1. BACKGROUND OF CONSULTANCY ASSIGNMENT/ PROJECT
Mara River Catchment (MRC) is known globally for its unique ecosystems, biodiversity, and protected areas. It also supports majority of the profitable economic activities in Tanzania and Kenya through tourism, agriculture and mining (contributing 10-15% to both countries’ GDP). However, economic and community growth as well as more extreme and unpredictable changes to the climate are putting pressure on and degrading freshwater resources. This is particularly true in Tanzania which faces pressure from water users upstream in Kenya, water abstraction, water source degradation and increasing local water use.

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World Wildlife Fund, Inc. (WWF-US) received funding under Cooperative Agreement #72062122CA00004 from USAID/Tanzania to implement the project titled: Mara River Catchment (MRC) in Tanzania, for three years which started in April 2022 and expect to phase out in April 2025. The project is working closely with communities across six districts (i.e. Serengeti, Butiama, Tarime, Rorya, Musoma and Bunda) in Mara Region, Tanzania. The is projected to benefit 20,000 people through water resource conservation, 6,000 people through improved water supply schemes and 368 people enabled to practice more sustainable livelihoods.
The project targeting to address the water security and climate resilience challenges faced by the growing communities in the MRC in Tanzania. The project will tackle local water resource degradation, catchment management challenges in Tanzania and transboundary water management coordination with WWF-Kenya. Lesson learnt from this project shall also be shared to promote catchment conservation approaches across the country.

WWF is working on the development of a Payment for Ecosystem Service (PES) program in MRC. This voluntary PES scheme will be employed between the ecosystem service buyers to be identified and the upstream communities. Downstream communities and other beneficiaries or users of the ecosystem services will purchase the services of improved water flows as provided by upstream communities on the basis of inputs delivered in the form of the protection of natural vegetation including forests and woodlands in the catchment area. The focus of this project is on riverbank management, reforestation through natural regeneration and planting indigenous trees in targeted areas as well as sustainable agricultural practices that conserve soils and proper current and future water use practices. The PES approach will be used in a range of contexts, including watershed management, forest conservation and biodiversity protection. This will help to align economic incentives with environmental conservation creating a win-win situation for both the environment and the economy and hence support the MRC project Intermediate result 3 (Recommendations are developed for water user financing mechanisms that enhance catchment conservation for the MRC in Tanzania).

2. OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY
Based on the lesson and experiences of two PES projects in Uluguru (Wami Ruvu) and East Usambara (Zigi Pangani), the project is planning to support the adoption and establishment of appropriate financial options/ model along MRC. Specific Objectives of this consultancy is:
To conduct hydro-ecological, and socio-economic study in the identified watershed to identify appropriate/ suitable water resource conservation ecosystem services model in Mara catchment that will enhance the catchment conservation including the wetlands with no data. The study aims to provide status of targeted watershed in term of conservation challenges/gaps and opportunities for conservation, that will be potential to influence community around the catchment to participate in protecting/ conserving their water sources. However, water users/beneficiaries/partners also will know the opportunities for water sources conservation and the costs for conservation.

Therefore, WWF Tanzania is seeking an evaluation expert;
a. To conduct assessment (hydro-ecological, and socio-economic) through field observation, literature review, data collection, and meetings in the proposed sub catchment in order to collect relevant primary data and come up with appropriate ecosystem services moder for the catchment conservation.
b. To conduct stakeholder meeting with purpose of;
• Creating awareness on identified and proposed appropriate PES models to stakeholders in the project area
• To present the findings on the identified and proposed PES models to the stakeholders in order to collect recommendations on the preferred model for adoption

3. SCOPE OF WORK/ MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY
The assignment will cover the upstream community in the 3 watersheds/ecosystem, focusing on water flows assessment covering the aspect of the aspect of quality and quantity of water, as well as the social economic status of these communities.

