Description
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Environment and Social Consultant |
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Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance
The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) promotes high-quality connectivity infrastructure investment in developing countries through partnerships. MCDF’s core work areas include project preparation, capacity building, and information sharing, covering the sustainable transport, energy, telecommunications, and cross-border water resource management sectors.
MCDF operates through two mechanisms:
• MCDF Collaboration Platform, guided by the MCDF Coordination Committee (CC), which fosters knowledge sharing, collaboration, and peer learning among International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and partners to promote high-quality infrastructure aligned with IFI standards and good practices
• MCDF Finance Facility, overseen by the MCDF Governing Committee (GC), which provides grant financing to support the upstream development of bankable and sustainable connectivity projects
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) serves as the Administrator of MCDF and hosts the MCDF Secretariat. While administratively established by AIIB, the Secretariat operates with functional independence and provides day-to-day operational support.
The Project:
Promoting the application of multilateral development bank (MDB) environment and social (E&S) standards is central to MCDF’s capacity building activities, reflecting the critical role of these standards for improving project design, risk and impact management, and implementation outcomes.
In line with this focus, MCDF, in collaboration with the Xiamen National Accounting Institute (XNAI), is establishing an MCDF Learning Center at XNAI in Xiamen, China aimed at delivering high-quality, practitioner-focused training programs on E&S risk and impact management. The training program will be designed to align with international best practices, including the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards, and E&S frameworks of MDBs such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), African Development Bank (AfDB), and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
Within this context, MCDF intends to engage a Senior Environment and Social Consultant to design, develop, pilot, and refine comprehensive E&S training modules. This assignment supports institutional capacity building and professional development and contributes to MCDF’s introduction of a scalable and sustainable certification-based learning pathway. |
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| 2. Objectives of the Assignment
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The overall objective of the assignment is to support the establishment of the MCDF Learning Center at XNAI in Xiamen by designing and delivering high-quality, practitioner-focused E&S training modules aligned with MDB E&S standards and international best practices.
Specific objectives include:
1. Developing high-quality training modules for delivering priority E&S thematic topics in line with the results of the needs survey conducted by MCDF in 2026
2. Developing high-quality training material grounded in real MDB project experience and embedding a “learning by doing” approach to strengthen E&S risk and impact management
3. Designing and co-delivering a pilot E&S training program in November 2026 to test, validate, and refine the learning modules |
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The Senior Environment and Social Consultant will undertake the following scope of services:
1. Designing E&S training modules
• Develop comprehensive E&S training modules on the application of E&S standards in connectivity infrastructure projects.
• Ensure systematic alignment with the World Bank ESF, IFC Performance Standards, and other MDB E&S frameworks (e.g., ADB, AfDB, and AIIB)
2. Developing Training Material:
• Prepare instructor manuals, facilitator guides, and participant handbooks
• Develop case studies drawn from real MDB financed projects
• Produce practical tools and templates such as ESIA outlines, ESMP structures, stakeholder engagement plans, and resettlement action plans
• Design scenario-based exercises
• Integrate sector-specific examples covering transport, energy, water, and telecommunication cross-border infrastructure projects
3. Integration of Learning by Doing:
• Design interactive methodologies including case-based learning, group problem-solving, and role play simulations
4. Design and co-delivery of a pilot training program:
• Design and co-deliver (with MDB experts) pilot training modules in November 2026 through virtual and/or in-person formats
• Co-deliver sessions with experts from MDBs such as AIIB, the World Bank, ADB, and IFC
• Adapt delivery approaches to suit government officials, project implementing units, contractors, and consultants
5. Post-training evaluation tools:
• Develop participant evaluation tools
• Incorporate feedback for continuous improvement |
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| 3. Scope of Services (Continued)
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| 4. Consultancy Output / Deliverables
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The key consultancy outputs and deliverables include:
1. Detailed E&S training modules
2. Complete sets of training materials, including instructor manuals, facilitator guides, participant handbooks, case studies, tools, and templates
3. A package of scenario-based exercises, simulations, and sector-specific examples reflecting MDB project practical experience
4. Design and documentation of interactive and experiential learning methodologies
5. Design and delivery of a pilot training program (virtual and in-person) in November 2026, including training agenda and session materials
6. Training quality assurance framework, including pre- and post-assessment tools and skills-based evaluation methods
7. A summary report capturing lessons learned from pilot delivery and recommendations for refining and scaling the training modules
All deliverables shall be provided in English, in formats agreed with AIIB, and within the agreed contract period. |
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| 4. Consultancy Output / Deliverables (Continued)
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| 5. Implementation Arrangement
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The expectation is that the consultant will largely work remotely but may be required to travel to China to deliver some of the training modules. |
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| 5. Implementation Arrangement (Continued)
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| 6. Support to the Consultant by the Bank
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The consultant will report to the Senior Environment, Social, and Governance Advisor to the MCDF CEO, who will be available regularly for technical discussions with the consultant and provide timely feedback on the consultant’s work. |
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| 7. Knowledge Transfer and Training
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A core requirement of this assignment is effective knowledge transfer and capacity building. The consultant shall ensure that all training materials are designed to be reusable and adaptable by MCDF and the MCDF Learning Center at XNAI in Xiamen.
The consultant will support training through well-documented instructor guides and facilitation notes. Knowledge transfer will also be achieved through co-delivery of sessions with MDB experts, structured feedback sessions, and documentation of lessons learned.
The training modules and other materials including the Consultant’s video at the training program will be the property of MCDF, which has the full discretion to decide whether to post any part of these on MCDF Website |
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| Qualification Requirement
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The assignment requires a Senior Environment and Social Consultant at AIIB Level L4.
The Consultant shall have:
1. Master’s or PhD level academic qualifications in environmental sciences and/or engineering, social sciences, engineering, or a related field
2. At least 10 years of practical experience in applying MDB environmental and social standards in managing risk management for infrastructure or development projects in line with MDB E&S standards
3. Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of MDB E&S standards
4. Proven experience in the design and delivery of training modules
5. Strong track record in developing practical training materials, case studies, and applied learning tools
6. Experience delivering high-level training and facilitating workshops for diverse audiences, including government officials, project implementing units, contractors, and consultants
7. Excellent analytical, communication, and writing skills in English
8. Ability to work independently in a remote setting and to coordinate effectively with multiple stakeholders |
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Consultancy Input Days
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