07.06.2023

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Selection of Service Providers, Facilitators and NGO to Support Community Mobilization, and Capacity Building for the Implementation of Joint Forest Management Reference No. TRLRP-CS-CQS-09

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

COMMITTEE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN

Tajikistan Resilient Landscape Restoration Project

Assignment Title: Selection of Service Providers, Facilitators and NGO to Support Community Mobilization, and Capacity Building for the Implementation of Joint Forest Management

Reference No. TRLRP-CS-CQS-09

Committee of Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has received financing for the Tajikistan resilient landscape restoration project and intends to use part of these funds for the consulting services to support the CIIP CEP for the implementation of Community Mobilization, and Capacity Building for the Implementation of Joint Forest Management.

The main objective of providing consulting services under this Terms of Reference is to support the CIIP CEP for the implementation of Support Community Mobilization, and Capacity Building for the Implementation of Joint Forest Management, the selected facilitating organization, together with experts of the State Forest Management Entities (SFMEs),to provide technical assistance and organizational support to beneficiaries targeted in the project districts to implement Joint Forest Management under sub-component 2.1. Forest Restoration and Sustainable Forest Management as defined in the Terms of reference.

 

The duration of the assignment approximately will be within the period of 15.06.2023 until 15.05.2024.

Center for implementation of investment project of Committee of Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to express their interest in providing the Services.

The shortlisting criteria are:

Organization with at least 5 years of proven experience and record of success in Tajikistan in the facilitation of large-scale participatory processes and analyses, community development (including gender concerns) and implementation and training support for community-based natural resource management, forestry or related fields. Experience in the pasture management sector will be desirable.

In-depth knowledge of the conditions for the development of the forestry sectors in the Republic of Tajikistan (especially in the project areas), as well as the social and environmental conditions is an advantage.

A mix of expertise among the organization’s personnel to undertake the responsibilities and tasks, with expertise and successful track record in project management, participatory processes, community-based development, forestry, natural resource management, and sustainable land management.

Expertise in social development, including gender issues and with marginal and vulnerable groups in natural resource management is required.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to the Section III, Para 3.14,3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank's” Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, November 2020,” setting forth the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest.

 A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the CQS (Consultant Qualification Selection) method set out in the Procurement Regulation.

Terms of reference and further information can obtained at the address below during working hours from (08.00 a.m. till 5.00 p.m. local time) or can be found at www.tajnature.tj.

Expressions of Interest (including profile of the firm, experience, primary legal documents, etc ) must be prepared in English and Russian languages and must be delivered to the address below by e-mail, by hand by 14.00 p.m. local time on June 21, 2023. 

Center for Implementation of investment projects under the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.

For the attention of: Mr. Junaidzoda Muhibullo, Director

5/1 Shamsi str., Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan

Phone number: +992 2 36 59 72

E-mail: cepciptj@gmail.com    

 

 

REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN

 

THE COMMITTEE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN

 

CENTER FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF INVESTMENT PROJECTS

 

Tajikistan Resilient Landscape Restoration Project

 

Terms of Reference

for the selection of Service Providers, Facilitators and NGO to Support Community Mobilization, and Capacity Building for the Implementation of Joint Forest Management Package reference: TRLRP-CS-CQS-09

1.      Background information

The Republic of Tajikistan received funds from the World Bank (International Development Association) for the implementation of the RESILANDCA +: Project: Tajikistan resilient landscape restoration project (TRLRLP) through the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan (CEP) with the support of the Center for implementation of investment projects established in the framework (CEP CIIP) in cooperation with the recipient the State Forest Management Entities (SFMEs).

The Project will implement field activities in Khatlon Region (Kabadiyan, Shahritus and Nosiri Khusrav), Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) (Vanj, Rushan, Shugnan and Murghab) and Sogd Region (Ayni, Gorny Matcha and Penjikent city).

The project consists of the following components:

Component 1. Strengthen Institutions and Policies, and Regional Collaboration.

This component will finance consulting services, goods and equipment to support the strengthening of national institutional policies and legal frameworks, developing of knowledge and skills of government, communities and other stakeholders for landscape management, and improving the capacities of government partners to operate effectively. Under this component, financing will be provided for activities to support regional collaboration efforts, to contribute to landscape restoration that benefits both Tajikistan and the wider Central Asia region with which the country shares and contributes critical resources and infrastructure.

