Lead Consultant to Prepare the Project Document/CEO endorsement package for Ecuador GEF Project

WWF GEF Agency and CI GEF Agency

Applicants must submit Technical Proposals

Project Title: Biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of two priority landscapes in the Ecuadorian Amazon region.

Project Location: Putumayo – Aguarico (North) and Palora - Pastaza (South) landscapes in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Location of Consultancy: consultants base of operations, preferably Ecuador

1. Background

Ecuador as part of their GEF-7 portfolio is developing a Sustainable Forest Management project in the Ecuadorian Amazon, “Biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of two priority landscapes in the Ecuadorian Amazon region,” as part of the Amazon Sustainable Landscapes II Impact Program. The project’s objective is “to improve ecological connectivity, biodiversity conservation and forest friendly productive activities, with an integrated landscape management approach, in the priority landscapes of Putumayo – Aguarico (North) and Palora - Pastaza (South) of the Ecuador Amazon.” It has four components: 1. Integrated management of protected and conservation areas; 2. Forest-friendly actions for productive landscape management; and 3. Enabling conditions for integrated landscape management; and 4. Knowledge, management and coordination. The project amount financed by GEF is $6,423,853.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF-US) and Conservation International (CI) are the co-Implementing Agencies (IA), and the Ministry of Environment (MAE) is the Lead Executing Agency. The Project Working Group (PWG) consists of MAE, the WWF and CI GEF Agencies, and WWF and CI Ecuador Offices.

The PIF was approved during the June 2019 GEF Council meeting. The PIF, project review sheet and STAP review can be found on GEF’s website for project 10259.

2. Scope of Work

The consultant will lead the development of project documents for the Full-sized GEF project: Biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of two priority landscapes in the Ecuadorian Amazon region, working closely with government partners, national consultants, the PWG, and other key stakeholders*.* The consultant will be responsible for developing a comprehensive project design in support of government priorities and in accordance with WWF, CI and GEF standards.

Drawing on the approved PIF and incorporating input from the PWG, and other stakeholders, the consultant will be responsible for preparing the ProDoc, the CEO Endorsement Request and all related Annexes, including a complete Results Framework, Safeguard Plans relevant for this project, co-financing letters, responses to PWG comments, and address the issues identified by the GEF Council. The consultant will also be responsible for preparing the GEF CEO endorsement template and completing the relevant GEF core indicators worksheet. All project documents need to be developed according to templates and guidelines provided by WWF/CI GEF agencies. WWF-GEF and CI-GEF will review and approve the ProDoc and the GEF CEO endorsement Request document prior submission to the GEF Secretariat and after receiving clearance from the Ministry of Environment, through the Undersecretary of Natural Heritage. The consultant shall work with the PWG and Operations and Finance Staff, providing inputs to activities to develop a comprehensive and accurate budget for project implementation.

3. Key Tasks

1. Coordinate with the Project Working Group (PWG) for overall planning and development of the project design and associated documentation needed for GEF CEO Endorsement;

2. Finalize and implement the project preparation work plan, including specific deliverables, deadlines and roles;

3. Conduct a comprehensive review of relevant literature and documents, including but not restricted to, inter alia: background documents related to Cirucunsripción Territorial Especial Amazónica (CTEA), Socio Bosque Program, PROAmazonia, Ecuador’s National Strategy of Biodiversity and its Action Plan (NBSAP), Environmental Code and related regulations (COA), , Forest Investment Program (FIP) proposal, REDD Early Movers (REM) Program for Ecuador, approved ASL child project concept note, current and previous GEF projects and final evaluations; any other relevant documentation for the Ecuadorean Amazon.

4. Draft the project’s Stakeholder Engagement Plan with support from national consultants, and support as appropriate in its implementation to inform project design and comply with WWF, CI and GEF Policies. This will also include consultations with relevant government departments, local NGO partners, community-based organizations, private sector organizations, and others. These consultations can take place via telephone, electronic conferencing, or in person, should be documented, and should involve the Working Group;

5. Coordinate with National Consultants/National Coordinators/PPG Coordinators (recruited separately) to ensure quality project design

6. Informed by the literature review and stakeholder consultations, develop and draft the ProDoc and accompanying documents for a Full-sized GEF project based upon the approved PIF and project framework. The project framework from the PIF is given in Annex 1. The lead consultant, working closely with other consultants, MAE staff and project partners, will have overall responsibility for delivering the following documents: 1. ProDoc 2. CEO Endorsement Request 3. Co-finance letters; 4. Safeguards plans; 5. Gender action plan 6. Core Indicators; and any other materials as mutually agreed in the project development workplan with the PWG.

