WHO is implementing a project to develop global guidance on ensuring adequate coverage of health issues as part of environmental impact assessment s (EIA) undertaken on mining projects.
Provisions related to the coverage of human health issues are included within environmental assessment regulations in many countries. In practice, however, coverage of health within EIA is often limited and predominantly only addresses physical environmental considerations (e.g. air, water soil and pollution/emissions related issues). Other factors that influence health, for example related to the social and human environment, are not often included or are considered separately as part of other types of assessments. The resulting picture of health that emerges can therefore be incomplete.
The overall aim of the WHO initiative is to enhance coverage of health in environmental impact assessment, in particular through the development of WHO guidance materials on health in EIA and through the development of training materials for environmental assessment regulators and their health sector counterparts.
WHO seeks an independent consultant(s) to support the above.
The Scope of Work for this consultancy consists of the following tasks:
1. Conduct a literature review of existing materials (including training materials) on health in environmental impact assessment. The primary focus will be on project level application of health in EIA and on the analysis of the extent to which health issues (and health determinants) are covered in current EIA practice. Key enabling factors and barriers influencing coverage of health in EIA should also be considered. To the extent possible, this literature review should take stock of publications available in multiple languages and reflective of experiences/practices in different regions around the world.
2. Develop three (3) guidance notes on health in EIA. These guidance notes should be formulated on the basis of the findings of the above literature review, and on the expertise and experience of the consultant. One of the guidance notes should be oriented towards environmental and health impact assessment regulators - i.e. those responsible for quality control of impact assessments undertaken; one should be orientated towards impact assessment practitioners; and one should be orientated towards project proponents - or entities that would normally commission an impact assessment study.
5. Updating of the training materials based on feedback from the course participants.
insights from the country experience.
Expected deliverables include:
- Report detailing results of the initial literature review.
- Guidance notes on health in EIA: one for regulators, one for practitioners, and one for project proponents.
- Training materials on health in EIA, which should include presentations, participant materials, training/instructor materials, and case examples for use in practical exercises.
- Case study of the experience and lessons learned from the pilot.
The expected start date of this consultancy is 01 June 2014 (or as soon as reasonably possible after that). The training activities are expected to be piloted in Q3 of 2014.
The consultancy will largely be home-based, apart from travel required to deliver the pilot training course.
The consultant will be remunerated at a daily rate that is commensurate with his/her experience and based on the UN common salary scale.
Qualifications and Experiences required:
- Advanced university degree in public health or a related field.
- At least 7 (seven) years of international experience working on public health and
- development issues;
- Demonstrated experience with the conduct of HIAs and/or integrated EIAs on mining
- projects;
- Experienced trainer and facilitator with demonstrated experience in designing and
- delivering training courses for audience not specialized in public health;
- Excellent analytical, written and verbal communication skills in English are required;
- Excellent interpersonal skills
Please include copies of your CV as well as a description of the kinds of issues you would
consider as part of this work (i.e. what framing you would take to address health in EIA). The
expressions of interest are to be delivered electronically to Ms Sophie Schmitt at the following
email address: schmitts@who.int.