ABOUT US
We are an international development organisation putting ingenious ideas to work so people in poverty can change their world.
We help people find solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems. Challenges made worse by catastrophic climate change and persistent gender inequality. We work with communities to develop ingenious, lasting and locally owned solutions for agriculture, water and waste management, climate resilience and clean energy. And we share what works with others, so answers that start small can grow big.
We’re a global change-making group. The group consists of a UK registered charity with community projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America, an independent development publishing company and a technical consulting service. We combine these specialisms to multiply our impact and help shape a world that works better for everyone.
OUR AIMS
We help people find solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems, made worse by catastrophic climate change and persistent gender inequality. Our aims are to:
•Make agriculture work better for smallholder farmers, many of them women, so they can adapt to climate change and achieve a good standard of living.
•Help more people harness the transformational effects of clean affordable energy and reduce avoidable deaths caused by smoke from indoor stoves and fires.
•Make cities in poorer countries cleaner, healthier places to live and work.
•Build disaster resilience into the lives of people threatened by hazards – reducing the risk of hazards and minimizing their impact on lives and livelihoods.
PRACTICAL ACTION IN KENYA
In Kenya, Practical Action has a long history of addressing systemic barriers that prevent people from accessing energy that transforms their lives, helping communities and government make cities healthier and safer, making agriculture and markets work better for small holder farmers and supporting communities and government to become more resilient.
We use a mix of programming with communities and consultancy services with shapers of policy and practice to achieve our aims.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Practical Action is implementing the Circular Economy for Household Organic Waste (CE4HOW) project in Kenya whose aim is to create a commercially viable, circular economy model for household organic waste that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, improves household waste services and transforms the lives of informal waste workers. The CE4HOW is being implemented through a partnership between Practical Action and Regen Organics in Kakamega County.
The social and environmental objectives of the project will be achieved through development of a business case for the commercial partner, Sanergy Inc., working through its subsidiary in Kenya, Regen Organics (Regen Organics). Regen Organics is constructing a new processing plant in Mumias Kakamega County, to produce organic fertilizer. This location gives the company access to a large market of smallholder farmers in Western Kenya, who will benefit from a product that improves soil structure, moisture retention, nutrients and increases yields. Feedstock for the processing plant will largely come from agricultural waste. However, the business case this project seeks to develop is the inclusion of household organic waste from Kakamega municipality.
This project will add value to a waste stream that currently has no value and is a financial drain on municipal resources. It will inject finances into the waste economy by paying Waste Aggregation Canters to supply household organic waste. Waste collectors, in turn, will offer household waste collection services at a lower than market prices, provided households separate their waste.
PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
Practical Action is inviting applications from qualified sector experts licensed by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to carry out an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the proposed construction of a waste aggregation centre (mini-Material Recovery Facility) in Rostaman, Kakamega County.
The ESIA should investigate and analyse the anticipated environmental, social, and biophysical impacts of the proposed development at Rostaman in line with requirements, processes, and procedures of the Kenya Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit). As a general rule, assessments must be conducted in compliance with the ESIA guidelines provided by NEMA.
SCOPE
Assignment Title: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for Waste Aggregation Site Location: Kakamega County.
Duration:30 days
Specific Objectives of the of the Assignment
1.To obtain background biophysical information of the site and legal and regulatory issues associated with the project development.
2.To obtain public views and ensure public/neighborhood participation in the project development.
3.To identify possible environmental and social risks and impacts, both positive and negative, in the proposed area during the site preparation, construction, operationalization, and decommissioning phases of the project.
4.To assess the significance and relative importance of the identified risks and impacts in project development, including the project site, design, and project plans.
5.To make suggestions of possible alterations to the proposed design, based on the assessment findings.
6.To propose preventive, mitigation, and compensatory measures for the significant negative impacts of the project to safeguard the environment and the people in the project area.
7.To generate baseline data for monitoring, auditing, and evaluating how well the mitigation measures are being implemented during the project cycle.
