Environmental and Social Specialists (international) – 90 days — Fiji Energy Transformation Project Preparation

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST - INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION Name of Project Fiji Energy Transformation Project (P518499) - Grant Facility for Project Preparation (GFPP) Loan No/Credit No/Grant Number GFPP Grant No. TF0D0728 Assignment Title International Environmental and Social (E&S) Specialist Procurement Plan Ref Number FJ-EFL-567224-CS-INDV Reference No. EOI-04/2026 Country of Delivery Republic of Fiji The Republic of Fiji, acting through Energy Fiji Limited (EFL), has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of preparing the Fiji Energy Transformation Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. The consulting services ("the Services") comprise specialist environmental and social support to EFL's Project Preparation Unit. The Consultant will lead preparation of appraisal-stage environmental and social instruments, integrate requirements of the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework into technical and procurement outputs, support policy and regulatory reviews, and prepare a procurement-ready terms of reference for a separate assignment to develop and operationalize EFL's institutional Environmental and Social Management System. The Services will cover: • general environmental and social support to the Project Preparation Unit, including screening, risk-register management, ESCP inputs, coordination and practical capacity building; • preparation of E&S scoping studies with critical-habitat screening, a site-specific ESMP for aging asset replacement, an RPF, negotiated land agreement due diligence, an integrated SEP, and LMP; • preparation of a procurement-ready TOR for development and operationalization of EFL's institutional ESMS; • environmental and social review of Electricity Act amendments, Rooftop Solar PV Policy, and private-sector renewable-energy participation; • E&S inputs to the National control-centre upgrade, , aging power-infrastructure, grid-interconnection, hydropower and solar PV/BESS studies and concept designs; and • monthly and quarterly reporting, disclosure support and an appraisal-stage E&S readiness summary. Implementation period: The assignment is expected to be part-time for the full GFPP implementation period, estimated at [24 months], subject to satisfactory performance and availability of GFPP financing. Terms of Reference: The detailed Terms of Reference are attached to this REOI as Appendix 1. Energy Fiji Limited now invites eligible individual consultants ("Consultants") to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they possess the required qualifications and relevant experience. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to the applicable provisions of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers concerning conflict of interest. EOI Evaluation Criteria Criterion Weight 1. Relevant E&S assessment and management experience for infrastructure or energy projects 25% 2. Demonstrated application of the World Bank ESF or IFC Performance Standards and preparation of ESMP, land/resettlement, SEP/GRM and LMP instruments 30% 3. Experience in biodiversity and critical-habitat screening, ESS5 land due diligence, and ESS7 engagement and FPIC 20% 4. Relevant renewable-energy, grid infrastructure, hazardous-materials, Pacific or Fiji experience, including familiarity with iTaukei land tenure and governance 15% 5. Qualifications, writing, coordination, consultation and capacity-building capability 10% Total 100% Form and content of the Expression of Interest : Expressions of interest should contain only the information necessary to assess the criteria above. Consultants should submit a curriculum vitae and a concise statement demonstrating relevant assignments and experience. A financial proposal is not required at this stage. The Consultant assessed as best qualified against the criteria will be invited to negotiate a contract in accordance with the applicable procurement arrangements. Submission Further information may be obtained by emailing tenders@efl.com.fj during office hours, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Fiji Time, Monday to Friday, no later than three clear days before the closing date. Expressions of interest must be uploaded to the EFL e-Tender Portal (TenderLink) at https://www.tenderlink.com/efl by registering your company, by 4:00 PM (1600 hrs) Fiji Time on Wednesday, 30th September 2026. EOI documents may be viewed and downloaded from www.efl.com.fj(opens in new window) or https://www.tenderlink.com/efl(opens in new window). Submissions by email or facsimile will not be accepted. Hard-copy submissions to the tender box at EFL Head Office, Suva, will not be accepted. Appendix 1 - Terms of Reference TERMS OF REFERENCE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (E&S) SPECIALIST Fiji Energy