Term of Reference

Consultancy Assignment

Facilitate Internal Capacity in Designing and Development of Bankable Nature based Solution (NbS) Projects.

Supervised by: Forest Program Coordinator

Work location: WWF TCO Dar Es Salaam 

Application Deadline: 3rd April 2023 Duration: 30 days

A.            BACKGROUND OF CONSULTANCY ASSIGNMENT/ PROJECT

The World-Wide Fund for Nature Tanzania Country Office is implementing the Trillion Trees Program aiming at unlocking sustainable financing for Forest Landscapes Restoration. Trillion Trees (TT) is a major initiative conceived by Restore Our Planet, a UK-based environmental foundation. A group of three international conservation organizations – the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-UK & Tanzania) and BirdLife International (BLI) will implement the program.

The world’s forests face a host of threats, which often reflect the fact that forests and the services they provide are not adequately valued in decision making and economic policy frameworks. These pressures are well known and many major international initiatives are attempting to respond to them. Rather than competing with these existing global initiatives TT will support them in their aims, with a particular focus on enhancing the scale and effectiveness of implementation. Trillion Trees (TT) is just one part of the very significant global effort that is needed. The TT seeks to promote even higher levels of ambition regarding both outcomes and the mobilization of finance, and a longer-term vision.

Bankable Nature Based Solutions (BNS) are financially viable projects which support the development of more climate resilient and sustainable landscapes and economies. Their bankability enables projects to accelerate scaling and replication, realizing large-scale positive impact on nature and communities. WWF searches and develops projects to protect nature and connect them to investors. The intention is to develop these into profitable projects for all the ones involved. Thus, Bankable Nature Based Solutions are solutions for environmental challenges that at the same time generate an acceptable (risk-adjusted) return on the money invested.

There is a fragmented knowledge of Bankable Nature projects within and outside WWF. NbS/bankable projects is a new problematic concept that needs to be articulated to trainees with practical examples before engaging them in designing and developing BNPs.

B.            OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY

The main focus of the consultancy will be to provide capacity development and training to strengthen knowledge and skillset on innovative writing of bankable proposal for nature conservation. The main objective is to deliver a training course on effective way of developing bankable conservation projects that meets donor requirements.

C.            SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

i.              Identify different sources of funding that could be available donors that would be most feasible to Tanzania and WWF TCO in particular;

ii.             Train participants to gain an understanding of project proposal development explaining the possibilities and challenges of developing conservation projects/programmes to protect biodiversity. Provide examples of successful Conservation Projects;

iii.            Train the participants in searching and accessing funding opportunities and call for proposal from bilateral and multilateral donors on both restricted and unrestricted fund windows;

iv.           Train participants in techniques for fundraising especially engagement with corporate and philanthropists;

v.            Guide participants to develop at least 2 draft project proposal, that identifies at potential donors such as Bilateral and Multilateral, Corporate and DPs that could support environmental conservation initiatives;

vi.           Train participants on negotiation skills and contract management;

vii.          Develop a training manual covering the above aspects with case studies

D.            DELIVERABLES

i.              Training materials guided by principles of adult learners and experiential learning circle.

ii.             Deliver a training to the participants organised by WWF TCO

iii.            Reference materials for participants

iv.           Training Manual on fundraising and proposal development

v.            Draft and Final report containing annexed with training report, identified opportunities and challenges and recommendations for further actions.

E.            METHODOLOGY

The consultant shall develop appropriate training design and course content based on a prior training need assessment that will concurrently be undertaken to understand the capacity/training gaps. Further more the methodology should reflect the training design cycle and propose the training methods and techniques to be used, training programme and agenda vis-à-vis the learning objective, content of the training, learning method, training evaluation and training aid and other requirements and session plans.

F.            EXPECTED OUTPUTS

The consultant shall work along the following deadlines to provide the deliverables as per part D.

