Consultant - Marine Biodiversity and Support of Coastal Fisheries in the Coral Triangle

Project term: December 2021 – June 2022

Introduction

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) recently started a new 6-year project with funding from KfW-EU: Marine Biodiversity and Support of Coastal Fisheries in the Coral Triangle. The overall goal of this project is to contribute to the conservation of the Coral Triangle’s biologically diverse marine ecosystems and important fisheries through the creation and improvement of selected marine protected areas and MPA networks, improved management of some commercially and ecologically important, particularly small-scale, fisheries, improved management linked to selected terrestrial ecosystems, underpinned by sustainable finance models.

Scope of Work

The Philippines Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework Consultant will develop the supplementary materials specifically for the Philippines project sites and activities, that will be appended to the original project ESMF and the associated PF and IPPF. In addition, in coordination with WCS, the Consultant will ensure project implementation teams are well-trained with the necessary skills and understanding to implement respective E&S requirements resulting from the E&S frameworks. The Consultant will work closely with and be managed by WCS Associate Director Marine Asia/Pacific and the WCS SEAA Regional Director, and will work closely with WCS staff, in-country partners and consultants, and others as necessary.

Specific tasks and outputs under this consultancy are:

A. Review and update all existing Environmental and Social Frameworks documents for the project, to ensure complete and accurate coverage for the Philippines. This also includes developing criteria for village selection in other localities around the entire Bohol Sea ecosystem; and supporting WCS and partner teams to identify and select a potential set of villages that can become additional project sites, dependent on additional funding.

Outputs:

• 1 updated annex to the project ESMF, including:     

a)       environmental and social risk assessment and safeguards processes for the project and project activities in the Philippines,

b)      village selection criteria, which includes a preliminary list of villages around the entire Bohol Sea to target as well as a summary of data products used.

B. Develop Village Activity Plans (VAPs) for the 7 Siquijor Province project learning sites. This will involve:

a)       Compiling, cross-checking and analysing existing and new field data,

b)      Drafting VAP reports following templates already completed for other project sites in Indonesia and providing technical inputs that incorporate WCS and KfW written feedback, and

c)       Providing technical assistance to local field teams during data collection and stakeholder consultations.

Outputs:

• 1 dataset consisting of field data and analytical products
• 7 VAPs for Siquijor project learning sites

C. Provide training and capacity building on the implementation of respective environmental and social safeguards requirements resulting from the E&S framework and/or plans.

The Consultant will lead on all aspects of a training and capacity building workshop in order to ensure field-based teams have the necessary skills and understanding to implement respective E&S requirements resulting from the E&S frameworks, in coordination with WCS. This will involve:

a)       Identifying training needs, and developing a training schedule and materials (based on and adapted from those previously designed for the Indonesia-based activities).

b)      Conduct at least 1 training workshop for WCS and local partner project team in the Philippines.

Outputs

• 1 training needs assessment, schedule and set of training materials;
• at least 1 training workshop conducted for Philippines-based project team

Schedule and Travel

The Consultant will complete all components of the scope of work approximately 6 months from the start of the Consultancy: approximately from December 2021 to June 2022 (pending start date).

Dependent on travel restrictions, limited local travel to the project sites is expected for this consultancy, with all travel to be approved by supervisor(s). No international travel will be funded through this consultancy. For the avoidance of doubt, your financial proposal should include the cost of all local travel. 

Qualifications

At least 10 years proven experience in preparing environmental baselines and social assessment studies;

Demonstrated experience preparing ESMFs and/or other environment and social risk assessment and process framework instruments;

Expert knowledge of KfW’s Sustainability Guideline (2021), International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards (PS), and/or relevant World Bank Environmental and Social Standards(ESS) and/or sector-specific Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines.

Demonstrated experience working successfully, especially with local communities, in the Philippines;

Demonstrated experience leading and conducting training sessions topics related to environmental and social risk management for technical and non-technical adult audiences;

Excellent English writing and communication skills;

Attention to detail and demonstrated success of successful completion of project deliverables.

Preparation and Submission of Proposals

A proposal shall consist of the following:

a)       Technical Proposal that describes how the applicant will address the Terms of Reference, and including a CV describing qualifications; overall professional experience; experiences related to the assignment; other skills and experiences (e.g. relevant language skills); and access to additional expertise relevant for the assignment.

b)       Financial Proposal; and

c)       Declaration of Undertaking

All proposals will be checked for administrative and financial compliance. Technical proposals and qualifications will be evaluated only if they meet the financial requirements.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Applicants are required to obtain full Application Package (Tender Notice) from Wildlife Conservation Society, by contacting: (between 25 October to 8 November 2021)

Ms. Linda Yong,

Regional Grants Manager SEAA region

Wildlife Conservation Society

lyong@wcs.org  and seaa@wcs.org

Deadline for final proposal submission is 15 November 2021.