Assignment Title: Consulting Firm Assignment for “Mapping degraded landscapes and priority functionality restoration sites in forest-dependent communities”

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has secured financing from the World Bank toward the cost of implementing phase II of the ENPI East FLEG II Program, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The services include BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Using results from the Forest Dependency studies; information provided by IUCN CPCs that is obtained from the activity named in Section 8 of this document; and from sources such as, but not limited to, ESA CCI Global Land Cover Dataset; Landsat images; Hansen Forest Loss Data; and Ecological Land Units the consulting firm will create GIS maps for each of the Forest Dependency communities in each of the 7 countries (using a 10 km radius with the FD community at the center). The GIS layers may vary from community to community but the following core GIS layers will be required:
  • Land Cover and land use ; Stratified mapping (dividing up the land into various compartments) based on input from the Activity in Section 8 that will help identify natural boundaries or other features that differentiate land parcels; Population Density; Forest zoning (different forest types and uses – for example differentiate between plantations and natural forest stands); Road systems; Elevation, topography; Buffer zone forests; Protected areas; Degraded forested land; Prioritized mapping scheme for restoring functionality (information for this will be provided by CPCs and field consultants)
• Prepare a narrative, analytical report to accompany the GIS maps that will summarize the process the FD community stakeholder groups used (what criteria) to prioritize the forested tracts (including protected areas and buffer zones) for functionality restoration potential. The information to prepare this report will come from the 8 country consultants, IUCN CPS and Program Coordinator. The report will be 35-50 pages plus the maps and will be provided in color electronic version.

This is a 4 month assignment with the possibility of extension provided the consultant successfully implements the assignment and complies with the terms of his/her contract.

The position requires an individual with proven experience in English language editing and proof reading and some knowledge of forest and natural resource management issues. Consultant should have at least 5 years of relevant professional experience. The following specific qualifications must be met:

• Firm that could assign personnel with 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 Eastern Europe and Russia 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 Russian 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 IUCN now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing their services. Interested consultants must provide their CVs with information demonstrating that they are qualified to perform the Services.

A consultant will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers (January 2011). The selection and exact start date for this position depends on approvals from World Bank. The assigment start date is August 1, 2016, but could be delayed pending required approvals.

Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours 09:00 to 17:00 local time.

CVs must be delivered to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by July 31, 2016.

Attn: Richard Aishton, Program Coordinator - ENPI FLEG
IUCN
Rue Mauverney 28
1196 Gland Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 999 0316
Fax: +44 22 999 0002
E-mail: Richard.aishton@iucn.org