Regions of operation
Simonyan Consulting Inc. is a result orientated environmental and social consultancy offering comprehensive solutions worldwide for a wide variety of infrastructure projects. Our areas of operation cover Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia, East Asia and North America.
Projects
The company and its founder have an extensive track record in the provision of environmental and social management consulting services in projects financed by the most important International Financial Institutions: the ADB, the EBRD, the EIB, the IFC, the WB and others. We ensure compliance with the environmental and social safeguard standards, legislation, international policies as well as industry best practices that is often a requirement for projects seeking financial support from international institutions to ensure responsible and accountable development practices.
Details on selected projects implemented by the company and its founder within last 10 years in Central Asia, Caucasus and Eastern Europe are provided below.
Darbaza–Maktaaral Railway Project, Kazakhstan
Engaged by Vista Environment AB for preparation of the Supplementary ESIA and the Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan for the Darbaza–Maktaaral Railway Project considered for funding by ADB, AIIB, and IFC. Responsible for leading the social impact assessment, identifying affected communities and key social risks, and ensuring alignment with international lender requirements. The role also includes oversight of census and socio-economic surveys, coordination of stakeholder engagement with PAPs and authorities, supervision of local consultants and valuation teams, and development of compensation, livelihood restoration measures, and the grievance redress mechanism.
Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant Project, Kyrgyzstan
Engaged by the Alpage S.A.R.L. for the project considered for funding by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to review the documents prepared by the Consultant engaged by the World Bank (including ESIA package, relevant plans including Resettlement Frameworks) and assess compliance with the EBRD social, stakeholder engagement and labor requirements, prepare recommendations on corrective actions to address the identified gaps, facilitate gaps closure, review supplementary documents.
Adjara Solid Waste Project, Autonomous Republic of Adjara, Georgia
Engaged by EBRD for preparation and implementation of Livelihood Restoration Plans addressing impacts associated with the Batumi dumpsite closure and related facilities. The assignment includes preparation of two coordinated LRPs: one for MBT/MRF land users and SPZ-affected cultivators, and another for waste pickers affected by closure of the Batumi dumpsite. Responsibilities include oversight of livelihood restoration design, coordination with the Client and PIU during implementation, monitoring of entitlements delivery and restoration outcomes, and preparation of LRP Execution Reports following completion of implementation and monitoring.
Bukhara Solar PV and BESS Project, Uzbekistan
Engaged by Nur Bukhara Solar PV FE LLC (established by Masdar) to conduct an audit of the implementation of the Livelihood Restoration Plans for the Bukhara Solar PV and BESS Project (250 MW PV and 63 MW BESS) financed by ADB, IFC, FMO and JICA. Responsibilities include preparation of the audit workplan and checklist, field visits and surveys with PAPs, review of project documentation, consultations with project teams and stakeholders, identification of gaps and potential new impacts, and preparation of Audit Reports with Corrective Action Plans.
Zarafshan Wind Farm Project, Uzbekistan
Engaged by Shamol Zarafshan Energy FE LLC (established by Masdar) to conduct an audit of the implementation of the Livelihood Restoration Plans for the Zarafshan Wind Farm Project (500 MW), financed by ADB, EBRD, IFC, FMO, JICA and other lenders. The assignment includes preparation of the audit workplan, field visits and surveys with PAPs, review of project documentation, consultations with project teams and stakeholders, identification of gaps and potential impacts, and preparation of Audit Reports with Corrective Action Plans.
Pambukovica Dam Project, Serbia
Company Director engaged by Arup as International Social Consultant for the Pambukovica Dam Project financed by EBRD. Responsibilities included review of key project documentation, including the Historic Land Acquisition Audit with Corrective Action Plan, Social Impact Assessment and Stakeholder Engagement Plan, and addressing EBRD comments. The assignment also included preparation of survey questionnaires and consultation materials, oversight of additional surveys and focus group discussions, analysis of collected data, and preparation of the Livelihood Restoration Plan, as well as updating project reports to reflect additional consultations and findings.
Aktobe Regional Roads Project, Kazakhstan
Company Director engaged by Systema Consulting SA as Short-Term Consultant on Land Acquisition and Resettlement for the Aktobe Regional Roads Project. The assignment included conducting a gap analysis between national land acquisition legislation and EBRD PR5 requirements, reviewing existing land acquisition studies and the Resettlement Framework, and assessing potential impacts on PAPs. Responsibilities also included compiling and analyzing land impact data, preparing the Advance Final Draft Resettlement Action Plan to support finalization after detailed design, coordinating with the Client and lender, and guiding the work of local consultants and valuation experts.
