Application close date

06/12/2026

Title

Senior Environment and Social Consultant

1. Project Background

Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development FinanceThe Multilateral Cooperation Center for ...Development Finance (MCDF) promotes high-quality connectivity infrastructure investment in developing countries through partnerships. MCDF’s core work areas include project preparation, capacity building, and information sharing, covering the sustainable transport, energy, telecommunications, and cross-border water resource management sectors.MCDF operates through two mechanisms:• MCDF Collaboration Platform, guided by the MCDF Coordination Committee (CC), which fosters knowledge sharing, collaboration, and peer learning among International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and partners to promote high-quality infrastructure aligned with IFI standards and good practices • MCDF Finance Facility, overseen by the MCDF Governing Committee (GC), which provides grant financing to support the upstream development of bankable and sustainable connectivity projects The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) serves as the Administrator of MCDF and hosts the MCDF Secretariat. While administratively established by AIIB, the Secretariat is headed by MCDF CEO and operates with functional independence and provides day-to-day operational support.The Project:Promoting the application of multilateral development bank (MDB) environment and social (E&S) standards is central to MCDF’s capacity building activities, reflecting the critical role of these standards for improving project design, risk and impact management, and implementation outcomes.In line with this focus, MCDF, in collaboration with the Xiamen National Accounting Institute (XNAI), is establishing an MCDF Learning Center at XNAI in Xiamen, China aimed at delivering high-quality, practitioner-focused training programs on E&S risk and impact management. The training program will be designed to align with international best practices, including the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards, and E&S frameworks of MDBs such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), African Development Bank (AfDB), and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Within this context, MCDF intends to engage a Senior Environment and Social Consultant to design, develop, pilot, and refine comprehensive E&S training modules. This assignment supports institutional capacity building and professional development and contributes to MCDF’s introduction of a scalable and sustainable certification-based learning pathway.

2. Objectives of the Assignment

The overall objective of the assignment is to provide strategic and technical environmental and soci...al advisory support for the establishment of the MCDF Learning Center at XNAI in Xiamen, including the design and delivery of high-quality, practitioner-focused E&S training modules aligned with MDB E&S standards and international best practices.Specific objectives include:1. Advising MCDF on the strategic positioning and operating model of the E&S Learning Center as a capacity building platform2. Lead the development of high-quality training material for the center based on MDB project experiences and embedding a “learning by doing” approach to strengthen E&S risk and impact management3. Lead the technical design and co-delivery of a pilot E&S training program in November 2026 to test, validate, and refine the center’s learning modules4. Develop quality assurance, evaluation, and scaling recommendations to support use of the center’s training modules and possible development of a certificate-based learning pathway

3. Scope of Services

The Senior Environment and Social Consultant will undertake the following scope of services:1. ...Strategic Advisory• Advise MCDF on the strategic positioning of the E&S Learning Center within MCDF’s capacity building and information-sharing mandate, to deliver high quality E&S training• Provide senior-level advice on partnership arrangements with XNAI, priority audiences, delivery modalities, and resource persons• Identify how the Learning Center can support the improved application of IFI standards, upstream project preparation quality, implementation readiness, and sustainable infrastructure outcomes in developing countries2. Lead the design of E&S training modules • Develop comprehensive E&S training modules on the application of E&S standards in connectivity infrastructure projects • Ensure systematic alignment with the World Bank ESF, IFC Performance Standards, and other MDB E&S frameworks (e.g., those of ADB, AfDB, and AIIB)3. Lead the development of the Learning Center’s training materials:• Prepare instructor manuals, facilitator guides, and participant handbooks• Develop case studies drawn from MDB-financed projects• Produce practical tools and templates such as ESIA outlines, ESMP structures, stakeholder engagement plans, and resettlement action plans• Design scenario-based exercises• Integrate sector-specific examples covering cross-border transport, energy, water, and telecommunication infrastructure projects4. Lead the integration of learning-by-doing:• Design interactive methodologies, including case-based learning, group problem-solving, and role play simulations5. Lead the design and co-delivery of a pilot training program:• Design and co-deliver (with MDB experts) pilot training modules in virtual and/or in-person formats• Co-deliver sessions with experts from MDBs such as AIIB, the World Bank, ADB, and IFC• Adapt delivery approaches to suit government officials, project implementing units, contractors, and consultants6. Post-training evaluation tools:• Develop participant evaluation tools• Incorporate feedback for continuous improvement

3. Scope of Services (Continued)

(No Value)

4. Consultancy Output / Deliverables

The key consultancy outputs and deliverables include:1. Detailed E&S training modules...2. Complete sets of training materials, including instructor manuals, facilitator guides, participant handbooks, case studies, tools, and templates3. A package of scenario-based exercises, simulations, and sector-specific examples reflecting practical MDB project experience4. Design and document interactive and experiential learning methodologies5. Design and deliver a pilot training program (virtual and in-person formats) for use in November 2026, including a training agenda and session materials6. Training quality assurance framework, including pre- and post-assessment tools and skills-based evaluation methods7. A summary report capturing lessons learned from pilot delivery and recommendations for refining and scaling the training modules8. Conducting any other work requested by the MCDF CEO or the Senior Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) Advisor to the CEOAll deliverables shall be provided in English, in formats agreed with AIIB, within the agreed contract period.

4. Consultancy Output / Deliverables (Continued)

(No Value)

5. Implementation Arrangement

The expectation is that the consultant will largely work remotely but may be required to travel to C...hina to deliver some of the training modules.

5. Implementation Arrangement (Continued)

(No Value)

6. Support to the Consultant by the Bank

The consultant will report to the ESG Advisor to the CEO, who will be available regularly for techni...cal discussions with the consultant and provide timely feedback on the consultant’s work.

7. Knowledge Transfer and Training

A core requirement of this assignment is effective knowledge transfer and capacity building. The con...sultant shall ensure that all training materials are designed to be reusable and adaptable by MCDF and the MCDF Learning Center at XNAI in Xiamen.The consultant will support training through well-documented instructor guides and facilitation notes. Knowledge transfer will also be achieved through co-delivery of sessions with MDB experts, structured feedback sessions, and documentation of lessons learned.The training modules and other materials, including any training program videos featuring and/or produced by the Consultant, will be the property of MCDF, which has the full discretion to decide whether to post any part of these on the MCDF website or other channels.

Qualification Requirement

The Consultant shall have:1. Master’s or PhD level academic qualifications in environmental sci...ences and/or engineering, social sciences, or a related field2. At least 20 years of practical experience in applying MDB environmental and social standards to manage adverse E&S risks and impacts of infrastructure or development projects in line with MDB E&S standards3. Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of MDB E&S standards4. Proven experience in the design and delivery of training modules5. Strong track record in developing practical training materials, case studies, and applied learning tools6. Experience delivering high-level training and facilitating workshops for diverse audiences, including government officials, project implementing units, contractors, and consultants7. Excellent analytical, communication, and writing skills in English8. Ability to work independently in a remote setting and to coordinate effectively with multiple stakeholders

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