REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR THE PROVISION OF CONSULTING SERVICES
LIBERIA FOREST SECTOR PROJECT
PROJECT ID: P154114
GRANT ID: TFA2427
PROCUREMENT REFERENCE NO: EPA/LFSP/CONS/06
Assignment Title: Development of National Guidelines on Community Consultations involving Forests Resources
- This request for expressions of interest follows the General procurement Notice for this project that appeared in Development Business No. WB452-01/17 of January 31, 2017.
The Government of Liberia through the Forestry Development Authority (Implementing Agency) has received a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) acting as administrator of the Liberia Single Donor Forest Landscape Trust Fund (financed by the Government of Norway) in the amount of US$36.7 million towards the cost of the Liberia Forest Sector Project, and the Environmental Protection Agency (Project Implementing Entity) intends to apply part of the proceeds of this Grant to eligible payments under a contract for consulting services for the development of National Guidelines on Community Consultations involving Forests Resources.
- The consulting services (“the Services”) include the development of national guidelines on community consultations, enabling the Government of Liberia to respond to the requirement of the Community Right Law of 2009, requiring communities to have prior, free, informed consent on matters regarding community forest resources.
Liberia will also conform to international requirements for social standards in forest resources management, notably to ensure inclusive participation and consultation of all key stakeholders (including civil society, indigenous peoples and forest-dependent communities) as well as to design specific measures for social safeguards including the Cancun safeguards. The guidelines will aim at "domesticating" and adopting international guidelines and recommendations to the national context, and also ensuring that forest management in Liberia responds to wide consultation and engagement requirements for projects and policies as prescribed in the Community Rights Law of 2009 and EPA ESIA regulations.
The Guidelines should provide clear, practical and concrete guidance on how stakeholders will be included in activities potentially affecting community forests, efforts and on how full and effective stakeholder engagement should be implemented. A set of supporting operational materials shall also be developed to provide details of how to conduct stakeholder engagement and offer a “tool-kit” to support implementation of stakeholder engagement. The guidelines are to be used to support the process engaging communities in regards to use of their forest resources.
It is expected that this assignment will cover a period of 159 days.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:
QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE
The consulting firm must possess the following experience and competencies:
- At least five (5) years’ experience in community forest management and consultations;
- Must have provided consultancy services relating to forest management and consultations;
- Must be familiar with Liberian forest management and consultation frameworks;
- Extensive work experience and proven record in the development of procedures, methodologies, studies and baseline surveys related to community forest management and engagement;
- Availability of competent staff with relevant qualifications and experience to undertake the assignment;
- Experience in the region (West Africa; Liberia is a plus);
- Evidence of at least three years’ working experience in the field of forestry;
- Evidence of at least five years’ working experience in the field of stakeholder engagement and Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC);
- Evidence of experience of working with civil society, Indigenous peoples and government;
- Evidence of ability to gather a broad range of stakeholders and facilitate large community and national meetings and processes;
- Evidence of previous experience working with agencies of the United Nations or other international agencies, justified by appropriate reports or external audit.
- The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s
Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants [under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants] by World Bank Borrowers, January 2011 revised July 2014 (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub consultancy to enhance their qualifications.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Selection Based on the Consultants’ Qualifications (CQS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0900 to 1600 hours GMT.
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, by mail or by e-mail) by 16:00 GMT on Thursday, April 27, 2017. Envelopes or subject of emails must be marked “Expression of Interest for Development of National Guidelines on Community Consultations involving Forests Resources”.
Environmental Protection Agency
Procurement Unit
4th Street, Sinkor
P.O. Box 4024
1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia
Attention: Z. Elijah Whapoe, LFSP Focal Point
Tel: +231(0)886524657
Email: ewhapoe@epa.gov.lr and copied to: rdoo@epa.gov.lr