Support to Operationalize ESIA Regulations

May 2, 2026
Posted by: admin
Category: Jobs & Tenders

Development of the Operationalization Plan for ESIA Regulations
Environmental Review Systems · Compliance Mechanisms · Institutional Coordination.

Issuing Authority: Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC)
Output Reference: Output 3.1.3.5 — UGBAAD Project
Assignment Title: Development of the Operationalization Plan for ESIA Regulations
Assignment Type: Consultancy Firm or Individual Consultant.
Duty Station: Somalia (Federal and Federal Member State levels).
Reporting To: Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC)
Duration: As per approved workplan and contract period
Submission Required: Technical Proposal | Financial Proposal | CVs | References | Bank Statement (2 yrs)

ABOUT THE ASSIGNMENT

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), through the UGBAAD Project, is supporting the strengthening of environmental governance and regulatory implementation systems across Somalia. A key priority is the operationalization of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Regulations — a foundational mechanism for ensuring that development projects adhere to environmental and social safeguards.

MoECC invites qualified consultants or firms to develop a practical, comprehensive Operationalization Plan that will streamline ESIA review and approval processes, strengthen institutional and enforcement capacities, and establish a robust compliance monitoring framework aligned with Somalia’s development aspirations and international environmental standards.

Why Operationalizing ESIA Regulations Matters

Effective ESIA systems are the cornerstone of responsible development. Without clear operational procedures and a well-coordinated institutional framework, development projects risk causing irreversible environmental and social harm. This

consultancy will establish the systems, tools, and coordination mechanisms that enable Somalia to review, approve, and monitor development projects consistently, efficiently, and in full compliance with national and international environmental obligations.

OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The overall objective is to support MoECC in developing a comprehensive Operationalization Plan for ESIA Regulations, with focused emphasis on:

Streamlining ESIA review, screening, categorization, and approval processes
Improving environmental compliance, monitoring, and reporting systems
Strengthening institutional coordination among all relevant agencies and authorities
Enhancing ESIA implementation, enforcement, and accountability mechanisms
Recommending digitalization solutions and improved ESIA management systems
Building long-term institutional and technical capacity for ESIA administration

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1	Review ESIA regulations, operational procedures, and approval systems to identify gaps and improvement opportunities
2	Assess institutional implementation capacities, staffing levels, and operational constraints affecting ESIA performance
3	Identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies affecting ESIA review and approval turnaround times
4	Develop practical, enforceable operational procedures and implementation frameworks for ESIA administration
5	Strengthen inter-institutional coordination mechanisms between MoECC, FMS authorities, and line ministries
6	Develop monitoring, compliance, reporting, and accountability systems for ESIA implementation and enforcement
7	Recommend institutional strengthening, capacity development, and digitalization measures for ESIA management

DETAILED SCOPE OF WORK
The consultant/firm shall execute all tasks across seven professional workstreams:

Inception and Assignment Planning

– Conduct inception meetings with MoECC technical departments and key stakeholders

– Prepare detailed inception report — methodology, engagement strategy, workplan, and quality assurance mechanisms

– Develop stakeholder consultation frameworks and institutional coordination mechanisms

– Identify priority areas, risks, and key implementation challenges at the outset.

Review of ESIA Regulatory Frameworks

– Review ESIA regulations, environmental laws, guidelines, standards, and operational procedures

– Assess ESIA screening, categorization, review, approval, monitoring, and compliance systems

– Identify implementation gaps, legal inconsistencies, overlaps, and operational weaknesses

– Benchmark against regional and international best practices for ESIA administration

Institutional and Operational Assessment

– Assess institutional mandates, technical capacities, staffing, workflows, and coordination mechanisms

– Review existing approval workflows and environmental review processing procedures

– Analyze operational inefficiencies and technology gaps affecting ESIA turnaround times

– Identify capacity gaps and recommend targeted institutional strengthening measures

Stakeholder Consultations and Engagement

– Conduct inclusive consultations with government institutions, civil society, academia, private sector, and development partners

– Facilitate technical review meetings at Federal and Federal Member State levels

– Ensure gender-sensitive and participatory consultation approaches throughout the process

– Document all stakeholder recommendations, priorities, and implementation concerns comprehensively

Development of the Operationalization Plan

– Develop comprehensive operational frameworks for ESIA regulation implementation

– Prepare streamlined, user-friendly ESIA review and approval procedures and process maps

– Develop institutional coordination, enforcement, and accountability mechanisms

– Prepare phased implementation timelines, responsibilities, and measurable monitoring indicators

– Develop a digitalization roadmap and recommendations for improved ESIA management systems

– Integrate climate resilience, gender-responsive, and social safeguard considerations throughout the plan

Validation and Technical Review

– Organize and facilitate validation workshops and technical review sessions with key stakeholders

