Environmental and Social Specialist and Grievance Mechanism Officer

SPECIFIC PROCURMENT NOTICE

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Republic of Lebanon

Ministry of Public Health

Lebanon Health Resilience Project (P163476)

Consultancy Services for

Environmental and Social Specialist and Grievance Mechanism Officer

(Loan No. 87710-LB)

The Lebanon Health Resilience Project (LHRP) is a five-year project funded by the World Bank. The project is designed to support the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) strategy to establish a pro-poor Universal Health Coverage program. The project aims to increase access to quality healthcare services to poor Lebanese identified by the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) through the National Poverty Targeting Program (NPTP), based on a proxy-means testing targeting mechanism. All identified individuals will benefit from comprehensive packages of defined health services delivered at 204 Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) selected from the MoPH PHCCs network.

The Ministry of Public Health is seeking to recruit an Environmental and Social Specialist and Grievance Mechanism Officer to be the focal point for a dual role in monitoring and ensuring implementation of the environmental and social safeguards related aspects of both projects and grievances

The MoPH hereby invites eligible Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the Services.

An Environmental and Social Specialist will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank's Procurement in Investment Project Financing Goods, Works, Non-Consulting, and Consulting Services (dated July 2016 and revised in November 2017, August 2018 and November 2020)

Interested Consultants are requested to provide the following information:

• A CV showing relevant similar experience, and previous academic and professional achievement.

Expression of Interest must be delivered electronically to the address below not later than Feb. 03, 2025. The subject of the e-mail should be: “Lebanon Health Resilience Project – Environmental and Social Specialist”.

Ministry of Public Health

Attention: Lebanon Health Resilience Project (LHRP)

Title: Project Management Unit (PMU)

E-mail: lhr.covid19@gmail.com

Lebanon Health Resilience Project

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Environmental and Social Specialist and Grievance Mechanism Officer

1. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The Government of Lebanon (GoL) has received financing from the World Bank (WB) toward the cost of the Lebanon Health Resilience Project (LHRP- P163476). The LHRP is a seven-year project with a total budget of US$120 million. It is designed to support the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) strategy to establish a pro-poor Universal Health Coverage program. The project aims to increase access to quality healthcare services to poor Lebanese and displaced Syrians in Lebanon and to strengthen the Government’s capacity to respond to COVID-19. The LHRP project is also financing the cost of care of uninsured Lebanese in contracted public and private hospitals, and the procurement and the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines.

The REAYA pilot project (Component 1 of the LHRP) will provide beneficiaries with access to quality primary health care (PHC) through providing essential health benefit packages using the capitation model and a fixed co-payment by enrolled beneficiaries —as their contribution to the cost of services that they receive (enrollment fee). The project aims to upgrade and enhance the capacity of the selected Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) through capacity-building activities and financing the procurement of equipment and recruitment of health personnel. The success of this pilot shall inform decision makers and other third-party payers to follow the same model and purchase services in PHCCS. Secondary outcomes not only include PHCCs with a strengthened capacity but will also have a powerful impact related to disease prevention, better management of chronic diseases, decrease in hospitalization rates, and enhancement in the overall health status of the population.

The project is expected to be executed over a twelve-months period, starting September 2024, and comprises three parts:

1. Provision of a covered package of essential healthcare services (LPSP) to eligible vulnerable beneficiaries (around 210,000 beneficiaries selected from the Emergency Social Safety Net [ESSN] database at selected 67 PHCCs.
2. Capacity building and strengthening of PHCCs; and
3. Project management, monitoring, and outreach.

1. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The MoPH is seeking to recruit an Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist (ESSS) and Grievance Mechanism (GM) officer to be the focal point for a dual role in monitoring and ensuring implementation of the environmental and social safeguards, and grievance related aspects of the project. The Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and the two addendums to the ESMF under the 4th component and that address the Environmental and Social issues related to delivery and deployment of vaccines pertains to the LHRP and is cleared and disclosed The ESSS officer plays a crucial role in ensuring adherence to environmental regulations and standards including monitoring and managing pollution and waste, development and implementation of strategies to promote sustainable practices at PHCCs within their communities. 