Transformation Project (P518499) Grant Facility for Project Preparation (GFPP) - Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) 1. Introduction and Background Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) is preparing the Fiji Energy Transformation Project (P518499), a World Bank-supported initiative estimated at USD 230 million. The project aims to accelerate renewable-energy development, modernize the power grid, rehabilitate aging infrastructure, and reform the power sector to attract private investment in solar energy. Key interventions span Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and Taveuni, including solar PV/BESS parks of more than 50 MW each, grid-evacuation infrastructure, transmission-line upgrades and modernization of existing power stations. The Initial Environmental and Social Review Summary has classified the project's environmental and social risks as Substantial, reflecting biodiversity impacts, customary iTaukei land tenure, community health and safety, labor influx, SEA/SH risks, and supply-chain concerns associated with PV modules and battery energy storage systems. EFL is establishing a Project Preparation Unit (PPU) to prepare the project for appraisal and Board approval. The E&S Specialist will lead preparation of required E&S instruments, integrate E&S requirements into technical and procurement outputs, and prepare the TOR for a separate capacity-building assignment to develop and operationalize EFL's institutional ESMS. 2. Objectives of the Assignment The objective is to ensure that GFPP-financed preparation activities and the investments they support comply with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework, the project Environmental and Social Commitment Plan, applicable Fiji law, and Good International Industry Practice. 3. Scope of Work The Consultant will perform the following tasks, organized into five functional areas: 3.1 General E&S Support to the PPU • Serve as the PPU's E&S focal point and advise the Project Manager and technical teams on application of the ESF. • Screen preparation activities and concept designs, identify applicable standards and instruments, and maintain an E&S Risk Register with actions, responsibilities and status. • Prepare ESCP inputs, TORs for specialized studies, and E&S requirements for technical specifications and bidding documents; oversee related consultant outputs. • Provide practical ESF training and on-the-job support to the PPU and relevant EFL staff. • Coordinate with the World Bank, relevant Fiji agencies, TLTB, technical consultants and EFL departments, and maintain records of key decisions and actions. 3.2 Preparation of E&S Instruments Required by Appraisal This is the most critical function of the assignment. The E&S Specialist will prepare the following appraisal-stage instruments and related outputs: a. E&S Scoping Studies with Critical Habitat Screening • Lead scoping studies for solar PV/BESS parks on Vanua Levu and Taveuni, grid-evacuation infrastructure, and new or upgraded transmission lines. • Conduct structured Critical Habitat screening under ESS6 using available biodiversity data, including IUCN Red List species, Fiji endemic avifauna information, and protected-area registries. • Where critical habitat is identified or cannot be ruled out, prepare detailed assessments and, where necessary, a Biodiversity Management Plan with offset strategies, no-go zones and seasonal restrictions. • Include baseline social surveys, land-tenure mapping, community presence, vulnerable-group identification, and climate-resilience considerations such as cyclone, flooding and sea-level-rise risks. b. Environmental and Social Management Plan - Aging Asset Replacement • Prepare a site-specific ESMP for rehabilitation and replacement of aging power infrastructure under Component 3, covering baseline conditions, construction and operational risks, hazardous materials including PCBs, asbestos and e-waste, mitigation, monitoring, emergency response, contractor requirements, responsibilities, schedules and costs. c. Resettlement Policy Framework • Prepare an RPF consistent with ESS5 covering legal and institutional arrangements and gap analysis; eligibility and cut-off dates; entitlements and replacement-cost valuation; livelihood restoration; procedures for site-specific plans; consultation and grievance arrangements; monitoring, responsibilities and budget provisions. d. Negotiated Land Agreement Due Diligence Report • Identify and document all project sites or corridors where land or access rights have been or may be secured through negotiated settlement or other voluntary arrangement, and verify consistency with ESS5 and Fiji law. • Prepare an inventory of leases, easements, access and land-use agreements, donations, transfers and other consensual arrangements, recording parcels, rights-holders, status, duration, consideration, benefits and supporting evidence. • Assess whether