Component 2. Enhance Resilient Landscapes and Livelihoods.

Overall, this component will finance works, consulting services, non-consulting services, goods, and grants. Both government institutions and communities will implement a range of landscape restoration investments. To support the selection of investments, assistance will be provided for landscape restoration planning. All planning will encourage women’s leadership, will follow citizen engagement mechanisms, and will be based on good practice principles for a landscape approach when reconciling different and often competing land uses.

Sub-component 2.1. Forest Restoration and Sustainable Forest Management.

The FA will lead on the technical aspects of this subcomponent, while the financial and procurement management responsibilities will remain with CEP. This subcomponent includes the following key activities:

-        Conducting National Forest Inventory;

-        Preparation and implementation of forest management plans for eight State Forest Management Entities (SFMEs) and one fruit tree nursery;

-        Carry out afforestation works, fuelwood plantations and natural forest regeneration.

Sub-component 2.2. Integrated Pasture Management and Restoration.

The Pasture Reclamation Trust under the Ministry of Agriculture will lead on technical aspects of this subcomponent, while the financial and procurement management responsibilities will remain with CEP. This subcomponent includes the following key activities:

-        Geobotanical surveys and pasture inventories;

-        Establishment of forage seed demonstration plots;

-        Development and implementation of Pasture/Livestock Management Plans for Pasture User Unions.

Sub-component 2.3. Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation.

This subcomponent will be technically led by State Institution of the Specially Protected Natural Areas (SISPNA), as part of CEP. This sub-component includes the following activities:

-        Preparation and implementation of priority specially protected natural areas management plans for Tajik National Park (TNP) (bordering the Kyrgyz Republic), Zorkul State Nature Reserve in GBAO (bordering Afghanistan), National Yagnob natural park in the Zarafshon river sub-basin (bordering Uzbekistan), and Tigrovaya Balka State Nature Reserve in Khatlon region (bordering Afghanistan).

Sub-component 2.4. Landscape Restoration and Livelihoods.

The project will provide sub-grants to villagers/farmers organized as CIGs to implement small- scale livelihood investments based on existing Village Development Plans and actions. Suitably qualified organizations will be contracted to facilitate formation of CIGs. The CEP IT will provide the technical lead for this subcomponent and oversee the management of sub-grants to beneficiaries. Under this subcomponent, the project will support crop land-based livelihoods—climate-smart crop production practices and technologies—through sub-grants for sub-projects to groups of village residents, farmers that form CIGs.

 

The JFM approach in Tajikistan focuses strongly on the participation of local communities in forest management. This participatory forest management approach enables the local population—either individuals or groups—to become involved in forest management and support the rehabilitation of degraded natural forests over the long term. Earlier JFM approaches in the country focused on contracts with individual households. However, based on experience, the project will look to develop contracts

primarily with FUGs that are overseen by local mahalla committees. The size of FUGs will depend on the location and area suitable for JFM, but it is unlikely to exceed 25 households. FUGs will sign contracts for the land use rights with the SFMEs for a period of 20 years, with the possibility of extension. This arrangement will seek to encourage the FUG members to sustainably manage and rehabilitate their forest plot of usually 1–2 ha. It is anticipated that between 150 and 170 FUGs will be supported across the project districts. In addition to the contract, management and annual plans will serve as tools for forest management planning and monitoring of activities and results. Plans will be developed jointly by the SFMEs and the respective tenant for each individual plot or with the FUG for a consolidated area. Typical tasks to be specified in the annual plan include measures to protect the plot from livestock overgrazing, planting of trees, harvesting, and pruning. Furthermore, the annual plan specifies the harvest shares of the SFMEs and the forest tenant according to a fair sharing principle defined in the contract.

The project is seeking a competent, experienced non-government organization (NGO) to facilitate community mobilization, and preparation and implementation of JFM Plans, and associated sub-projects, as well as to strengthen the capacity of Forest User Groups and their members to undertake their respective project responsibilities.

 

2.      Objectives:

It is expected that within the framework of this ToR, the selected facilitating organization, together with experts of the State Forest Management Entities (SFMEs),to provide technical assistance and organizational support to beneficiaries targeted in the project districts to implement Joint Forest Management under sub-component 2.1. Forest Restoration and Sustainable Forest Management.

