Terms of Reference
Consultancy for establishment of umbrella Community Forest Associations (CFAs) in Makueni and Taita Taveta counties
Introduction
The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is an international non-governmental organization which has been implementing conservation of biodiversity interventions for more than 60 years with an exclusive focus on Africa's wildlife and wildlands. All the AWF's conservation programs and strategies are designed to protect Africa's wildlife and wildlands and to ensure a rights-based approach to conservation for sustainable future of the people living in Africa. Since its inception in 1961, the organization has protected endangered species and lands, promoted conservation businesses that benefit local African communities, and trained thousands of African nationals in conservation.
Project Background
African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) in partnership with ICRAF and FAO received funding from the United Kingdom (UK PACT) to implement the project “Delivering nature-based solution outcomes through strengthened policy implementation, institutional capacity, and enhanced monitoring and reporting of forest and landscape restoration in Kenya”. The geographic area of focus for this project is Taita Taveta and Makueni counties. The project focuses on six work packages as follows:
WP 1: Co-development, implementation, and capacity building on Nature based solutions (NbS) and forest and landscape restoration (FLR) monitoring and reporting frameworks.
WP 2: Domestication of the Forest and Landscape Restoration Implementation Plan (FOLAREP) 2023-2027 into county-level governance.
WP 3: Strengthening coordination of community forest associations (CFAs) and their contribution to county forest conservation and management policies.
WP 4: Capacity development and engagement of key national-level stakeholders to strengthen implementation of cross-sectoral frameworks and policies on climate change, forestry, and restoration.
WP 5: GESI: Building institutional capacity for equitable and inclusive FLR.
WP 6: Project Management and Monitoring Evaluation and Learning.
Consultancy Scope and Purpose
This consultancy is under WP 3 and the main goal is to establish two umbrella CFAs, one for Makueni county and the other for Taita Taveta county. This consultancy should be undertaken within two months – August 2024 in Makueni and September 2024 in Taita Taveta.
Consultancy activities and deliverables
- Engagement meetings with respective County government and Kenya Forest Service officials for planning purposes
- Engagement meetings or workshops with all the CFA officials and attended by respective County government and Kenya Forest Service officials
- Election of office bearers for the two bodies
- Development of a Constitution for each of the two bodies
- Registration of the new bodies, Taita Taveta umbrella CFA and Makueni umbrella CFA with Registrar of Societies
- Capacity build the umbrella CFA officials on governance (leadership and management), resource mobilization and Advocacy.
Coordination and management
Reporting: The consultant will be reporting to the Senior Ecologist, African Wildlife Foundation on a regular basis and shall submit reports for all deliverables highlighted in the TORs as per the agreed workplan and budgets.
Upon completion of field related activities, the successful consultant will have up to 10 calendar days to deliver the FINAL report for each county.
Qualification and application procedures
i. Selection process
AWF will use its internal guidance, pre-designed checklists and an interview process to select the successful consultant. The guidelines require the applicants to submit, a technical proposal explaining, their understanding of the Terms of Reference, and how they would approach this assignment, with a detailed methodology, especially in terms of how they plan to meet the activities and deliverables, including a work plan and budget. The technical proposal should include the consultant’s CV highlighting relevant experience, and time availability/anticipated starting date. The consultant must comply with AWF's Rights Based Approach (RBA) to Conservation and AWF’s code of conduct.
ii. Consultant composition and required competencies
Companies or individuals not fulfilling the minimum criteria will be excluded from the selection process and will not be assessed against the other criteria.
- The consultant or company should have individual/s possessing significant knowledge and experience on aspects of Community Forest Associations.
- The lead consultant to possess advanced degree in forestry, worked in the forestry sector and engagement in CFAs
- Experience in undertaking a similar role in the past 7 years.
- Experience working in multicultural environments.
- A good understanding of Makueni and Taita Taveta counties
- Be able to communicate fluently using both verbally and writing in English and Swahili
ii. Submission of application
Interested consultants are expected to submit to procurement@awf.org with a copy to Ngichohi@awf.org not later than 9th August 2024, 5pm EAT.
- A technical proposal including a detailed budget and a proposed work plan. The technical proposal should outline a clear methodology to deliver the assignment.
- The CV of consultant elaborating on assignments of similar magnitude delivered by the consultant or with the leadership of the consultant.
African Wildlife Foundation encourages interested parties to submit the above for selection process. Persons with disabilities, women and the youth are highly encouraged to apply.