each arrangement is voluntary, transparent, informed and free from coercion; whether formal, informal, customary, secondary and shared rights-holders were identified and represented; and whether participants had sufficient information, time, advice and a genuine right to refuse. • For customary land and resources, screen whether ESS7 and FPIC apply. Where required, document a culturally appropriate collective process through institutions selected by affected iTaukei communities, with participation of women, youth and potentially excluded rights-holders. Do not infer FPIC solely from approvals by TLTB, agencies or individual owners. • Where applicable, confirm and document eligibility cut-off dates, culturally appropriate public notice, valuation and compensation or benefit methodology, replacement-cost consistency, implementation status, grievances and corrective actions. • Conclude for each arrangement whether ESS5 criteria are demonstrated and identify any additional instrument, remedial action, responsible party and completion deadline required before access or civil works. e. Integrated Stakeholder Engagement Plan • Prepare a project-level SEP consistent with ESS10, including stakeholder analysis, differentiated engagement for disadvantaged or vulnerable groups, disclosure, responsibilities, schedule, monitoring and reporting. • Include a culturally appropriate consultation plan for communities potentially affected by solar PV/BESS and associated infrastructure, covering languages, timing, representation, feedback, land arrangements, benefit sharing and any ESS7 FPIC process. • Establish an accessible project grievance mechanism and a confidential, survivor-centered SEA/SH reporting and referral pathway. f. Labor Management Procedures • Prepare LMP consistent with ESS2 for direct, contracted, community and primary supply workers, including applicable law and gaps, terms and conditions, OHS, emergency preparedness, accommodation, labor influx, child and forced labor, PV/BESS supply-chain due diligence, codes of conduct, worker grievances, contractor obligations and training. g. TOR for Development and Operationalization of EFL's ESMS • Prepare a procurement-ready TOR and supporting inputs for a separate assignment to develop and operationalize EFL's institutional ESMS including potential staffing and structure to ensure the ESMS is properly resourced, strategically aligned, and embedded within EFL for lasting effectiveness. • Define objectives, scope, methodology, deliverables, schedule, expertise, coordination, knowledge transfer and acceptance criteria. Cover policy and governance; screening; stakeholder, labor, land, biodiversity, pollution, community-safety, cultural-heritage, contractor and supply-chain management; incident response; monitoring; reporting; tools; templates; training; and a time-bound implementation plan. • Consult relevant EFL departments. This assignment does not include development or implementation of the ESMS. 3.3 Policy and Regulatory Support • Review proposed amendments to Fiji's Electricity Act from an E&S perspective, identify gaps with the World Bank ESF and international good practice, and recommend measures for the revised policy. • Review the proposed Rooftop Solar PV Policy from an E&S perspective, including potential effects on consumers, community uptake and grid workers. • Advise on E&S requirements for private-sector renewable-energy participation, including application of IFC Performance Standards and World Bank ESF requirements to PPP or private-investment components. • Assess EFL's potential for an Environmental and Social Policy and support EFL's E&S team to derive and implement a practical policy. 3.4 E&S Inputs to Technical Studies and Infrastructure Components • National Control Center Upgrade: identify E&S risks associated with civil works, OHS, asbestos and PCBs, and recommend mitigation for technical specifications. • Modernization of Nabouwalu Government Station: conduct site-specific screening, identify community-proximity, worker-community and hazardous-material risks, and prepare an ESMP if required. • Aging Infrastructure Rehabilitation: supplement the Component 3 ESMP with screening and, where feasible, inspection of all proposed sub-sites for hazardous materials, cultural heritage and social risks. • Power Grid Interconnection, Vanua Levu-Taveuni: support feasibility and engineering studies with environmental and social routing-alternatives analysis and identification of a preferred route based on E&S criteria. • Hydropower: prepare assessment TOR requirements covering direct, indirect, induced and cumulative life-cycle impacts across the relevant catchment, including flows, sediment, biodiversity, ecosystem services, water use, livelihoods, land, safety, cultural heritage, associated facilities, alternatives, mitigation, monitoring and adaptive management. • Solar PV/BESS Parks: provide E&S inputs to concept designs for two parks of more than 50 MW each, including environmentally and socially informed site-selection criteria and ESF compliance review. 