1. Background
Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) with support from the African Development Bank Climate Action Window(AfDB-CAW)plans to implement a Water Supply Improvement and Climate-Smart Water Management Project in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement, Dadaab Refugee Complex and their adjacent host communities .
The project’s overall goal is to improve universal access to equitable and sustainable water supply which enhances climate adaptation and resilience for approximately 660,000 beneficiaries in the refugee and surrounding host communities.
The project aim to build mitigation and adaptation capacity of existing water supply infrastructure through:
Component 1: Improved energy efficiency and adoption of green energy to enhance services while reducing GHG emissions and environmental impacts of water supply systems.
This component aims to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and reliability of water supply systems through targeted energy and infrastructure upgrades. The intervention focuses on optimizing existing water pumping operations by conducting energy audits, resizing pumps to match borehole yields, and introducing smart energy management systems. It further promotes the transition to renewable energy through rehabilitation and expansion of solar-powered and hybrid pumping systems. In parallel, the project will increase water storage capacity and improve distribution efficiency through hydraulic modeling and network optimization, reducing energy losses and enhancing service reliability. Overall, the project will strengthen water service delivery for over 665,000 people by reducing operational costs, increasing system resilience, and supporting environmentally sustainable water management.
Component 2:Water loss reduction and increased water use efficiency to mitigate waste of freshwater and ensure efficient water supply services.
This component focuses on improving water system efficiency and reducing losses across transmission, distribution, and end-user levels. It includes rehabilitation of existing water transmission and distribution networks, as well as repairs to water storage infrastructure to minimize physical losses. The project will establish Demand Management Areas (DMAs) through the installation of bulk meters at 140 boreholes and tanks, along with metering at kiosks, institutions, and camps, enabling improved monitoring and management of water use across 720 connection points. In parallel, water-use efficiency at the household and community level will be enhanced through the introduction of smart water dispensers and behavior change interventions. Collectively, these measures will improve accountability, reduce non-revenue water, and enhance sustainable water access for approximately 660,000 beneficiaries.
Component 3: Strengthening institutional and community level water management through technical assistance, and capacity-building of water utility personnel,and training of community water managers and local community.
This component focuses on strengthening institutional capacity and governance for sustainable and climate-resilient water service delivery. It includes an assessment of the capacity needs of the county public water utility to ensure it can meet service standards and climate adaptation requirements, followed by the development of an institutional strengthening roadmap and targeted capacity-building program. The component also promotes inclusive water governance through the establishment of community watershed management clusters, with a strong emphasis on engaging women and youth and strengthening collaboration between communities and the utility. In parallel, the project will support the integration of water supply planning into municipal urban development processes, ensuring that climate adaptation and water resource management are systematically incorporated into long-term municipal planning and decision-making.
This ESIA will focus on environmental and social risk assessment, fragility and resilience assessment, risk mitigation planning, and regulatory compliance for the project as described.
To inform project appraisal, detailed design, and implementation, Peace Winds Japan seeks to engage a qualified national consultant to conduct an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) in accordance with Kenyan regulations and applicable donor safeguard requirements.
Project Sites
The proposed project will be implemented in Kakuma Refugee Camp,Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement, Daadab Refugee Complex and surrounding host communities.
2. Objective of the Assignment
The objective of this assignment is to:
- Identify potential environmental and social impacts associated with the proposed project activities.
- Assess compliance with Kenyan environmental legislation, AfDB safeguard policies and UNHCR Guidelines on project implementtaion in Refugee and host community set ups.
- Analyze contextual fragility drivers and resilience capacities affecting project implementation and sustainability.
- Develop practical mitigation and resilience-enhancing measures through an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP).
- Develop a detailed stakeholder engagement plan and a community-based Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM).
- Support the project’s environmental approval process with NEMA.
- Ensure that project implementation is environmentally sustainable, socially inclusive, climate-resilient, and responsive to fragility dynamics in refugee-hosting contexts
3. Scope of Work
3.1 Desk Review and Project Familiarization
The consultant shall:
- Review project descriptions, technical documentation, and implementation arrangements.
- Review relevant Kenyan environmental and social legislation.
- Review applicable AfDB environmental and social safeguard policies.
- Review available baseline studies, including socio-economic and conflict-related assessments.
- Review existing analyses related to fragility, conflict sensitivity, climate vulnerability, and institutional capacity in Kakuma and Dadaab.
- Review UNHCR guidelines on implemantation of projects in refugee and host community set ups.