METHODOLOGY/APPROACH
The Study will be carried out as per Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, 2003 legal notice No.101 and Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Amendment Regulations, 2019.
Expected deliverables.
The consultant/firm will be required to provide the following deliverables during this assignment:
1.Inception report (to include – Desktop reviews, workplan). 3-man days, within 1 week of signing the contract.
2.Draft ESIA report (Field work in Kakamega including visits to project sites, collection of samples, impact assessment, analysis of the potential direct, indirect and cumulative impacts, development of mitigation measures, and compilation of the ESIA draft report writing. Facilitate public participation sessions through focus group discussions and key informant interviews to discuss the findings and address public concerns. Plans for stakeholder engagement should include meetings with relevant Kakamega County Government officials 7-man days, 2.5 weeks after signing the contract.
3.Final ESIA report (Review of the draft ESIA report, inclusion of public participation and client feedback, and development of the Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan (EMMP). 3-man days, 3.5 weeks after signing the contract.
4.NEMA project approval certificate (Submission of the necessary copies of the ESIA report and attachments to NEMA. (It is estimated that NEMA does their approvals within a minimum of 5 days and maximum of 21 days). Follow-up with NEMA on behalf of the client and obtain necessary certifications. 4-man days, 4 weeks after signing the contract.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT
1.The Consultants will report to the work independently with technical oversight by the Project Manager.
2.The project team will provide day to day support during the assignment to support the actualization of this assignment and within stipulated timelines.
3.Practical Action will also provide all necessary program documents required.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONSULTANT
ESIA Lead Expert should submit the following Specific requirements:
1.Certificate of registration by NEMA.
2.A valid practicing license as an Environment Impact Assessment and Audit (EIA) Lead Expert as issued by National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
3.Curriculum Vitae signed by the expert and a brief of any Three (3) recent assignments having conducted Environment Impact Assessment assignments of a similar nature and provide evidence of having completed the assignments.
4.Experts: If working with other experts the team should comprise skills/experience in Waste Management/Urban Planning, Sociologist and Environmentalist.
TIMELINES
This consultancy will take place in the months of July 2025 within a period of 30 days and final report submitted at the end of 30 days from the commencement of the contract. Final work plan duration shall be agreed with the selected consultant before signing of the agreement.
A detailed Terms of Reference can be accessed from Practical Action’s website on this link**-** https://practicalaction.org/careers/vacancies/consultancy-environmental-and-social-impact-assessment-esia-for-waste-aggregation-site/
How to apply
Interested consulting entities that have capacity to deliver this TOR are invited to submit a complete proposal to [email protected] subject line “Consultancy – ESIA for Rostaman Waste Aggregation Centre in Kakamega County” to reach Practical Action on or before Friday 20th June 2025.
Guidelines for Bids’ Submission
- A technical proposal detailing interpretation of the TOR, proposed methodology including sampling framework, and work schedule.
- A capability statement demonstrating how the consultant/firm meet the required qualifications and competencies.
- Copies of all relevant Curriculum Vitae (CVs). Only CVs for the specific individuals that will form the proposed EIA team should be included; three references (including one from your last client).
- Detailed financial proposal in Kenyan Shillings: If the team consists of several members, the professional fees should be based on time allocation by each member of the team to the various activities.
- Evidence of experience in similar work
Award criteria.
The evaluation of the quotations will be based on weighing up technical quality (the methodology and experience) as well as the financial proposal.
Additional Information
Practical Action is an equal opportunities employer, and we encourage applications from under-represented groups. We stay committed to cultivating an inclusive and diverse working environment and believe that people from different backgrounds or cultures give us different perspectives, and the more perspectives we have, the more successful we will be. By building a culture where everyone feels heard, respected and valued we give everyone working with us the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Practical Action is committed to safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults and as such candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks.
Note: Practical Action reserves the right to accept or reject any application.
