NIRAS International Consulting

Recently, NIRAS had the privilege of co-hosting a workshop with the European Union Delegation to Honduras. 🌎 We brought together key stakeholders — including Honduran government entities, cooperation agencies, representatives from the private sector and civil society — to discuss the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). 📜 NIRAS is implementing the 'Technical Assistance to Facilitate the Implementation of the EUDRs' project, which hosted this webinar. 🌟 Our goal was to equip actors in the coffee value chain with the latest information on EUDR implementation and support them in preparing for compliance. ☕ Project Manager Alejandra Cancino explained the webinar focussed on: 📌 Sharing updates on the regulation's application and the Honduran Government's coordination efforts; 📌 Highlighting available platforms for traceability and supply chain management; 📌 Identifying potential bottlenecks and discussing mitigation strategies to ensure compliance; 📌 Providing operators with the information needed to meet EU import requirements. To reach a wider audience, we conducted workshops in both San Pedro Sula and Santa Rosa, engaging coffee producers, intermediaries, processors and exporters. 🤎 By fostering dialogue and collaboration, NIRAS aim to support Honduras in meeting its sustainability goals and strengthening its position in the global market. 🌐 #EUDR #Sustainability #SupplyChain #Coffee #PalmOil #Cocoa #EU #NIRASProjects #Traceability #Workshop #Honduras

The NIRAS Manila team participated in events organised by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), namely Business Opportunities Seminar (BOS) and Business Opportunities Fair (BOF) in September and October this year. BOS tackled the processes involved in working with the ADB and the development bank’s focus sectors, while BOF connected different groups seeking to provide work, services and goods for ADB’s projects. 🌏 These gave attending independent consultants and development firms, such as NIRAS, an avenue to network with fellow professionals in the field as well as with ADB representatives and stakeholders. The fair brought together over 1600 guests, the NIRAS team shared.   The team was also invited to a cocktail dinner by the ADB attended by ambassadors and representatives of Denmark, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Australia, Austria and Germany, as well as ADB executive directors and advisors. During these events, NIRAS Manila not only connected with other attendees and ADB officers but also gained insights into the development bank’s pipeline for the coming year. “Most opportunities are driven to solve climate change,” said Bid Manager for International Financial Institutions (IFIs) Gheila Selosa. 🌱🌞   More than understanding ADB’s pipeline for the coming year, NIRAS Manila also learned about updates in the bidding process with the development bank. “It was very important for us to know the ADB has a new policy for gender that is being developed and will be added to future projects,” said Associate Director for Project Delivery for IFIs Lerna Melo Magdamo, referring to the upcoming policy on sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH). “It’s good to know that, when we’re forming bids, we will not only have to prepare, say, an environmental management plan, but also a plan against SEAH.”   Attending the BOF for the first time, Business Development Analyst for IFIs Charisse Kirsty L. said it gave her a greater appreciation and understanding of ADB’s expectations. "It’s nice to see that in many ways, NIRAS’ experience aligns with what the ADB is looking for," she said.   For Gheila and Lerna, the events served as a “refresher course” updating NIRAS on ADB’s strategic priorities. But for the most part, the BOS and BOF reaffirmed NIRAS’ commitment to its new strategy moving forward. “It cements the fact that we’re on the right track,” Lerna said. “We are aligned with the direction ADB is heading.” 💡 #BOS2024 #BOF2024 #Parnterships #NIRASNews #IFIs #Philippines

Have you seen this story? 👏 The NIRAS Life Science & Food Graduate Programme has welcomed its 10th team of graduates! 🎉 Designed to provide budding professionals access to invaluable courses, this NIRAS-sponsored two-year programme aims to build their skillsets within the food or pharma scene. It gives learners unique insights into the food and pharma industries and on-the-job training for specialist roles or as production supporters or project managers. 👩🏫🥦👨🏫 But more than these, the programme also puts these students on a personal growth and development track to help them build a solid foundation for collaborating and interacting with others. 👩🏻🤝🧑🏽 Since 2016, recent graduates from across the life science and food sectors have come through our professional programme, and NIRAS’ recently welcoming Team 10 just marked the company’s 8th year of helping young professionals fast-track their careers. 🚀 “The graduate programme is a great way to build a bridge between student life and full-scale work-life, and it allows me to continue my journey with NIRAS, but with a focus on giving me the best possible transition while maximising my skills and knowledge. I haven’t heard of many companies that has this kind of focus on enabling young professionals to transition from student to full-time employee, and it’s a perfect opportunity for me to grow,” says Jacopo Renzi, a Team 9 graduate and now a consultant at NIRAS. 💬 We keep in close contact with all our graduates through our alumni and are proud to see so many of our graduates on their way to great things, either internally with NIRAS or with clients. 🤝 If you’re a company looking to hire a graduate or a graduate looking for career opportunities, visit us at: https://lnkd.in/gT638fcm. Or you can contact Annette Myrup, the Head of NIRAS' Life Science Academy. #HereWeGrow #GraduateProgramme #LifeScience #FoodandPharma #YoungProfessionals

