Consultancy for the preparation of additional environmental and social studies required in the framework of the preparation of the Support Program for the Improvement of the Pacific Corridor in El Salvador Section I – First Operation (ES-L1185)

Description

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in conjunction with the Executing Agency of El Salvador, is calling for specialized consulting firms to prepare the complementary environmental and social studies for operation ES-L1185. The objective is to ensure the total alignment of the road project with the IDB's Environmental and Social Policy Framework (ESPF) and its ten Performance Standards (ESDP), always applying the strictest regulatory standard between national regulations and those of the Bank.

1. Gap Analysis and Impact Assessment (ESIA)
Diagnosing discrepancies: Develop a technical gap analysis matrix that compares El Salvador's socio-environmental requirements with the IDB's NDAS, determining immediate corrective actions.

Complementary Assessment: Develop the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for the construction, operation and maintenance phases of the corridor.

Analysis of the area of influence: Evaluate the direct, indirect, cumulative and induced impacts on land use, modeling the basin of vehicular input through a transport network approach.

Liabilities and alternatives: Audit sections already intervened (camps, quarries and dumps) to detect socio-environmental liabilities, and carry out an analysis of route alternatives and materials to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

2. Biotic, climate and heritage management
Biodiversity and connectivity: Execute an assessment of critical and non-critical habitats under ESDP 6, designing a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) and a biological connectivity analysis with satellite models to reduce wildlife mortality en route.

Ecosystem services: Identify the affected biophysical systems, their local beneficiaries and the risks of fragmentation or introduction of invasive exotic species.

Disaster Risk (MERDCC): Complete the first three steps of the IDB's Methodology for Disaster Risk Assessment and integrate a Preliminary Disaster Risk Management Plan (DRMP) in a cross-cutting manner.

Cumulative effects: Model the historical and future evolution of land use using raster images, protecting Assessable Ecosystem Components (VECs) such as forest cover and protected areas.

Cultural heritage: Carry out documentary and field surveys to safeguard tangible and intangible heritage (NDAS 8).

3. Social component, gender and indigenous inclusion
Update of the pre-cadastre: Update the 2018 real estate registry to appraise and manage the effects of approximately 630 properties, structuring the Economic Compensation and Livelihood Restitution Plan.

Indigenous safeguards: Develop the Socio-Cultural Analysis (CSA), assess community risks and design the Indigenous Peoples' Plan (IPP) under ESDP 7, leading the registration of the Free, Prior and Informed Consultation (FPIC) process.

Gender and diversity approach: Diagnose the socioeconomic situation of the area of influence disaggregated by sex and gender identity to mitigate risks of violence or exclusion (NDAS 9).

Labor Management (NDAS 2): Establish the Labor Management Procedures (PGL) evaluating the capacities of the Executing Agency and defining the contractual relationships of the project.

4. Strategic approach, governance and participation
Integrated analysis of corridors: Develop a Strategic Socio-environmental Analysis that unifies the vision of the two sections of the project, generating a classification of sensitivity along the entire road axis.

Citizen participation: Design the Stakeholder Participation Plan (PPPI) that formally includes the Complaint Response and Resolution Mechanisms (MARR).

Management System (ESMS): Consolidate a document summarizing the project's Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS 1), delimiting the operational roles of the Borrower, the contractors and the IDB.

Note: Interested companies should review the requirements on the BEO Bidder Portal.