3.5 Monitoring, Reporting and Disclosure • Submit monthly E&S progress reports covering instrument preparation, risk-register actions, engagement, grievances, emerging issues and preparation-phase ESCP commitments. • Prepare quarterly stakeholder-engagement summaries. • Coordinate disclosure through EFL and other required channels and make accessible copies available to affected communities. • Prepare an appraisal-stage E&S readiness summary recording instrument status, review, disclosure, outstanding actions and post-appraisal timelines. 4. Methodology • Desktop review of project, legal, technical and E&S documentation and available baseline data. • Structured screening, site visits and physical inspections where feasible. • Stakeholder consultations with EFL, government agencies, TLTB, affected communities, technical consultants and the World Bank. • Application of the World Bank ESF, ESCP, applicable Fiji law, GIIP and the mitigation hierarchy. • Iterative preparation, review and revision of instruments, with clear evidence trails, action tracking and quality assurance. • Practical knowledge transfer and on-the-job support to EFL and PPU personnel. 5. Key Deliverables Deliverable Timeline E&S screening notes for all GFPP-financed activities (rolling) Within 1 week of initiation of each activity E&S Risk Register, initial and updated quarterly Within 1 month of mobilization, then quarterly Inputs to ESCP As directed by World Bank task team E&S Scoping Studies with Critical Habitat Screening By 15 December ESMP for Component 3, Aging Asset Replacement By 15 December Resettlement Policy Framework By 15 December Negotiated Land Agreement Due Diligence Report(s) By 15 December Stakeholder Engagement Plan, including consultation plan, project GRM and SEA/SH pathway By 15 December Labor Management Procedures By 15 December Procurement-ready TOR and supporting inputs for EFL ESMS assignment Within 3 months of mobilization and in time for procurement Advisory notes on Electricity Act amendments and Rooftop Solar PV Policy As requested E&S inputs to bidding documents and technical specifications As required by procurement schedule E&S technical input notes for infrastructure studies and components According to relevant technical-study schedule Monthly E&S progress reports Monthly Quarterly stakeholder-engagement summaries Quarterly ESF capacity-building and on-the-job training program, materials and attendance records Within 2 months of mobilization, then as required Disclosure record and consolidated Appraisal-Stage E&S Readiness Summary Before appraisal, updated as required All deliverables shall be submitted in English, professionally edited, and formatted in accordance with any World Bank templates provided. 6. Reporting and Coordination The E&S Specialist will report to the PPU Project Manager on a day-to-day basis. For technical E&S matters, the Specialist will coordinate closely with World Bank E&S Specialists and participate in World Bank supervision missions and project-preparation meetings. The Specialist will also coordinate with: • EFL's full-time Environmental Officer and Social Officer, once recruited; • GFPP technical consultants in engineering, energy and finance; • iTaukei Land Trust Board on land-tenure and customary-engagement matters; • Department of Environment and other relevant Fiji government agencies; and • external E&S consultants engaged for specialized studies. 7. Required Qualifications and Experience 7.1 Education • University degree, at minimum Bachelor's level, in environmental science, social science, natural-resource management, engineering or a closely related field. A postgraduate qualification in environmental or social assessment is strongly preferred. 7.2 Professional Experience • At least seven years of relevant experience in E&S assessment and management for infrastructure or energy projects. • Demonstrated application of the World Bank ESF or IFC Performance Standards and preparation of ESMPs, land or resettlement instruments, SEPs/GRMs and LMPs. • Experience in biodiversity and critical-habitat screening, ESS5 land and resettlement due diligence, and ESS7 engagement and FPIC. • Experience with hazardous materials, renewable energy, grid infrastructure or power generation is desirable. • Pacific or Fiji experience, including familiarity with iTaukei land tenure and governance, is strongly preferred. • Strong writing, coordination, consultation and capacity-building skills in multicultural settings. 8. Duration and Location • Duration: Part-time for the full GFPP implementation period, estimated at [24 months], subject to satisfactory performance and GFPP availability. • Location: Remote-based, with regular travel to project sites on Vanua Levu, Taveuni and other islands as required for scoping, consultation and supervision.