CONSULTANCY: ASSESSMENT OF REDD+ PROJECT FEASIBILITY, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT STEPS AND POLICY ENVIRONMENT FOR THE RUVUMA LANDSCAPE
1. Background
WWF Tanzania Country Office (WWF TCO) is a Non- Government Organization dealing with environmental protection in Tanzania since 1990 and it has supported the Government of Tanzania in implementing various projects on Marine, Forest, Fresh Water, Energy, and Wildlife. WWF’s global mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity; ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Within this context. WWF Tanzania is implementing a ‘Beyond Tourism Project’ (BeToP), looking at non-tourism-related enterprises that will ensure income diversification and continued benefits to the communities in and around key conservation areas. Specifically, this consultancy focuses on the potential of developing viable carbon credit initiatives through REDD+ (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation plus the enhancement of carbon stocks), identified as a potential area of development during
WWF’s ongoing work in the Ruvuma transboundary landscape. The landscape encompasses selected Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) and Village Land Forest Reserves (VLFRs) in and around the Selous Nyerere ecosystem, including the Selous-Niassa Wildlife Corridor that connects Tanzania and Mozambique. The landscape has unique conservation values, including expansive miombo woodlands, freshwater river systems and lakes, and iconic wildlife species.
The carbon asset within the Ruvuma landscape, coupled with investments in forest and high-carbon ecosystems, presents a dynamic opportunity to address the challenges of climate change and create new forms of natural resource-based income that incentivize the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity.
This consultancy will evaluate the landscape, acting as a feasibility study for developing a Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) approach for the Ruvuma landscape, generating carbon credits and community benefits and promoting a sustainable ecological conservation approach through payments and benefits received.
2. Scope / Project Development Areas
The project scope will cover 4 WWF Ruvuma landscape WMAs, namely the Ndonda WMA (Nachingwea and Nanyumbu District), Liwale (Magingo)WMA (Liwale District), Mungata and Juhiwangumwa WMAs (in Rufiji District). The scope will also cover Nywamwage and Tawi VLFRs in Rufiji and Mchakama, Liwiti, and Nainokwe VLFRs in Kiwa.
3. Specific Tasks and Responsibilities
The consultancy will cover the following areas of focus, with amendments and additions to this subject to discussion between WWF and the consultant during the contracting process:
- Assessment of the accuracy of carbon assessments: assessments within the Ruvuma landscape WMAs and VLFRs and recommendations on technical gaps and needed;
- Assessment of land cover change scenarios: to be undertaken where the REOD+ mechanism will be implemented. This will also show how future land-use changes and strategies will impact carbon, biodiversity, and social issues across the landscape;
- Synthesis of spatial information on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and social metrics: to support REDD+ planning and safeguard development in the Ruvuma landscape;
- Identification and analysis of REDD+ business opportunities and financial viability: through scanning the WMAs and VLFRs in the landscape for i) carbon finance potential, ii) market potential of sustainably developed enterprises, and iii) ecological sustainability:
- Assessment of enabling conditions: a review of national, regional, and international policies, legislation, and regulations and synthesis of opportunities, gaps, and technical recommendations for REDD+ guidelines and legislation.
- Assessment of socio-economic context: undertake an analysis of the socio-economic conditions as they pertain to the general acceptability and success rate of the proposed enterprises, such as the potential to create direct and indirect benefits to communities (income, jobs, food, etc.), as well as parameters of cultural values, religious importance, aesthetic values, etc. The consultant will assess and highlight opportunities for the direct engagement of communities in the proposed sustainable enterprises.
- Assessment of the general contribution of proposed REDD+ benefits to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services (forest, wildlife, and water resources in the targets areas) assessment of the direct and indirect contribution of the proposed carbon credit/REOD+ enterprises to species and habitat conservation, ecosystem resilience, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
- Environmental and social safeguards and risk assessment: Identification of potential environmental and social safeguards issues related to the proposed business enterprises as well as project risks and be able to design mitigation measures in line with WWF Environmental Social Safeguards Framework (ESSF) and risk screening and ranking accordingly and working in collaboration with WWF ESSF and Risk analysis teams. This includes human rights, social policies, gender and youth, indigenous people, and disadvantaged people.
- Development of business case: Based on this analysis, the consultant will recommend at least REDD+ opportunities with the most significant benefits that meet conservation needs and opportunities for an integrated business project approach and develop an outline business plan for each of these.
4. DELIVERABLES
1. An inception report with detailed tools, methodology, team composition, and budget, to be completed by the consultant and discussed with the WWF team within the first two weeks following contract signing;
2. Draft report for discussion with the WWF team, and final report covering all specific tasks and responsibilities listed above;
3. Two briefing notes on the potential for REDD+ business development for 1} government stakeholders and 2) other project stakeholders, the exact content of which to be agreed upon at the time of the draft report submission and subsequent discussion with the WWF team:
4. Brochures for REDD+ awareness creation in English and Kiswahili 5. APPLICATION PROCEDURE & SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS
All interested applicants may get the detailed ToR on WWF websites at https://www.wwf.or.tz/jobs_and_opportunities/jobs/ and also, send your full proposal (technical & financial) through procurement email at [email protected] only softcopy proposals are accepted addressed to:
Secretary, Procurement Committee
WWF Tanzania
Kiko Street, Off Mwai Kibaki Road Plot 252, Mikocheni
P. 0. Box 63117, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tel: +255 22 277 5346/277 2455/270 0077 Fax: +255 22 277 5535;
website. wwf.or.tz
Please send a I-page application letter outlining your expertise and relevant experience in this
consultancy. Submit a concise 2 – 4-page technical proposal highlighting the proposed approach,
methodologies, brief work schedule, team composition, and timings of the process. A brief financial proposal, clearly specifying the time professional fees, and proposed implementation costs. A 2 – 3-page CV of the lead should also be attached.
All applications should reach us by or before 1600hrs Tanzania local time on Monday, 20TH June 2022.
