Consultancy – Environmental Sustainability Advisor

Consultancy – Environmental Sustainability Advisor

We are searching for an experienced Consultant to join USAID TRADE Project on Short Term Basis, details are as follows:

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Trade Reform and Development in Egypt (TRADE) is a USAID-funded project whose objective is to increase Egypt’s international trade by increasing exports from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the activity’s “selected sectors”; Engineering Products, Food Processing, Home textiles, Ready Made Garments, Chemicals, Printing and Packaging, and Building Materials

The TRADE Activity will achieve the following three Results:

1) Enhanced Export Capacity of SMEs, in particular New and Expanding Export- Ready Enterprises (NEEREs) in the Selected Sectors.

2) Strengthened Public and Private Trade-Support Institutions (e.g., Trade Associations, Export Councils, etc.); and

3) Improved Trade and Investment Policy, Regulatory and Institutional Environment

ASSIGNMENT BACKGROUND:

TRADE fosters sustainable economic models for export, aiming to enhance environmental conditions and mitigate climate change impacts on local communities. The Environmental Sustainability Advisor will provide insights and analyses on various environmental and sustainability aspects with USAID TRADE partner SMEs. This role ensures the highest levels of sustainability and energy efficiency, conducts environmental assessments, and offers recommendations and advisory services to partner SMEs. The advisor promotes sustainable and competitive models to protect the environment, boost exports, and enhance ecosystem-based approaches to prevent environmental damage and improve market resilience. Additionally, the advisor ensures that partner SMEs are aware of international market requirements regarding environmental standards, CBAM, and green standards.

TASKS

The Advisor will complete the following tasks:

1. Identify major environmental policies/regulations that SMEs should be aware of, as well as “green” funding, finance, or investment programs that incentivize companies with low environmental risks or ones that promote environmentally-advantageous solutions. After assessing project NEEREs, propose funding programs that might fit assessed NEEREs.
2. Develop a “Greening Export Program” to enhance environmental sustainability and compliance for partner NEEREs on potentiality and interest basis, to include:

• Assessing partner NEEREs’ environmental readiness, gaps, and identify potential mitigations.
• conducting a series of awareness sessions to partner NEEREs highlighting different benefits of going green.
• recognizing green practices among partner NEEREs and promote climate change adaptations accordingly.
• proposing energy efficient and environmentally friendly solutions to partner NEEREs of potential and/or interest.
• establishing environmental KPIs to measure project’s performance against the adopted green strategy. Followed by measuring environmental baselines and setting targets accordingly.
• supporting partner NEEREs in applying for and acquiring environmental registry.
• encouraging sector specific green certifications (ecolabeling, organic, cruelty free, biodegradable and such).
• supporting partner NEEREs in accessing green finance through the Egyptian Pollution Abatement Program (EPAP), the Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) or other available initiatives.
• developing a green sustainability strategy for interested partner NEEREs or partner with low environmental risks.

3. Assist TRADE’s team to develop and adopt a green strategy including internal environmental reviews and due diligence procedures, to ensure that all activities supported reflect sound environmental management practices and supervise implementation of the strategy within the interested partner NEEREs.

4. Review the Activity’s Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) against Year four workplan to confirm which activities fall under categorical exclusion, negative determination with conditions or positive determination.

5. Conduct environmental evaluation or an environmental impact assessment (EIA) if needed with companies, in case of a partner NEERE encountering any of the below six triggers:

• Facility location and immediate vicinity sensitivity.
• Facility interventions requiring construction / rehabilitation work.
• Process interventions requiring machinery and equipment re-arrangement/rehabilitation and/or procurement (replacement/expansion).
• Product interventions requiring major re-design or material substitutions.
• On-site practical/technical training interventions requiring procurement of supplies and material.
• BDS/TA will include procurement or use of hazardous material or pesticides.
• Support GOEIC in the establishment of a greenhouse/carbon emissions validation and verification unit, including providing updates, briefings, and/or advice (as needed) to GOEIC, USAID, and project leadership on recent greenhouse/carbon emissions trade developments in key target markets and their implications for Egypt and GOEIC’s role; drafting terms of reference for international consultants with specific expertise in greenhouse/carbon emissions trade; and providing feedback on international consultant output and implications for GOEIC

TRADE involvement/ funding commitments to implement gap analysis recommendations covers any of the above. 

DELIVERABLES:

• Findings of the environment assessment and proposed action plan for environment mitigations, as well as “green” funding, finance, or investment programs that incentivize companies with low environmental risks or ones that promote environmentally advantageous solutions.
• Develop a training/coaching “Greening Export Program” for the assessed SMEs to raise their awareness of the benefits of adopting a greener intervention into their operations and the impact on increasing efficiency, competitiveness and export.
• Deliver training to USAID TRADE’s team on the “Greening Export Program” and support in developing a green strategy for USAID TRADE to include all possible activities not just with NEEREs.
• Assisted approximately 40 SMEs in adopting environmental mitigation strategies and complying with global market standards.
• Provide a report on EMMP against year four activities.
• Provide monthly progress reports to USAID TRADE.
• Deliver a consultancy brief to USAID at the end of the assignment in MS Word and Power Point formats according to the reporting templates provided by the project.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES:

• All USAID Trade Activities with partners NEERES/Stakeholders are compliant with 22 CFR 216 environmental requirements.

Required Qualifications:

QUALIFICATIONS

• Postgraduates’ degree related to Environment assessment and mitigations or related field with 15+ years of related experience

Prior experience in the SMEs and BDS sector of Egypt and robust understanding of the Egyptian economy and the role SMEs play in Egypt.

• Demonstrated capabilities in dealing with the Egyptian industrial sector.
• Experience in conducting similar environmental assessment assignments for USAID funded projects in Egypt.
• Prior experience in development projects is preferred
• Experience working in underserved areas throughout Egypt is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with staff and partners in a cross-cultural environment.
• Proficiency in both oral and written communication in both English and Arabic

Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

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