7. Ensure compliance with WWF, CI, GEF and government policies and best practices for quality project development, including social and environmental safeguards, financial management, public involvement, gender and social inclusion mainstreaming, monitoring and evaluation, and incorporating lessons learned from past projects.

8. Take part in a review and validation process to ensure that the project design meets the needs of various stakeholders and the requirements of WWF, CI and GEF;

9. Working closely with national consultants, MAE staff and project partners, as needed, revise and finalize the ProDoc and CEO endorsement request document and all related annexes to address comments from the WWF-GEF and CI-GEF Project Agencies, MAE, and other key stakeholders;

10. Coordinate and lead stakeholder consultation workshops at a landscape and national level as needed for the project document design and validation.

11. Support coordination with the ASL Program II as needed.

4. Deliverables

1. By August 15^th, participate in PPG kick off workshop (22 to 26 July in Ecuador) and write the kickoff workshop report, including information gap analysis for ProDoc

2. By August 15^st final PPG workplan and budget approved by PWG, including stakeholder engagement plan from PPG phase based on results from the Kickoff Workshop.

3. By August 30^th, a first draft outline of project strategy (threats, barriers, baseline, co-financing, project components and activities) and results framework draft following the template provided by WWF/CI GEF Agencies and feedback from kick-off workshop.

4. By October 15^th, a zero-partial draft of the ProDoc with key sections including results framework, project intervention strategy, institutional arrangements and safeguards screening, using the outline provided by the WWF/CI GEF Project Agencies, the approved PIF, and additional information provided by MAE, WWF Ecuador and CI Ecuador.

5. By December 15^th, a first complete draft of ProDoc and budget, which incorporates all the comments made to zero partial draft

6. By February 28^st 2020 a final draft of the ProDoc and budget including annexes to be submitted to MAE, WWF-GEF and CI GEF for review.

7. By March 30^th, 2020, a validated final ProDoc which responds to the comments from the WWF-GEF and CI-GEF Project Agencies and MAE, and a completed CEO Endorsement Request document.

8. Respond to GEF Secretariat, STAP or Council comments if any, to CEO endorsement request, and ProDoc.

Note: all deliverables should be submitted in Spanish and final versions in English. Key documents will need to be submitted both in Spanish and English for review.

5. Period of Performance

It is expected that the consultancy starts in July 15^th, 2019 and the consultant is available for 12 months. Key deliverables and due dates will be determined in the workplan, and payments will be made against these and final deliverables in a payment schedule to be developed at that time based on section 4 proposal.

6. Contract Type

WWF GEF Agency will issue a fixed price contract for this work. Per the consultant’s proposal and subsequent negotiations, the contract will include a set of fixed payments based on submission of deliverables, per section 4 (Deliverables), above.

WWF GEF Agency will accept proposals from individuals, consulting firms or organizations. WWF GEF Agency anticipates that a single person will complete the work. If a team of people is proposed, WWF GEF Agency intends to execute a consulting contract with a single individual, firm, or organization, which will serve as the lead entity and be responsible for contractual and financial arrangements with all others.

7. Minimum Qualifications of Consultants

WWF GEF Agency and CI GEF Agency require an individual with senior-level qualifications to perform the work described here. Individuals will have, at a minimum, Masters degree in topics related to social sciences, environment or development, 10 years of experience in the field of conservation (and specifically in the Amazon region, and relevant experience in biological corridors/forest-friendly value chains) and sustainable development, including substantial experience of preparing GEF projects under the biodiversity and land degradation focal areas and stakeholder engagement. Ability to conduct business in English and Spanish language.

8. Location of Work

The consultant shall work home based and, if not based in Ecuador, should be available for travel to Ecuador to participate in key project development milestones. Candidates based in Ecuador are preferred for this position.

9. Monitoring and Evaluation of Consultant Performance

The consultant will be hired by and under the contractual supervision of the WWF GEF Agency in coordination with the CI GEF Agency. The Project Working Group (PWG) will be responsible for reviewing and approving all written deliverables providing the WWF GEF Agencies a no-objection notification for consultant payments and prior submission of documents to GEF Secretariat.

Instructions for Submission of Technical Proposals

i. Point of contact: the point of contact for this solicitation is Astrid Breuer

ii. Right of award: WWF GEF Agency may reject any or all bids that are not responsive to the Scope of Work.

iii. Language: proposals must be submitted in English.

iv. Validity: proposals must be valid from submission date through June 2020.

v. Currency: proposals should be budgeted in United States dollars. Payment will be made in United States dollars.

vi. Cover and signature: applicants should submit their proposals with a cover letter signed by an authorized representative of the applicant.

vii. Expert table: proposals should include a table with the name, position title, and level of effort (in person-days) of all individuals proposed to work on the project.

viii. Resumes: proposals should include the resume of all named personnel corresponding to the table in Item 7 above.

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