Consultant to conduct Heritage Impact Assessment for four (4) small-scale mining hotspots: Otjimbojo, Omapyu, Xoboxobos and Tubussis, UNDP CO Namibia / Windhoek

UNDP

Closing date: Friday, 23 July 2021

Consultant to conduct Heritage Impact Assessment for four (4) small-scale mining hotspots: Otjimbojo, Omapyu, Xoboxobos and Tubussis

Location : UNDP CO Namibia / Windhoek, NAMIBIA

Application Deadline : 23-Jul-21

(Midnight New York, USA)

Additional Category : Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction

Type of Contract : Individual Contract

Post Level : National Consultant

Languages Required : English

Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)

09-Aug-2021

Duration of Initial Contract : 17 Days

Expected Duration of Assignment : 17 Days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) would like to ensure that small-scale miners (SSMs) currently mining in small-scale mining hotspots comply with the requirements of the Environmental Management Act (EMA) No. 7 of 2007, along with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations No. 30 of 2012 as well as the National Heritage Act No. 27 of 2004. At the moment, scoping studies have been conducted and EMPs developed for Omapyu, Otjimbojo, Goboboseb and Tubussis small-scale mining sites in Erongo Region. However, these could not be approved for issuance of Environmental Clearance Certificates (ECCs) by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) in the absence of Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) Reports. It is therefore required that HIAs should be conducted for mining and quarrying activities in those small-scale mining hotspots, given the potential of heritage resources within the Erongo Region. The HIA reports to be produced after the assessments are meant to present measures aimed to prevent the destruction of the heritage within the target small-scale mining hotspot, and to advise the small-scale miners on matters related to the conservation and protection of places and objects of heritage significance.

Against this background, MME in partnership with the UNDP is seeking services of a consultant to conduct heritage and archaeological assessments at the four hotspots. Each of the sites encompasses several mining claims, owned and operated by different individual persons and/ or groups, from which a range of semi-precious stones such as tourmaline, smoky quartz, beryl, amethyst, prehnite, rock crystals and Schorl are extracted. Presently, mining and extraction of these gemstones is predominantly done in a semi-mechanized manner, involving the removal of overburden with excavators, bulldozers and loaders, provided by middlemen, and subsequent manual digging of the targeted gemstones.

Duties and Responsibilities

The main objective of this assignment is to conduct HIAs at 4 small-scale mining hotspots in Erongo Region namely Omapyu, Goboboseb and Tubussis. Through the HIAs, the consultant will be expected to identify and locate sensitive heritage resources within the five hotspots (Omapyu, Otjimbojo, Goboboseb and Tubussis) that could be negatively affected by small-scale mining activities. The consultant is expected to compile 5 separate reports for the different hotspots. The hotspot indicated as Otjimbojo consists of two farms, part of Otjimbojo Ouest Farm and another part of Otjakatjongo Farm; as part of the requirement from MEFT, separate reports should be produced per farm. The consultant will also be expected to deliver the Full Proposal with the timelines agreed with UNDP to allow for review before the deadline for submission.

Activity

Deliverable

Number of days

Target dates

Review and Approvals Required

Inception meeting

Inception Report

11/08/2021

UNDP & MME

Field work to the 5 small-scale mining hotspots

20/08/2021

UNDP & MME

Preparation of the 5 HIA reports

First drafts of the 5 HIA reports

06/09/2021

UNDP & MME

Finalization of the 5 HIA reports

Final drafts of the 5 HIA reports

15/09/2021

UNDP & MME

Competencies

Ability to produce high quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding the client needs;

Ability to focus on impact and results for the client, promoting and demonstrating an ethic of client service;

Ability to work independently, produce high quality outputs;

Sound judgment, strategic thinking and the ability to manage competing priorities;

Ability to conduct heritage and archaeological studies;

Required Skills and Experience

Master's degree in one the following disciplines: Archaeology, heritage studies, environmental science or management, geography and geology.

Experiences:

Environmental science or management, geography and geology.

5 years professional experience in environmental assessment.

5 years professional experience in heritage impact assessment.

Excellent research experience; and Excellent writing skills.

Language: Fluency in written and spoken English

Application process

Applicants are requested to submit price offers indicating the total cost of the assignment (including daily fees). All application should be done via the online portal.

UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that will take into account the competencies/skills of the applicants as well as their financial proposals.

Applications will be screened against qualifications and competencies specified above through a desk review.

How to apply:

To apply please access UNDP Jobs site http://jobs.undp.org.