4. METHODOLOGY
Consultations with important stakeholders through FGD’s in the target catchment, field visits and literature reviews will be some of the methodology, however the consultant is expected to come up with a more detailed and elaborate methodology to undertake this assignment, however may include;
• Consult community through meetings and workshop where the information related to PES will be collected and analyzed, these are including watershed services, challenges and how do they are adopted.
• Full assessment using participatory approach and community engagement through open discussion, questions and answers.
• Courtesy call to authorities like district council office, RUWASA, UWASA and other stakeholders including proposed buyers
• The information will be gathered/collected, analyzed and report be written before shared to the stakeholders

5. OUTPUTS OF THE ASSIGNMENT
i. Inception report detailing the understanding of the assignment and the methodology
ii. Draft report of the assignment (Hydro-ecological and socio-economic survey)
iii. Stakeholder consultation workshop report with inputs/ recommendation from stakeholders
iv. Final consultant report with recommended PES model in the catchment and way forward

6. DELIVERABLE OF PERFORMANCE AND TIME SCHEDULE

No.	Activity (Major Consultancy Task/Output)	Dates or Deadline	Who is Responsible            ?
1.	Conduct hydro-ecological in Tigithe subcatchments, Manchira, and Mara Wetland and
	socio-economic study in Tigithe and Manchira watersheds/sub-catchments including field work interventions	5 Weeks	Consultant
2.	Conduct workshop meeting with stakeholders
	to share report and discuss on financial model	1 Week	Consultant

7. Required Profile of the Consultancy:
• Postgraduate degree (Masters level or higher) in environmental sciences/ management, integrated water resources management, water resource engineering, ecology as well as in economic valuation or other related fields combined with specialized experience in similar assignments.
• Minimum ten (10) years’ working experience in hydrological and economic valuation as it relates to different aspects of environment and natural resource management related to ecology.
• Proven experience in ecosystem service assessment.
• Previous working experiences with GIS data and remote sensing images.
• Excellent English and technical communication skills, especially writing and reporting.

8. RESPONSIBILITIES AND LOGISTICS
i. WWF Support.
MRC Project Executant will be responsible for consolidating and providing the consultant with the necessary support from WWF Tanzania, including logistical support.

ii. Access to Office Premises and Use of WWF Materials
WWF office will support the financial issues, Vehicle, stationary (printing and photocopy), technical staff and coordinating the activity including invitation of LGAs and other stakeholders. However, the consultant should provide reports for references and technical assistance. Moreover, the materials related to hydro-ecological assessment will be under consultant office. iii. Field Visits
The field visit will be organized and supported by WWF Bunda office including support of feedbacks meetings.

9. CONSULTANCY REPORT AND OTHER DELIVERABLES
The consultant is expected to provide WWF Tanzania with a Final Report and other deliverables no later than 15th November, 2023.
It is expected that the reports and deliverables will cover inter-alia the following:
i. Inception report: a report defining approaches and tools, timeline and work plan to be used in conducting the assignment, shall be due (29th September 2023) after signature of the contract.
ii. The Final Report which should contain the following information:

10. GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION
Interested applicants are required to submit the following:
Technical Proposal comprising of the following:
• Personal CV(s) and three professional references and/or evidence of relevant experience and mentioned competencies
• Brief description (Half a page) of why you consider yourself as the most suitable for the assignment
• The proposal containing the methodology basing on the indication provided by this ToR (5 page max)
• Workplan/activity plan and foreseen timetable
• Team composition,
• Information on any representative of your team, or any member of your team that may give rise to a direct or indirect conflict of interest including identifying other current contractual works being conducted for WWF and affiliations with WWF Staff.

Financial Proposal indicating the all-inclusive contract value in currency (quotes should be in TZS for local applicants), supported by the respective costs’ breakdown.
• The candidate is required to indicate in the financial offer any variation of the daily rate based on the service provided.
• Foreseen Travel, accommodation and subsistence costs are to be listed separately. These will be reimbursed upon presentation of the respective invoices and proof of payment.

WWF TCO invites applications from competent, qualified and experienced consultant(s) through the following address:
Secretary, Procurement Committee;
WWF Tanzania; White Star Street, Off Mwai Kibaki Road Plot 252, Mikocheni, P. O. Box
63117, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Tel: +255 22 277 5346/277 2455/270 0077 Fax: +255 22 277 5535; website. wwf.or.tz

With the subject line " HYDROLOGICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STUDY FOR PES IN MRC," applicants should send their technical and financial proposals electronically to the procurement email address: procurement@wwftz.org

For any question with regard to this assignment you can write to dmbaga@wwftz.org, jnurdine@wwftz.org and eisrael@wwftz.org 

Deadline for submission is Thursday, 14th September 2023, by or before 0930hrs

WWF TCO reserves the right to accept or reject any or all the applications without assigning any reason thereof. Late application shall not be accepted for evaluation irrespective of the circumstance.

WWF has a principle of zero-tolerance to fraud and corruption, if you encounter such incident, report by sending an email to fcci@wwftz.org