Supporting the Energy Transition Sector Development Program – Project Management, Policy Reforms, and Investment Development, Cambodia
Company Director engaged by PricewaterhouseCoopers Private Limited (PwC) as International Social Consultant for the ADB-funded program. Responsibilities included review of the draft Environmental and Social Management System, identification of gaps and opportunities for improvement, and finalization of ESMS arrangements for the Energy Efficiency Revolving Fund. The assignment also included integration of ESMS provisions into the existing safeguards framework, collaboration with SME Bank and participating financial institutions, and contribution to project reports.
E&S Screening of Financial Intermediaries (FI) Portfolio in Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan
Appointed as International Consultant on Safeguards for the project funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to carry out rapid assessment of impacts, obtain and verify data from stakeholders, prepare Resettlement Action Framework, design and test Risk Management Tool, carry out tool roll out to stakeholders and training of the client’s staff, review and improve Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS).
Climate-Resilient Farmer Livelihood and Covid-19 Recovery Project, Uzbekistan
Appointed as Environmental and Social Due Diligence/Audit Consultant for the project considered for funding by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Indorama Agro LLC. to carry out corporate and environmental and social (ES) compliance audit, assess compliance with ADB policies and WB EHS Guidelines, analyze ES (including health & safety, labor, gender) impacts and develop Corrective Action Plan, develop ES Audit Report, review and improve ESMS, review ES Management and Monitoring Plans, provide input in improvement of Grievance Redress Mechanism, livelihood restoration activities.
Construction of Four Dialysis Centers, Uzbekistan
Appointed as Lender’s Technical Assistance on Environmental and Social Safeguards for the Project on Establishment of Four Dialysis Centers for the project funded by the ADB, Nephrocare Health Services Pvt. Ltd., Nephrocare Health Services Central Asia LLC. We carried out corporate and environmental and social compliance audits of four dialysis centers, reviewed client’s ES policies/procedures, assessed compliance with lender’s requirements, developed ES Audit Report and Corrective Action Plan, provide outline for client’s ESMS and ESMPs, stakeholder engagement, design Grievance Redress Mechanism.
Environmental and Social Assessment (Tranche 3), rehabilitation of km 237+108 – km 466 + 578 section of the M-05 Kyiv-Odesa road in Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv and Odesa regions, Ukraine
Appointed as International Consultant on Social Safeguards to support ‘Bilfinger Tebodin Ukraine’ CFI for the project funded by EBRD to identify past land acquisition impacts and prepare report on legacy issues, identify potential future land acquisition and resettlement impacts and update the Resettlement Policy Framework, including Livelihood Restoration, contribute to project Stakeholder Engagement activities and provide input in Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
Surkhandarya Regional Road Project, Uzbekistan
The founder was appointed as International Consultant on Social Safeguards and Gender to support Development Business (UK) Ltd for the project funded by ADB to identify scope and extent of LAR impacts, conduct census and socio-economic survey of affected persons, stakeholder engagement, carry out Social and Poverty Analysis, prepare Poverty, Social and Gender Assessment, prepare Gender Action Plan and SPRSS, design Grievance Redress Mechanism, prepare draft Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan.
ENA Modernization of Distribution Network, Armenia
Appointed as International Consultant to support Vista Environment AB and Tetra Tech for the project funded by EBRD and ADB to carry out Environmental and Social Due Diligence and Market Due Diligence - Phase 2. We contributed to the review of company’s EHS performance, preparation of draft Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) and draft updated Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
Atyrau Astrakhan Road Project, Kazakhstan
The founder was appointed as International Consultant on Safeguards for the project funded by EBRD to confirm the impacts of the proposed project, manage implementation of census and socio-economic survey, provide training to valuators, prepare Resettlement Action Plans including Livelihood Restoration, designed Grievance Redress Mechanism, carrie out public consultations, guide local specialist.
Almaty International Airport Project, Kazakhstan
The founder was appointed as International Consultant on Safeguards to support TAV Airport Holdings for the project funded by EBRD and IFC to prepare detailed workplan for data collection and analysis, undertake due diligence to identify the resettlement / economic displacement impacts, prepare Land Acquisition and Resettlement Framework, design Grievance Redress Mechanism, update Stakeholder Engagement Plan, assess compliance with legal requirements, carry out analysis of media publications regarding the project.
