Expression of Interest (EOI) to Conduct Biodiversity Baseline Survey for the Integrated Community-Based Natural Resources Management Project in Chania Watershed of the Aberdares EcosystemTerms of Reference
Background: The Green Belt Movement (GBM) in partnership with the local communities has been implementing community-based natural resource management projects to rehabilitate degraded forest resources.
GBM’s proposed project will address environmental degradation in the Chania watershed (covering Gatundu North, Lari and South Kinangop constituencies), within the Aberdare water tower.
The project will enable them to preserve their environment and habitat sites that have irreplaceable ecosystem services, cultural and spiritual significance.
Moreover, local communities are aware that if these resources are not protected, it could grossly impact and disrupt their livelihoods systems.
The aim of the project is to support rural communities to conserve and restore functions of their natural ecosystems, provide alternative sources of income and secure future food production over two years. GBM will empower communities with relevant skills that will enhance their entrepreneurial capacities leading to better understanding of markets for farm sourced products.
The project will result in reduced pressure on forest resources and increased food security and climate resilience at the community level
Project Aim and Objectives
The project goal is to restore degraded farm lands and forests through the Green Belt Movement approach to community engagement, improve the quality of life of rural communities by conserving local biodiversity and support livelihoods in Chania watershed.
The aim of the project is to support rural communities within the Chania watershed to conserve and restore their natural ecosystems, secure their food production and improve their livelihoods so that they consequently become more resilient to the effects of climate change.
The project sets out to achieve the following objectives:
to strengthen local communities’ capacity, through mobilization and sensitization, to protect Chania watershed and restore the function of natural ecosystems, in relations to water retention, carbon sequestration, biodiversity protection and rural income generation through food security initiatives,
to identify alternative livelihood options for local community members, by using a participatory approach, in order to reduce community dependence on forest and increase tree cover along riparian reserves and individual farms in the watershed.
promote forest extension on farm to increase tree cover for sustained timber, wood fuel, non-wood forest products and environmental conservation through promotion of farm forestry and protection of the riparian areas outside forest reserves.
The aim of the exercise is to: Ensure that the communities around Chania watershed (Gatundu North, Lari and South Kinangop constituencies) adopt a common approach toward restoring the functions of natural ecosystems in relations to water retention, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation and improve rural livelihood, assist the local communities to package their ideas on forest rehabilitation and on-farm agroforestry practices, soil conservation and water harvesting techniques in a participatory approach toward sustainable forest management and livelihoods improvements.
Objective: The general objective of this study is to undertake a biodiversity baseline survey in the project area to establish current status so as to inform proposed intervention activities and enable measurement of project’s impacts.
The specific objective of this study is: To identify and characterize vegetation types, plant species, riparian reserves/resources, wildlife resources etc. those that are known or provenance within the watershed with special emphasis on priority taxa.
For all listed taxa, information on ecological requirements, any known or suspected threats should be provided. Additional spatial information on the localities of highly restricted priority taxa will be collected.
Scope of work
Nature and scope of the proposed biodiversity baseline survey
The consultant in consultation with GBM is expected to undertake the following tasks:
Form a baseline survey steering committee with membership from the local communities, GBM and other relevant stakeholders within the project area
Conduct desk review of project documents, reports, survey tools and other relevant documents, the range of which shall be agreed upon with the project team.
Propose an appropriate and acceptable survey methodology and develop data collection tools
Develop a sampling and data management plan
Recruit and train interviewer (supervisors, interviewers, observers/record reviewers) on data collection tools Coordinate and supervise data collection
Carry out data analysis
Prepare the baseline assessment report in a format acceptable to GBM
Report to GBM on progress
Submit to GBM the final as well as a complete data set.
In consultation with the local community, NGOs, government departments, county government of Kiambu and Nyandarua counties, use of workshop proceedings, evaluation of similar projects and programs by other organizations carry out biodiversity baseline survey for the project.
The consultants in consultation with the GBM and other partners will be expected to undertake the following tasks::
1) Determine natural resources endowment in the project area, their general state and recommend how the community can best protect and improve on them
2) Identify the plant diversity with special emphasizes on right species to be planted in different areas of the project location including fruit, fuelwood, agro-forestry and indigenous trees for watershed rehabilitation
3) Carry out a forest/ vegetation cover survey to analyze and characterize the areas to rehabilitate and farms land for agroforestry initiatives
4) Determine wildlife corridors and suggest potential area for investments and options
5) Based on the Aberdares forest management plan, provide management guidelines as per the Management plan as a tool to guide respective communities in forest undertakings
Output
The following outputs are expected from the consultant:
An inception report indicating internalization of the ToRs and laying out a methodology to be used,
An improved survey report that will be presented to the project steering committee for discussion, and circulated to other stakeholders for comments
A final report with details on each of the ToRs, incorporating comments from other stakeholders plus any other technical/professional information deemed necessary or that would be expected in a report of this nature under normal circumstances,
A map showing areas of intervention in the forest and surrounding areas
Narrative report on forest and farmlands management based on current activities within the project area,
Duration and timeline: The assignment is expected to be completed in a month time.
Reporting: The consultant will report on all administrative issues of this consultancy to the Senior Programme Officer in charge of Tree Planting and Water Harvesting.
Qualification and required skills for the consultancy
The assignment requires firm and/or team of consultants with the experience in undertaking similar assignments and of similar magnitude, under the supervision of a team leader with at least 7 – 10 years of relevant experiences.
The prospective candidate is expected to meet the following minimum criteria:
A Strong bias towards natural resources management and/ or physical Sciences
Minimum 7 years relevant experience in carrying out survey design, survey implementation and data analysis, preferably in the development/NGO sector
Proven extensive experience in working with government agencies, local authorities or other NGOs
Demonstrated experience and solid track record in similar assignments will be an added advantage
Demonstrated experience in questionnaire development and administration
Demonstrated experience in training enumerators
Experience of survey work with similar purpose, mode and populations strongly preferred
Familiarity with the landscape of Kiambu and Nyandarua County is an added advantage
Good communication skills i.e. English/ Kiswahili both oral and written
The technical proposal should detail the following:
Consultant’s specific experience (please attach CVs of the key personnel to be deployed)
Methodology and tool(s) to be used.
Work plan 4. A detailed budget indicating fees and costs for logistics.
Submission of technical proposal
Interested firm/consultancy are advised to submit their technical proposal to undertake the consultancy that include a concept note of note more than 5 pages, planned approach and methodology with relevant details and documentations so as to reach mkarunditu@greenbeltmovement.org and copy to jobs@greenbeltmovement.org latest by 1200 noon, September 3, 2015.
Proposals should be submitted either electronically or by hard copy.
Acceptable formats include Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and PDF.
GBM is an equal opportunity employer and canvassing will lead to disqualification.