– Present draft findings, frameworks, and recommendations for stakeholder review and comment

– Consolidate all technical inputs and incorporate comments into the revised operationalization plan

– Prepare workshop reports, attendance records, and full documentation of stakeholder feedback

Final Submission and Reporting

– Submit the final Operationalization Plan in both editable (Word) and PDF formats

– Submit all consultation reports, institutional assessments, and implementation matrices as annexes

– Prepare and deliver the final consultancy report with methodology, findings, and lessons learned

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

1	Inception Report — methodology, stakeholder engagement strategy, workplan, and quality assurance plan
2	ESIA Legal and Regulatory Review Report — gaps, inconsistencies, and improvement recommendations
3	Institutional and Operational Assessment Report — capacity gaps, workflow analysis, and recommendations
4	Stakeholder Consultation Report — documented inputs, priorities, and recommendations from all consultations
5	Draft Operationalization Plan for ESIA Regulations — operational frameworks, procedures, and timelines

6	Validation Workshop Report — attendance records, technical inputs, and consolidated stakeholder feedback
7	Final Operationalization Plan — incorporating all stakeholder comments and validated recommendations
8	Final Consultancy Report — with all annexes, supporting documentation, lessons learned, and implementation notes

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Academic Qualifications
An advanced degree (Master’s level or above) in one of the following disciplines:

Environmental Management, Environmental Engineering, or Environmental Science
Environmental Law, Environmental Governance, or Regulatory Policy
Natural Resource Management, Ecology, or Sustainable Development
Public Policy, Public Administration, or Institutional Development.

Technical Expertise & Professional Experience

◆ Proven expertise in ESIA systems design, environmental governance, and regulatory implementation

Demonstrated experience preparing ESIA operational frameworks, implementation plans, or safeguard systems
Familiarity with IFC Performance Standards, World Bank ESF, and UNEP ESIA guidelines

◆ Minimum 7–10 years of progressive professional experience in environmental assessment or governance

Track record of delivering high-quality technical reports for government or donor-funded environmental assignments
Experience working with national environmental agencies, line ministries, or regulatory bodies

◆ Strong understanding of Somalia’s environmental governance and regulatory landscape.

Familiarity with Somalia’s Federal structure and Federal Member State governance dynamics
Experience in Somalia or comparable fragile, post-conflict contexts is strongly preferred

◆ Outstanding facilitation, stakeholder consultation, and high-level policy engagement competencies

Demonstrated ability to manage complex multi-stakeholder consultative processes
Experience organizing and facilitating technical validation workshops and policy review sessions

◆ Excellent analytical and technical report writing skills in English

Ability to produce clear, structured, publication-ready policy documents and operational plans

◆ Knowledge of ESIA digitalization solutions and environmental data management systems is a strong advantage

Familiarity with e-permitting systems or environmental information management platforms is desirable.

For Consultancy Firms

Registered firm with demonstrated capacity in environmental governance and ESIA advisory services
Proposed team must include a qualified Team Leader with at least 10 years of relevant ESIA experience
CVs of all key team members with clearly defined roles must be submitted with the proposal
Evidence of at least two comparable firm-level assignments completed within the past five years is required

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The consultant/firm shall work under the direct supervision of MoECC, maintaining continuous and responsive coordination throughout the assignment. Reporting obligations include:

All deliverables to be submitted in both editable (Word) and PDF formats
Regular progress updates and status briefings to MoECC at agreed intervals
Prompt responses to MoECC technical review comments within agreed turnaround timelines
Active participation in all scheduled coordination meetings and technical review sessions
Full documentation and timely submission of all consultation records and supporting materials

HOW TO APPLY
Submit a complete application package with all documents listed below.

01	Technical Proposal Your understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, consultation strategy, implementation approach, workplan, and quality assurance plan (maximum 15 pages)
02	Financial Proposal Detailed itemized budget covering all professional fees, field costs, logistics, workshop expenses, and applicable taxes
03	Company / Consultant Profile Organisation or individual profile highlighting relevant sector experience, technical capacity, and geographic reach
04	CVs of Key Experts CVs for all proposed team members with clearly defined roles, qualifications, and years of relevant experience for this assignment
05	Evidence of Similar Assignments Completion certificates, reference letters, or contract excerpts from at least two comparable ESIA or environmental governance assignments
06	References from Previous Clients Contact details and reference letters from clients of at least two comparable previous assignments
07	Bank Statement (Last 2 Years) Bank statements for the most recent two years demonstrating financial capacity to implement the consultancy

⚠ IMPORTANT NOTICE
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Incomplete applications will not be considered.MoECC reserve the right to cancel or modify this solicitation at any time.

Proposals and enquiries should be submitted to admin.finance@moecc.gov.so CC: Dg@moecc.gov.so

All submissions must comply with the instructions outlined in this advertisement and any accompanying procurement documentation.