Lead Expert Consultant - Agricultural Warehouses and Logistics
Remote | Philippines
- Organization: AIIB - Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
- Location: Remote | Philippines
- Grade: ["consultant"]
-
Occupational Groups:
- Logistics
- Agriculture and Forestry
- Supply Chain
- Managerial positions
- Closing Date: 2025-09-07
E&S Consultant - Agricultural Warehouses and Logistics
E&S Consultant - Agricultural Warehouses and Logistics
Application close date
09/07/2025
1. Project Background
1. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a Multilateral Development Bank established in January 2016. AIIB is owned by over 110 approved and prospective AIIB members worldwide. AIIB has USD 100 billion capital and is Triple A rated by the major international credit rating agencies. Working with partners, AIIB meets clients’ needs by unlocking new capital and investing in infrastructure that is green, technology-enabled and promotes regional connectivity. 2. The Department of Finance (DoF) of the Republic of the Philippines has requested AIIB to finance a project that will be implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA) named “Transport Connectivity and Logistics Improvement Project” (The Project) 3. The project will build access roads and logistic facilities knowns as Central Food Hubs (CFHs), which will improve the connectivity of farmers in the Philippines to markets, through logistic services that will enable economies of scale, prevention of losses and value addition to the production 4. The project will deliver these facilities in four locations: Clark (Pampanga), Quezon Province, Cebu City, and General Santos City
2. Objectives of the Assignment
5. AIIB is recruiting an Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts Consultant for Agricultural Warehouses and Logistics (herein after referred to as “the consultant”) who will prepare studies and reports that will constitute the feasibility study for the “Transport Connectivity and Logistics Improvement Project” in the Philippines. 6. The consultant will work closely with the DA and other AIIB consultants (senior advisor, economic specialist) to prepare studies and reports concerning the project scope, pre-feasibility and sustainability, leading to the elaboration of a full feasibility study* 7. The consultant shall be based in the Philippines. *The team will be composed of the Lead, one environmental and social expert, and one economic analysis expert.
3. Scope of Services
The scope of work of the consultant includes to: 8. Conduct environmental and social screening and preliminary assessment to identify key risks, impacts, and opportunities associated with the proposed project. Assess the major environmental and social issues in the selected areas, evaluate potential impacts, and recommend initial mitigation and enhancement measures. 9. Prepare the preliminary Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) in accordance with AIIB’s guidelines, as an integral part of the feasibility study, under the guidance of a senior advisor. Additionally, the consultant will actively engage with other team members to ensure that environmental and social aspects are considered in all critical steps, such as identification of suitable locations and economic analysis, and the completion of all deliverables by the deadlines identified in section 4. 10. Hold technical meetings and public consultation to promote discussion of the project with a wide range of stakeholders in the Philippines and abroad, including potentially affected communities, vulnerable groups, and Indigenous Peoples, where relevant, and other interested groups such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs). 11. Facilitate exchanges between AIIB and agricultural logistics stakeholders in the Philippines, and support project preparation missions by AIIB Project Team, including by: a. Facilitating meetings with stakeholders in the Government of the Philippines (GoP), private sector and international organizations b. Documenting and drafting meeting minutes c. Following up on the meeting decisions and requests for data and information 12. Advise consultants in charge of preparing the detailed design on environmental and social aspects of the project 13. Advise the AIIB Project Team in distilling and disseminating lessons learned from AIIB-financed operations 14. Advise the DA and AIIB on other potential projects for future development and investment. The full feasibility study will be composed, at minimum, of the following components: 15. Project Scope a. Benchmarking study on Southeast Asian countries. b. Overview of existing agricultural production in the four selected areas, including estimates on type and quantity of agricultural production c. Overview of existing logistic infrastructure, including road stock and storage facilities d. Scenarios for future growth in agricultural production, freight demand and logistic gap with- and without-project. e. Identification of problems and challenges in agricultural logistics in the four selected areas f. Concept design of the CFHs in response to the challenges identified above including preliminary static and dynamic capacity estimates g. Phasing strategy for construction and operation of the CFHs h. Identification of suitable locations for the CFHs in the four selected areas i. Identification of road network needs to ensure accessibility to the CFHs 16. Environmental and Social Risks Assessment a. Overview of major environmental issues and risks in the four selected areas including land use, natural and critical habitats, biodiversity, and other relevant ecological or physical features b. Identification of potential environmental impacts stemming from the project c. Overview of major social issues and risks in the four major selected areas including land acquisition and resettlement, Indigenous Peoples (if present), gender and social inclusion, labor and working conditions, community health and safety, and cultural heritage d. Identification of potential social impacts stemming from the project and associated facilities, if any. e. Identification of suitable mitigation strategies for the potential environmental and social risks and impacts identified above
