Project Description
Rationale: The war on Ukraine is resulting in a crisis on a scale not seen since the Second World War. Cities in Ukraine and neighbouring countries are bearing the brunt of this impact through the destruction of infrastructure and, in conflict-free areas, the pressures on infrastructure as a consequence of the influx of refugees. The displacement of individuals has resulted in considerable additional demand on existing soft & hard infrastructure and services, with a particularly strain on schools, housing, child care centres, and medical facilities in the municipalities receiving refugee inflows. This sudden and massive demand on municipal services and infrastructure is exacerbated by the ongoing energy crisis. As cities explore measures to address the refugee crisis, it will be important to ensure that these investment are energy efficient and aligned with a low carbon future.
In 2016 the European Bank for Resconstrucation and Developmet (‘EBRD’) launched the EBRD Green Cities programme (‘the Programme’) to support cities transition to green, low-carbon and resilient futures. The programme supports cities by systematically identifying and prioritising their most pressing environmental challenges, and addressing them through targeted investment and policy actions by developing city-owned Green City Action Plans (‘GCAPs’). The €5 billion framework has supported 67 projects to date in different municipal sectors across the Bank’s regions, and extends to a network of 56 cities. This includes seven cities in Ukraine and an additional five cities in the countries, most directly affected by the associated refugee crisis. Consistent with EBRD’s recently approved Resilience Package, EBRD Green Cities has a clear role in rapidly supporting hard and soft infrastructure solutions in affected cities. Leveraging existing relationships with the cities, the programme is well-placed to offer support to cities for immediate response as well as longer-term shock-proofing and resilience mainstreaming.
To that end, EBRD Green Cities intends to add additional technical assistance support titled Rapid Infrastructure Resilience Appraisal & Action Plan (‘RIRAP’) to offer a)help to the affected cities in Ukraine and neighbouring countries respond to the stress on infrastructure and services from the increase in population; (b)identify urgent and emerging needs for liquidity support; and c)help cities in Ukraine rebuild national and municipal infrastructure; whilst accelerating green transition.
The first stage of the Product will address a) and b) above, only. Item c) will be actioned once the Bank’s response to the fast moving situation in Ukraine is clear.
In addition, the RIRAP will also assist cities to consider how to create added resilience and adaptation in city infrastructure to support needs in the medium to long-term recognising the uncertainty of displaced people’s movements. The intent is to strengthen existing services to safeguard livelihoods whilst assuring green and sustainable infrastructure provision.
While the initial focus will be on cities that are already part of EBRD Green Cities programme or have expressed an interest to join, the aim is to extend this Product to reach other cities in EBRD Counties of Operations as needed with a focus on Ukrainian cities whose services have been impacted by the refugees due to the war on Ukraine. The EBRD will endeavour to complement the work of other agencies and IFIs to ensure a collective and complementary approach.
TC Services: The overall objective of this Assignment is to support cities to identify priority social and hard infrastructure needs and soft measures that respond to the challenges raised by the conflict in Ukraine and more specifically the influx of refugees, in a way that safeguards livelihoods and assures a sustainable future for all. To meet this objective, the Consultant shall provide the City with a RIRAP that draws together information from five activities tailored to meet the City’s individual needs:
a) scope the appraisal mission;
b) undertake a rapid infrastructure resilience appraisal of the critical impacts, opportunities, challenges and needs of each City including an analysis of economic and social resilience as well as inclusion and gender priorities that need to be considered;
c) prepare a rapid infrastructure resilience action plan that builds on the rapid appraisal detailing the immediate actions, investments and liquidity needs for both hard and soft infrastructure services in the city;
d) produce a monitoring strategy to objectively review and assess the success of the Rapid Infrastructure Resilience Appraisal & Action Plans (RIRAPs) produced and implemented; and
e) document the findings and proposed interventions for use by the City.
The TC budget to each city is expected to range between EUR 40,000 and EUR 75,000 for the RIRAP assignments depending on the country, size of city, length of assignment and whether a Green City Action Plan is under preparation or implementation.
Understanding Transition
Further information regarding the EBRD’s approach to measuring transition impact is available here.
Business opportunities
For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.
For business opportunities with EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:
Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com
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Any competitive selections for business opportunities relating to this project will be published on the EBRD's website: Consultancy Procurement Opportunities.
General enquiries
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Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com
Access to Information Policy (AIP)
The AIP sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders so as to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations following its entry into force on 1 January 2020. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website.
Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form
Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)
If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (e.g. through the Client’s Project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).
IPAM independently reviews Project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the Mechanism is: to support dialogue between Project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or Project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.
Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate; how to submit a Request for review; or contact IPAM via email ipam@ebrd.com to get guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.