3. Scope of work and main tasks:

       i.          Collection and analysis of information on forestry in the project area;

     ii.          Holding meetings with local hukumats, jamoats and mahalla committees to clarify the purpose and objectives of the project;

    iii.          Conducting awareness-raising and explanatory work among the local population for the conduct of JFM and maximise the number of targeted villages agreeing to participate via the Community Agreement;

    iv.          Creation of Forest User Groups users at the level of villages/villages;

      v.          Establishment of a JFM at the leshoz/jamoat level and registration with the relevant authorities;

    vi.          Assistance in the development of sub-projects for newly established JFMs on reforestation and afforestation;

vii.          Conducting a social and environmental assessment and monitoring the implementation of subprojects to maintain JFM;

viii.          Determination of the current state of the forest fund plots for JFM management, including forest resources (fruits, berries, hay, availability of land for forest planting, etc.);

    ix.          Constant field visits with the involvement of forestry workers located on the territory of the forest fund to identify areas for JFM;

      x.          development, printing and distribution of information materials (brochures, bulletins, handouts, etc.);

    xi.          conducting trainings on the maintenance and management of JFM.

xii.          assisting the Forest Agency and SFMEs to identify potential and eligible sites and participating villages for JFM within project locations;

xiii.          review and modify as needed JFM planning and implementation guidelines as given in the project Sub-Grant Operational Manual and JFM Manual (prepared earlier by FA and GIZ) and reach agreement with FA and CEP;

xiv.          training (technical and organizational) to FUGs and their members for the preparation of JFM plans and sub-projects, and provide on-going implementation support (including monitoring) to FUGs and their members. It is anticipated that the contracted organization will need to substantially guide this process initially, but as FUGs become increasingly familiar with the process, they will need less and less support.

 

   xv.          .Natural/assisted regeneration. SFMEs will improve a further 8,000 ha on SFF land through natural/assisted regeneration. SFMEs will carry out activities which will include measures such as fencing to protect regenerating areas, soil improvement, and enrichment planting to increase the quality and number of trees and/or species diversityTurkestan juniper, birch, tugai forests, maple, and rose hips, barberry, horsetail ephedra, ferula, pistachio and etc. During the natural regeneration of forests, in most cases, restrictions are applied and grazing and haymaking are temporarily prohibited.

 

The project will cover the following leshozes:

                                  1. GBAO (Shugnan and Rushanforestries) 94,900ha

                                  2. Vanj forestry 58,800 ha

                                  3. forestry in KuhistonMastchoh 58,500ha

                                  4. Aini forestry 193,500ha

                                  5. Panjakent forestry 108,000ha

                                  6. Shaartuz forestry 22,900ha

                                  7. Kabadiyan forestry 69,000ha

                                  8. Forestry in NosiriKhusrav 20,8ha

 

xvi.          Afforestation and reforestation.

 

Facilitation and technical support will be critical to the success of JFM, particularly for the initial stages, but will still be needed for ongoing support once contracts are in place. There are limited SFME capacities to support JFM, with SFME staff needing training themselves. Therefore, technical assistance will be required for the duration of the project and will be provided through a combination of IT specialists and contracted organizations/firms. An important component of this facilitation support will be to mobilize and organize land users into FUGs to design and manage JFM. Currently, it is estimated that approximately 3,900 ha in the project sites have potential for JFM. Forest management plans will elaborate the detailed arrangements for JFM in each SFME. For example, suitable sites require at least 30 percent tree canopy and these will be identified during the planning process. Species selection will also be further elaborated during planning, but initially forest types are similar to those for direct afforestation by SFMEs. However, JFM species selection will need to take into account opportunities for benefit-sharing and thus economically valuable species and varieties such as nut trees.

xvii.          There is scope to promote fuelwood plantations of fast-growing species on SFF land. The project will support the establishment of about 220 ha of fuelwood plantation through JFM. Fast-growing species such as poplar will be planted to contribute to meeting fuelwood demand.

xviii.          The project will support two types of forest nurseries—those operated by SFMEs and smaller ones at the household level. The project will finance semi-modernization measures for the eight SFMEs in the project areas. This approach is preferred to a smaller number of hub nurseries, given the dispersed geographical coverage of the project and more location-specific ecological requirements of each SFME. Building on the experience of JFM in the country, the project will also promote the development of private backyard nurseries to bolster seedling supply for JFM and afforestation and as an income generation activity for rural households. Funding will support nursery establishment with the purchase of initial inputs, for example, seeds, fencing, and small equipment. Nursery operators will be connected through a specific seedlings supply contract to boost motivation and ensure specific tree species seedlings. SFMEs will monitor household-based nurseries. About 50 nurseries are expected to be established in the project sites

 

4.      Duration of the assignment:

 

The services provided for by the task of performance of this Agreement shall be performed within the period from 15.06.2023 until 15.05.2024 or any other timelines and progress shall be agreed in advance between the PROJECT and Firm. Only after prior agreement between the parties and receipt of consent will the changes take effect.

