Consultant for Strengthening Environmental and Social Safeguards in the Enterprise Development Fund (EDF)

## **Job Description**

**Introduction**

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at [IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration](https://www.iom.int/iom-workplace-culture)

**Project Context and Scope**

As a part of economic recovery and basic service improvement of conflict affected, climate and other
economic affected areas in Iraq, IOM Iraq implements the Enterprise Development Fund (EDF) to support economic development and sustainable job creation within small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

A key component of the EDF grant which requires further strengthening is the implementation and management of Environmental & Social Action Plans (ESAP), which aim to mitigate environmental and social risks in the SMEs funded by the EDF, as well as improving staff safety and wellbeing.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Officer (Livelihoods), and in close collaboration with the Senior Livelihoods Technical Assistant, the Consultant (Environmental and Social Risk Management) will support the operationalisation and strengthening of the ESAP within EDF through a combination of:

a) Impact assessment of existing ESAP implementation under the EDF
b) Desk review and refinement of ESAP technical processes
c) Development of sector-specific and item specific minimum standards and tools
d) Capacity building of both EDF Technical and Operational Teams

The consultant will ensure that ESAP is implemented within the EDF in a feasible, practical, and effective manner, aligned with ESMF guidelines and Iraqi legislation in both the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and Federal Iraq (FI). This includes conducting an impact assessment of ESAP implementation, developing sector-specific standards, designing monitoring tools, and delivering capacity building for EDF Technical and Operational Teams.

**Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing**

The consultant will be operating within the Peace and Recovery Division, under the overall supervision of the EDF Project Officer (Livelihoods) and direct supervision of the Senior Livelihoods Technical Assistant.

**This opportunity is open to international consultants only. The position is based in Erbil, Iraq, with frequent travel to Baghdad.**

## **Responsibilities**

**Tasks to be performed under this contract**

The consultant will be responsible for the following phases:

Phase 1: Desk Review and ESAP Impact Assessment:

- Desk review of the existing end-to-end process for the provision of ESAP funding as part of the EDF grant, including drafting of plans, approvals, field implementation, disbursement of ESAP budget, monitoring and reporting. Identify gaps, bottlenecks and areas for improvement in these current processes. Develop a report evaluating the quality and consistency of ESAP plans previously implemented under EDF.
- Conduct field visits to EDF-supported businesses across diverse sectors and governorates to assess the implementation and effectiveness of ESAP measures in mitigating social risks and compliance with ESMF requirements.
- Collect qualitative and quantitative data during these visits through interviews with business owners, staff, and site observations on the state of its infrastructure.
- Produce an ESAP Impact Assessment Report identifying key findings from the above, lessons learned and actionable recommendations.

Phase 2: Development of ESAP Systems, Standards, and Tools for EDF

- Based on the report and assessment findings from ‘Phase 1’, develop sector-specific minimum standards for ESAP plans, aligned with ESMF guidelines, Iraqi legislation and feasibility based on allocated budget.
- Develop clear guidance on appropriate ESAP measures and interventions tailored to the main sectors covered by EDF for EDF Technical Team to implement. These standards must then be embedded into new or existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and enforced during the EDF process.
- Develop monitoring tools and templates to enable EDF Technical Teams to assess ESAP compliance and effectiveness, in collaboration with the EDF Project Officer.
- Validate research findings and proposed amendments through consultation with relevant IOM EDF technical and operational staff and make any adjustments accordingly.

Phase 3: Capacity Building of EDF Technical & Operational Team Capacity to Identify & Resolve Risks through EDF

- Design and deliver a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme for EDF Technical Team, building staff capacity to identify risks, appropriate ESAP measures and monitor ESAP compliance to ensure quality implementation by operational staff.
- Training of EDF operational field teams to ensure understanding of updated SOPs, tools and sector-specific guidelines.
- Accompany EDF operational field teams to implement based on updated guidelines, as well as EDF technical validation and provide feedback as necessary.

**Objectives of the Assignment** The main objective of this consultancy is to develop the Environmental & Social Action Plan component of the EDF grant, to maximise grant impact on the implementation of tailored, sector-specific interventions in the interest of improving staff safety and wellbeing, whilst mitigating risks of environmental impact, complemented by an impact assessment of previous implementation.

**Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment**

No.

Deliverable

Indicator

Date of Submission

1\.

Phase 1: ESAP Impact Assessment Report

- Visit EDF businesses across all major sectors and governorates covered, conducting impact reports, mapping common risks and identifying lessons learned.
- Inclusion of both desk review and field based findings (site visits, interviews, FGDs)
- Clear identification of ESAP design and implementation gaps, common ESMF risks and process bottlenecks.

July 2026 (2 months)

2\.

Phase 2: Development of new ESAP guidance, sector-specific standards, SOPs and monitoring tools.

Development of sector-specific ESAP standards aligned with ESMF guidelines and Iraqi legislation

Integration of ESAP standards into updated SOPs

Validate all outputs through consultation with Project Officer and Quality Assurance Technical Sub-Team.

Provide evidence that tools and SOPs are feasible within EDF budget and operational constraints

September 2026 (2 months)

3\.

Phase 3: Capacity building of Staff and Operationalisation of updated ESAP guidelines

- Staff demonstrate theoretical understanding of, and practical ability to implement ESAP guidance, evidenced by the quality of ESAP plans produced and field application.

November 2026 (2 months)

**Performance indicators for the evaluation of results:**

• Quality, clarity and practicality of recommendations identified in the ESAP Impact Assessment Report
• Relevance and feasibility of recommendations and sector-specific, item-specific and geographically specific standards.
• Successful integration of the desk review and impact assessment findings into EDF SOPs and tools
• Effective capacity building of staff, with demonstrated staff understanding of ESA