Background

UNDP would like to engage an experienced consultant, who has a good understanding of the issues related to,  community-based natural resource management, Institutional development and strengthening,  Livelihood options in Indian Himalayan ecosystem, value chain assessments, market and credit linkages, and community skills development that  can effectively contribute to the development of a Full Sized Project by designing key project interventions focusing on  the component of community led natural resources management  and conservation, including site-specific governance structures in the proposed project states/ sites, socio-economic and cultural practices and customary laws governing management of these resources. The consultant is also expected to identify good cases, examples and models of natural resource management in the context of livelihood promotion of local communities in selected areas of high range Indian Himalayan Systems which could be adapted/ replicated in the proposed project states.

The proposed project aims to support the Government of India to effectively promote sustainable land and forest management in the alpine pastures and forests in high range Indian Himalayan ecosystems that secures sustainable livelihoods and community resilience and ensures conservation of globally significant biodiversity and threatened species.

The project will engineer a paradigm shift from the current approach of relying solely on small, isolated Protected Areas and other conservation actions to deliver biodiversity conservation including conservation of threatened species to one that takes an integrated approach – that considers PAs as corner stone of biodiversity conservation but whose integrity and effectiveness can only be attained by working at multi-sector and landscape scales, focusing on important areas outside PAs, and also working with sectors and partners outside the conservation sector to effectively reduce threats to globally significant biodiversity. This approach recognizes that the major and emerging threats to biodiversity in the region, including to the survival of threatened species such as the snow leopard, stem from beyond protected areas and also in several cases beyond the conservation sector (and in some cases beyond the region) – these consist of land use change demands for development especially infrastructure development; harmful practices by production sectors and heavy reliance on natural resources by local communities; and emerging threats of illegal wildlife trade and wildlife crime etc. It further recognizes the importance of a landscape approach to the conservation and management of important areas in the Indian Himalayan region, by ensuring that key biodiversity areas, buffer zones, corridors are sustainably managed in tandem with the sustainable use and management of areas that are contingent to these conservation areas or outside of it in the wider landscape. Further, the project recognizes that these landscapes and ecosystems underpin the lives of a large number of local communities and that implementation of a coherent strategy to secure livelihoods and promote alternative livelihood options is an integral part of the solution. It will be implemented over a six year period.

The project will be led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) together with the State Governments of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. In addition the project will engage several relevant government agencies, autonomous agencies and NGOs.

This Project falls under GEF-6 Programme 3 Global Partnership on Wildlife Conservation and Crime Prevention for Sustainable Development, comprising one global coordination project and a series of national child projects. The development of the FSP will thus entail working closely with the global coordination project to ensure synergies in project planning and implementation, as well as to eliminate duplication of efforts.

During the initiation plan period, a number of studies and stakeholder consultations will be undertaken with a view to further developing the approved project concept (see GEF PIF) into a fully formulated project document.  The final output will be a UNDP-GEF project document and GEF CEO endorsement template, with GEF Tracking Tools ready for submission to UNDP and GEF.

• No. of days and work period - 60 days between April 2016 and November 2016;
• Travel Requirement - Missions to the project states, India;
• Assignment Objectives -   Identification of selected target areas, sites and stakeholders, socio-economic assessments in terms of livelihood promotion of local communities in selected areas of high range Indian Himalayan Systems.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will report to the environment team of UNDP Country Office, Regional Technical Advisor in Bangkok, and the Wildlife Division, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. He/she will work closely with other staff in the UNDP Country Office and government counterparts.

The Consultant will carry out a socio-economic survey and stakeholder analysis for selected target areas and sites. He/ she will collect and collate existing data and develop a baseline. Also, he/ she will identify gaps in baselines to commission studies in the future. The assessment will elucidate the socio-economic outcomes (both positive and negative) of project interventions. The socio-economic outcomes should also take into account the possibilities of livelihood promotion of local communities in selected areas of high range Indian Himalayan Systems including identification of key value chains.

