Environmental and Social Audit Services — Ministry of Water and Environment (Uganda)

THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA MINISTRY OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENT REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (LEAST COST SELECTION) Country: UGANDA Name of the Project: INVESTING IN FORESTS AND PROTECTED AREAS FOR CLIMATE -SMART DEVELOPMENT PROJECT Project ID No.: 170466 Assignment Title: CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR ENVIORNMENTAL AND SOCIAL AUDIT FOR THE VARIOUS FIELD ACTIVITIES UNDER IFPA-CD PROJECT Reference No: MWE/CONS/2024-2025/00025/IFPA-CD • The Government of Uganda has received financing from the World Bank towards the cost of the Investing in Forests and Protected Areas for Climate Smart Development (IFPA-CD) Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE, Lead Agency), the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the National Forestry Authority with the involvement of the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities in tourism-related activities and the Office of the Prime Minister in activities in the refugee-affected areas. • The IFPA-CD project investments target up to 27 Central Forest Reserves (CFRs), 7 National parks (NPs) and 4 Wildlife Reserves (WRs) which are ecologically sensitive areas.

These protected areas are surrounded by communities whose economic activities are dominated by subsistence small holder agriculture, with significant dependence on natural resources in these protected areas. • The consulting services (“the Services”) include to statutory environmental and social audits for project investments, as required by law and as indicated in the ESIA certificates of approval for each subproject throughout the project lifetime. The audit will evaluate environmental and social compliance of the project-financed infrastructure developments as well as assessing E&S risks and impacts that were not foreseen during the ESIA. • The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: https://www.mwe.go.ug/library/tendersprocurement.

Eligible Consultancy firms are also advised to visit the Procurement and Disposal Unit, Ground Floor, Ministry of Water and Environment Main Office (Headquarters) at Plot 3-7 Kabalega Cresent, Luzira to physically pick the detailed Terms of Reference (TORs) or send a request for the TORs to the following email address: pdu@mwe.go.ug and copy to: mwesigwacatherine62@yahoo.com, odekeivan15@gmail.com • The MWE now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services.

Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services as set out in the TOR. The shortlisting criteria are: • At least ten (10) years of demonstrated experience of undertaking/providing environmental and social audit services, • Specific experience of at least three (3) similar environmental and social audit assignments for government agencies or large private sector firms within the last two (2) years,(Evidence of experience should include contracts with previous clients of comparable value of Not less than United States Dollars, Fifty Thousand for each assignment) • Experience and knowledge of Uganda ESIA laws and World Bank ESF, • Submission of firm’s organogram to demonstrate firm’s organizational, managerial and staffing capacity, NOTE 1: The Consultant shall present at least one reference per each relevant assignment to prove possession of each of the above qualifications and experience.

The Qualifications and Experience of Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage 6. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. 7.

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications, but should indicate clearly whether the association is in form of a joint venture and /or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected. 8.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Least Cost Selection (LCS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations 9.Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours (09:00 to 16:00 hours) Monday to Friday 10. Expressions of Interest clearly marked with the Assignment Title (must be delivered in written form in person (one original plus three copies) or by e-mail to the addresses below by 18th March, 2025 at 11: 00 hours The Assistant Commisioner, Procurement and Disposal Unit Ministry of Water and Environment Headquarters Plot 3-7, Kabalega Crescent, Luzira Kampala, Uganda Tel: 0417 889481 Email: pdu@mwe.go.ug and copy to: mwesigwacatherine62@yahoo.com NOTE 2: This selection is limited to firms (ref section 7.16 of the Procurement Regulations); non-profit and governmental organizations may not apply as lead consultants – they can be included as sub-consultants only.

NGOs may only apply singly or as JVs if they operate as commercial entities and meet the conditions in section 3.23b of the Procurement Regulations.