1. Background
Conservation International (CI) Liberia and Environment Protection Agency (EPA) have received a Project Preparatory Grant to develop a Project Document for Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded impact child project entitled, “Reducing deforestation from palm oil and cocoa value chains.”
The objective of the project is “Farming and forest-dependent communities are more food-secure, while palm oil and cocoa are produced without deforestation, through the implementation of a transformative, climate-smart landscape approach.”
This project will be implemented in four Counties of Northwest Liberia landscape including Lofa, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, and Gbarpolu. The project has four components including:
a) Development, adoption and implementation of National and NW Liberia Landscape land-use plans
b) Promotion of sustainable production practices for food crops, palm oil and cocoa, supported by responsible value chains
c) Biodiversity loss reduction and restoration of natural habitats
d) Management, coordination, collaboration and Monitoring and Evaluation
2. Purpose of the consultancy
The purpose of this consultancy is to ensure that any adverse environmental and social impacts associated with the project are minimized in accordance with the GEF, CI and EPA’s Environmental and Social Safeguard policies and guidelines.
3. Scope of work
The Consultant will identify environmental and social risks for the project and develop safeguard plans to avoid, mitigate and effectively manage these risks.
4. Key tasks
The consultant will work closely with CI and EPA Project Leads to undertake the following tasks:
a) Identify environmental and social risks for the project by compiling and analyzing environmental and socio-economic data through participatory methodologies with partners and other relevant stakeholders in Northwest Liberia and analyze the data to produce a report
b) Identify project stakeholders in Northwest Liberia landscape and develop appropriate processes and engagement strategies to achieve successful implementation of the project including environmental and social safeguards; and
c) Prepare environmental and social safeguard plans for the project in consultation with project partners and stakeholders in Northwest Liberia landscape. These plans must contain implementation steps, engagement processes, estimation of budget and resources needed, timeline, and result indicators.
5. Deliverables
i. By 30th October 2019 an inception report is produced and submitted to CI Liberia. The inception should include:
· Reviewing of relevant background material;
· Preliminary identification of key stakeholders;
· The successful Consultant’s understanding of the tasks;
· The final proposed approach including specific method(s) and guiding principles;
· The final proposed work plan for the consultancy; and
· Identification of issues crucial to the viability of the consultancy.
ii. By 30th November 2019 the first draft report of environmental and social safeguard plans produced and submitted to project team for review and comment;
iii. By 15th December 2019 the second draft report of environmental and social safeguard plans produced incorporating all feedback and comments from the project team;
iv. By 23rd December 2019 a final environmental and safeguard plans produced.
6. Period of performance
This consultancy will commence on 30th November 2019 to 23rd December 2019.
7. Services Provided by CI Liberia and EPA
CI Liberia and EPA project leads will provide the consultant with an initial orientation and all relevant background documents prior to the kick-off meeting. EPA and CI Project Leads will be available for ongoing conversations, to clarify expectations about the process and outputs.
8. Contract Type
Conservation International will issue a fixed-price contract for this work. As per the consultant’s proposal and subsequent negotiations, the contract will include a set of fixed payments based on submission and acceptance of deliverables indicated in 5 above.
9. Location of Work
The consultant shall work from their base of operations and will be required to engage with local communities in Northwest Liberia landscape.
10. Supervision
CI Liberia Technical Director will supervise the consultant performance and be responsible for review and approval of all written deliverables.
11. Minimum Qualifications and experience of Individual Consultant
The successful Individual Consultant will have the following minimum requirements:
a) Education: A Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Economics, Management, Environment/Natural Resource Sciences, or other relevant fields.
b) At least five years’ experience in developing and/or implementing environmental and social safeguard strategies for organizations or projects;
c) Excellent knowledge and understanding of GEF Environmental and Social safeguards is a distinct advantage;
d) At least 3-5 years’ experience in conducting environmental and social impact assessments of projects in Liberia;
e) Excellent knowledge and understanding of environmental and social issues in Northwest Liberia landscape is an added advantage;
f) Very good inter-personal skills and demonstrated ability to engage and work with local communities; Strong analytical skills;
g) Exceptional ability in communication and networking, negotiations and mediation; and
h) Excellent working knowledge of English.
12. Submission requirements
Qualified Individual Consultants are invited to submit a proposal that must include the following:
i. Cover letter: A short (maximum one page) explaining the Consultant’s suitability including a brief description of the consultant’s recent experience on similar and/or comparable assignments;
ii. Technical Proposal (maximum eight pages) including: statement of how the consultant meets the requirements and his/her understanding of the ToRs; proposed methodology/approach including preliminary work plan (covering deliverables, key activities and due dates); and a brief explanation of the Consultant’s previous experience in this kind of work.
iii. Financial Proposal: The financial proposal should provide cost estimates for services rendered including daily consultancy fees, accommodation, per-diems, transport cost, stationery, supplies needed for data collection, and other costs related to data collection and data processing
iv. Recent CV of the Consultant
v. Reference: Contact details of three organizations that the consultant/firm has had similar assignments. This may be contacted during the proposal review process.
13. Instructions for Preparation of the budget
i. Format: budgets must be prepared and submitted in Microsoft Excel and explicitly show all units (e.g., labour days), unit costs (e.g., loaded daily rates), and total costs. Excel files should be “unlocked” and show all calculations.
ii. Included costs: budgets should be in United States dollars and should include lines for:
· Labour for individual expert, in person-days, multiplied by either a base daily pay or a “loaded” daily pay (e.g., inclusive of fringe benefits, other indirect costs, or fee). Proposed daily rates must be in accordance with the qualifications represented in the resumes of the named individuals.
· Other direct costs, including costs for items like telephone, internet, photocopying, small office supplies, etc. (if required).
iii. Budget Justification: a budget narrative must accompany the budget spreadsheet, justifying proposed costs.
14. Evaluation Criteria
CI and EPA will evaluate proposals based on the following criteria:
Relevant education qualifications and knowledge of GEF safeguards policies and guidelines – 20%
Demonstrated experience in developing environmental and social safeguard plans – 30%
Relevant technical expertise – Methodology and approach – 30%
Appropriate budget, demonstrating appropriate allocation of labour days in relation to tasks and deliverables; appropriate consultant daily rates in relation to qualifications; appropriate other direct costs in relation to the scope of work; and overall cost effectiveness. – 20%
15. Cost of the consultancy
The cost of this consultancy is USD 8,000 inclusive of taxes.
How to apply:
Deadline for submission
The deadline for submission of proposals is 22nd September 2019
All Interested and eligible applicants should submit inquiries and proposals to the address below:
The Technical Director
Conservation International Liberia
Email: [email protected]
More Information
- Job City Monrovia