For the demonstration landscapes, a detailed assessment of local socio-economic context and local stakeholders will be conducted with particular focus on local and tribal communities. The assessment should define the profile and number of local stakeholders and beneficiaries, and potential benefits which the project can bring to them. The assessment should identify existing institutional structures in the field. He/ she should also identify responsibilities of the local stakeholders pertaining to natural resources. He/ she will undertake capacity gap assessment for all local stakeholders. This will be done using UNDP’s Capacity Development tool and through a consultative process. The Consultant will also in the process explain about the proposed project to the stakeholders and seek their consent and participation in project development, implementation and monitoring.

In the consultation process, a gender analysis should be undertaken to understand clearly the role of men and women in the project in different stages of the project: development implementation, and monitoring, including potential impacts of the project on them. A stakeholder involvement plan and gender mainstreaming plan will be developed by the consultant, specifying community engagement in the 3 project components.

In particular the Consultant will:

• Assess socio-economic status of the various stakeholders living in/ or dependent on the local natural resources in the project states/ sites. Gauge the dependency of key stakeholders on the local natural resources with the help of the Biodiversity Consultant and propose alternate livelihood options for local people to wean them from use of endangered and threatened species and recommend activities for sustained utilization of other natural resources. Also identify the key value chains that are based on natural resources
• Along with the Biodiversity Consultant, determine alternate energy sources and practices to decrease the dependence on local biomass;
• Work closely with the Marketing consultant in identifying a range of products that have the potential of value addition and marketing and help develop skill development training programmes for the key stakeholders;
• Develop a capacity development plan for key stakeholders which will be implemented during the project period to improve livelihood opportunities for them;
• Compile information on the target communities and identify potential opportunities for linking with the project intervention including identification and documentation of local social practices and customary laws related to conservation of natural and biological resources, and good practices of community initiatives on natural resource management from across the project states and outside yet relevant areas;
• Suggest sustainable alternative livelihood options including community managed eco-tourism and including home-stays; and enterprise development based on high value niche Non Timber Forest Products;
• Undertake value chains assessment and suggest market and credit linkages;
• Try to understand the issues of human – animal interface and incorporate communities’ perspectives and suggestions of resolving these matters in the design of the project;
• Work with the Wildlife Trade and Policy Consultant to identify interventions for the project to engage local communities in wildlife trade control; suggest innovative ways of managing wildlife including high value plant species;
• Map all schemes of Govt. of India and the respective state governments for all aspects of community welfare such as health, education, youth, sports, livelihoods, rural development, jobs, skills, SMEs, medicinal plants, agriculture, irrigation, alternate/ renewable energy, etc. and the state of implementation of these programmes in each of the project states;
• Conduct a gender assessment reviewing the role of men and women in the project and its implementation;
• Review potential impacts of the project on each gender group;
• Develop a methodology to gauge community perceptions towards forestry, wildlife and PAs in the target areas, and suggest appropriate community – friendly conservation models for different sites/ corridors;
• Conduct a rapid survey to establish gender disaggregated baselines and targets for the project;
• Develop a comprehensive gender mainstreaming strategy for the project including recommendations on reporting better on gender outcomes of the project;
• Ensure that local communities fully understanding and extend their consent to the project, also ensure their full participation in the project development and their intent and agreement in implementation;
• Work closely with the other consultants and ensure the soundness and appropriateness of the interventions based on the real issues on the ground.

Final Product

Based on the above assessments, the Consultant will develop the following reports that will focus on both national and state level perspectives:

