Senior Social Expert

LIBERIA ELECTRICITY CORPORATION

PROJECT: LIBERIA ELECTRICITY SECTOR STRENGTHENING AND ACCESS PROJECT (LESSAP 2)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI)

Assignment Title: Hiring of a Senior Social Expert under the Liberia Electricity Sector Strengthening and Access Project (LESSAP 2).

Project ID: P180498

Reference No.: LR-LEC-493475-CS-INDV

Publication Date: 23 July 2025

The Government of Liberia has received financing from the World Bank towards the cost of the Liberia Electricity Sector Strengthening and Access Project Phase 2 (LESSAP- 2) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for hiring of a Senior Social Expert under the LESSAP Projects.

Under the World Bank investment, LESSAP-2, the Project Management Unit (PIU) is also supporting the development of the Solar IPP projects, two 100 MWp solar PV plant with battery storage in two sites of approximately 100-150 hectares each and the right of way, namely Buchanan and Yekepa (together the Projects).

The LESSAP-2 PIU is looking for a Senior Social Expert. The Senior Social Expert will be in charge of pre-screening for both those sites and work very closely with the PIU, the Liberia Land Authority and the Technical Committee. The Senior Social Expert will work very closely with a Senior Environmental Expert and the two assistants, respectively. The Consultant will also provide technical support to LESSAP 1 & 2 PIU at the LEC. The technical support will be to review reports and provide strategic guidance to the PIU Social specialist.

Main Responsibilities/Role Description

The Expert will conduct a social screening of the proposed project site and all required facilities, including access roads, camps and TL connection to the main grid. in accordance with the guidance provided below. In carrying out the E&S work, the Expert will:

• Consider views and concerns of key stakeholders, including relevant authorities, local NGOs, and representatives of affected communities. Before interacting with any stakeholder, the Expert will coordinate with, and get consent from, the Client especially in relation to what information to disclose.

• Clearly state all methods, assumptions, and used data sources and present collected data and results of analyses in maps reporting the locations of salient Projects features. Collected data, list of sources and relevant pictures from site visits should be included in the report or its annexes. This should include a list of names, organizational affiliation, contact details and meeting dates for all stakeholders interviewed or consulted.

• Refer to:

• Projects’ relevant E&S laws, regulations and policies of Liberia

• WB ESF

• World Bank Group Environmental, Health and Safety General Guidelines (“WBG EHS General Guidelines”) and IFC

• WBG EHS Guidelines for Electric Power Transmission and Distribution

• Relevant international treaties to which the Project country is a signatory

• Good International Industry Practices

• Handbook for Preparing a Resettlement Action Plan, if needed

• Good Practice Handbook on Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management.

• Relevant LESSAP 2 Project E&S instruments, including the Stakeholder Engagement Plan

• WB good practice note on SEA/SH in large infrastructure projects.

The screening process will include:

• Desktop review: Review existing literature to familiarize with most prominent E&S issues of the broader area where the sites are located. Where available, literature review will cover (i) existing environmental studies, scientific literature or any other type of pre-existing assessments available for the project area and/or adjacent areas; (ii) national or regional plans (e.g., Strategic Environmental Assessments, development strategies); (iii) existing programs or initiatives in the area and its surroundings relevant to E&S issues (e.g. local NGO projects). The desktop review will be lead by the Senior Environmental Expert and reviewed by the Social Expert.

• Key informant interviews: Interview stakeholders with relevant experiences or knowledge of the region biodiversity and social matters to fill gaps/confirm the results of the screening.

• Site visit: Conduct a walkover/site reconnaissance (1-2 days) of the sites to provide initial confirmation of desktop results and collect additional information, for example through interviews with stakeholders involved in the day to day management of the area of interest in order to collate any historical or currently undocumented information. At least one visit per site will be undertaken, unless the desktop review (validated by knowledge of local experts) already indicates that the site presents a fatal flaw (e.g., the site is confirmed to be located in a legally protected /internationally recognized biodiversity area that qualifies as Critical Habitat per ESS6).

The screening will cover the sites and the ancillary/associated infrastructures (connection to the grid and road access), will be based on the mitigation hierarchy and will follow the criteria indicated below.

• Avoidance of physical displacement of formal and informal occupants, including those with recognizable legal rights and/or customary claims to land and those with no legally recognizable legal rights or claims

• Avoidance / minimization of economic displacement of formal and informal users, including those with recognizable legal rights and/or customary claims to land and those with no legally recognizable rights or claims, (e.g., herders, farmers, sharecroppers, nomadic people periodically passing on the land for subsistence and traditional activities, communities accessing resources relevant to their livelihoods)

• Avoidance / minimization of land with claims and grievances related to its previous uses and/or linked to prior government managed resettlement, historical disputes, forced evictions, or located in areas affected by significant land grabbing

• Avoidance / minimization of impacts on cultural heritage

• Avoidance / minimization of land that is actively used by IP / Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Local Communities

• Avoidance of impacts on critical cultural heritage as defined in ESS7

• Distance from settlement and potential for visual impacts and/or impairment of community access to neighbors, arable land, forest resources etc.

• Avoidance / minimization of impacts on ecosystem services

• Avoidance / minimization of impacts on community health and safety, including those resulting form labor influx

The Consultant will present its conclusions, data sources (including the list of key informants interviewed) and key E&S aspects of each site in a screening report.

Detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) for the assignment can be obtained at the following link:

https://lecliberia.com/wp-content/uploads/Liberia_TOR_Senior-Social-Expert-.docx

The duration of this assignment will be three (3) months maximum.

The LEC now invites eligible and Individual/s to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Individual(s) should submit their Expressions of Interest (EOI), including their CV with information demonstrating that they are qualified to perform the services (description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills, etc.), educational and professional qualification certificates etc. The shortlisting criteria are listed below.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in social science, sociology, anthropology, or related field

• Extensive understanding with track record demonstrating practical work experience under ESF

• Track record in E&S assessment and preparation for power projects including solar

• At least 15 years proven experience in preparation and implementation of social risk management under the WB-financed projects.

• Prove knowledge and work experience in West Africa, and preferably in Liberia

• Experience in engagement with vulnerable/ marginalized groups or /Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Local Communities is preferred

• Must demonstrate proficiency in English, analytical skills and report-writing skills.

Interested Individual/s must have minimum qualifications and experience as per the Terms of Reference. The Senior Social Expert will be selected in accordance with the Selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (July 2016 as Revised in November 2017 and August 2018, November 2020, September 2023 and February 2025).

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours, i.e., 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM GMT, Monday to Friday.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in written form to the address below via email on or before August 15, 2025, at 11.59 pm GMT with subject: “Senior Social Expert under the Liberia Electricity Sector Strengthening and Access Project 2 (LESSAP 2)”.

Executive Director for Projects

Liberia Electricity Corporation

P.O. Box 10-165 Waterside

Water Street,

1000 Monrovia, Liberia

[email protected]