Terms of Reference (ToR)

Consultancy for Environmental and Social Safeguards Screening (ESS/SSE)

1. Background

Rikolto is an international NGO with over 50 years of experience building sustainable and inclusive food systems across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Our mission is to secure sustainable incomes for farmers, provide nutritious and affordable food for all, and protect the planet through climate-smart, environmentally responsible practices.

In Uganda, Rikolto is implementing a three-year project titled Climate-Resilient Businesses for Wetland Adjacent Communities, with support from aBi Development, the Royal Danish Embassy, and the European Union.

To ensure socially inclusive and environmentally responsible implementation, Rikolto seeks a consultancy firm to:

• Conduct an Environmental and Social Safeguards Screening (ESS/SSE)
• Develop a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)

This will help identify potential risks, recommend mitigation measures, and integrate human rights protections into project design and delivery.

2. Objectives of the Assignment

Overall Objective

To conduct a comprehensive safeguards screening ensuring compliance with national and international standards, strengthening grievance redress mechanisms, and embedding human rights protection.

Specific Objectives

1. Assess potential environmental and social risks of project interventions.
2. Screen for compliance with national laws, international safeguards (World Bank, IFC, AfDB, EU), and human rights standards.
3. Identify vulnerable and marginalized groups and assess risks of exclusion.
4. Recommend mitigation measures and prepare an Environmental & Social Management Plan (ESMP).
5. Design and integrate a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM).
6. Propose strategies to mainstream human rights (non-discrimination, participation, accountability, gender/youth inclusion).
7. Provide recommendations for institutional capacity building on safeguards and human rights.

3. Scope of Work

The selected firm will:

Safeguards Screening & Risk Assessment

• Review project components, activities, and context.
• Identify potential environmental risks (land use, pollution, biodiversity, water resources).
• Identify potential social risks (displacement, conflict, cultural heritage, labor rights, exclusion).
• Conduct stakeholder consultations.
• Classify risks as low, moderate, substantial, or high.

Mitigation & Management

• Recommend mitigation measures.
• Draft an Environmental & Social Management Plan (ESMP) with roles, timelines, and monitoring indicators.

Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)

• Assess existing grievance systems.
• Design an accessible, transparent, gender-responsive GRM.
• Define complaint-handling procedures.
• Prepare awareness materials for GRM operationalization.

Human Rights Protection

• Screen activities for risks (land rights, GBV, child labor, discrimination).
• Propose human rights-based approaches across the project cycle.
• Recommend mechanisms to ensure Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) where relevant.

Reporting & Validation

• Present preliminary findings in a stakeholder validation meeting.
• Submit a final report including:
  • Risk classification
  • ESMP
  • GRM framework
  • Human rights protection recommendations

4. Deliverables

1. Inception report (methodology, tools, work plan).
2. Safeguards screening report (environmental & social risk analysis).
3. Draft ESMP.
4. GRM framework and operational guidelines.
5. Human Rights Protection Strategy.
6. Capacity-building recommendations.
7. Final comprehensive report incorporating feedback.

5. Duration

The assignment will take 30 working days over 2 months (December 2025 – January 2026), including fieldwork, consultations, validation workshops, and reporting.

6. Required Expertise

The consultancy firm should demonstrate:

• Proven experience in environmental & social safeguards assessments.
• Knowledge of international safeguard standards (World Bank ESF, IFC, AfDB ISS).
• Expertise in grievance redress systems.
• Strong background in human rights-based approaches.
• Experience with multi-stakeholder and community-led projects.

Multidisciplinary Team Required:

• Environmental safeguards specialist
• Social safeguards specialist
• Human rights expert
• Legal/institutional expert
• Gender & inclusion specialist
• Monitoring & evaluation expert

7. Reporting and Supervision

The firm will work under the supervision of Rikolto Uganda, in collaboration with:

• National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA)
• Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD)
• Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE)
• Development partners and local communities

8. Submission of Proposals

Interested firms should submit:

• Technical proposal (understanding of ToR, methodology, team, work plan)
• Financial proposal (itemized budget in UGX)
• Company profile and registration documents
• CVs of key experts

📧 Submissions should be sent to: eastafrica.recruitment@rikolto.org
📌 Subject line: Environmental and Social Safeguards Screening Proposal
⏰ Deadline: 21st October 2025

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