Environmental Science Specialist – Assessment of the State of the Mining Sector in Honduras

Project: USAID/Honduras Monitoring & Evaluation Support for Collaborative Learning & Adapting (MESCLA) 2.0 Activity 

** Please apply via SI’s Career Center here: https://phg.tbe.taleo.net/phg02/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=SOCIIMPA2&cws=39&rid=4790 **

Who we are 

Social Impact (SI) is a Washington, DC-area international development management consulting firm. We provide a full range of management consulting, technical assistance, and training services globally in the areas of monitoring and evaluation, strategic planning, project and program design, organizational capacity building, and gender and social analysis. SI services cross-cut all development sectors including democracy and governance, health, education, the environment, and economic growth. SI’s clients include US government agencies such as USAID, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the US Department of State, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and non-profits. 

Project and Assessment Objective

The USAID/Honduras Monitoring and Evaluation Support for Collaboration, Learning, and Adapting (MESCLA 2.0) Activity is a five-year project aimed at supporting and strengthening the monitoring and evaluation of USAID development assistance in Honduras. The MESCLA 2.0 project will provide USAID/Honduras with project and activity evaluation, performance monitoring, learning, assistance in strategy development, activity design, and performance management support services in order to implement the Mission's new Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS). 

USAID is interested in assessing the current state and trend of the metal mining industry in Honduras from a social, economic, and environmental perspective. USAID also wants to better understand the efforts of the government to balance economic growth with sustainable practices and how these are likely to shape the development of the mining sector in the country. Finally, there is an interest in identifying new opportunities to better position this sector as a contributor to socially and environmentally responsible growth in Honduras.

MESCLA 2.0 intends to conduct the “Assessment of the State of Mining in Honduras,” which will assess the multidimensional landscape of current metal mining in Honduras, taking into account the country's socio-economic, environmental and political context, and provide information on what is expected to happen to the sector in the near future and potential development opportunities.

The study should relate to the findings of existing research and should draw on methodologies, including literature review and interviews with stakeholders, to ensure a holistic view of the sector dynamics.

The comprehensive analysis of the mining landscape will report on and analyze the following dimensions related to mining in Honduras:

1. Historical perspective: Describe the recent historical trends (1980 – 2023), economic impacts, and social dynamics shaping the mining industry in Honduras. A list and a description of the main stakeholders in the sector should be provided, including their interests and views on the sector. 
2. Mining production dynamics: Examine current trends in the production of gold, silver, lead, zinc, and all other major metals produced in Honduras, including both production for export and for domestic use. Include a list of major exporters, mines currently in production, and potential mining sites. Special attention should be given to municipalities where USAID is currently working. Illustrate economic benefit.
3. Artisanal and Small-scale  mining: Assess the role of artisanal mining in the local economy and its socio-economic impact, both, positive and negative, as well as its impact on the environment.  Identify the challenges faced by artisanal miners. Provide information on current and potential sustainable development initiatives in this sector.
4. Legal and regulatory framework: Summarize the legal and regulatory framework governing mining operations and provide information on any changes made in recent years.  Analyze the impact of these changes on industry practices, compliance, and enforcement. Include both national laws and if applicable, municipal regulations.
5. The regulatory analysis should include a separate subchapter to analyze the impact of recent decisions by the government to ban metal mining activities in the country. Examine the motivations behind such decisions and how they affect local communities, those involved in the industry, and the broader economic context
6. Impact on the environment: Provide an analysis of the potential environmental impacts associated with mining operations. Identify any known, documented environmental pollution or degradation caused by mining projects in Honduras. If there are particularly sensitive ecosystems at risk, list and map them.
7. Labor and physical risk: Describe the number of people working in mining and how they are protected by the laws in Honduras. Describe the main types of risks to which they are exposed in the mines of Honduras (physical, chemical, biological, psychosocial) and what measures are usually taken to reduce these risks.  If there are any recent emblematic cases of risks that are known, describe them.
8. Indigenous rights and community perspectives: Report on indigenous rights status regarding mining. Provide community perspectives to understand how mining affects indigenous communities and their cultural heritage. Provide a list of known judicial cases related to mining activities in Honduras. 
9. Sustainable mining initiatives: Identify and analyze international initiatives underway in Honduras with the goal of promoting sustainable mining practices. Describe the known effectiveness of these initiatives and how they can be scaled across the sector in Honduras.

Position Description

MESCLA 2.0 is seeking an Environmental Science Specialist for the Assessment on the State of the Mining Sector in Honduras. The Environmental Science Specialist is fluent in Spanish with proven experience in the mining sector. The consultant will support in this role from March – August 2024 with an estimated 30 days of LOE. The Environmental Science Specialist will be a part of a team of four specialists and work under the oversight of the Team Lead. The team will submit a work plan and timeline to coordinate the deliverables in a high-quality and timely manner.

Responsibilities

• Support a literature review to inform the assessment design, reviewing existing studies, reports, and academic literature related to mining. 
• Contribute to a regulatory framework analysis, reviewing relevant legislation and policy frameworks to understand the regulatory landscape. 
• Contribute to the design of instruments for key informant interviews with various stakeholders, including government officials, industry experts, community leaders, environmentalists, and indigenous representatives. 
• Contribute to the design of protocols for site visits to mining areas to provide direct observation and insight into the local impacts of mining activity.
• Contribute to a comprehensive report, preliminary results presentation, set of references, and a final presentation. 
• Provide technical expertise in environmental science across all areas of the assessment. 
• Work collaboratively with team members throughout design, implementation, analysis, and report writing to complement each other's areas of expertise.

Position requirements

• At least Master’s degree in environmental science, conservation, mining engineering, economics, economic development, or related fields of knowledge.
• More than 5 years’ experience in using quantitative or qualitative methods in environment, conservation, deforestation, pollution, sustainability, or other related areas. 
• Proven expertise/experience in the mining sector or mining economics, preferrably in Latin America or Honduras.
• Previous experience with qualitative data collection methods, including key informant interviews (KIIs) or in-depth interviews (IDIs). 
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team. 
• Must be fluent (writing and speaking) in Spanish; English proficiency preferred. 
• Experience working in Honduras or similar programs is preferred. 

Illustrative Level of Effort: March – August 2024, estimated 30 days of LOE

Activity 

LOE (Days) 

Onboarding & kick-off meeting 1

Literature review  2

Regulatory framework analysis 1

Instrument design (KIIs & site visits) 1

Key informant interviews 1

Site visits 1

Preliminary analysis 2

Preliminary findings presentation  2

Analysis 4

Draft report  5

References 1

Final report 5

Final presentation 2

Team meetings, coordination & ad hoc tasks  2

TOTAL

30 Days

Come join our energetic and innovative team!  We offer you the opportunity to play a leading role in the growth of our company, work as part of a creative and committed team, and make a difference in the well-being of our world. 

To learn more about Social Impact, please visit our website: http://www.socialimpact.com 

SI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. 

Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Please, no phone calls.