority sectors. These CoEs will be focus on Agribusiness to be built in Ndembane, WCR and Fisheries to be built in Tujereng community, WCR.

The CoEs detail architectural designs are currently ongoing and will generally cater for the following specifications: Administration and office space (Administrative and Academics). Teaching and learning facilities (classrooms, departments, laboratories, workshops and entrepreneurship hubs). Library facilities. Furniture and equipment requirements. Sports and recreation facilities. Canteen or food court facilities.

Staff accommodation. Sick-bay and creche facilities. Student Dormitories. The consultant is expected to consult the draft architectural and engineering layout concepts (Master plan) details the specific schematic drawings (floor plans, elevations, sections) and technical notes of the respective CoEs.

The tangible integration of climate resilience measures (e.g., building orientation for passive cooling, rainwater harvesting integration) and safeguard measures (e.g., accessible routes, gender-sensitive facilities) to be ensured.

2.1 Specific Objectives: To prepare an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and its respective Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for the two TVET CoEs To analyze, evaluate, and propose measures to prevent, control, mitigate, restore, and/or compensate for the potential adverse environmental and social impacts of the project so that the project complies with World Bank ESSs and national legislation.

The ESIA must include management plans and other instruments detailing environmental and social requirements to include recommendations of specific actions to be taken by contractors and subcontractors during construction and operation.

Conduct a meaningful stakeholders consultation including an analysis of interested and affected parties, detailing documentation requirements, and dissemination of information about the project. Support the implementing partner (and responsible party) in carrying out meaningful consultations. Develop an Environmental & Social Management Plan (ESMP) for the two CoEs.

Identify project activities that may have negative environmental and social impacts and propose mitigation measures. Identify positive practices and innovations to promote a clean environment and reduce environmental degradation. Identify the risks, constraints and opportunities linked to the environment in which the project will operate.

Outline the costs associated with implementing mitigation measures of the ESMPs. Duration: The duration of the consultancy will be 3 to 4 months months. The starting date is upon contract signature. Full TOR Availability Notice The full Terms of Reference (TOR) will be made available upon request. Please send your request via email to the address provided below.

Submission of Expressions of Interest: The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA) through the Gambia Resilience Inclusive Skills and Equity Project (RISE) , now invites eligible consulting firms to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the services .

The Shortlisting Criteria are: Consulting Firm Requirements: Firm Requirements The assignment will be conducted by a Firm comprised of personnel with E&S backgrounds in each of the following profiles. The firm must have performed at least 3 similar assignments in The Gambia and composed of personnel’s familiar with the local regulations and context.

The Lead Consultant should be locally based with a minimum of 10 years’ working experience in Environment and Social issues related to the assignment. Evidence of Attestations/References of successfully performing three similar assignments in The Gambia must be provided. The team should be composed of the profiles: No.

Key Expert Minimum Qualification & Experience 1 Team Leader- Senior Environmental and Social specialist Qualification and Skills Must hold a master’s degree or equivalent in Environmental Science or Environmental Engineering with at least 10 years of working experience in environmental activities particularly in Environment and Social Impacts on Infrastructure projects.

Prior experience in preparing World Bank Safeguards documents and knowledge in World Bank environmental and social framework (ESF). Ability and experience in conducting field visits, stakeholder engagements and experience in leading teams to execute similar assignments.

Locally based and proven knowledge and experience of the local regulations, institutional arrangements, context of working experience in Environment and Social issues to ESIA and ESMP preparations.

2 Environmental specialist Qualification and Skills Must hold a master’s degree or equivalent in Environmental Science or Environmental Engineering Good command of information technology and communication tools Excellent written, presentation and reporting skills Fluent in English with excellent written and spoken skills Working knowledge of one or more local languages will be an advantage Experience At least 7 years of working experience in environmental activities particularly in Environmental Impact Evaluation for infrastructure projects including ESIA work in the Gambia.

Environmental and Social management, evaluation of environmental and social impact in the construction sector, knowledge of the Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) and World Bank safeguards procedures, and experience in working with international organizations in the sector. Prior experience in preparing ESIAs or ESMPs involving subproject screening checklist and monitoring.

Knowledge and experience with World Bank ESF with ability and experience in conducting field visits, conducting stakeholder interviews, engagements and very good writing and reporting skills in English.

Ability to work with little supervision 3 Social and Gender Specialist Qualification and Skills Must hold a master’s degree or equivalent in the Social Sciences (i.e., sociology, political science), Human Science or equivalent Good command of information technology and communication tools Proficient in undertaking inclusive and participatory community and stakeholder consultation, especially with vulnerable populations Fluent in English with excellent written and spoken skills.

Working knowledge in one or more local languages will be an advantage Excellent written, presentation and reporting skills Experience At least 5 years of working experience in social activities, including assessment of social risk and impact, particularly in public consultation on infrastructure projects, especially with vulnerable or traditionally marginalized groups.

Experience with conducting inclusive and participatory stakeholder consultations, gender disaggregated collection, understanding of including vulnerable groups in social assessments is an asset. At least 5 years of experience with gender and/or GBV prevention and response programming as well as with the guiding principles for the ethical collection, management, and sharing of data related to GBV is required.

Fluency in at least two local languages (Fula, Mandinka, Wolof etc) is required.

4 Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Must hold at least a master’s degree in a relevant field related to the prevention, assessment and management of risks in occupational health and safety or in the public health sector or related fields (environment, occupational medicine and civil engineering), with proven experience of at least 5 years in the management of health problems related to the environment and society.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated February 2025 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with Consultant Qualification Selection (CQS ) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Further information and Terms of Reference can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 09:00 to 16:00 Monday to Thursday and 09:00 to 12h30 on Friday.

Expressions of interest should be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail ) on or before 17th December 2025 at 12h30 GMT Central Project Coordination Unit Royal Insurance Building 2nd Floor, Kotu Bertil Harding Highway The Gambia Email: nsosseh@cpcumof.gm , mktouray@cpcumof.gm and ygassama@cpcumof.gm Agency: Central Project Coordinating Unit Procurement method: Consultant Qualification Selection Notice type: Request for Expression of Interest Status: Published Value: 50000.0 USD