Note: Detailed engineering, hydraulic, or energy modeling is excluded from this assignment.
3.2 Field Assessment
The consultant shall conduct site visits to Kakuma, Kalobeyei and Dadaab to:
- Carry out stakeholder engagement metings; PWJ, County, UNHCR,DRS among others
- Inspect existing boreholes, pumping stations, solar systems, and storage facilities.
- Assess environmental and social sensitivities.
- Identify risks related to construction, operation, and maintenance activities.
- Conduct rapid assessments of occupational and community health and safety.
- Identify key fragility drivers, including:o Resource competition and social tensions
o Service delivery constraints
o Institutional and governance challenges
o Climate and environmental stressors
o Vulnerabilities of refugees and host communities
3.3 Environmental, Social, Fragility and Resilience Assessment
The ESIA shall include an integrated assessment of:
- Waste generation and disposal
- Noise, dust, and traffic disturbances
- Water resource management and sustainability (qualitative assessment)
- Energy use and emissions
- Occupational health and safety
- Community health and safety
- Gender, protection, SEA/SH, and vulnerability risks
- Impacts on refugees and host communities
In addition, the assessment shall include a Fragility and Resilience Analysis, covering:
- Institutional and service delivery fragility affecting water supply systems
- Social cohesion and potential conflict risks related to water access
- Climate and environmental vulnerability affecting system sustainability
- Adaptive capacity of local institutions and communities
- Resilience opportunities to strengthen long-term service delivery
3.4 Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)
The consultant shall prepare an ESMP that integrates environmental, social, and fragility considerations, including:
- Probable impacts
- Mitigation and resilience-enhancing measures
- Monitoring indicators (including resilience-related indicators)
- Roles and responsibilities of implementing actors
- Implementation schedule
- Estimated costs
- Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), adapted to fragile and displacement-affectedcontexts
3.5 Stakeholder Consultation and Fragility-Sensitive Engagement
The consultant shall:
- Conduct targeted consultations with community representatives, local authorities, utilities, and relevant stakeholders.
- Ensure inclusion of women, youth, refugees, and host community representatives
- Document key concerns, risks, and proposed mitigation measures.
- Integrate feedback into both the ESIA and fragility-resilience analysis.
- Apply conflict-sensitive and inclusive engagement approaches.
3.6 Reporting and Approval Support
The consultant shall:
- Prepare a Draft ESIA Report incorporating the Fragility and Resilience Assessment.
- Revise the report based on feedback from PWJ and relevant stakeholders.
- Submit a Final ESIA Report.
- Support submission to NEMA, if required.
4. Deliverables (Revised)
- Inception Report
- Field Assessment and Fragility Analysis Summary
- Draft ESIA Report
- Final ESIA Report, including:o Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
o Fragility and Resilience Assessment
o Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)
o Stakeholder Engagement Plan
o Grievance Redress Mechanism
- NEMA submission-ready documentationAll deliverables shall be submitted in English, in both editable (Word) and PDF formats.
5. Duration of Assignment
- Total duration: 28 working days
- The assignment shall commence upon contract signing.
6. Consultant Qualifications
The consultant must:
- Be a NEMA-registered ESIA Lead Expert in Kenya
- Have proven experience in:⮚ Water supply and sanitation projects
⮚ Renewable energy or solar-powered systems
⮚ ESIA preparation in Kenya
⮚ Have experience working in humanitarian or development contexts
⮚ Demonstrate capacity to undertake fieldwork in remote locations
7. Budget and Payment
The budget shall cover professional fees, travel, accommodation, reporting, and incidental costs.
Proposed payment schedule:
- 20% upon contract signing
- 50% upon submission of draft ESIA
- 30% upon submission and approval of final ESIA
8.Ethical Standards and Compliance
The consultant shall observe the following:
- All data collection must adhere to ethical research standards, including informed consent, confidentiality, and protection principles.
- Comply with Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) requirements
- Ensure gender-sensitive and inclusive engagement
- Maintain confidentiality of all project data
- Avoid conflicts of interest
- Comply with Kenyan environmental and social regulations
How to apply
Proposal Submission Requirements
Interested consultants shall submit bids to: [email protected]
• Technical proposal (methodology and work plan)
• Financial proposal
• Proof of NEMA registration
• CVs of key personnel
• Relevant experience and references
More documents can be accessed through the link below; https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19vqCWTqXHaNAxno_q09GFOEvNYXbRpgZ
More Information
- Job City Kenya
