Call for Expression of Interest - "Prepare five-year Management Plan"

 

Bird Conservation Nepal is seeking consultancy services as part of the project: ‘Integrating vulture safe zones with wider landscape - level conservation to save Critically Endangered vultures in Nepal’

 

Project Background

 

Established in 1982, Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) is the project lead organisation in Nepal, focusing on the conservation of birds, their habitats and sites. BCN seeks to promote interest in birds among the general public, encourage research on birds and identify major threats to birds' continued survival. Vultures exhibit crucial ecological role and are regarded askey species for ecosystem services. They fed on carcass and play an important part of terrestrial food chain. About 23 species of vultures are known and nine of them are found in Nepal. Among them five are critically endangered species. It was reported that more than 90% of population of white-rumped vulture and slender-billed vulture are declining in lowlands of Nepal. The major cause behind this rampant decline is ascribed to diclofenac, a veterinary drug that causes renal failure in birds. Diclofenac is an anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug used to treat pain and wounds of livestock in Nepal. A ban on the production and importation of diclofenac started in Nepal in 2006; since then, use of the drug has declined by 90% but its complete eradication from the scavenger food chain has not yet been achieved.

 

Community-managed Vulture Safe Feeding Site (VSFS) were first established in 2007 in Nawalparasi district of Terai. To advocate enforcement of diclofenac ban and maintain a captive population of vultures, Bird Conservation Nepal initiated a pioneer idea of community engagement to establish a Vulture Safe Zone (VSZ) since 2009.

 

The Hariyo Ban Program, funded by USAID and implemented by a consortium of WWF, CARE, NTNC and FECOFUN with WWF as the lead, aims to reduce adverse impacts of climate change and threats to biodiversity in Nepal.  It works on three core interwoven components –biodiversity conservation, sustainable landscapes and climate change adaptation – with livelihoods, gender and social inclusion being important cross cutting themes. The Hariyo Ban Program is being implemented in two priority landscapes of Nepal with high biodiversity – Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) and Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape (CHAL), complemented by policy support at the national level.

 

VSZs have expanded to include all of western Nepal and select districts in the east and the TAL. However, Bara, Parsa and Rautahat districts of TAL Nepal have not yet been declared VSZs, which is hindering landscape-level vulture conservation in Nepal; therefore this subaward seeks to incorporate these districts to render the entire TAL diclofenac-free. The subaward aims to develop landscape-level vulture conservation, enhance community engagement in vulture conservation, and strengthen linkages between local communities and the private sector to ensure the long-term sustainability of vulture conservation efforts in Nepal. In the technical support of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) will be carrying out this activity. This subaward will be the milestone for the restoration of Nepal’s vulture population and helps to declare the entire TAL area diclofenac free zone. 

 

Scope of consultancy

 

• The consultant is expected to work under the supervision of BCN, who is responsible for monitoring the progress of project activities.

 

• The purpose of this consultancy is to prepare a five-year management plan of five Vulture Safe Feeding Sites (VSFS) within TAL area. The consultant will conduct national, district and community-level consultations, and s/he will design and develop outline/framework of the management plan based on literature review and ongoing practices. S/he will also conduct national, district and community-level consultations.

 

• Visit each VSFS and coordinate consultative meeting with VSFS management committees and Community Forest User Committees. The meeting will be arranged by BCN.

 

• Identify the opportunities and approaches for vulture conservation and VSFS management in a sustainable way.

 

• Build linkage of VSFS with local level industries. Identify, document and analyse the  difficulties/risk in VSFS management and community involvement.

 

• Engage partners and relevant stakeholders in in interaction meeting of respective VSFS.

 

• Provide recommendations for the sustainable management of the VSFS, linking with ecotourism promotion.

 

 

 

Expected Outputs

 

The main output of the consultancy will be the preparation of five-year management plans for five vulture safe feeding site (VSFS) of TAL area. Interim outputs will include:

 

• Description of site, species and VSFS components (Cow Rescue Center, Feeding Site, View House and Information Center).

 

• Overview and detailed instructions on by-product management and mechanism for VSFS sustainability.

 

• Detail community and local stakeholders’ roles in VSFS and habitat management.

 

 

 

Study Duration

 

The duration of the study will be from 1^st of August 2015 to 15^th December 2015.

 

 

 

Required Qualification/Experience

 

The consultant should have a Master’s or higher degree related to environmental management, natural resource economics, or ecology with specialization in conservation issues and challenges. The consultant should have experience and be able to work effectively with limited supervision.

 

Have previous experience working in TAL area, species conservation issues

 

Have experience conducting socio-economic surveys, carrying out field consultations, multi-stakeholder discussions and interviews and be able to build a good rapport with local communities within a short time.

 

Have previous experiences as the lead or team member in formulating management plans (for example of a conservation area or at the landscape or watershed level)

 

Cost Estimate and Payment

 

The total estimated remuneration of the consultant is NRs 1, 57,000, which will be made in two installments. First installment of 60% will be made after submission of draft report and 40% final installment payment after completing the assignment and come up with final report.

 

Final installment payment will be made after the Technical clearance of the outputs/report from the BCN staff, who is responsible for this project.

 

 

 

Application

 

Interested individual consultants/consulting firms should submit their application to hrd@birdlifenepal.org or at the office of BCN, Lazimpat, Kathmandu no later than 31 July 2015.  Applicant should also provide CV along with the application.