Liberia Forest Sector Project: Consultancy Services for Pre-gazzetment Activities for Foya and Kpo Proposed Protected Area

Project ID: P154114

Project Title: Liberia Forest Sector Project

Borrower Bid Reference: LR-FDA-229675-CS-QCBS

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

LIBERIA FOREST SECTOR PROJECT

PROJECT ID: P154114

GRANT ID: TFA2427

CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO PREPARE GAZETTMENT PACKAGE FOR KPO MOUNTAIN AND FOYA PROPOSED PROTECTED AREAS (PPA’s)

 (REFERENCE NO: LR-FDA-229675-CS-QCBS)

This request for expressions of interest follows the General Procurement Notice for this project that appeared in Development Business No. WB452-01/17 of January 31, 2017.

The Republic of Liberia has received a grant from the Government of Norway in the amount of US$36.7 million equivalent through the World Bank towards the cost of the Liberia Forest Sector Project, and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this Grant to eligible payments for the provision of consulting services to Prepare Gazettment Package for Foya and Kpo Mountain Proposed Protected Areas (PPA’s).

The objective of this assignment will be to prepare a complete two (2) Gazettement Packages including the compilation of relevant information from consultations at all levels regarding the two PPAs.

The Consultant will be charged with the following responsibilities for the Foya and Kpo PPAs:

• To prepare a Gazettement Package for each of the two above-named PPAs in an appropriate format with focus on, but not limited to, the following key steps:

• Step 1: Build on Previous Reports
• Step 2: Outline the Gazettement Process
• Step 3: Complete Public Consultations

A full copy of the terms of reference can be found below, as Attachment 1 to this request for expressions of interest

The Forestry Development Authority now invites qualified and eligible firms to express their interest in providing the required Services for the Liberia Forest Sector Project. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). See shortlist criteria below:

  QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

1. Must have a good working knowledge of the terrain, understands the culture and behavior of the ethnic groups in the landscape.
2. At least five (5) years of experience working with the establishment and management of government-administered protected areas, including the preparation of legal and technical documents for protected area establishment.
3. Experience of work in Sub-Saharan Africa, Liberia is a plus.

 Note: In addition to other relevant information to be submitted, Consultants (firms) are to present all assignments of similar nature undertaken: Assignment details, name of client & country of assignment, contract value and role of the firm, etc.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 3.14 and 3.15 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers Goods, Works, Non-Consulting Services and Consulting Services July 2016, revised November 2017 and August 2018

 Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy agreement to enhance their qualifications.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Selection based on the Quality and Cost Based Selection method (QCBS). For reference, please see paragraph 7.3 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers Goods, Works, Non-Consulting Services and Consulting Services July 2016, revised November 2017 and August 2018 by following the link below: 

http://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/178331533065871195/Procurement-Regulations.pdf

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0900 to 1600 hours.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, by mail, or by e-mail) by 16:00 GMT on June 16, 2020.  Envelopes or subject of emails must be marked “Ref: EOI for CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO PREPARE GAZETTMENT PACKAGE FOR KPO MOUNTAIN & FOYA PROPOSED PROTECTED AREAS (PPA’s)”

Forestry Development Authority

Whein Town, Mount Barclay

 P. O. Box 3010 Montserrado County

Monrovia, Liberia

Attention: National REDD+ Project Coordinator

Tel: +231(0)880-699-711

Email:  fawasa@gmail.com & cc: hdd1960wllms@gmail.com   

 Attachment 1: Terms of Reference: Consultancy Services to Prepare Gazettment Package for Kpo Mountain and Foya Proposed Protected Areas (PPA’s)

Background and introduction:

Liberia contains about 6.69 million hectares of lowland tropical forest that comprises about 43 percent of the remaining Upper Guinea forests of West Africa.  Most of Liberia’s rural population is dependent on forests and their various products and ecosystem services. The country’s forests are under threat due to the continued deforestation and forest degradation (D&FD) of their remaining blocks for the expansion of agriculture, unsustainable and illegal logging, mining activities, and inadequate oversight and enforcement. Deforestation and forest degradation are the second leading cause of global warming, making the loss and depletion of forests a major issue for climate change.

Liberia is faced with enormous challenges in managing its forests to contribute in a balanced way to long-term, sustainable economic growth; support the livelihoods of rural communities, and ensure that its important national and global heritage is conserved. As part of the reform process, Liberia’s engagement with the World Bank has been towards the national efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, foster conservation, sustainable management of forests, enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+), and provision of sustainable livelihood options for forest-dependent communities.