Green energy entrepreneurship is on the rise in Kenya. 🌱⚡️ Today’s spotlight is on Deevabits Green Energy, a leading retailer of sustainable energy solutions for off-grid rural communities in the East African country. Deevabits is a participant in the second cohort of the KIEP 250+ programme, which aims to transform small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya by increasing their productivity and improving innovation. 🌍 The programme does this through the disbursement of grants targeting capacity development and other interventions. NIRAS manages the grant disbursement and provides business diagnostic services to beneficiary SMEs, identifying gaps and opportunities in their operations. 🔎 Through participation in KIEP 250+, Deevabits hopes to gain the capacity to expand its reach to more regions in rural Kenya. The company aims to leverage the programme’s technical assistance in various domains, including market analytics, product procurement and VSE training. 📈 With the help of the programme, the Deevabits team will be able to optimise its operations, reduce costs and enhance service quality, while making data-driven decisions for market expansion and product development. 👩🏾💻 If you want to learn more about KIEP 250+ and the SMEs it supports, visit their LinkedIn page or head on over to their website at https://lnkd.in/dmN8SN-F #GreenEnergy #SustainableEnergy #NIRASProjects #SMEs #Kenya

Earlier this month, The Ghana Private Sector Competitiveness Programme II (GPSCP II), conducted a due diligence visit to 24 processing companies specialising in cashew and oil palm in the Greater Accra, Central, Eastern and Bono Regions of Ghana. This initiative is a key component of the Programme’s Development Partnership with the Private Sector (DPP) Grant Fund processes. The DPP Fund serves as a co-financing facility that provides grants and technical assistance, tackling the long-standing issue of access to finance 💸 that has hindered the growth of agribusinesses in Ghana for decades. This initiative aims to support and co-finance private sector projects focussed on enhancing processing, establishing market connections, providing services such as certification and quality assurance, and fostering skills development within the cashew and oil palm value chains. 🌱 By doing so, it creates an opportunity for inclusive and sustainable growth, boosting trade and increasing the competitiveness of the private sector. The structure of the Fund empowers private sector companies and associations to take the lead in enhancing their own capabilities, efficiency, and sustainability as they seek funding to address critical challenges that affect their competitiveness. 📈 The processing facilities that were visited expressed a strong need for comprehensive support in several key areas to improve their operational efficiency and competitiveness in the market. They specifically sought assistance with business development services, certifications, training and equipment. ✅ SECO Economic Cooperation and Development Proforest Ebenezer Ato Obu Simpson Chrisveen Afun Davies Charlotte Afudego #Grants #Cofinancing #Agribusinesses #DueDiligence #EconomicGrowth #PrivateSector #OilPalm #Cashew #GPSCPII

Tanzania's forestry business and industries are experiencing significant growth, with emerging companies seeking skilled professionals in areas such as forestry management, wood processing and sustainable practices. The Southern Highlands region is central to Tanzanian forestry, fulfilling the country’s timber needs and serving as a hub for exports. 📦 Supported by the Participatory Plantation Forestry Programme - a broader initiative under the Finnish-Tanzanian collaboration to support smallholder forestry - the Forestry and Wood Industries Training Centre (FWITC) was established in 2016 in Mafinga to provide vocational training in the heart of the forestry sector, ensuring proximity to employers. 💡🌳 FWITC maintains strong connections with local industries by organising joint events and fostering continuous dialogue between employers and the training centre. This collaboration ensures that educators are well-informed about industry demands, enabling them to more effectively tailor their training programmes. ✅ Since its inception, FWITC has trained 8584 certificate-level professionals in fields such as forestry management, wood technology and environmental conservation, with a notable percentage employed in the sector. Among these graduates, a significant proportion are women (34%), contributing to the gradual transformation of the traditionally male-dominated industry. 🌟 Last year for example, 27 young professionals (48% women) graduated from FWITC, 21 of whom secured employment shortly thereafter. Learning by doing and innovation are trademarks of FWITC. One example of innovation, a kiln for drying wood and built from local materials, can be viewed in this link: https://lnkd.in/gNVmgyzY 🔥 Running for five years, the Participatory Plantation Forestry Programme is coming to a close. Technical support for this programme is provided by Indufor Ltd and NIRAS, with Indufor taking a lead role. 📌 To learn more about FWITC, visit their website here: https://www.fwitc.ac.tz/ 📌 As for the Participatory Plantation Forestry Programme, visit their website here: https://lnkd.in/gkE3Gd5K Thank you for this story, Tania De la Rosa and to Thomas Selänniemi for the photos! 🌱 #ForestryManagement #FWITC #PFP2 #Timber #SDG8 #SDG9 #Tanzania

