Historique

As of one of Thailand’s most important biodiversity areas, the Huai Kha Khaeng-Thung Yai Naresuan (HKK-TY) World Heritage Site (WHS) consists of three contiguous protected areas -  the Huai Kha Khang (HKK) Wildlife Sanctuary (HKK); the Thung Yai Naresuan East (TYE) Wildlife Sanctaury; and the Thung Yai Naresuan West (TYW) Wildlife Sanctuary. This Protected Area is considered by the Government of Thailand (GoT) as a critical tiger conservation landscape in Thailand.

The Strengthening Capacity and Incentives for Wildlife Conservation in the Western Forest Complex Project is financially supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project objective is to improve management effectiveness and sustainable financing for Huai Kha Khaeng-Thung Yai Naresuan (HKK-TYN) World Heritage Site. It will also develop and implement mechanisms to incentivise surrounding communities living in an around the HKK-TY to better protect the biodiversity of the World Heritage Site and to adopt more sustainable land use and forestry management practises in the adjacent buffer areas. Finally, it will implement measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the HKK-TY WHS and its buffer areas by reducing the burning of forests and enhancing the protection of forests in order to increase levels of carbon storage.

The core project site is the Huai Kha Khaeng-Thung Yai Naresuan World Heritage Site (HKK-TY WHS). The WHS is comprised of the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (HKK) and two adjoining Wildlife Sanctuaries - Thung Yai Naresuan East (TYE) and Thung Yai Naresuan West (TYW). There are 14 formally recognised enclave villages located within the TYW (7 villages) and TYE (7 villages). These enclave villages, and the 29 villages in a 5km buffer zone to the east of HKK, will be the focus of complementary project interventions.

Project activities in the core area will be directed towards strengthening and scaling up existing best-practice management activities, and developing and testing innovative approaches to enforcement and compliance, in the HKK-TYN WHS. It will strive to reduce the direct threats to tigers and prey, improve effectiveness of wildlife sanctuary management, and enhance the use of data and information to support key management decision-making.

Project activities will also be directed to linking sustainable livelihood development in the enclave and buffer zone villages with specific conservation outcomes, and improving economic links between the buffer zone and enclave villages and the Wildlife Sanctuaries. It will seek to achieve these linkages by promoting incentives (including technical support and grant funding for sustainable livelihood initiatives, ecotourism development and piloting a REDD+ Wildlife Premium carbon project) for community-based sustainable forest management, environmentally friendly agricultural practices, nature-based tourism and education and improved wildlife and habitat protection.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Objective:

This TOR is for a national consultant to develop a detailed concept and business plan for the proposed Thap Salao Wildlife-based Eco-tourism project.

The Thap Salao Ecotourism Project has been proposed by the Uthai Thani Provincial Conservation Foundation and the HKK WS. This community-based tourism project is premised on improving the livelihoods of five villages in the HKK buffer area. In concept, it seeks to develop a tourism product that physically links a large indigenous forest, the Thap Salao reservoir, the HKK Breeding Centre and the HKK Extension and Development for Conservation Centre – all located in the HKK buffer zone – with the HKK (and HKK-TY WHS) headquarters located within the HKK Wildlife Sanctuary, via a 9km nature trail (between Ban Bung Charoen village and the HKK headquarters).

The assignment  is also to assist the project partners (notably relevant government agencies, HKK WS, local foundation and the communities of the five villages) in developing a conceptual and business plan which will ensure that the project is economically viable and will generate tangible benefits to the targeted village beneficiaries.

Scope of Work:

The Ecotourism Technical Expert will carry out the following tasks:

Conceptual Feasibility and Adoption of the Wildlife-based Ecotourism

• Assess the current situation at and around Tap Salao Reservoir – benefits V.S. barriers in developing an eco-tourism project;
• Synthesize value chains of ecosystem services generated by conservation-oriented activities compared to impacts from existing economic activities and livelihoods ;
• Analyze policy framework and beneficial factors to incentivize relevant stakeholders to foster the concept of wildlife-based eco-tourism as a niche of eco-tourism;
• Scenario projection on the benefits and mitigation of impacts to wildlife and habitat protection from wildlife-based ecotourism activities;
• Conduct stakeholders consultation on the conceptual feasibility and adoption of Tap Salao Wildlife-based Ecotourism.

Business plan for Tap Salao Wildlife-based Ecotourism.