Towards this end, the Government of Liberia (GoL) and the Government of Norway (GoN) signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) in September 2014, with the purpose of (a) supporting the development and implementation of Liberia’s REDD+ strategy to ensure significant net reductions in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from D&FD; (b) contributing to sustainable development in Liberia through protecting natural forests, restoring degraded lands, and developing Liberia's agricultural sector; and (c) working together to support progress on global efforts regarding climate change and sustainable development in general and REDD+ in particular. The Liberia Forest Sector Project (LFSP) is a result of this partnership aimed at improved management of, and increased benefit-sharing in, targeted forest landscapes. Implementation of the LFSP is led by the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), Ministry of Mines and Energy, and the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) implementing specific sub-components of the project.

As a Government agency with the responsibility to sustainably and effectively manage the forest sector, the FDA is required by law to conserve 30% of Liberia’s remaining forest estate and sustainably manage all forest areas so that they will continue to produce a complete range of goods and services for the benefit of all Liberians and contribute to poverty reduction in the nation.

The Government of Liberia (GOL) wishes to apply a portion of the funds from the LFSP to finance the gazettement processes of the Foya and Kpo Proposed Protected Areas (PPAs), as part of strengthening and expanding Liberia’s protected area network.

2.0 Objective of the Assignment

The objective of this assignment will be to prepare a complete two (2) Gazettement Packages including the compilation of relevant information from consultations at all levels regarding the two PPAs.

3.0 SCOPE OF SERVICES, TASKS, AND EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

3.1 Scope of services & Tasks

The Consultant will be charged with the following responsibilities for the Foya and Kpo PPAs:

• To prepare a Gazettement Package for each of the two above-named PPAs in an appropriate format with focus on, but not limited to, the following key steps:
  • Build on Previous Reports: Synthesize and summarize the key biodiversity, cultural heritage, socio-economic, land tenure, and other technical information from the completed Foya PPA and Kpo Mountain PPA Feasibility Study reports—and any other relevant documents--that supports the proposed Protected Area designations. This includes (i) briefly stating the background and context of the proposed  Protected Areas; (ii) describing the conservation significance of the Foya and Kpo PPAs, both nationally and globally; (iii) summarizing the conservation threats to the Foya and Kpo PPAs, along with how the Protected Area gazettement and subsequent management actions would mitigate these threats while promoting sustainable local livelihoods; and (iv) outlining the main management objectives that the new Protected Areas would seek to fulfill.  
  • Outline the Gazettement Process: Specify the remaining steps that need to be taken for Foya and Kpo to be formally gazetted as some type of Protected Area—both (i) the steps that will be fulfilled in the course of this consultancy and (ii) the steps that Government would need to take after this consultancy is completed. The steps described should be consistent with the existing legal and policy framework (including the National Wildlife Conservation and Protected Area Management Law, National Forestry Reform Law, Land Rights Law, and other relevant laws and regulations); they should take into account the good practices and lessons learned from the previous establishment of other Liberian protected areas (Gola, Grebo-Krahn, and others).   
  • Complete the Public Consultations: Take careful note of all the public consultations with local communities and all other stakeholders that have taken place to date regarding the Foya and Kpo PPAs, including the consultation modalities, dates, and venues; who was invited and who participated; and the main issues raised by each stakeholder group. Taking into account the consultations already done, collaborate and coordinate with the FDA Conservation Department to carry out further consultations as needed to (i) satisfy all legal requirements for consultations related to Protected Area establishment and (ii) ensure adequate engagement with all key stakeholders, including providing clear answers to any pending questions.  
  • Confirm the Management Category: Based on the decisions taken by FDA senior management and taking into account the findings of the respective Feasibility Study reports, stakeholder inputs, and any other key information, (i) confirm which management category has been selected for the proposed Foya and Kpo protected areas (National Park, Nature Reserve, Multiple Use Reserve, or other categories) and (ii) document the reasons for selecting the management category that has been chosen.
  • Specify the Uses and Zones: Specify which types of natural resource uses (hunting, fishing, cultivation, wood cutting, non-timber forest product harvesting, mining, etc.) will be prohibited or allowed with restrictions, either throughout the new Protected Area or within special management zones. If more than one management zone is planned (such as a strictly protected zone and a multiple use zone), then each such zone should be named and delineated on a map, along with a list of the allowed and prohibited activities within each zone. The draft legislation and other documents which define these uses and zones may also specify that further details will be provided in the subsequent Management Plan for each Protected Area.
  • Delineate the Protected Area Boundaries: Following the guidance from FDA and taking into consideration the stakeholder comments received, indicate the recommended external boundaries of the proposed new Foya and Kpo Protected Areas, both (i) on high-quality, user-friendly maps and (ii) with a detailed text description. Within each PPA, any major internal boundaries between different use zones should also be delineated on the relevant maps. 
  • Help Address any Special Issues: As needed, help resolve any special issues (such as access to sacred sites) that might arise prior to gazettement.
  • Prepare the Legal and Technical Documents: Draft the legislation, any supplementary legal documents, and all supporting technical documents (including maps) that will comprise the complete Gazettement Package for both the Foya and Kpo PPAs.

