Consultancy to undertake Ecosystem and Socio-economic Resilience Analysis and Mapping (ESRAM) in the Central Islands Province of the Solomon Islands

Tender Number: PBS 2024 – 007

Tender Name: Consultancy to undertake Ecosystem and Socio-economic Resilience Analysis and Mapping (ESRAM) in the Central Islands Province of the Solomon Islands (SI). (Act 2.1.7)

Description: The objective is to generate a robust planning baseline to increase knowledge of priority resource use and management, and to inform the identification of priority areas for biodiversity conservation and EbA-based watershed management.

Scope of work:

The Consultancy is required to:
a. Conduct one ESRAM assessment in SI’s Central Islands Province centred on the seascape comprising Ngella Islands, Russell Islands and Savo Island. This assessment will:
1. Incorporate findings of initial desktop analyses of existing literature and field-based studies to be undertaken by the consultant at the outset of the project
2. Map ecological and socio-economic baseline and conditions
3. Map ecosystems – identify and map ecosystem types in the selected sites
4. Assess ecosystem condition/health and sources of degradation
5. Map current resource management initiatives
6. Map current land tenure, land-use and land usage patterns
7. Define ecosystem functions and services – how do ecosystems support communities
8. Assess the value of ecosystem services and biodiversity for communities
9. (if applicable) Map operating licenses for extractive activities such as timber felling and milling and mining (exploitation, storage and transportation routes); and main infrastructure, both existing and proposed.
10. Identify threats to ecosystem services – this can include current and projected climate change impacts, population pressures, pollution or other threats affecting ecosystem services.
b. Consult with relevant government ministries and agencies, non-government organisations, local authorities, and community representatives in the province.
c. Based on (a) and (b) above, prepare and submit one ESRAM technical report to the Solomon Islands Environment Ministry (MECDM) and SPREP.
d. Further requirements to note:
• The consultant will undertake surveys in the province and actively engage local counterparts (where needed) to conduct mapping of key ecosystems and their services and assess the condition of key ecosystem services provided to the communities.
• Ecosystem services assessed will cover terrestrial, coastal, and marine environments with an emphasis on ecosystem connectivity and the linkages between social and biological systems.
• The consultant is expected to lead and facilitate trainings, workshops, and stakeholder community meetings in the process of undertaking the ESRAM. SPREP and project partners (WCS and national/provincial agencies) may provide support to enable stakeholder engagement processes relating to the above activities.
• The consultant is expected to provide their own equipment such as computers, cameras, GPS and any other equipment required by the experts to undertake the tasks.

Duration: 5 months