• Community stakeholders and their responsibilities pertaining to natural resources management; potential opportunities for linking with the project intervention;
• Opportunities for alternative livelihood/livelihood enhancement interventions in the target landscapes and a concrete plan for project support;
• Alternate energy sources and practices to decrease dependence on local biomass;
• Value chain assessment report on key identified livelihood options in Natural Resource based farm and non-farm livelihood activities;
• Marketing strategies for local products, identification of new products, and skill development training programmes;
• A capacity development plan for key stakeholders to improve their livelihood opportunities;
• Good practices of community initiatives on natural resource management from across the project states and outside that have the potential to be replicated or adopted with some modifications;
• Communities’ perspectives and suggestions on resolving human-animal interface;
• Schemes of Govt. of India and the respective state governments for all aspects of community welfare;
• A methodology fora survey of community attitudes towards forestry, wildlife and PAs in the target areas;
• Baselines and targets of the projects with gender disaggregation resulting from the survey;
• A comprehensive gender mainstreaming strategy for the project including recommendations on reporting better on gender outcomes of the project;
• A full community participation plan including suggestions for first level and second level collectives with analytic review of appropriate legal form of second level community institutions like Federations/ Livelihood Collectives. 

The key deliverables will need to be cleared by UNDP Regional Technical Advisor (RTA) for Biodiversity and Ecosystem, UNDP India Country Office (CO) and the International Consultant.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent technical writing skills in English.

Core Competencies:

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Post-Graduation in economics, agricultural development, natural sciences, environmental studies or other related fields, preferably PhD.

Experience:

• Minimum 15 years of demonstrable experience on Institutional building and livelihood promotion and financing for the natural resource based livelihood options in the Himalayas;
• Good understanding and experience ofinstitutional development, livelihood promotion, Monitoring and Evaluation of projects in Himalayan region;
• Understanding offlagship programmes ofGovernment related to livelihood promotion;
• Strong research background of project assessment and design especially in Himalayan region;
• Knowledge of PRA tools;
• Good understanding of knowledge management and its application in Himalayan region;
• Substantive knowledge of livelihood opportunities for local communities in the Himalayan States;
• Adequate understanding of gender and equity issues;
• Reasonable understanding of alternate energy sources in the Himalayan states;
• Experience in project design.

Language:

• Written and oral proficiency in English is required;
• Knowledge of Hindi is mandatory. Knowledge of regional languages of the project states will be desirable.

Payment Schedule:

• 20% upon approval of the technical approach and work plan for the assignment;
• 40% upon submission of ideas for intervention in two states related to participatory natural resources management and cases of good practices from the Himalayan states and outside that have the potential to be replicated or adopted with some modifications;
• 20% upon submission of report on opportunities for alternative livelihood/livelihood enhancement intervention in the target landscapes and a concrete plan for project support;
• 20% upon satisfactory completion and acceptance of the deliverables by UNDP RTA, UNDP India CO, and International Consultant and submission of Final Report.

Travel: 

• Consultants would be required to travel to the project states; where appropriate, he/ she should schedule the field missions along with the other Consultants (for relevant parts) as well as with the International Consultant;
• All prior approved travel from New Delhi to the project states and field visits, including accommodation, will be reimbursed as per actuals in line with UNDP rules and regulations upon submission of  supporting documents or will be arranged by UNDP. This does not include personal phone calls and internet usage, laundry, minibar and other personal expenses. These should not be included in the financial proposal;
• UNDP does not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the Consultant wish to travel on a higher class, he/ she should do so using their own resources.

Evaluation Criteria:

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive;
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical Criteria weight – 70 marks:

• Technical Proposal: 35 Marks;
• Relevant Experience:25 Marks;
• Qualification:10 Marks.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical marks) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial Criteria weight – 30 marks.

Documents to be submitted:

• Financial Proposal specifying all-inclusive per day consultancy fee;
• Detailed CV with contact details of three references;
•  A brief (not more than 3 pages) report on the prevailing community-based natural resource management practices and its pressures on the project landscape along with alternate livelihood/ livelihood enhancement interventions. The document should be referenced appropriately and a select bibliography provided with the proposal. 

All the above requested documents should be combined in a single PDF document while uploading, as the system has provision for uploading one attachment only.

Notes:

• Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual;
• Please note proposals without financial proposal will not be considered;
• Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone etc. would not be reimbursed; Tickets will be issued considering the most direct and economical option and Consultants are not eligible for DSA;
• The consultants must bring his/her own computing equipment.

For any clarifications please write to : manikandan.srinivasan@undp.org