 3.2 EXPECTED DELIVERABLES/OUTPUTS

The consultant will be accountable for the following deliverables:

1. A Workplan for carrying out the consultancy that clearly describes the activities, methodology, and expected outputs. The Workplan shall also specify (i) the remaining consultations and other steps that will be needed to produce the final Gazettement Package and (ii) the specific documents (including maps) that will constitute a complete Gazettement Package. The Workplan shall be submitted within four (4) weeks of contract signing.
2. Reports from all public consultations, to be submitted within ten (10) weeks of contract signing.
3. Draft Gazettement Packages, based on key relevant information including public consultation reports, to be submitted within fourteen (14) weeks of contract signing. The Gazettement Packages will include the draft legislation and all necessary supporting legal and technical documents, including maps.
4. Final Gazettement Packages, to be submitted within eighteen (18) weeks of contract signing.

4. PAYMENT TERMS:

1. First Payment: Twenty –Five (25%) percent of the contract value upon submission and acceptance of the consultancy Workplan.
2. Second Payment: Twenty (20%) percent of the contract value upon submission and acceptance of the reports from all public consultations.
3. Third Payment: Twenty-Five (25%) percent of the contract value upon submission and acceptance of draft Gazettement Packages.

1. Fourth Payment: Thirty (30%) percent of the contract value upon submission and acceptance of the final Gazettement Packages.

5.0 DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Barring unforeseen delays, the assignment should be completed within 18 weeks (about 4 months) from the start date.  This includes the time needed to (i) compile and summarize key information from the Feasibility Study reports and other sources; (ii) help manage the public consultation process involving local communities and all other stakeholders; and (iii) prepare complete drafts of each of the documents (including maps) that will comprise the Gazettement Package.

6.0 REPORTING

The consultant shall report to the Managing Director of the FDA through the REDD+ National Coordinator; Technical Manager (Conservation) shall be a substantive contact point for this assignment. All deliverables are initially submitted as drafts that are to be reviewed and commented on before final copies are produced and submitted. All deliverable reports and maps should be presented in a printer-friendly format that facilitates the replication of hard as well as electronic copies.

7.0 LANGUAGE

English shall be used for all deliverables under this assignment.

8.0 CLIENT’S INPUT & COUNTERPART PERSONNEL

The FDA will provide relevant information needed and designate competent staff as point of contacts to the consultant during the execution of the task.

9.0 QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE OF THE FIRM AND KEY EXPERTS

1. Must have a good working knowledge of the terrain, understands the culture and behavior of the ethnic groups in the landscape.

1. At least five (5) years of experience working with the establishment and management of government-administered protected areas, including the preparation of legal and technical documents for protected area establishment.
2. Experience of work in Sub-Saharan Africa, Liberia is a plus.

MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING KEY EXPERTS

1. Team Leader: Master degree or above in Forestry, Natural Resource, Conservation, Biology with at least 5 years proven experience with Protected Area establishment and management. 
2. Community Engagement and Livelihood Specialist: At least Masters in Community Development, Natural Resource Management, Social Sciences, Economics, and related fields with at least 5 years’ practical experience engaging and mobilizing communities and leading livelihood support projects in the vicinity of protected areas.
3. Legal Analyst:  Law degree with at least 4 years of experience working on forest and natural resource (including environmental) law and policy formulation, review, and reform.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Organization/Department: Forestry Development Authority
NameSaah A. David, Jr.
AddressWhein Town, Mount Barclay, Montserrado County, Liberia
City 
Province/StateLiberia
Postal Code 
CountryLiberia
Phone+231880699711
Emailfawasa@gmail.com