Job Description

Posted on March 15, 2022

CONSULTANCY SERVICES: TO FACILITATE IMPROVEMENT OF TRANSPARENCY ON TIMBER TRADE/FOREST EXPLOITATION: CREATING A MONITORING SYSTEM FOR
TIMBER TRADE AND FOREST EXPLOITATION
1.0 Background
WWF is an International Non-Governmental Organization with a mission to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. WWF-Zambia Country Office (WWF-ZCO) is seeking to hire a consultant or a firm to develop a database for monitoring timber trade and forest exploitation in the Silowana Complex that is part of a larger Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) located in South-West Zambia traversing parts of Sesheke, Senanga and Shangombo Districts.
At the heart of the Silowana Complex (990,000 ha) is the Sioma Ngwezi National Park (530,000 ha), surrounded by a Game Management Area and national forest reserves where state-issued timber concessions are active. The area is inhabited by around 15,000 people of whom 3,000 within the national park itself.
Sioma Ngwezi National Park is endowed with many different tree species and grasslands. The flora is generally categorized into five main types namely Baikiea forest, Grassland, Mopane, Munga and Terminalia forests. Forest cover in the Silowana Complex is estimated at 30-35%. The complex also includes grassy flats and flood plains. all land is understood to be at least potentially usable land, including the timber concessions in the governmental forest reserves. The traditional Chief can thus allocate land to e.g. a small communal farmer without a contract or land title to be used. As a result, it actually becomes the farmer’s property as long as the farmer adheres to the community’s rules. Land is mainly used for dry land agriculture (maize, sorghum, millet, cassava, ground nuts, and beans). The Zambezi River and the lagoons are used for artisanal fishing.
2.0 Objective
This consultancy will focus on to facilitate improvement of transparency on timber trade/forest exploitation: creating a monitoring system for timber trade and forest exploitation of the Forest Landscapes Restoration Project in the Silowana Complex in Sesheke, Sioma and Western province as a whole. The specific objectives are to:

To review the forest concession license issuance procedures, identify gaps and enhance transparency between all parties involved in this process,
To review the credibility and authenticity of all relevant documentations used in obtaining forest concession licenses, suggesting better options and enhancements needed to validate all relevant documentation,
To review the forest conditions and operational requirements prior, during and after the concession operations, and draw up appropriate monitoring requirements needed to ensure timber clients / operators are compliant.

3.0 Scope of work
The following are the main components of this consultancy’s scope of work:

Outline the historical trends in indigenous timber extraction, transportation, processing, utilization, trade and marketing at local, provincial, and national levels,
Present a clear and current status of practices in the indigenous timber industry with a focus on transparency in extraction, transportation, processing, trade and marketing,
Explore available business avenues on indigenous timber, including the potential on timber value chains, suggesting the most feasible options for organizing the timber trade at local level: project sites, and
Verify and document the best practices and potential threats/risks on the current modus operandi in the issuance of concession licenses for indigenous timber exploitation known in the landscape: KAZA TFCA, Sesheke and Silowana complex.

4.0 Duration of Assignment
The consultancy assignment will be for a period of 15 man days, but spread over 30 days or 1 month including inception reporting, submission of first and final drafts, and validation of the output.
5.0 Tasks, Expected Outputs and Deliverables
The following key tasks should be tackled:

Prepare and present an Inception and Technical Reports, supported by physical presentations that addresses all tasks outlined,
Review of the relevant secondary data, and collect primary data from the landscape necessary to facilitate improvements in transparency on indigenous timber trade and exploitation, and
Develop a simple database showing records of location by district, concession area extent/size, validity, ownership for both old and new forest concessions, for the landscape under review.

The consultancy should deliver the following:

Inception report should include, but not limited to, a detailed methodology and work plan for the consultancy, with clear delivery timelines and the required resources.
A detailed technical report indicating improvements needed for the transparency of indigenous timber trade and exploitation reflecting. The following contents and suggestions should be prominent in the final report:

forest concession license issuance procedures, estimated timelines, records of inclusiveness or exclusions, weaknesses or gaps, levels of transparency for the procedures,
levels of credibility and authenticity of all relevant documentations used in obtaining forest concession licenses, suggesting better options and enhancements needed to validate all relevant documentation,
a comprehensive review of the available forest conditions and operational requirements prior, during and after the concession operations. A compliance checklist/performance matrix to be completed by a timber client/s at decommissioning period, and
a robust and appropriate monitoring system on indigenous timber extraction, transportation, processing, trade, and market needed to ensure timber clients / operators are compliant.

Submission of the deliverables should be done both in soft and hard copies within agreed timelines between parties for further publication and archiving.

5.1 Proposed Payment Schedule

Submission and acceptance of inception report – 20%
Submission and acceptance of first draft consultancy report – 30%
Submission and acceptance of the final and validated report – 50%

6.0 Reporting
The client for the assignment is the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Zambia Country Office (ZCO). The consultants will be reporting to the Country Director through the FLR Project Manager on all matters relating to the assignment. However, deliverables of the consultancy will be subject to review and approval by the FLR Technical Working Group (TWG).
7.0 Minimum required qualifications and competencies for the consultancy
The specific tasks outlined under the scope of work will be performed by a Consultant.  The Consultant will identify and work with a team of experts in order to perform this assignment and will be under the overall guidance and supervision of the Project coordinator. The consultant shall be responsible for coordinating the overall consultancy and communicating with the client.

Should have a minimum of Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc) in Forestry and Natural Resources. An MSc in similar fields is an added advantage.
Minimum 10 years of experience in forestry protection, utilization and management, forest resources assessments, timber traceability and natural resources tracking systems,
A very good understanding and experience in issuance procedure of forest licenses, forest conditions and operational requirements, forest regulations, developing systems and networks for the timber industry, trade, entrepreneurship and development issues in Zambia
Excellent communication skills with ability to express ideas clearly, concisely and effectively, both orally and in writing.
A candidate with proven and extensive local level working experience preferably in Western province

Interested applicants should submit both a technical and Financial proposal with copies of the latest CV and academic qualifications. These should be submitted to the following email; [email protected] with copies to 17:00 hours on 18th March 2022