REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

“European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) East Countries Forest Law Enforcement and Governance II Program”

Assignment Title:  Consulting firm for supporting community involvement in protected areas forest management in Georgia (Reference No.: GEO/C/CQS/2).

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of implementing the EUROPEAN NEIGHBORHOOD AND PARTNERSHIP INSTRUMENT EAST COUNTRIES FOREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GOVERNANCE II PROGRAM" and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include supporting community involvement in protected areas forest management in Georgia and specifically:

• Analyze existing information (including data, reports etc.) dealing with forest management in selected protected area;
• Gather information and assess the scales of public participation in protected area forest management;
• Conduct a feasibility study on public involvement in forest management in the selected protected area;
• Agree with the Protected Area management authority and the FLEG CPC on the activity (activities) to be implemented within the project framework;
• Identify potential partners (local organizations, community representatives, educational institutions, associations etc.) to be involved in activities;
• In close cooperation with the Protected Area management  authority and the FLEG CPC, oversee implementation of the selected and agreed activity (activities);
• Organize a workshop to present the results of the work done in selected communities that will include Protected Area management authority and the FLEG CPC and other interested stakeholders.

Note: The protected area will be selected by the consultant Company/Firm/Organization, after close cooperation with the Agency of Protected Areas and the IUCN FLEG CPC in Georgia.

The IUCN now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The short listing criteria must be met by the organization and its key personnel:

• Key members of the team assigned for this task must possess a Masters or higher degree in protected area governance/management, forest and natural resource management, environmental economy or other related subject;
• Prior experience in working on protected area related projects; developing and implementation of projects related to forest and natural resources management and sustainable use; experience in carrying out the activities on public awareness and capacity building on those issues related to environment protection/natural resources management in Georgia;
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of the current issues of protected area forest management and governance in Georgia as well as knowledge and acquaintance with governmental structures and other stakeholders;
• Knowledge and understanding of and working experience with IUCN regulations and guidelines as well as strong inter-personal skills and ability to work in different cultural contexts;
• Proven ability to prepare and write high quality reports in forest and natural resources or in other related fields;
• Fluency in written and spoken Georgian and English;
• Computer literacy, including the use of MS Excel, PowerPoint, and Word or similar office applications, as well as proficiency in performing internet research to support documents that may be required for project implementation.

The assignment should be fulfilled within a 9-months period starting January 1, 2016.

The attention of interested Consultant firms is drawn to paragraph 1.9 and 1.11 of the World Bank’s Guidelines “Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans & Grants by World Bank Borrowers” (January 2011) ("Consultant Guidelines"), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest and eligibility.

The full Terms of References (TORs) are available. Interested Consultant Firms must submit their CVs and Expressions of Interest (EOIs) as an individual firm or in association in the form of a joint venture or – sub consultancy. All the members of the joint venture shall be jointly and severably liable for the entire assignment. However, the experience of sub-consultant will not be considered while short-listing. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Selections Based on the Consultants' Qualifications (CQS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines. The best qualified and experienced firm shall be selected and only this one selected firm shall be asked to submit a combined technical and financial proposal.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in the written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by December 4^th, 2015. Please provide reference No: GEO/C/CQS/2 in all your mail.

Further information can be obtained at the address below:
Marika Kavtarishvili, IUCN, ENPI FLEG Country Program Coordinator in Georgia
Tel: +995591214222 E-mail: marika.kavtarishvili@enpi-fleg.org