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

Assignment Title:  Consulting organization for supporting the development of the state program on providing rural population with timber forest resources, including firewood in Georgia (Reference No.: ADA/GEO/C/CQS/1).

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 supporting the development of the state program on providing rural population with timber forest resources, including firewood in Georgia and specifically:

• Conduct the assessment of the usage of energy sources by local population in Georgia:
  • Assess the legal basis of the usage of energy sources, focusing mainly on firewood;
  • Analyse existing information (including data, statistics, reports) and calculate the real need on energy for local population;
  • Analyse existing information (including data, statistics, reports) related to actual consumption of energy sources, with special focus on firewood and its share in total energy consumption;
  • Conduct an assessment on available alternative energy sources in Georgia for the purposes of assessing possibility of such state subsidies, that would result in decreased firewood consumption and reducing the pressure on forest;
  • Provide options related to subsidizing the energy consumption with the usage of alternative sources of energy, such as usage of renewables, forest plantations, briquettes;
  • Identify the best international practices concerning the supply the rural population with the firewood and its share in total energy consumption;

• Prepare an analytical report on the usage and supply of fuel wood in rural communities in Georgia, for the purposes of development of state strategy to provide rural households with timber resources, including firewood that would be:
  • Containing the suggestions for improvement of the policy and legal basis;
  • Identifying the most appropriate regulations for the effective and rationale use of firewood, including allocation of felling sites and the quotas;
  • Ensuring the protection and maintenance of forest in a condition, in which it can provide the necessary ecosystem functions;
  • Mainstreaming the issue of providing the local population with firewood in the state programs and policies regulating the use and supply of energy sources;

• Carry out the awareness raising campaign among local population on the usage of energy sources:
  • In close cooperation with the IUCN Country Program Coordinator identify the region for carrying out a public awareness campaign;
  • Carry out a roadshow in preselected region, aiming at raising the awareness of locals on the topic;
  • Prepare, print and  disseminate a brochure that will promote reducing the pressure on forests;

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:

• Master or higher degree in environmental economy, forest and natural resource management or other related subject;
• Prior experience in conducting surveys and researches, developing the programs and/or strategies on forest and natural resources management; experience in carrying out the public awareness campaigns on those issues related to environment protection/natural resources management;
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of the current issues of 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, 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 an 18-months period starting January 12, 2015.

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 31st, 2014. Please provide reference No: ADA/GEO/C/CQS/1 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