Bishkek District Heating Network Project, Kyrgyzstan
The founder was appointed as International Consultant on Environmental and Social Appraisal for EBRD for Preparation of a Resettlement Action Plan. We carried out review of past land acquisition carried out by government, carried out consultation with affected parties and project partners, implemented socio-economic survey / census and valuation of affected properties, designed Grievance Redress Mechanism, prepared Resettlement Action Plan.
Almaty Ring Road (BAKAD) Project, Kazakhstan
The founder appointed as Technical Advisor Services for Safeguards (multiple contracts) for the project funded by EBRD, Eurasian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank. We verified project impacts, reviewed compliance with lender’s requirements (ADB, EBRD, IFC), prepared risk assessment report and risk management plan, developed Land Acquisition and Resettlement Principles, design Grievance Redress Mechanism, carried out land acquisition audit and prepared Due Diligence Reports on Land Acquisition and Resettlement for all sections/sub-sections of the road, developed Initial/Final Community Severance Management Plans, guided implementation of census and surveys, prepared Resettlement Action Plans, provided induction to the team responsible for information disclosure meetings, facilitated stakeholder engagement meetings and focus group discussions, prepared Disclosure Meetings Report.
Sustainable Urban Transport Investment Program, Georgia
The founder was appointed as International Safeguards Consultant to support Municipal Development Fund of Georgia for the project funded by ADB to manage social safeguard related issues for Tbilisi-Rustavi Urban Link Project, carry out due diligence, assess the impacts; prepare addendums to LARPs and other other LAR related documents for various sections of Tbilisi-Rustavi Urban Link, support implementation of the Grievance Redress Mechanism and Stakeholder Engagement.
Technical Assistance for the Feasibility Study, Environmental/Social Impact Assessment and Detailed Design of the Gyumri Bypass and Gyumri-Bavra road section in Armenia
Appointed as Environmental and Social Consultant to support Lotti S.p.A. Ingegneria (Italy) and AIC Progetti (Italy) for the project funded by European Investment Bank to conduct due diligence of ES impacts, develop ES Scoping Report, develop ESIA and ESMPs (including gender action planning), develop Resettlement Action Plan.
CAREC Corridors 1 and 6 Connector Road, Kazakhstan
The founder was appointed as International Resettlement / Social Development Consultant by ADB to carry out due diligence, assess the impacts, prepare Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan, prepare an Initial Poverty and Social Assessment and a Summary Poverty Reduction and Social Strategy (including gender issues) and relevant sections of the Report and Recommendation of the President to Board of Directors, provide training to local counterparts on ADB policy requirements, collaborate with stakeholders, guide local specialist.
Karaganda District Heating Project, Kazakhstan
The founder was appointed as International Social Development Consultant by ADB to carry out due Framework, assess the impacts, prepare Land Acquisition and Resettlement Framework, consult project stakeholders, identify the relevant institutional arrangements for implementing safeguards and managing grievance redress, conduct a training program for the local authorities.
CAREC Corridors 1 and 6 Connector Road, Kazakhstan
The founder was appointed as International Safeguards Consultant to support Municipal Development Fund of Georgia for the project funded by ADB to manage social safeguard related issues for Tbilisi-Rustavi Urban Link Project, carry out due diligence, assess the impacts, review and finalize draft Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plans and other other LAR related documents for Tbilisi-Rustavi Urban Link, develop and guide establishment of a complains and grievance mechanism, provide support in provision of training to the staff engaged in resettlement activities.
Feasibility Study, Environmental Impact Assessment and Detailed Engineering Design of the Rehabilitation and Improvement of M6 Vanadzor – Alaverdi – Georgian Border Interstate Road, Armenia
The founder was appointed as International Environmental and Social Expert by Artsakhroad Institute JSC to support the project funded by EIB to manage assessment of environmental and social impacts of the proposed project, develop Environmental and Social Scoping Report as a part of Phase I works, prepare Environmental and Social Impact Assessment including Environmental and Social Management Plan as a part of the Phase II works (ESAP, SEP and NTS), gui. de local environmental and social consultants.
CAREC 2 Corridor (Mangystau Oblast Sections) Investment Program, Kazakhstan
Appointed as International Resettlement Consultant by Zhol-Sapa LLC to support the project funded by ADB to review and update Land Acquisition and Resettlement Framework for CAREC Corridor 2, develop draft Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan for Zhetybai – Zhanaozen road section, carry out social and poverty analyses, prepare Poverty and Social Analysis Report and update the Summary Poverty Reduction and Social Strategy.