Tenders are invited for Iucn Consultancy for Technical Assistance to Conduct the Project Annual Landscape Integrity Assessment: Transforming Eastern Province through Adaptation (Trepa) Project Location: Kigali Deadline: Monday, 28/04/2025 23:59 Terms of Reference for IUCN Consultancy Title: Technical Assistance to Conduct the Project Annual Landscape Integrity Assessment: Transforming Eastern Province Through Adaptation (TREPA) Project. Objective of the Consultancy The landscape integrity assessment has a twofold objective of assisting the project team and participants to determine quantitatively the project results at the field, farm and landscape levels in FY 2024 while building their capacity to conduct annual survey in subsequent years. Both measurement and capacity building efforts will emphasize the indicators set out in the project logical framework and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Plan. This consultancy has the following specific objective(s): Conduct biophysical/landscape integrity assessment for TREPA interventions; Design and train project participants on the annual survey framework with appropriate methods, sampling protocols, data collection tools, analytical framework, and reporting template; Undertake the survey and determine the values of the key biophysical indicators (refer to the indicator table below) before and after restoration activities that started in October 2023. Background Project Reference: P03168 Donor reference: FP167 About IUCN IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. Created in 1948, IUCN is now the worlds largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 15,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards. IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development. Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve peoples well-being. www.iucn.org https://twitter.com/IUCN/ About the Project The IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) specifically in Rwanda designed a project namely TREPA Project Transforming Eastern Province through Adaptation in the Eastern Province of Rwanda from 2021 up to 2027. It is a six-year project, based in IUCN Rwanda Country Office, and funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The TREPA Project is restoring 60,000 hectares of drought-degraded landscapes into climate resilient ecosystems through re-forestation, agroforestry, restoration of pasturelands, and soil erosion control measures in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. In addition, irrigation infrastructure projects in the targeted landscapes will be climate-proofed by the TREPA Project. These projects under MINAGRI could include Export Targeted Modern Irrigation (ETI) in Mpanga (600 hectares) and Mahama (1200 hectares), Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project in Kayonza (2000 hectares), Warufu- Mugesera in Gatsibo and Ngoma as well as Rurambi dyke in Bugesera. The TREPA Project is finally supporting the national and local institutions to effectively plan, manage and monitor climate adaptation outcomes from improved land use at national and decentralized levels. The TREPA Project is implemented by IUCN (accredited entity) together with the Rwanda Forestry Authority and Enabel as executing entities in partnership with ICRAF, World Vision, and CORDAID. The Ministry of Environment is responsible for chairing the Project Steering Committee and ensures coherence with national strategies and policies. For the implementation of the TREPA Project, three components are covered namely: Component 1: Restored landscapes that support climate resilient agro-ecological systems and livelihoods in Eastern Province. Component 2: Market and value chain development for climate resilient agricultural and tree products linked to financial products and services for sustainable management of agro-ecological systems. Component 3: Strengthened enabling environment to effectively plan, manage and monitor climate adaptation outcomes from improved land use at national and decentralized levels. To ensure that the project activities are implemented in the respective Components, the Executing Entities will enter relevant subsidiary and/or procurement agreements with Service Providers and suppliers of Goods and Services and respect Component 3, relevant TA Provider(s) for the relevant Activities. Description of the Assignment Purpose TREPA is designed to strengthen climate resilience of forest landscapes, people and markets, and subnational institutions. By employing a paradigm shift approach to deployment of nature-based solutions, TREPA hypothesizes that adoption of these NbS within 100 landscapes (each landscape comprising of 400 ha of agroforestry adjacent to protected forest, public forest, smallholder private forest and pasturelands) is positively impacting livelihoods and resilience of smallholder farmers and the health of their lands while creating environmental co-benefits. To monitor progress towards these positive impacts, the project will be conducting periodic surveys. The first survey is planned for this year (2025) and will require technical assistance/support from an external consultant. The purpose of the technical assistance is, on the one hand, to conduct the annual survey to determine quantitatively the projects outcomes at different landscape levels. Specifically, it will assess landscape condition and integrity (and resilience) by measuring biophysical parameters of the representative landscapes. While such annual surveys measure the changes for previous and FY 2024, the survey will be a reference for future targets and constitute the basis to measure the project performance in future years. This technical assistance will, on the other hand, build the capacity of the project team and participants (beneficiaries and local leaders) to competently conduct participatory monitoring and evaluation of ecosystem restoration and locally led climate adaptation actions. It is assumed that future annual surveys will be conducted in a participatory manner by the project team and participants. Therefore, the technical assistance to conduct landscape integrity assessment will establish necessary survey protocols and tools that will be tested and piloted in FY 2025 and onward while establishing ex-ante and ex-post status of key biophysical and environmental parameters of the project results. Duration of the Assignment The assignment will be conducted within a period of 60 days. Deliverables and Activities The consultant will provide the following deliverables and carry out the following activities: Deliverable/Activity Description Deadline 1. Deliverable 1 Inception Report 15 May 2025 2. Deliverable 2 Training and training Report 22 May 2025 3. Deliverable 3 Draft Annual Landscape Integrity Assessment Report 17 June 2025 4. Deliverable 4 Final Annual Survey Report 02 July 2025 5. Deliverable 5 Provision of data sets 08 July 2025 Payment Schedule The Timetable below summarises the chronological order of deliverables and indicates milestones at which IUCN will pay the Consultant. Deliverable Milestone payment Inception Report 30% Training and training Report 10% Draft Annual Landscape Integrity Assessment Report 40% Final Annual Survey Report 20% Skills and Experience The consultant team will comprise of Team Leader and other subject matter experts to fit the competencies: Team Leader: Education: post-graduate degree at or above MSc level in Natural Resources or environmental Management, (Agro) Forestry, Agriculture, Climate change adaptation/mitigation or a related discipline, at least five (5) years of working experience leading biophysical, ecosystem integrity, and land health assessments, Program/Project M&E experience, Donor experience with GCF or GEF donors, preferably. Other subject matter experts: Masters degree in fields related to data requirements/themes of the assignment, but not same as team leader, at least three (3) years of Work experience as a subject matter specialist in evaluation/Outcome measurement studies in the areas of biophysical, ecosystem integrity, and soil health assessments, Program/Project M&E experience in Rwanda, and Donor experience (GCF or GEF preferred). Supervision and coordination The consultant will report to and work under the supervision of Senior Programme Officer, Enterprise & Economics at Rwanda IUCN country Office. How to Apply Interested consultants should email Technical and Financial proposal detailing the proposed approach, methodology and workplan for the assignment. The proposal should be accompanied by (i) detailed CVs outlining the consultants academic qualifications, previous relevant experience, contact information etc.; (ii) documented evidence. Notice: For RFP and other documents related to this consultancy should be found: Currently runnin Tender Link : https://www.jobinrwanda.com/job/terms-reference-iucn-consultancy-technical-assistance-conduct-project-annual-landscape
