Background

The Gambia Government has received funding from the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) Least Developed Countries Fund (LDC-F) and the UNDP for the project Enhancing Resilience of Vulnerable Coastal Areas and Communities to Climate Change.The project is being executed by the National Environment Agency, on behalf of The Gambia Government, in partnership with the UNDP Country Office (CO), which is the GEF’s Implementing Agency for the Project. The ultimate objective of the project is to reduce the Gambia’s vulnerability to climate change and associated risks through, among others, institutional strengthening and capacity development.

The purpose of this activity, a component of outcome II, is to establish the root cause of mangrove die-back in the key mangrove ecosystems along the Bintang bolon tributary of the River Gambia, the Tanbi Wetland Complex and mouth of the River Gambia and, not the least, the Niumi National Park.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the National Project Coordinator of the project, the consultant is assigned all of the following responsibilities:
  • Review and produce a review report on all previous studies on the die-back of mangroves in the Gambia for guiding this study and highlighting its additionality;
  • Identify all the mangrove species present in the areas identified for the study;
  • Produce a report that details the ecology of each of the mangrove species identified above; this detail should cover the following basic information among others:
  • The climatic envelopes for each species; in other words the range of weather conditions the species thrive under;
  • Soil conditions – the physical and chemical conditions under which each species thrives;
  • Water conditions – the physical and chemical properties of water under which each thrives;
  • Hydrologic conditions – mainly the tidal and wave conditions under which each species thrives;
  • Additional information – any other information, especially on pollution and general environmental conditions that is vital for the flourishing of mangroves.
  • For each species, conduct a test/study on each element of the report above for the purpose of determining the latter’s current suitability for the plants; in other words for each species:
  • Determine whether the current ranges of average temperature, rainfall and relative humidity are suitable for their optimum survival;
  • Determine whether the current physical and chemical conditions of the soil are suitable for the mangroves;
  • Determine whether the current physical and chemical conditions of the water are suitable for the mangroves;
  • Determine whether the average tidal ranges and wave conditions are suitable for the mangroves;
  • Provide a detail description of other socio-economic factors that are present at the sites and could have bearing on the favourable conditions for the mangroves;
  • While the focus of the all above tests should be points of die-back, they should as well be spread out in each site in view of systems’ interconnectedness.
  • Provide the following conclusions for each study site based on the determinations in “4” above:
  • Mangrove species most affected by the die-back;
  • The most likely cause of the die-back;
  • The other possible causes of the die-back;
  • In collaboration with relevant authorities such Department of Parks & Wildlife Management, identify an area of healthy-growing mangroves and assess the conditions thereto in order to help in the definition of solutions to the die-back problem;
  • Provide concrete and practical solutions to the conclusions drawn in “5 (ii) and 5(iii) above;
  • In addition to solutions in “6” above, describe the practicality of mangrove restoration at each site giving definite locations that can be restored and which mangrove species to be used;
  • Provide a graphic/illustrated guideline for the mangrove restoration process detailing, among others:
  • Field preparation;
  • Nursery preparation and/or cultivar collection and treatment before planting, whichever is applicable;
  • Best-practice in mangrove restoration – i.e. the actual planting;
  • List of material needs for the restoration;
  • Any other expert opinion on successful mangrove restoration;
  • Propose measures for community mobilisation for the restoration process and provide an illustrated training manual for training of communities on mangrove planting and monitoring of the health of mangroves;
  • Present the outputs of “1” to “8” before the technical advisory team of the project and a selection of experts for possible enhancement;
  • Conduct a day’s community level sensitisation workshop for each of Bintang village & surroundings, Dasilami village, communities bordering Tanbi Wetland Complex and communities bordering the Niumi National Park.

Competencies

  • Excellent team player with good interpersonal skills;
  • Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
  • Ability to accommodate additional demands at short notice;
  • Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment;
  • Strong strategic planning, results-based management and reporting capabilities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Postgraduate training/specialization in Mangrove Ecology.
Experience:
  • At least 3 years experience in  soil chemistry,  water quality analysis, metrology and communmity development.
  • The person should also seek the collaboration of local NGOs KONFORA and WABSA that have extensive mangrove restoration work in the Gambia. All chemical analysis should be performed in-country; therefore, information about labs for the said analyses should be provided
Language:
  • Excellent communication skills in the English language required.