International Extractive Resources and Sustainable Development expert/consultant for the preparation of a Social Impact Study into the Potential of Colluli Potash Project for Social Impact and SDG Contribution Towards Creating Shared Value

Background

The UNDP Eritrea Country Office is seeking a qualified International extractive resources and sustainable development expert/consultant for the preparation of a Social Impact Study into the Potential of Colluli Potash Project for Social Impact and SDG Contribution towards creating shared value that generates economic value in a way that also produces value for society by addressing its challenges.

Eritrea, a young nation in the Horn of Africa, is focused on the development of the Colluli Potash Project as it pursues its own model of development and vision of a nation. Colluli Potash Project is a Tier One Asset located in the Danakali region of Eritrea, East Africa and owned by the Colluli Mining Share Company (CMSC). CMSC (hereafter called the Colluli Potash Project) is a 50:50 Joint Venture, between Danakali, a junior exploration company and the Government-owned Eritrean National Mining Company (ENAMCO).

The Joint Venture partners Danakali Limited and ENAMCO wish to develop Colluli Potash Project as a model shared value mining project; delivering value to investors whilst providing farmers in Eritrea and Africa with enhanced food security and making a central contribution to economic opportunity and national development.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is one of the largest UN development partners in Eritrea, working on capacity development, poverty reduction, environmental reduction, environmental protection and renewable energy programmes in partnership with the Eritrean Government.  UNDP has identified Colluli Potash Project as a strategic opportunity to enhance the delivery of the 2030 Agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  UNDP has conducted a recent study entitled: “Mapping Mining to the Sustainable Development Goals – An Atlas” which charts ways in which mining project can contribute to delivering on SDGs.