G.           CONSULTANCY REQUIREMENTS

The consultant shall have the following competencies and qualifications:

i.              At least a Master’s Degree in Forestry, Natural Resources Management, environmental

Sciences or a similar field ii. At least 15 years’ experience in natural resources management, conservation finance or a similar field, and with experience in conservation project/programme development;

iii.            Have demonstrated technical/scientific expertise relating to conservation programme in the role fundraising and partnership;

iv.           Excellent verbal and communication skills;

v.            Experience in designing and delivering training to conservation managers;

vi.           Have an advanced university degree in forest management, economics, social, environmental studies, natural sciences, development studies, or any related discipline;

vii.          Ability to prepare and present reports in English;

viii.         Demonstrable experiencing on developing bankable conservation projects and programmes;

ix.           Knowledge of best practices and ability to suggest effective appropriate financing options and documenting them.

H. Responsibilities and Logistics WWF Support.

WWF will be responsible for technical oversight of this project including consolidation of applications, evaluation, execution of the assessment and collation of the stakeholders’ views. WWF will provide technical backstopping throughout the assignment process. WWF Forest Program Coordinator will be responsible with consolidating and providing necessary information to the consultant(s).

i.              Access to office premises and use of WWF materials

WWF materials available for the assignment will be provided to the consultant.

ii.             Field visits

Field work: The consultant may undertake a suitable field trip in order to collect high quality information and discussion with stakeholders and/or access their resource repositories or archives.

I.             Budget, funding, and payment terms (optional in some consultancy) FOR INTERNAL USE

WWF provide the funds for this assessment and will be responsible for financial oversight. The consultant will enter into a contract for this assignment with WWF-Tanzania who will manage the contract. The rate per day will be subject to the consultant’s qualifications and experience. The costs for travelling, accommodation and per Diem will be covered by WWF when the consultant delivers the work. The consultant will be paid in two instalments as follows: 1st instalment 25% paid after presentation and approval of the Inception/Work plan; 2nd instalment 50% paid upon submission of the draft evaluation outputs and 3rd Instalment 25% will be paid after submission and approval of the final evaluation outputs as described in the table below.

J. Consultancy Report and other Deliverables (If appropriate)

The consultant is expected to provide WWF Tanzania with a Final Report and other deliverables no later than (15th May, 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 (7 days) after signature of the contract.

ii.             Capacity building and training report

iii.            The Final Report which should contain the following information:

K. Annexes

Guidelines for submission

Interested applicants are required to submit the following:

Technical proposal comprising the following:

i.              Personal CV(s) and three professional references and/or evidence of relevant experience and mentioned competencies

ii.             Brief description (Half a page) of why you consider yourself as the most suitable for the assignment

iii.            The proposal containing the methodology basing on the indication provided by this

ToR (8 page max) iv.        Workplan/activity plan and foreseen timetable

v.            Team composition, if required

vi.           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 cost’s 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.

Complete proposal (including all the above documents) should be submitted to the following email address procurement@wwftz.org, with the subject “Facilitate Internal Capacity in Designing and Development of Bankable Conservation Projects”. For any question with regard to this assignment you can write to akashindye@wwftz.org. 

Deadline for submission is 3rd April 2023 at 1700hrs.  Any late submission shall not be honoured. The result of the selection will be notified.

IMPORTANT!

1.            WWF reserves the right to accept any proposal or reject all proposals. 

2.            Technical evaluation will precede financial considerations. 

3.            Any forms of canvassing will lead to automatic cancellation of the bid in question. 

4.            This is a call for proposal WWF may cancel the process without notice and shall accept no liability whatsoever, arising out of such action. 

5.            WWF is also under no obligation whatsoever to award to the contract to the lowest or any bidder; the decision of the Procurement Committee shall be final.  

L. Evaluation Criteria (FOR INTERNAL USE)

The proposal with the highest total score shall be considered as the winner and recommended for award of contract.