COTE D’IVOIRE: SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE, FORESTRY, AND LAND-USE SPECIALIST

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.

• Project: Development of the Sustainable Forest and Landscape Program of Cote d’Ivoire
• Position: Sustainable landscape, forestry, and land-use specialist
• Duty Station: Home based remote work.
• Contract Duration: (01) July 2023 – (30) November 2023
• Number of Work Days Estimated (internal purpose only): 25 days spread
• Consultant Level: Level 2
• Total Fees: 13,750 USD

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Based in Seoul, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is an intergovernmental organization founded to support and promote a model of economic growth known as “green growth”, which targets key aspects of economic performance such as reducing poverty, job creation, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. GGGI works with countries around the world, building capacity and working collaboratively on green growth policies that can impact the lives of millions. The organization partners with countries, multilateral institutions, government agencies and the private sector to help build high-growth economies that are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon-intensive and more resilient. to climate change. GGGI has a diverse portfolio of programs in developing countries around the world. These national programs, as well as global products and services, focus on achieving results through an integrated approach to planning and implementing evidence-based green growth, aligned with the development priorities of the country. The organization also focuses on knowledge development and management activities that establish a solid theoretical and empirical basis for green growth, while providing concrete options and advice to policy makers; as well as creating the conditions for public and private investments in green infrastructure. GGGI’s operations in Côte d’Ivoire officially began in 2020. The process of ratifying the country’s membership was completed in September 2020. The Government’s ambition to anchor its development actions in a logic of growth green has resulted in the greening of its National Development Plan (PND) as well as the revision of these NDCs in 2021. The sustainable landscape, forestry, and land use specialist that GGGI is seeking to hire will be responsible for developing a comprehensive and accurate sustainable forest and landscape analysis report for Côte d’Ivoire. This report will be critical for proposing a project to potential donors and identifying priorities and recommendations for GGGI’s intervention in the sustainable forest sector. The consultant will assess the current state of deforestation and forest degradation in Côte d’Ivoire, including the main drivers of these trends and their impacts on greenhouse gas emissions. They will also evaluate the agriculture sector’s transformation into new production models that don’t rely on deforestation while restoring the forest cover to achieve 20% national forest coverage by 2030. The specialist will identify opportunities to mobilize local and international support to reduce emissions in the forestry sector and halt deforestation. As part of their work, the consultant will ensure that the report aligns with the national REDD+ strategy developed in 2016, the Forest Investment Plan (FIP), Forestry code, and the National Strategy for the Preservation, Rehabilitation, and Extension of Forests (SPREF). Moreover, the consultant will recommend measures to improve forest governance, strengthen forest protection, and restore degraded forest areas while adapting to climate change. The specialist’s expertise in sustainable landscape, forestry, and land use will be instrumental in establishing a sound basis for identifying priorities and recommendations for GGGI’s intervention in the sustainable forest sector in Côte d’Ivoire.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The objective of this assignment is to develop an analysis report on the current landscape, forest, and agroforestry situation in Cote d’Ivoire. The report will provide a baseline assessment prior to launching GGGI intervention as part of the sustainable forest and landscape line of services. The target audience for the report includes Ivorian government as well as potential donors, such as the Korea Forest Services, the European Union, USAID, SIDA, and NORAD. The report will provide an overview of the current forest and landscape situation in the country, encompassing past and present efforts, activities, and actors related to forest restoration or agroforestry projects, as well as the impact of deforestation and climate change on the sustainability of agricultural activities for small producers. By doing so, the report will help identify opportunities and barriers related to the country’s roadmap to ensure sustainable agricultural production to combat poverty and the vulnerability of small producers and conserve the remaining forests and strengthen the resilience. Based on the findings of the report, the project concept note will be made and submitted to potential donors. This will enable the GGGI to secure funding for the project and implement sustainable forest management practices that promote sustainable agriculture, reforestation and forest restoration, payment for ecosystem services, and community participation and empowerment in Cote d’Ivoire.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Global Green Growth Institute requires the services of qualified experts to be an “Sustainable Landscape, Forestry, and Land Use Specialist” (hereafter referred to as “the Consultant”) to support works of development of sustainable forest and landscape program of Cote d’Ivoire that aligns with the NDCs, REDD+, forestry code and SPREF frameworks. The Consultant will lead the research and baseline assessments, national consultations, field visits, providing substantive inputs across all components to support the development of a technically sound program, well-integrated with the government baseline, priorities and partnerships.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks and duties:

1. Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews of Sustainable Landscape, Forestry, and Land Use Practices

• Conduct spatial assessment of forest areas, land use, degraded areas, and emission factors in targeted districts;

• Conduct a review and assessment of the project baseline, including forest cover, biodiversity, carbon stocks, and socio-economic conditions.

• Analyze current policies, programs, and plans of the government at the national and state level on sustainable landscape, forestry, and land use practices.

• Analyses of the baseline programs on forest management and conservation and sustainable management of land and other natural resources.

• Mapping relevant donors involved in forest management and conservation, sustainable management of land, carbon forestry and other natural resources.

• Evaluate state and district budgets for forestry and related schemes and utilization.