Potash and particularly Sulphate of Potash is one of the key ingredients in soil fertility and both in Eritrea and Africa. In absence of potash soils are depleted.  This impinges on crop yield and quality, food security and incomes of smallholder farmers.  The operation of Africa’s first potash mine has potential for positive impact on food security and agriculture while also potentially supporting job creation, enterprise development as well as economic development at national level.  Its unique characteristics make Colluli Potash Project potentially as much a next-generation food security enterprise as a traditional mining project.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Working closely with the International and National consultants, the expert will undertake the following activities:
• Assist the Lead Social Impact Study Expert/Team Leader in all aspects;
• Conduct desk review of documents, and assist in development of draft methodology, detailed work plan and study matrix/outline;
• Assist in designing the appropriate study methodology for data collection related to the Social Impact Study;
• Assist in the preparation of the inception report;
• Interviews with key stakeholders, relevant government bodies, colluli potash project personnel, experts;
• Field visit to the project sites and conduct interviews with local communities and stakeholders;
• Assist in the preparation of a summary key findings based on document review, interviews and site visits performed;
• Assist the national expert in identifying major gaps in baseline data and provide guidance in the collection, collating and analysis of field data (the study should make maximum use of available data with strategic additional data collection);
• Provide technical assistance/guidance on the collection, collating and analysis of data on the agricultural system and rural farming communities that is of relevance to the scope of the proposed project;
• Review and analyze existing policies and regulatory and institutional frameworks for the agriculture sector to identify the key entry points to mainstream shared value strategy and practice;
• Identify the technical, financial, policy, regulatory and other constraints, incentives and disincentives for the sustainable agricultural development in the country;
• Analyse existing policies and regulatory and institutional frameworks for the mining sector;
• Detailed analysis of agriculture sector in Eritrea including soil fertility, soil management;
• Based on the inputs from National expert, design a strategy how potash products distributed locally can be accessed to maximum benefit by Eritrean farmers;
• Based on the inputs of the National Expert, assess/explore the likely outcomes to Eritrean farmers and wider communities in terms of addressing hunger and poverty which will result from the distribution of potash products;
• Based on the inputs of the National Expert, assess/explore the potential agriculture and food security outcomes that can result from provision of potash products in Africa;
• Examine key constraints impinging on agriculture productivity and food, and the income security of rural Eritrean households with a focus on soil fertility;
• Conduct evidence based and high-level assessment of the role of potash and potash bi-products in enhancing the soil fertility, crop yields and rural incomes relating to relevant crops;
• Prepare a brief analysis of the wider context in Eastern and Southern Africa regions and the role of potash products in addressing the soil nutrition needs and yield gaps in selected cash crops;
• Together with the national expert assist in analysis of the socio-economic context of Colluli Potash Project in Eritrea, with a focus on the current state of food security and economic opportunity for rural communities and youth;
• Support the lead International Consultant and the National Consultant in the analysis of key development challenges and constraints and how these can be addressed within a social impact framework by the Colluli Project;
• Assist in developing a theory of change to establish the social impact credentials of Colluli Potash Project and map it’s potential to deliver on SDG 1 on Poverty, SDG 2 on Hunger, SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9 on Infrastructure, Innovation and Industrialization and SDG 13 on climate action;
• Identify and quantify the potential contribution of the Colluli Potash project towards economic development in terms of opportunities for decent employment, business development, increased fiscal revenues, and infrastructure linkages;
• Identify and quantify revenue benefits of the Colluli Potash Project to the Eritrean Government through income from taxes, royalties and dividends likely to contribute to economic resilience and development in Eritrea;             
• Support the lead International Consultant and the National Consultant in conducting analysis of macro-economic context including fiscal;
• Explore diversification of local economies nexus the development of the potash project;
• Assists the lead International Consultant in the analysis of potential financing sources which can support the social impact approach
• Assist in designing in-country shared value in the framework of extractive projects/industries and SDGs;
• Assist in examining how the Potash Project can, by implementing a shared value approach, deliver tangible social impact in terms of food security and poverty reduction;
• Explore the potential shared use infrastructure and supply chain development;
• Explore the opportunity for value addition to core and secondary products – fertiliser blending;
• Assess the potential capacity building, technology and skills development;
• Assess Colluli Potash Project’s strategy and management for environmental sustainability including control and mitigation of carbon footprint;
• Assess the risks and constraints associated with the Colluli Potash Project which may lead to negative impact on the local communities and the nation.  This will include an analysis of the Social and Environment Impact Assessment carried out by the Colluli Project and approved by the Eritrean Ministry of Energy and Mines;
• Identify risks and mitigating actions which can ensure that the Colluli Potash Projects avoiding traditional pitfalls of the extractive industries in terms of negative impact at local and national level;
• Assess the Potash Project’s climate change mitigation plan in place and further explore the potential for a zero carbon mine.

Competencies

• Good analytical and strategic thinking skills;
• Extensive experience in the development sector in Africa;
• Extensive experience of industrial or mining projects within the African development context;
• Strong understanding off UN Sustainable Development Goals and related targets and indicators including role of private sector;
• Sound knowledge of results-based management systems, and monitoring and study methodologies; including experience in applying SMART indicators;
• Experience of large complex funding projects Understanding of the multi-lateral and bilateral funding environments including UN, EU;
• Excellent inter-personal, communication, and teamwork skills;
• Ability to meet tight deadlines;
• Excellent written and spoken English and presentational capacities

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree or preferably PhD in the areas of relevant natural sciences/Environmental Science, environmental/natural resources economics, Soil sciences, agriculture, agricultural marketing, Natural Resources Management.

Experience  

• At least 8 years of demonstrable experience in formulating high quality project proposals related to the relevant subject of the consultancy;
• Demonstrated experience in data analysis and writing high quality reports and analytical papers;
• Hands-on experience working in a development setting of developing countries;
• Demonstrated experience in tropical agriculture, including policy, programmes and/or research;
• Hands-on work experience in in the Horn Africa and or/Sub-Saharan Africa/African countries preferred;
• Experience of private sector and shared value and contribution to SDGs
• Experience of large complex funding projects including UN and EU funding environments

Language

• Full command of and fluency in English, with a high degree of proficiency in writing in this language is a requirement.