Tasks and responsibilities under the LHRP Project

The tasks related to the GM role include:

• Act as a focal point for grievance redress in the LHRP project for collaboration with the Primary Healthcare Department (PHC) at the MoPH.
• Coordinate between various GM uptake channels including grievance mechanisms at MoPH central level and follow up on investigations and output.
• Coordinate with the relevant department to redraft or amend the TOR (if needed) of the current MoPH third party hotline contract.
• Coordinate and develop guidance on how to refer complaints on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse/Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH) using the existing grievance mechanism and as per the recommendations of the ESMFs following survivor-centric approach and the principles of confidentiality and anonymity.
• Follow up with the hotline on grievances uptake, handling and reporting; document in a GM log and prepare periodic quarterly reports on the nature and number of grievances, departments to which grievances were channeled and if cases are closed.
• Ensure that the GMs of the project allow anonymous grievances to be raised and addressed (including for doctors, other medical service providers and patients).
• Ensure that the GM has an appeal process for unresolved grievances and as per the recommendations of the ESMFs.
• Monitor service standards for handling of GM based on standards of World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
• Follow up with the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) specialists and report on grievances according to the results framework indicators
• Perform capacity building for Project Management Unit (PMU) and hospital personnel on GM periodically and as required and develop the appropriate material for GM training manual targeting the PMU and hospital personnel.
• Contribute to the development of communication material to beneficiaries regarding GM.
• Document grievances in a GM log and provide updates in the regular progress reporting.

The tasks related to the Environmental and Social Specialist role include:

• Monitor relevant project activities, with an emphasis on identified environmental and social risks, taking immediate remedial measures to ensure compliance; prepare action plans to align with the project's environmental and social requirements as outlined in the ESMF; and review the ESMF for REAYA project activities to develop and implement action plans, ensuring regular coordination meetings between the GM and Environmental Safeguards teams to promote synergy and prevent duplication.
• Participate in field assessments to ensure ESMF criteria are applied.
• Oversee compliance with all environmental and social requirements by all PHCCs and service providers.
• Training PHCC staff and other stakeholders on environmental issues and best practices.
• Investigate and address environmental complaints, violations, and incidents.
• Stay updated with changes in environmental laws and regulations to ensure compliance with new regulations.

• Coordinate with the WB social and environmental safeguards team to ensure the social and environmental aspects are well-considered along the various stages of the project and as per the relevant safeguards’ instruments.
• Contribute to the regular environmental and social reports to be submitted to the WB. The reports should include all the needed support documents for the various conducted activities as per ESMFs for both operations and that address the Environmental and Social issues related to delivery and deployment of vaccines.
• Monitor and supervise the implementation of mitigation measures according to the ESMFs for both operations, so that the negative EHS impacts of the project are minimized or mitigated to an acceptable level.

• The specialist shall become familiar with the project works through the review of the relevant documents, including but not limited to: (i) the ESMFs of LHRP and the related addendums(ii) ESMF of the SLCRP operations Project, and (iii) World Bank technical notes including but not limited to the: Technical Note on how to conduct consultations during times of constraints (ANNEX II); Technical Note on the Use of Military Forces to Assist in COVID-19 operations (ANNEX III); and, any other relevant technical specifications and site visits.

Specifically, the specialist is expected to assist in:

Phase I: Strengthening EHS management

1. 1. Assisting in preparing/reviewing the ESMPs if needed for any rehabilitation activities or extension for an existing facility as per ESMFs.
   2. Reviewing of standard bidding documents as per above activities which might be prepared by the MoPH and instructing on specific content regarding EHS requirements.
   3. Preparing and executing a training program targeted to the PMU and the MoPH concerned staff on implementing ESMPs.

Phase II: Inspection and monitoring of implemented activities

1. Establishment and maintenance of the following records and procedures
   throughout the project implementation:
   • • • • • • • record-keeping requirements during inspection.
               • EHS monitoring checklist which will be used during the implementing works as per ESMFs for both operations.
               • EHS emergency procedures (related primarily to the event of accidental leaks, spills or emissions).
2. Validating and confirming the adequacy and accuracy of the EHS monitoring data, equipment, locations, procedures and locations of sensitive receivers.
3. Carrying out quarterly monitoring checks on monitoring and supervision data, etc. as per ESMFs for both operations.

1.  DURATION

The contract period is for one year, extendable upon satisfactory performance and mutual agreement. The first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period, based on which the consultant’s performance will be evaluated. The contract may be terminated with no remedy if the performance was evaluated as not satisfactory

1.  REPORTING REQUIREMENTS and DELIVERABLES

The Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist and GM Officer will report directly to the PMU Project Manager, providing quarterly and semi-annual progress reports on GM reporting and the implementation of environmental and social safeguards in accordance with the approved and disclosed E&S instruments. Additionally, they will prepare ad hoc reports as needed in response to significant environmental or social incidents.

1. QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• University degree in Environmental Engineering or Environmental/Social Science, Public Health or any related background.

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least five years of professional experience

• At least three years of proven experience in environment and social risks management. Knowledge of  the World Bank  environmental and social safeguards policies and guidelines and regulations and the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework is an asset.
• equivalent experience in similar roles (e.g., NGO or UN project work).

• Experience in managing and referring grievances

Skills & Abilities:

• Fluency in English and Arabic (reading, writing).
•  Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, coupled with a proactive approach to problem-solving when engaging with beneficiaries, team members, and stakeholder
• Good Reporting skills