🚨 Major update from Energy Enterprise Coach: 16 Uganda-based SMEs have been shortlisted for in-depth business development support! EEC is a NIRAS-implemented initiative that aims to provide business development services (BDS) to renewable energy enterprises in Africa and Asia, with the goal of helping them develop capacity and accelerate their growth. 📈 The eligible SMEs undergo a detailed diagnostic assessment to help build an intervention tailored to its needs. 🔎 These include various training activities and direct mentorship from EEC’s international experts as well as access to its flagship e-learning platform. ❔ If you have any questions about what EEC does and how you can participate, you may reach out at eecoach@niras.dk 💡 #EnergyEnterpriseCoach #RenewableEnergy #NIRASProjects #EEC #SMEs

Did you know that only 16.1% of Nepal's population used a safely managed drinking water service in 2022? 🌏 Are you curious about how communities in Karnali safeguard their drinking water with the support of SUSWA? 💧 Watch the project's video to discover how the simple yet powerful inline chlorination technology is used to ensure water safety and help raise awareness of water quality. 💙 A big thanks to WASH Khabar for capturing these inspiring stories! 💡 🎥 Watch it below or using this link: https://lnkd.in/gnE6EU8k #EUinNepal #FinlandinNepal #SafeWater #Chlorination #WASH #CommunitySolutions #WaterQuality

📣 The Biodiversity Challenge Funds is now welcoming applications for Round 5 of the Darwin Plus Local funding! 🌍 Do you have a project idea that protects the incredible biodiversity and natural environment of the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs), all while boosting resilience to climate change? Then why not apply for Darwin Plus Local funding? 🌱 This funding supports small-scale environmental projects in the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs) that deliver long-term strategic outcomes, enhance biodiversity, build local capacity and contribute to the local economy. 📈 Applications are open for Darwin Plus Local Round 5, supporting projects with a maximum timescale of 12 months, running from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 (12 months max). ✍️ Apply now! https://lnkd.in/gJCQcUes The closing date for applications is 𝟮𝟱 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 (𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆)❗ (Images from: Jack Wiggins, E. Thorpe and John Claydon) #DepartmentforEnvironmentFoodandRuralAffairsJNCC #UKOTs #environmentalprojects #BiodiversityFunding #ConservationFunding #BiodiversityFinance

NIRAS recently organised the #EU-funded Business Mission Greenland, which took place under the overarching theme “Advancing EU-Greenland Collaboration: Investments and Innovation in Sustainable Raw Materials and Renewable Energy”. ♻️ The event primarily focused on #RareEarthElements, #Graphite, #Molybdenum, and anorthosite value chains, as well as Greenland’s #Hydropower and power-to-X potential. 🚀 The business mission gathered more than 80 policymakers, businesses and development finance institutions from the EU and Greenland to explore investment opportunities in sustainable critical raw material and renewable energy value chains. From the Greenlandic side, institutional representatives included the Ministry of Business, Trade, Mineral Resources, Justice and Gender Equality, the Ministry for Agriculture, Self-Sufficiency, Energy and Environment, the Ministry of Statehood and Foreign Affairs, and the Greenland Business Association. EU counterparts included participants form DG INTPA and DG GROW, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and EIT RawMaterials, among others. EU businesses such as Becker Mining Systems AG, BiotaTec - Next Gen BioMining Centre, COWI, EDF, European Energy, FLSmidth, Landsvirkjun and Xcalibur Smart Mapping, along with the Polish Geological Institute, also participated. The mission included a high-level seminar, bilateral meetings, a visit to the harbour and airport in Nuuk, networking dinners and a reception at the EU office in Nuuk. The event closed with two optional site visits at the Lumina-Qaqortorsuaq mine and the Utoqqarmiut Kangerluarsunnguat hydroelectric plant, which were both very fruitful. “It has been a pleasure working with NIRAS to support the European Commission and our partners in Greenland in implementing one of the first initiatives advancing the EU-Greenland strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials value chains. Bringing stakeholders from the EU and Greenland together is essential for identifying opportunities arising from shared interests and values, and for deepening the dialogue needed to realise them,” says team leader, Alvaro Antoni-Perez. NIRAS’ Framework Contracts Unit won the call-off contract for the Business Mission Greenland under SEA Lot 7. We are also implementing a similar project under Lot 7 in Latin America and the Caribbean, further expanding our CRM portfolio. The Business Mission demonstrates NIRAS’ strong abilities to carry out projects on critical raw materials (CRMs), while solidifying our expertise in Greenland which has grown in its supply of CRM around the globe. ⭐ Congratulations to NIRAS Project team for the excellent work! : Álvaro Antoni – Team Leader Nieves Turégano – Project Manager Anders Stig-Jørgensen – Key Expert Sarah Overby Ridha – Key Expert Antonello Esposito – Project Director Bent Jacob H. – Quality Assurance Manager Andreas Brogaard Buhl – Quality Assurance Manager #GlobalGateway #GREENsition