Consultant Needed! | International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP)International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP)

IGCP seeks to hire a consultant to make a short policy brief using the available information on the contribution and effectiveness of different community livelihood support strategies in reducing threat to mountain gorillas and their habitat!

About International Gorilla Conservation Programme

The International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) is a unique coalition of international conservation organizations, Conservation International (CI), Fauna & Flora International (FFI), and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). IGCP was formed in 1991 to address the long-term conservation of the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) and its regional Afromontane Forest habitat in the Virunga Bwindi Landscape. The aim was to work together as a single gorilla conservation programme to expand and consolidate the successes of the Mountain Gorilla Project and other initiatives at a regional level.

The programme operates in the three countries that share the habitat of the mountain gorillas; Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda, and works in close partnership with the Protected Area Authorities of the three countries (Institute Congolese pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) in DRC; Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in Rwanda; and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in Uganda) and the umbrella mechanism for transboundary collaboration through the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC).

Scope of the work

Alternative livelihoods projects are a common conservation intervention. They are designed to conserve biodiversity by substituting one livelihood activity that is causing harm to a species or habitat (such as bushmeat hunting or firewood collection) with another activity, or resource, that will cause less harm (Roe et al., 2015)[1].

Since its creation in 1991, IGCP has been supporting local communities around mountain gorilla parks (in DRC, Rwanda and Uganda) with a goal to improve their livelihoods and also as incentive to support gorilla conservation. Several livelihood projects have been implemented and a number of conservation enterprises have been created since then. IGCP has been implementing this work through several Community Based Organizations (CBOs) identified as drivers/agents of change in terms of mobilizing other community members towards the conservation of mountain gorilla.

It is important to note that community conservation work has not been done in isolation. Besides Protected Area Managements’ community support through their community conservation work and tourism revenue sharing programs in all 3 countries, there are a number of conservation and development NGOs that contributed and invested big resources towards both poverty alleviation and livelihoods improvement of communities around mountain gorilla parks and providing incentives for communities to increase their support to mountain gorilla conservation.

While several literature and evidence on ground showed that piece-meal funding approach has not created significant and lasting impacts on target communities, and in recognition of limited capacity of IGCP and other conservation actors to raise enough funds to cover the ever-growing community livelihoods needs; IGCP strategy (2018-2024) proposed a new approach of leveraging funds and more actors for the appropriate livelihood strategies.

The mid-term review of the current IGCP strategy conducted in 2020 recommended to gain a more understanding on effectiveness of different livelihoods projects/approaches/strategies in terms of reducing threats to mountain gorillas from local communities, with a view to (1) identify which strategies/approaches that work better and (2) strengthen partnerships and synergies with more actors and donors to leverage more funds to invest in livelihood strategies that prove to be effective in reducing threats to mountain gorillas and their habitat.

Objective of the assignment

The main objective of this assignment is to conduct a systematic desk review of the existing literature and available secondary data on the effectiveness of different livelihoods interventions/strategies in reducing conservation threats and propose recommendations based on strategies that prove to be more effective and summarized these into a short policy brief.

Specifically, this assignment will:

• Identify different livelihoods interventions/strategies/approaches specific to mountain gorilla conservation in 3 countries (DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda).
• Assess the effectiveness of each strategy in reducing threats to mountain gorilla.
• Identify key issues and challenges for each strategy.
• Propose key practical recommendations about best strategies for supporting community livelihoods improvement.

Methods

This consultancy will involve a desk review of available secondary data and literature including published research papers, journal articles, reports, etc. In addition, the consultant may organize few virtual interviews with key informants if required.

Key deliverables

The following are expected deliverables:

• A short inception report (no more than 5 pages) highlighting how the consultant understands the assignment at hand and a detailed methodology (to be submitted after an inception meeting).
• A draft summary policy brief highlighting key findings and practical recommendations.
• A final summary policy brief highlighting key findings and practical recommendations (No more than 25 pages).

Duration of the assignment

This consultancy should be conducted in twenty (20) working (payable) days spread over a period of two (2) months and starting the day after the signing of the contract.

Payment Modalities

IGCP uses an output-based payment approach for consultancy related work. The payment should be done in 3 instalments as follow:

• First instalment – 20%: After submitting the inception report
• Second instalment – 50%: After submitting the draft summary policy brief highlighting key findings and practical recommendations
• Third instalment – 30%: After submitting the final policy brief

Responsibility and reporting procedure

The consultant will be responsible to IGCP Director for contractual obligations and to IGCP Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for technical matters during the delivery of the assignment.

Profile of the Consultant

In order to submit your proposal, please ensure you have the following:

Competencies

1. Good analytical skills and excellent communication and reporting skills with ability to express ideas clearly, concisely, and effectively, both orally and in writing.
2. Familiarity with the various community development contexts.
3. Ability to work from remote, with personal IT resources such as laptop and internet connection.
4. Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
5. Highest standards of integrity, discretion, and loyalty.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• At least a Masters’ Degree in Conservation Management, Biodiversity/Forestry/Natural Resource Management, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Economics or its equivalent is required.

Experience

• At least five (5) year experience in conducting research in conservation, protected area management, social sciences, rural development, community engagement or related fields.
• Experience in research and policy development, with demonstrated experience in research and analysis in the identified thematic areas required.
• Proven ability to write clear and effective papers and reports, demonstrated through the submitted sample required.
• Being familiar with mountain gorilla conservation, community conservation and livelihood support in communities around mountain gorilla habitat in the regional context (DRC, Rwanda and Uganda) will be considered as an important asset.
• Have access to local and international peer reviewed journals in the areas of conservation, protected area management, social sciences, rural development, and community engagement.

Language

• Fluency in English (oral and written) required.
• Knowledge of French is considered an asset.

How to apply

The application package should contain the following documents:

Technical Proposal should include:

• A Curriculum Vitae indicating all experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignments,
  • Cover letter explaining why they are the most suitable for the work,
  • Proposed methodology and work plan of how he/she intends to conduct the assignment, and
  • A link or writing sample of previous research and reports (max 5 pages).

Financial Proposal should include:

• A financial proposal prepared in USD.
• Financial offer inclusive of all required taxes (for those not registered in Rwanda include Reverse VAT of 18% and withholding tax of 15% for all professional fees as required by Rwandan law).

Interested consultant (s) should submit their applications to procurement@igcp.org. The deadline for receiving applications is 25-May-2022 at 5 pm Central African Time (CAT).