Introduction
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has contracted DT Global, the Lead Consultant, to assist with environmental and social due diligence in the development and execution of 400kV electricity transmission projects (ETP) that MCC will be supporting in the Nepal Compact Program. SWN supports DT Global as its national partner, the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal (MCA-Nepal). The joint role includes providing two key types of services as follows:
- Provide advice to the US-based MCC team on environmental and social practice due diligence,
- Support to MCC in providing technical assistance to Nepal teams preparing the projects, and responsible for compliance with Nepal’s national environmental and social laws and regulations.
Objective
The objective of the annual series of Technical Directives issued by MCC is to provide support in the preparation of detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) and Scoping Documents for domestic Nepali consultant services related to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), and Resettlement Action Plan (RAP). These directives also extend to assisting with the identification and preparation of necessary Project Partnership Agreements relevant to Environmental and Social Practice (ESP), the development of Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) during ESIA and RAP processes, capacity building for the MCA-Nepal Country Team, compliance monitoring, and offering additional guidance and review on both management and technical implementation.
Services provided by SW Nepal
Over the course of Technical Directives, SW Nepal has been undertaking the following activities to meet the objectives:
- Revise/update ToR for Nepali EIA- that complies with Nepal’s regulations and requirements, and that also aligns with the proposed process for completing full ESIA
- Provide support information for ToR for Forest Clearance Plan, Social Impact Assessment, and Resettlement Action Plan (RAP)
- Stakeholder and community consultation and engagement
- Support on the overall feedback on the periodic monitoring, ESMP delivery, Benefits Sharing Framework development, etc.
- Scott Wilson Nepal also provided local oversight and project management services to enable smooth delivery by international experts.
Output
Ensure minimal environmental and social impacts and address all identified risks through relevant compensation, mitigation, or management measures in consultation with stakeholders in the Electricity Transmission Project (ETP) of MCA-Nepal.