• Identify stakeholders, their roles, impacts on the landscape, and their capacity gaps, interests, and needs, including local authorities and resource users.

• Collect and analyze data and information on the state of lands, soil type and characteristics, soil health, biodiversity, carbon stocks, drivers of degradation, and socio-economic context and livelihoods.

• Support the definition and application of site selection criteria related to forest lands and provide inputs to the development of the detailed landscape profile.

• Identify opportunities for private sector participation in site-based interventions and partnerships in forest management and conservation, sustainable management of land, carbon forestry and other natural resources.

• Identify a pipeline of projects and programs issued from stakeholders’ consultation;

• Identify site-specific restoration and management priorities and define appropriate project interventions to reduce forest degradation in the target landscape.

This may include support for climate-resilient agricultural practices, agro-forestry and integrated farming systems, sustainable forest management practices, soil water conservation, crop selection and innovative cropping systems, and practices that improve soil health/soil organic carbon, as well as livelihood improvement opportunities and potential technical opportunities to support scaling up of sustainable forest management practices across forest lands.

2. Consultations and Validation Workshops

• Lead a consultation workshop with relevant stakeholders to present the scope of the mission and define need-based finance in key priority areas;

• Lead an effective and inclusive consultation process that includes a national consultation committee established and other stakeholders as appropriate

• Define the objectives and priority actions aligned with the strategic guidelines of SPREF and the REDD+ mechanism

• Organize meeting with financial Partners to seek their key investment priorities;

• Coordinate with relevant national, state, and district line departments and agencies to understand priorities.

• Support stakeholder analysis and consultations and ensure that they are complete and comprehensive, including through taking part in national and field site consultations, especially with government staff and relevant communities.

• Lead the validation workshop to present, discuss and validate the final draft report

• Oversee all necessary revisions that arise during the workshop; and

• Ensure completion of Validation Workshop Report and submit the validated report to GGGI as per the agreed timetable.

DELIVERABLES AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Expected Deliverables and Payment Milestones

Each deliverable from the consultant is expected to include:

• The final report must be submitted in both hard copies and electronic versions readable by a Microsoft Office application.

• The report should be in English, and the consultant may be required to submit the report in other languages.

• The report should be submitted to the GGGI, and it should include all relevant technical papers, reports, and other documents prepared from the start to the end of the assignment.

• The consultant should provide regular progress reports to the GGGI, including updates on the status of the work, issues encountered, and proposed solutions.

• The consultant should also make themselves available for discussions with the GGGI and other stakeholders during the assignment.

EXPERTISE REQUIRED

Academic Qualifications

Advanced degree (Master degree or higher) in sustainable land management, forestry/forest management, natural resource management, environmental studies, biological sciences, or other relevant studies; Professional Experiences

• Minimum of 10 years of demonstrated relevant professional experience working and/or doing research in sustainable landscape, forestry and land use sector for climate change projects in Cote d’Ivoire

• Demonstrated understanding of political, legal and institutional context for sustainable land management and land use planning in Cote d’Ivoire, including government priorities and plans for supporting implementation of NDC, REDD+, Forest Investment Plan (PIF), Forestry code, and the National Strategy for the Preservation, Rehabilitation, and Extension of Forests (SPREF)

• Fairly good knowledge of international agreements and conventions on climate and sustainable development

• Experience in public consultation, workshop organization and reporting

• Good level of proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) Language Requirements

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and French Functional Competencies

• Analytical skills: Able to synthesize large sets of inputs and data to form coherent outputs

• Ability to effectively and efficiently interact with senior members and stakeholders

• Must be detail-oriented

• Communication skills: Able to communicate clear ideas across a variety of mediums

• Writing and presentation skills: Able to produce high quality reports and presentations

• Team skills: Able to work independently as well as in teams

• Ability to lead and work effectively with people from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the GGGI’s values and ethical standards;

• Promote the vision, mission, and strategic goals of GGGI;

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

• Treats all people fairly without favoritism

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Submissions Cover letter and resume along with supporting documents must be submitted.

Evaluation Criteria

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as Responsive to the requirement. Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation;

• Technical Criteria weight – 70%;

• Financial Criteria weight – 30 %

Technical Criteria (70% of the total evaluation)

Criteria 1: Prior Experience (30%)

 10 years of demonstrated relevant professional experience working and/or doing research in sustainable landscape, forestry and land use sector for climate change projects in Cote d’Ivoire.

Criteria 2: Demonstrated Knowledge on Sustainable Landscape, Forestry, and Land Use (30%)

 Worked on assessing and reviewing to research on past and present activities, policies, institutions, actors with regards to landscape, forestry and land use situation in Cote d’Ivoire.

Criteria 3: Multi-stakeholder coordination (10%)

 Consultant should have demonstrated experience in coordinating and working with multistakeholder groups.

Financial Proposal

Technically qualified consultants will be requested to submit their lump sum rate i.e. consultants who score more than 70% i.e. 49 marks with respect to the above-mentioned evaluation criteria.

Date to close is Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered Application. Cover Letter, and CV must be sent in English. A consortium, or a firm may not be engaged for the individual consultant assignment.

Tagged as: Cote d'Ivoire, GGGI