The Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands is seeking a Senior Social Safeguard Specialist (Individual Consultant) for the Ethiopia Climate Resilient Irrigation for Sustainable Production (CRISP) Project.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (CVs)
SELECTION AND EMPLOYMENT OF SENIOR SOCIAL
SAFEGUARD SPECIALIST (INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT)

• Name of Country: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
• Name of Project: Ethiopia Climate Resilient Irrigation for Sustainable Production Preparation Facilities.
• Grant No: P182114
• Assignment Title: Senior Social Safeguard Specialist (Individual Consultant) for the Preparation of the Ethiopia CRISP Project.
• Reference No.: ET-MOIL-524355-CS-INDV

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Ethiopia Climate Resilient Irrigation for Sustainable Production Preparation Facilities and it intends to apply part of the proceeds toward payments under the contract for the consulting services (Recruitment of Senior Social Safeguard Specialist (Individual Consultant).

1. OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The Senior Social Safeguard Specialist will be responsible for the provision of technical support to the CRISP Project partners at federal, regional, and woreda levels. The senior Social Safeguard Specialist will be fully engaged in advising on, facilitating and ensuring the design and implementation of (i) Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Social Assessment (SA), Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), Resettlement Framework (RF), Resettlement Plan (RP), Security Risk Assessment and Management Plan (SRAMP), Labor Management Procedures (LMP), and Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), and (ii) the creation of adequate awareness and capacity building at all levels for management of the social aspect of the project.

The responsibility of the specialist also includes the monitoring and follows up of the environmental and social management plans that implementation mitigate potential risks and impacts of the project.

The social Safeguard Specialist will work in close collaboration with CRISP Project for Resilience Project staffs in general and with Senior Environmental Specialist in particular in partnership-oriented approach, harmony and team spirit. The specialist is particularly expected to backup CRISP Project for Resilience Project Environmental and Social staff on technical matters related to the proper implementation of instruments mentioned above.

2. SCOPE, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SERVICE 

•  Provide technical assistance /support to the regional social safeguard specialists/focal persons.
• Conduct environmental and social risk management training. 
• Prepare environmental and social screening independently or jointly with the federal, regional social specialist and woreda focal persons or concerned bodies.
• Prepare or recommend for the preparation of the necessary instruments including RAPS, Livelihood Restoration Plans (LRP) and ESIA documents.
• Oversee the mitigation and management of Gender Based Violence/Sexual Exploitation and Abuse - Sexual Harassment (GBV/SEA-SH) risks in the project.
• Prepare and review terms of reference (TOR) for contracting social assessments, resettlement plans, and vulnerable group's plans.
• Ensure the implementation of sub-projects activities are in conformity with the country environmental and social law and World Bank ESF.
• Monitor and follow up the implementation of risk management activities at project implementation sites at Woreda level. Coordinate social risk management activities at all levels. Conduct community engagement and public consultation meetings related to the project independently or jointly with the federal, regional and woreda environmental and social experts or focal persons.
• Review environmental and social risk management instruments/ tools like, ESIA, RAP and LRP jointly with other environmental experts.
• Undertake regular field visits to subproject sites to assess social impacts and verify social monitoring information provided in the reports of contractors and implementing partners, including photo documentation as applicable.
• Facilitate incorporation of social issues into subproject planning, design, construction and operation in the way proposed mitigation measures are provided in the tender documents.
• Ensure readiness and eligibility of readiness criteria are fulfilled from the perspective of environmental and social risk management. -Prepare and consolidate quarterly, semiannual and annual social risk management work plan.
• Strictly follow up the establishment and functionality of the grievance redress mechanism (GRM) and provide the required capacity building to strengthen it.
• Prepare and consolidate quarterly, semiannual and annual social risk management report.
  Visit the program sites and when necessary undertake field inspections and critical evaluations of actions needed to ensure the safety of the program; and give feedback to the PIU coordinator. 
• Build partnership with other projects/programs like OWNP- CWA, UWSSP-II and other Bank financed projects that dealing with environmental and social safeguards and environmental and Social Risk Management.
• Follow up Joint Review Implementation Support (JRIS) mission comments and recommendations and undertake measures as necessary.
• Assess the adequacy of the implementation of the risk management measures and the capacity of institutions and agencies responsible for social risk management.
•  Work closely/jointly with the World Bank Social Development Specialist.
• Assist the MILLS PIU coordinator in the identification of risk
  management issues and preparation as well as review of TORS, Papers, Studies, Reports, and undertake other assignments' given by the coordinator.
• Ensure that RAPs are implemented in a timely manner - prior to commencement of civil works.
• Coordinates and supervises the identification and development of livelihood opportunities for project affected people to restore at least the pre-project level.
• Follows up identification of livelihood opportunities joint with community consultation and planning process to identify viable IGA, business plan preparation for project affected people and train households to implement livelihood activities for which business plan develop.
• The Senior Social Specialist will be expected to frequently travel to the regions and woreda.
• Take responsibility for any other Social and environmental related tasks assigned by the Project Coordinator.

3. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE The Senior Social Safeguard Specialist shall have:

• MA in Social Development, Sociology, Social work, Social anthropology or other relevant social discipline.
• 10 years or above experience at least 3 years in the Irrigation/ water supply and sanitation/WRM/ sub-sector.
• Strong experience in designing and undertaking social analysis, including qualitative research methodologies; and experience in social safeguards policies of International Financial Institutions and with ensuring project compliance with social safeguards requirements are highly important.
• Experience with social sustainability issues in development projects, including gender sensitivity, inclusion of vulnerable groups, stakeholder consultation, citizen engagement and grievance redress is desirable.
• Knowledge of Government of Ethiopia and World Bank financed
  project guidelines and procedures in social risk managements, social assessment, RAP, and social analysis, as well as World Bank Environmental and Social Risk management Policies. 
•  Experience on social risks and its mitigation measures, and on public engagements.
• Experience managing multiple and complex projects and ability to prioritize.
• Experience working towards tight deadlines and ability to remain calm under pressure, good command in English and have good communication skills.
• Experience in effective stakeholder engagement, grievance redress mechanism resettlement and social development issues.

4. DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The duration of the assignment is for twelve (12) months, renewable annually subject to satisfactory performance evaluation.

5. DELIVERABLES/SPECIFIC OUTPUTS EXPECTED FROM CONSULTANT

The specialist shall provide the following outputs:

• Prepare the social quarterly and annual plans of the Project.
• Monthly Social Progress report highlighting both challenges and progresses.
• Quarterly progress on activities undertaken and solution to challenges.
•  Annual social risk management progress report.
• Project completion report after completion of the project.
• Report on the environmental and social aspects of the POM
  development and implementation.
•  Report on supervision and guidance provided to the project and MILLS.
• Monitoring report on project performance from the social management point of view.
• Report on Review of World Bank compliance.
• Submission of report on overall social Management of the projects consistent with agreements, manuals and project document-POM.

6. MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES

Contractually, the Senior Social Safeguard Specialist will report to the Irrigation PIU Manager and PIU and work closely with other PIU staff. The Social Specialist shall also work closely with the World Bank's CRISP Project Task Team Leader and Environment and Social Specialists (Ethiopia) and other designated World Bank staff and consultants.

7. PAYMENT: based on experience and qualification of the consultant which is negotiable.

8. Place of Work: Addis Ababa, Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands (MILLs)

The Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands now invites eligible candidates to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested candidates should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The Senior Social Safeguard Specialist will be selected on the basis of the approved methods of selecting individual consultant in accordance with the World Bank's Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (Procurement Regulation) Seventh Edition dated September 2025, and the Guidelines on Preventing and Combating Fraud and Corruption in Projects Financed by IBRD Loans and IDA Credits and Grants, dated October 15, 2026 and revised in January 2011 and as of July 1, 2016, and other provisions stipulated in the Financing Agreements.

The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtained at the address given below.
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. on business days.

Interested individual consultants may submit their CVs and credentials with written application to the address below in person on or before July 06, 2026, 5:00 PM. (with in 10 consecutive working days from the date of this announcement on News paper).

Address for Application: Name of Office: The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands at 4th Floor
Attn: Ato Daba Jinfesa Shanko, Engineering Procurement Lead Executive
Street Address: Kazanchis Business District, Behind Radisson Blu int. Hotel, Kirkos subcity 17/18
City: Addis Ababa
Country: Ethiopia
Tel: (251) 118 552 665/66
E-mail: Dabajshanko@gmail.com  / swakgari12@gmail.com 

Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands

Tender details

• Deadline: 2026-07-06
• Bid closing time: 17:00
• Bid opening: 2026-07-06 17:00
• Bid opening (note): No Specific Opening Date and Time
• Region: Addis Ababa
• Publishing entity: Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands
• Buyer address: Kazanchis, behind Radisson Blue Hotel, Ministry building first floor
• Published: Jun 23, 2026
• Posted at: 2026-06-23T12:18:05.000Z
• Buyer website: https://mills.gov.et/