Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a qualified service provider to develop an Environmental Management Framework (EMF) and an Activity Exclusion Standard for the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality over a period of 24 months. The EMF aims to guide sustainable land use and environmental management, facilitate environmental compliance, and streamline environmental authorization processes. The Activity Exclusion Standard will define activities that can be excluded from environmental authorization requirements based on compliance with set standards, thereby improving service delivery and reducing administrative burdens.

Scope

The scope of work includes:

• Developing a comprehensive EMF for the Dr KK District Municipality, including spatial representation of environmental zones, state of the environment, and strategic management plans.
• Conducting stakeholder engagement, including public participation, focus group meetings, and open days.
• Performing a status quo environmental assessment covering biodiversity, wetlands, geology, hydrology, air quality, waste, land use, and development trends.
• Identifying opportunities and constraints within the study area, including socio-economic and environmental factors.
• Formulating a desired future state of the environment and developing strategic management plans (SEMP).
• Creating an environmental zoning plan to guide future development and environmental management.
• Developing an Activity Exclusion Standard aligned with NEMA regulations, including governance and compliance procedures.
• Designing an Environmental Information Management Tool with reporting capabilities.
• Providing training to relevant municipal and departmental officials on the EMF and exclusion standards.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements include:

• Preparation of an Inception Report, detailed Work Plan, and stakeholder engagement framework.
• Comprehensive literature review of national and international EMFs and standards.
• Extensive stakeholder mapping and engagement, including focus groups and public open days.
• Environmental baseline assessment covering key environmental parameters and land use analysis.
• Development of environmental zones and a Strategic Environmental Management Plan (SEMP).
• Formulation of an Activity Exclusion Standard with governance and procedural protocols.
• Design of a GIS-based Environmental Information Management Tool with report-generation functions.
• Capacity building and training sessions for officials and stakeholders.
• Delivery of final reports, GIS layers, training materials, and a PowerPoint presentation of outcomes.

Skills Requirements

The successful bidder must demonstrate:

• Experience in developing EMFs, Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs), and State of the Environment reports, supported by reference letters.
• Qualified multidisciplinary team including professionals in:
• Environmental Science/Management (NQF Level 8 or 10)
• Town and Regional Planning
• Land and Agricultural Economics
• Biological Sciences
• Hydrology
• Geographic Information Science (GIS)
• Social Sciences
• Project Management
• Registered professionals with relevant statutory bodies (e.g., EAPASA, SACNASP, SACPLAN, SAGC).
• Proven capacity in stakeholder engagement, public participation facilitation, and capacity building.
• Technical proficiency in GIS, spatial planning, and environmental data management tools.
• Ability to produce comprehensive reports, manuals, and training materials, and to facilitate knowledge transfer.