Request for Expressions of Interest
Consulting Services – Individual Consultant Selection
Project: Technical Assistance to the SAPP (RETRADE SAPP)
Position: Social Development Specialist, PAU
Background
The Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) is a regional platform for coordinated power system planning, system operations, and cross-border electricity trading among its 12 member countries. Its operational hub, the SAPP Coordination Centre (SAPP CC) in Harare, oversees day-to-day market and system operations, as well as regional planning.
The Project Advisory Unit (PAU) was established within the SAPP CC in 2015, with support from the World Bank, to coordinate and facilitate the development of selected regional energy projects from early-stage preparation through to bankability.
In November 2025, the World Bank approved a grant for the Technical Assistance to the SAPP (the “Project”)¹, known as RETRADE SAPP. The Project forms part of the Regional Energy Transmission, Trade and Decarbonization in Southern Africa Multi-phase Programmatic Approach (RETRADE‑SA MPA) Program, which also finances several interconnector investments in the SAPP region.
With the objective to increase and expand the regional electricity market in the SAPP, the Project provides technical assistance to SAPP and the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) energy institutions—namely, the SADC Secretariat, the Regional Energy Regulators Association of Southern Africa (RERA), and the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE)—through three components:
- Component 1 equips these regional institutions with technical experts, laying the foundation for the implementation of Components 2 and 3;
- Component 2 supports upstream preparation for selected regional energy projects and private sector mobilization, including the operationalization of the Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF); and
- Component 3 finances analytical work, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building activities essential for advancing regional energy infrastructure development and cross-border power trade.
While the PAU is funded by the Project to carry out its mandate of advancing the preparation of selected regional energy projects — focusing on cross-border transmission but also potentially including in-country backbone projects and other energy investments such as renewables and battery storage supporting regional trade — it also plays a central role in the overall implementation of the RETRADE SAPP Project.
Invitation for Expressions of Interest
SAPP now invites suitably qualified and experienced individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services for the consultancy position of Social Development Specialist, to be based at the SAPP CC Offices in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct social risk screening for all PAU-implemented and Project-financed investment preparation activities, ensuring alignment with ESS1 and the World Bank screening tools.
- Identify key social risks, including land acquisition, labour influx, Gender-Based Violence / Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) – Sexual Harassment (SH), impacts on vulnerable groups, and community health and safety.
- Integrate gender considerations into social impact assessments to promote equitable participation and benefit-sharing.
- Track implementation of ESF actions, Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) commitments, and social risk management milestones across Project-supported activities.
- Prepare inputs for progress reports, including monitoring indicators, risks, and mitigation actions.
- Support the documentation and reporting of social incidents and propose corrective measures.
- Provide technical guidance and quality assurance for social instruments financed under the Project, including Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEPs), Social Impact Assessments (SIAs), Resettlement Policy Frameworks (RPFs), Resettlement Action Plan (RAPs), Labor Management Procedures (LMPs), GBV/SEA-SH Action Plans, and relevant sections of feasibility studies.
- Review deliverables prepared by utilities and consultants to ensure compliance with the ESF, SAPP/SADC requirements, and good international industry practice.
- Ensure that ESF commitments are consistent with national regulatory frameworks while meeting the World Bank standards.
- Ensure that analytical work and capacity-building activities under the Project integrate gender, inclusion, SEA/SH mitigation, and other ESF considerations.
- Support alignment of regional planning tools, regulatory processes, and PAU methodologies with relevant ESF principles.
- Serve as the focal point for social risk management with the World Bank, providing inputs during supervision missions, technical discussions, and ESF-related reporting.
- Prepare and submit semi-annual progress reports on social development implementation, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and corrective actions arising from internal processes and issues identified during World Bank missions.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of evolving international social standards and best practices applying them to project activities.
- Ensure that SEA/SH-sensitive grievance mechanisms are established for Project-supported activities, in line with ESS10 and the World Bank Good Practice Note on SEA/SH.
- Provide guidance to utilities on Grievance Mechanism (GM) functionality and monitoring.
- Identify and profile stakeholders in all project areas, including local authorities, traditional leaders, community organizations, and vulnerable groups, to ensure inclusive participation.
- Develop and maintain stakeholder databases capturing demographic, socio-economic, and institutional information for effective planning and monitoring.
- Mobilize stakeholders for meetings, workshops, and consultations to disseminate project information and build trust.
- Organize and document public disclosure meetings, ensuring clear records of discussions and feedback mechanisms to address community inputs.
- Contribute to and assist in the development and periodic review of SEPs for respective project areas to enhance information exchange.
- Review RAPs prepared by utilities or consultants, advising on ESS5 compliance, supporting grievance redress design, and conducting quality assurance.
- Coordinate with local authorities and NGOs to deliver social support programs addressing housing, education, and income-generation needs.
- Identify opportunities for community-driven initiatives such as livelihood programs, skills training, and infrastructure improvements.
- Build partnerships with NGOs, local governments, and private sector actors to mobilize resources and implement projects.
- Promote inclusion of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in project benefits, ensuring equitable access.
- Monitor and evaluate social development interventions using indicators and participatory approaches to assess impact and sustainability.
- Provide methodological guidance, review deliverables, and conduct selective verification or capacity building.
- Establish an information management system to store, analyse, and disseminate socio-economic and consultation data.
- Deliver training sessions and targeted support to utilities, regulators, and other stakeholders on ESF requirements, stakeholder engagement, resettlement, GBV/SEA/SH mitigation, and other relevant topics.
- Develop and implement training programs for the SAPP Environmental Sub-Committee and member utilities to strengthen institutional capacity.
- Promote regional knowledge exchange on social risk management for energy infrastructure.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Development Studies, or related field. Master’s degree in any of these fields is an added advantage.
- Experience with multilateral development bank social safeguards (WB ESF, AfDB ISS, IFC PS) is desirable.
- Membership in a recognized professional body in social sciences or development is desirable.
- Minimum 8 years’ progressive experience working with project communities.
- Ability to engage stakeholders at all levels and SADC experience desirable.
- Experience preparing or reviewing RAPs and land acquisition instruments compliant with MDB standards (WB, AfDB, IFC, etc.) is desirable.
- Skilled in socio-economic surveys and developing information management systems.
- Strong background in stakeholder identification, consultation, and public disclosure using inclusive methods.
- Experience partnering with NGOs, local governments, and private sector for community initiatives.
- Knowledge of statutory/regulatory instruments (labour laws, land acquisition) with compliance oversight.
- Proficiency in monitoring and evaluation of social interventions, including KPIs and participatory methods.
- ICT literacy and excellent communication, facilitation, and report-writing skills.
- Eligible and free from any conflict of interest, in accordance with the World Bank Procurement Regulations.
Submission
Interested candidates are requested to submit the Application, relevant experience and qualification accompanied by a comprehensive CV.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, 7th edition, September 2025, setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant Selection method set out in the World Bank Procurement Regulations.
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours (0800 to 1630 hours).
Additional Information
A TOR can be found at the following website: www.sapp.co.zw, or can be obtained at the address given below.
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e‑mail) by 14 April 2026.
Contact Details
The Executive Director
Attn: Chrispen Zifuke, Human Resources Specialist
Southern African Power Pool Coordination Centre
24 Golden Stairs Road
P.O. Box EH52
Emerald Hill
Harare
ZIMBABWE
Tel: (263)-242-(335517, 335468, 335558, 782708798/9)
E-mail: [email protected]