 The business plan will be formulated and implemented in collaboration with community leaders, local government, and other relevant organizations and key stakeholders:

• Identify sources of long-term funding to maintain the ecotourism project - these funding sources may include DNP budget, local government (provincial and sub-district) budget (e.g., PONRE, TAT, RFD, TAO), and contributions from the private sector through CSR;
• Strategize how to utilize the start-up financing and running costs;
• List of requirements for community involvement in community-based ecotourism such as lodging/home-stay;
• Assess training and capacity-building needs for local residents (e.g. nature guides, business skills, etc.);
• Identify infrastructural and equipment requirements; and
• Design governance and benefit-sharing arrangements.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

The consultant is expected to deliver followings:

Please refer to the details as outlined in the section on the scope of work :

• Detailed Work Plan and Approach – Approximate Date of Submission: One week after contract signing;
• Situation analysis, policy framework and stakeholders assessment - Baseline of the current situation, beneficial policy framework, stakeholders roles and feedback on the concept of wildlife-based ecotourism; (approximate date of submission: 31 October, 2016)
• Scenario projection of value chains from wildlife-based ecotourism - value chains that reflects livelihoods improvement and better wildlife habitat protection compared to existing economic activities; (approximate date of submission: 31 October, 2016)
• Report on conceptual feasibility and adoption of Tap Salao Wildlife-based Ecotourism - Conclusion on stakeholders readiness and beneficial factors to the concept idea, including methodology and procedural approach for demonstration; (approximate date of submission: 1 December, 2016)
• Matrix of long term funding channels and organizations - Feedback from survey, dialogues, on willingness to support, including commitment of official budgeting channels in case of government and private business; (approximate date of submission: 31 March, 2017)
• Structural and administrative design for community-based ecotourism -                Identification of champions who are ready to demonstrate and function as the Tap Salao Community-based Wildlife Conservation Tour; (approximate date of submission: 31 March, 2017)
• Curriculum for Wildlife-based Ecotourism - tailor-made curriculum in response to multi-stakeholders interest and capacity needs; (approximate date of submission: 31 March, 2017)
• Governance and Benefit sharing System for  the Tap Salao Wildlife-based Ecotourism - Consultation and agreement of participating stakeholders on the Tap Salao Wildlife-based Ecotourism governance and benefit sharing system; (approximate date of submission: 29 July, 2017)
• Business Plan and budgeting for demonstration - Logical framework for the demonstration of Tap Salao Wildlife-based Ecotourism comprising expected outputs, acticvities, inputs, and budget with timeframe and milestones for monitoring and reporting the results. (approximate date of submission: 31 October, 2017)

Institutional Arrangement:

The consultant will report to the Programme Specialist of the IGSD Unit, UNDP Thailand and UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Specialist on Biodiversity, UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub in Bangkok.

Contract Duration:  The consultant will work for 150 working days during the period from 20 June 2016 – 31 December 2017.    

Duty Station: Home based with travel to project sites in Uthai Thani (up to 10 trips, 3 days per trip).

Compétences

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Comprehensiveness knowledge of Ecotourism;
• Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and internet in conducting research;
• Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills;
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Positive, constructive attitude to work;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Ecotourism Technical Expert (Output 2.2) shall have the following qualifications:

Education:

• Holding an advanced degree in natural resources management, natural sciences, environment and development and/or related fields.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of experience in conducting feasibility study on natural resources and environment related subjects.
• At least 5 years of experience in the assignment with international cooperation projects
• Having good analytical and presentation skills.
• Familiarity with working in a multicultural environment.

Language requirements:

• Good command of English, both spoken and written.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on Lump Sum Amount.

The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages:

• Deliverable 1/ Detailed Work Plan and Approach: 5% of total contract amount;
• Deliverable 2 and 3/ Situation analysis, policy framework and stakeholders assessment and Scenario projection of value chains from wildlife-based ecotourism: 20% of total contract amount;
• Deliverable 4 / Report on conceptual feasibility and adoption of Tap Salao Wildlife-based Ecotourism: 10% of total contract amount;
• Deliverable 5 and 6 / Matrix of long term funding channels and organizations and Structural and administrative design for community-based ecotourism: 10% of total contract amount;
• Deliverable 7/ Curriculum for Wildlife-based Ecotourism : 10% of total contract amount;
• Deliverable 8/ Governance and Benefit sharing System for  the Tap Salao Wildlife-based Ecotourism: 10% of total contract amount;
• Deliverable 9/ Business Plan and budgeting for demonstration: 35% of total contract amount.

All deliverables are subject to the approval of Programme Specialist of the IGSD Unit, UNDP Thailand and UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Specialist on Biodiversity, UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub in Bangkok.

In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Evaluation Method and Criteria:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

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

• responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
• having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (70%) and financial criteria (30%) specific to the solicitation.

Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 500 points) :

• Criteria 1 : Experience related to services - max 200 points;
• Criteria 2 : Motivational statement - max 100 points;
• Criteria 3 : Expertise and availability - max 200 points.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 350 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Documentation required

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications, experience and sustainability to undertake the assignment. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document:

• Personal CV and P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
• Financial proposal, as per template provided in Annex 2;
• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in Annex 3;
• Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.

Please click on the below link in order to download all required documents.

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=29956

For any clarification regarding this assignment please write to brh.gef.procurement@undp.org