3. Scope of Services (Continued)
f. Identification of additional environmental and social studies, permits, and documentation that may be required in subsequent stages of project preparation and implementation, based on identified ES risks and applicable regulations. 17. Economic Analysis a. Preparation of agricultural freight demand analysis and projections with- and without- project scenarios in the target regions b. Preparation of facility-specific economic and financial analysis c. Preparation of financial and economic models on Excel spreadsheets considering the lifecycle of the project, from construction to operation d. Calculation of IRR, EIRR, Cost-Benefit Ratio and other suitable financial and economic analysis indicators e. Regional Economic Impact Assessment 18. Project Governance a. Alternatives for the governance model of the CFHs that ensure proper maintenance and operation, including public management, concessions, PPPs, etc. b. Strategies to ensure inclusion of all agricultural stakeholders, especially small farmers and other vulnerable groups, in the four selected regions c. Recommendations for the design and implementation of agricultural value chain finance instruments d. Recommendations for capacity-building targeting various stakeholders of the CFHs The consultant will be primarily responsible for item 16, but will coordinate with other team members under the leadership of a senior advisor and assist the preparation of all reports holistically, providing inputs wherever environmental and social aspects are needed and ensuring mainstreaming of environmental and social considerations into all components of the project.
4. Consultancy Output / Deliverables
The following lists the main deliverables, linked to the scope of works above and the indicative deadline for delivery, where t0 is the date of the start of the contract: 1. ES input in inception report. Description: Detailed ES methodology and work plan to ensure successful completion of all deliverables on time. Deadline: t0+0.75 month 2. ES input in Project scope report. Description: As per scope of works, followed by technical meetings and/or consultation. Deadline: t0+2 month 3. Preliminary ESIA. Description: As per scope of works, followed by technical meetings and/or consultation. Deadline: t0+4 month 4. ES section of Governance report. Description: As per scope of works, followed by technical meetings and/or consultation. Deadline: t0+5 month 5. ES input in draft feasibility report. Description: Draft report containing deliverables 2, 3 and 4 incorporating comments from technical meetings /consultations, subject to approval by the DA and AIIB teams. Deadline: t0+5.5 month 6. ES input in full feasibility report. Description: Full report containing deliverables 2, 3 and 4 with revisions after comments from the DA and AIIB. Deadline: t0+6 month After completion of deliverable 6, the consultant will continue to advise the project team, the DA and particularly the consultants in charge of detailed design until conclusion of the 9-month assignment.
4. Consultancy Output / Deliverables (Continued)
(No Value)
5. Implementation Arrangement
In principle, the consultant will work remotely. But after consultation with DA, desk space may be made available at the premises of the DA.
5. Implementation Arrangement (Continued)
(No Value)
6. Support to the Consultant by the Bank
All relevant guidelines concerning AIIBs Environmental and Social Framework are available online. AIIB will introduce the Consultant to the relevant stakeholders and facilitate the Consultant’s coordination at the start of the assignment. For each field visit, the AIIB Project Team will work with the Consultant to finalize the plan. When the Consultant is required by AIIB to travel to perform the assignment, AIIB will support the consultant in obtaining approval of the travel plan, issuing air tickets and will provide the cost of travel by air or land and hotel accommodation if necessary.
7. Knowledge Transfer and Training
The Consultant will be updated on AIIB policies and guidelines as required. Knowledge transfer and training sessions, both onsite and online will also be arranged as deemed necessary, as well as visits to AIIB facilities may be organized as required.
Qualification Requirement
a. Undergraduate degree in environmental sciences, civil engineering, road engineering, agriculture-related fields, logistics, social sciences, development studies, or other field which relevance shall be demonstrated. Master’s degree preferred b. Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience, particularly in preparing FS, ESIA for infrastructure projects c. Demonstrated work experience with multilateral or bilateral organizations or national governments in the delivery of environmental and social impact assessments is required d. Experience working with agriculture sector ministries, departments or agencies is essential e. Work experience in agriculture and/or logistics sector policy making, governance, financing, transport planning, construction or supervision are desirable f. Good knowledge of the Philippine context, particularly environmental and social regulations. Multi-country working experience is an advantage g. Good knowledge of the AIIB ESF is an advantage h. Advanced written and spoken English skills, knowledge of local languages and dialects preferred.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.