 

The contract with the selected NGO will be concluded for an initial period of one year with a possible annual extension for an additional three years based on the purpose of the assignment and the final results of the project, depending on the evaluation of the performance of the Center for the Implementation of Investment Projects.

 

5. Procedure for management and coordination

The company will report to the Project Implementation Center of the Committee for Environmental Protection and the Forestry Agency on the progress of the assignment. These TORs are indicative and need to be read in conjunction with the Project Appraisal Document and volumes of the Project Operational Manual particularly the Sub-Grant Operational Manual, and the Environmental and Social Framework that describe the roles and activities of facilitators in mobilizing, organizing and assisting participating groups. The TORs may be modified in agreement with the CEP CIIP and in consultation with the World Bank who will need to provide no-objections to any modifications.

6. Contribution of the Client

CEP CIIP is implementing Agency of the project and will directly participate in the implementation.

         he Forestry Agency under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan will provide the company with relevant project documentation, necessary additional information, documents and other materials necessary to perform services in accordance with this Terms of Reference. The Project Implementation Center, with the assistance of Forestry Agency will facilitate the effective work of the organization within the framework of this TOR, including assistance in working with national and local governments, and other state, non-state and private organizations. Local staff of SFME’s will be allocated to work with the appointed firm/NGO at the level of each village to support forest planning, contract signing and operation and approval of the benefit sharing contracts and annual plans. Local staff and managers of SFME’s will be trained and supported in conduct of JFM. The Project will supply materials, tools and equipment for the field investments and the standard of the work will be ensured by local SFME staff.

 

7. Expected deliverables

Reporting includes both periodic informal reports in the form of presentations or oral discussions, and written reports. The type, structure, form and frequency of reports should be agreed with the Project Implementation Center under the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Forestry Agency under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. Forest restoration by means of JFM 1600 ha. Reports must be made in Tajik and English.

№	name of reports	Submission period from the moment of signing the contract, days
1	Inception report (collection and analysis of information on forestry in the project area, work plan, service delivery approach and methodology, etc.) The inception report will explain the scope of work and deliverables based on the TOR. Suggestion will be made if there is a need to amend the ToR.	30 days after the signing of the contract
2	First interim report -carrying out awareness-raising and explanatory work among the local population for the conduct of JFM - creation of groups of 50 forest users at the level of villages/villages; - development, printing and distribution of information materials (brochures, bulletins, handouts, etc.)	120 days after the signing of the contract
3	Second interim report - establishment of JFM at the jamoat level and registration with the relevant authorities; - assistance in the development of sub-projects for newly established JFMs on reforestation and afforestation	150 days after the signing of the contract
4	Third Interim Report - determination of the current state of forest fund plots for JFM management, including forest resources (fruits, berries, hay, availability of land for forest planting, etc. - conducting trainings on the conduct and management of JFM -forest restoration by means of JFM 1600 ha	320 days after the signing of the contract
5	Forest user selection report and final report	30 days before the end of the contract

 

 

8. Qualification requirements and selection criteria

·        Organization with at least 5 years of proven experience and record of success in Tajikistan in the facilitation of large-scale participatory processes and analyses, community development (including gender concerns) and implementation and training support for community-based natural resource management, forestry or related fields. Experience in the pasture management sector will be desirable.

·        In-depth knowledge of the conditions for the development of the forestry sectors in the Republic of Tajikistan (especially in the project areas), as well as the social and environmental conditions is an advantage.

 

·        A mix of expertise among the organization’s personnel to undertake the responsibilities and tasks, with expertise and successful track record in project management, participatory processes, community-based development, forestry, natural resource management, and sustainable land management.

Expertise in social development, including gender issues and with marginal and vulnerable groups in natural resource management is required.