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

“European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) East Countries Forest Law Enforcement and Governance II Program” and “ENPI East Countries FLEG II: Complementary Measures for Georgia and Armenia Single Donor Trust Fund

1.Assignment Title: Consulting firm for the follow up work on the forest functionality analysis - assessment of Forest Landscape Restoration opportunity in Georgia (Reference No.: ADA/GEO/C/CQS/6).

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 “ENPI East Countries FLEG II: Complementary Measures for Georgia and Armenia Single Donor Trust Fund and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include the follow up work on the forest functionality analysis - assessment of Forest Landscape Restoration opportunity in Georgia and specifically:

• Become familiar with the requirements of IUCN’s Guide to the Restoration Opportunities Assessment Methodology (ROAM);
• Review the Forest Dependency studies from (Tianeti, Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki, Chokhatauri) and complete the following for each community:
  • Define the problem –
    • for example: forest land has been degraded or converted, to the extent where a significant proportion of the trees have been removed from the landscape; or
    • Forest reserves, parks, or Protected Areas have been fragmented by major land-use changes;
  • Identify potential key partners in the region;
  • Define scope and output(s) – for example:
    • Select a geographic region (this may be defined as the natural resource use boundaries identified in the Forest Dependency studies);
    • Output(s) – for example identify priority regions for potential restoration or suitable forest restoration options identified;
  • Stratifying the area – create simple maps denoting land cover, population density, common natural resource-dependent sectors (and locations if local); and level of demand for specific forest products;
  • Identify FLR options by denoting on a map: forested land or land that has the potential to remain or become forested; agricultural land being managed for food; protected lands and buffers, and other areas that may need mapping;
  • Identify assessment criteria – such as the scope and availability of land for different interventions;
  • Planning the work – for example: capacity needs, data collection requirements;
• Create maps of forest degradation for each of the following regions: Tianeti, Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki, Chokhatauri ;
• Prepare an analytical report and presentation on potential FLR opportunities¹ (for each Region) that explain and provide maps of: forested land or land that has the potential to remain or become forested; agricultural land being managed for food; protected lands and buffers, and other areas that may need mapping;
• Conduct final workshop and present the findings.

Team composition: the usual composition for this work would entail 2-3 people for a period of approximately 70-90 days over a 4-6 month period, depending on access and time required for site visits to the 4 communities.

This work will be done in close cooperation with the state Forest management authorities and included in the final report.

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:

• Masters or higher degree in environmental science and economy, forest and natural resource management, land use with good understanding of GIS, land management, Law or other related subject;
• Prior experience in conducting surveys and researches on forest ecosystem functionality, landscape planning, land use, different types of ecosystem modelling and economic valuation, mapping or other related issues;
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of the current issues of the land use, forest and land 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 on forest and natural resources, land use 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, GIS and/or similar sources, acquaintance with the principles of statistical analysis, as well as proficiency in performing internet research to support documents that may be required for program implementation.

The assignment should be fulfilled within a 6-months period starting May 10, 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 May 10, 2016. Please provide reference No: ADA/GEO/C/CQS/6 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