REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR CONSULTING SERVICE

Ukraine

EUROPEAN NEIGHBORHOOD AND PARTNERSHIP INSTRUMENT EAST COUNTRIES FOREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GOVERNANCE II PROGRAM (ENPI East Countries FLEG II Program)

Grant No.: TF013973

Assignment Title: Improving the regulatory framework for forest management practices in protected areas of Natural Reserve Fund of Ukraine

Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): UA/IC-9

WWF Danube Carpathian Programme (through WWF International) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the regional Program ENPI East Countries FLEG II, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting service (“the Service”) involves improvement of existing legal state of forestry management practices on protected areas by proposing a regulatory guidelines for sustainable forest management practices on the areas and objects of Nature Reserve Fund of Ukraine, which will incorporate best available practices on Sustainable Forestry Management (SFM) within protected areas.

A consultant will be hired to:

• Identify the best internationally recognized forestry practices in IUCN categories of PA’s – highlighting/linking the conservation objective of these categories with the forest management measures (including non-interventions) recommended in order to keep or restore the identified value (species, habitats, landscapes, peat-bogs, etc.).
• Analyze current problems and identify the best forestry practices in NRFU according to the conservation objective of the different categories of PA’s in Ukraine;
• Compare the conservation objectives of the two categorization systems and their respective forest management measure proposed and come-up (develop) the best regulatory guidelines for Ukraine. Additionally, a correspondence between the different categories of PA’s within the two systems can be done – based on the conservation objectives analysis.
• Develop a draft of the guidelines for improved (sustainable) forest management practices in protected areas of Ukraine, based on assessed information and the existing legal framework analysis, including the EU Directives implementation requirements in Ukraine and previously developed appropriate ENPI FLEG II related to increasing of biodiversity protection in forests of Ukraine proposals. At least the following topics should be covered in the guidelines:
  • a description of general sustainable forestry management systems, treatments and techniques oriented at close to nature silviculture that are suitable for practicing on protected areas;
  • Ukrainian Nature Reserve (Conservation) Fund protected areas need to be identified within the IUCN categorization of protected areas and proposed SFM practices should be linked to them (a table format of ranking the NRFU areas according to the level of IUCN protection is suggested);
  • different forestry management techniques in relation to different categories of protection of NRFU areas (and to different zones within the sites) depending on their management objectives (intent), country environmental conditions (zones);
  • typical combination of silvicultural prescriptions to the list of protected species depending on their needs;
  • community and other interested stakeholders engagement into the management decisions;
  • relation of the guidelines to the development of SFM plans (Projects) for the NPFU (objects).
• Publish online and conduct consultations for one month over the developed draft of the guidelines with appropriate national/regional experts, State Forest Resource Agency (SFRAU), Ministry of Environment, protected areas professionals, highly active environmentally oriented NGO's and other relevant stakeholders. Conduct together with WWF a meeting/seminar in Kyiv with specialists/decision makers (including the Ministry of Environment and SFRAU) and NGO’s to present and debate on the developed draft;
• Finalize the Guidelines by including the relevant proposals received during the consultation process.

The Consultant expected deliverables are the Interim and Final reports with stated above information (but may not be limited to), which should be delivered before the end of October 2016, with a time-input of the consultant of about 50 working days.

Additional details are given in the Terms of Reference, attached to this announcement.

WWF Danube Carpathian Programme now invites eligible candidates (the “Consultants”) to submit CVs to indicate their interest in providing the Service. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Service.

The shortlisting criteria are:

• At least 5 years required for consultant's experience in forestry and nature protected areas;
• Forest management and biodiversity conservation studies (university degree); PhD or international education or experience is an advantage;
• Good knowledge of the Ukrainian protected areas and forestry systems and related legislation, especially linked to sustainable forest management techniques.
• Good knowledge of relevant international treaties and agreements including EU nature protection legislation and practice;
• Records and experience on analytical studies or legislative framework for sustainable forest management and protected areas are an advantage;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Good knowledge of Ukrainian and English;
• Computer literacy (Word, Excel, Power Point).

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 and 1.11 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers” dated January 2011 (the “Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the Bank’s policy on conflict of interest and eligibility: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTPROCUREMENT/Resources/278019-1308067833011/Consultant_GLs_English_Final_Jan2011.pdf

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Selection of Individual Consultants method set out in the Consultant Guidelines. The best qualified and experienced candidate shall be selected. Interviews might be held, if deemed necessary. The best qualified consultant will be invited to contract negotiation.

Further information can be obtained and application documents must be delivered (in a written form) to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 21 April 2016.

WWF Danube Carpathian Programme in Ukraine
Attn: Dr Dmytro Karabchuk, Forestry Expert, Country Project Activity Coordinator,
42 Mushaka Street, 79011 Lviv, Ukraine
E-mail: dkarabchuk@wwfdcp.org