Government of Malawi
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS SELECTION)
(Appointment Type: Local Hire)
COUNTRY: MALAWI
NAME OF PROJECT: REGIONAL CLIMATE RESILIENCE FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA 2 (RCRP)
PROJECT ID: P181308
DATE OF ISSUE: 31st JANUARY 2023
TIME COMMITMENT: 100%
ACCOUNTABLE: PROJECT COORDINATOR
DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT: 5 YEARS

The Government of Malawi (GoM) through the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has applied for financing towards the cost of the Regional Climate Resilience for Eastern and Southern Africa 2 (RCRP). The EP&D intends to apply part of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under the contract for hiring various Project specialists and an intern.

The EP&D invites applications from suitably qualified and interested candidates to fill the position of Project Occupational Health and Safety Specialist, recruited as individual consultants following World Bank Regulations dated September 2023.

Position Title : Project Occupational Health and Safety Specialist (1 position)

The Objectives of the Assignment
The overall responsibilities of the Occupational Health and Safety Specialist will be facilitation and coordination of all activities related to occupational health and safety safeguards under the project, including developing standard operating procedures addressing health and safety of the various activities within the project works scope, ensuring compliance with World Bank’s ESF and other occupational health and safety guidelines established in the project’s approved and disclosed safeguard instruments as outlined in the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) and Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF).

Duties and Responsibilities

Specifically, the Project Communication Specialist will perform the following duties:

1. Considering World Bank Environmental Health Safety Guidelines (EHSG), Good International Industry Practice (GIIP), the OHS specialist will compile OHS procedures update where applicable the OHS strategy, system and the operational plans for the project and the various subcomponents.
2. Together with OHS officers of contractors, develop, update, coordinate and facilitate the development and/or revision of and OHS risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the various activities under the Project.
3. Liaise with other specialists (including Environmental, Social, Project Civil Engineer, etc.) in the team on OHS matters to review severe OHS incidents, recurring minor incidents, and near misses that have occurred on project with the aim to further mitigate these from repeating.
4. Facilitate the development of Health and Safety Manual and a health and Safety Management plan for the project, and incorporate the relevant OHS measures (including emergency preparedness and response measures) into the Labour Management Procedures (LMP) and community Safety.
5. Conducting Occupational Health Safety site inspections on a regular basis with adequate frequency.
6. Providing internal audits on Occupational Health and Safety issues.
7. Facilitating wellness health awareness and screening Programs.
8. Support project teams and clients in investigating the root cause/s of the incidents and developing appropriate remedial and mitigation measures.
9. Prepare and deliver reports to the project on OHS incidents, patterns of incidents, and proposed recommendations
10. Help develop and implement a comprehensive intervention to improve worker OHS, and Community Health and Safety for communities directly impacted by the project.
11. Develop and implement a training program on Occupational Health and Safety for project clients and contractors
12. Recommend measures to help protect workers, and community members, from potentially hazardous work
    methods, working at heights, scaffolding measures, working adjacent to flowing water, waste management and disposal, and other relevant processes, or materials.
13. Advise communities and/or institutions regarding health or safety issues
14. Inspect or evaluate workplace environments, equipment, or practices to ensure compliance with safety standards and government regulations
15. Develop or maintain hygiene programs, such as noise surveys, continuous atmosphere monitoring, ventilation surveys, or asbestos management plans
16. Review and inputs into community emergency procedure plans for subcomponent activities
17. Inspect work environments to ensure safety for the workers and community
18. Conduct safety training or education programs, job hazard assessments, and demonstrate the use of safety equipment
19. Investigate health-related complaints and inspect facilities to ensure that they comply with public health legislation and regulations, and World Bank’s ESF and ESHS requirements, and project ESMF.
20. Develop or maintain medical monitoring programs for employees and contractors
21. Set up monitoring systems for the sites, including file management on site for Toolbox talks and topics, ongoing skills and training development, SOPs, Permits to work, incident reports, monitoring First Aid kits, etc. Ensuring first aid kits are appropriately stocked to type of activities anticipated on sites, etc.
22. Develop and review and monitoring emergency procedures for sites including ensuring correct fire prevent controls and training in place, etc.
23. Coordinate “right-to-know” programs regarding hazardous chemicals or other substances, and safety procedures.
24. Maintain or update Emergency Response Plans or procedures, as well as waste management plan, traffic safety management plan, hazardous substances management plan, etc., with necessary SOPs or safety procedures developed in the OHS strategy and plan

Reporting Requirements
The OHS Safeguards Specialist will report to the Project Coordinator for all their technical and administrative operations and will work in collaboration with OHS officer of contractors, and other specialists under the project, i.e. Social Safeguards Specialist, and Environmental Safeguards Specialist, Project Engineers.

Qualification and experience

The candidate should meet the following minimum qualifications:

1. Master’s Degree in disciplines such as Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Quality and Safety),
   Environmental Health and Safety;
2. A qualification and or international certificate in OHS e.g. NEBOSH, or similar;
3. A minimum of 8 years of demonstrable project experience in developing, implementing and/or supervising OHS in construction, with experience in transport infrastructure, energy, hydropower, DRM and or extractives sectors at similar or senior level;
4. Knowledge of OHS management systems, including experience auditing/ assessing health and safety programs and systems;
5. Membership of professional bodies and experience in implementing World Bank funded projects and/or other multilateral banks’ OHS policies will be an added advantage;
6. Demonstrated ability to assess technical issues of occupational health and safety and to effect a cultural
   change to create a culture of safety across a workplace or organization;
7. Have excellent oral and written communication skills in English, as well as team participation and management skills; and
8. Proficiency in using computer applications e.g. MS Word, Excel and Power Point.

Duration of the assignment
The Project Occupational Health and Safety Specialist will be recruited for a period of five (5) years, with the contract renewable annually subject to satisfactory performance, need and availability of
funding.

Facilities to be provided by the Client
The following shall be provided by the Client: office space, furniture, office equipment, communication, and internet facilities. For all field related assignments, the Project shall provide transport and costs and other expenses (per diems etc.) related to the fieldwork.

Location of Employment
All the Project Specialists will be based at the Project Coordination Unit in Lilongwe but would be required to travel regularly to other relevant field offices where the RCRP is implementing its activities.

Mode of Application
Interested Individuals meeting the stated requirements should submit their Expressions of interest including updated detailed curriculum vitae (CVs) and copies of professional certificates must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by Tuesday, 13th February, 2024 on or before 10:00 hours, local time.

The Project Coordinator,
Regional Climate Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa 2 Project,
Department of Economic Planning and Development,
P. O. Box 30136,
Lilongwe
Malawi.
(Attention: The Procurement Officer)
Alternatively, applications may be emailed to: epd_procurement@finance.gov.mw : /copy epd_hr@finance.gov.mw