Re-Advertisement: Feasibility study for a carbon forestry project in refugee hosting districts in Uganda – RFP-UGA-SERV-2023-005 At Danish Refugee Council

Please find complete tender documents in the following link: RFP-UGA-SERV-2023-005 Feasibility study for a carbon forestry project in refugee hosting districts in Uganda

Terms of Reference for Feasibility study for a carbon forestry project in refugee hosting districts in Uganda

Who is the Danish Refugee Council

Founded in 1956, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading international NGO and one of the few with a specific expertise in forced displacement. Active in 40 countries with 9,000 employees and supported by 7,500 volunteers, DRC protects, advocates, and builds sustainable futures for refugees and other displacement affected people and communities. DRC works during displacement at all stages: In the acute crisis, in displacement, when settling and integrating in a new place, or upon return. DRC provides protection and life-saving humanitarian assistance; supports displaced persons in becoming self-reliant and included into hosting societies; and works with civil society and responsible authorities to promote protection of rights and peaceful coexistence.

Purpose of the consultancy

The overall purpose of this call for proposals is to conduct a feasibility study in refugee hosting districts in Uganda to assess the viability of the development of a carbon forestry project approach.

Background

There has been large-scale deforestation surrounding refugee settlements across Uganda, caused by the need for energy sources, building materials and income opportunities. Community members walk long distances of above 5km to access fuel wood, creating added protection risks for women and girls as well as host and refugee community tensions resulting into increased environmental degradation. The high dependency of households on wood fuels in Uganda is a renowned driver of forest degradation with many communities not able to afford alternative sources of energy, as well as competing land uses for livelihoods might aggravate the pressure on the environment caused by wood fuel consumption in the absence of impact assessments and measures to improve environmental management and build sustainable livelihoods. At the current rate and without targeted support, there will be further deforestation, further unsustainable use of forest reserve land, and further energy insecurity due to the unsustainable cutting of trees.

At the same time, many opportunities exist for displaced affected communities to benefit from effective and sustainable forest management in the form of additional livelihoods, energy security, ecosystem restoration and incomes from, among other sources, carbon credits. However, forestry projects within Uganda’s refugee hosting districts tend to be either too small-scale to make a significant impact, fail to focus on ensuring local communities benefit and participate or are characterized by monoculture plantations, thus limiting the success of reforestation as well impact potential.

Within this context, DRC Uganda is developing an approach to community-benefiting forestry management and would like to invite a project developer to explore the feasibility of aligning DRCs community approach with the development of a forestry and clean cooking project and the viability of carbon credit revenues to support with a sustainable financing approach.

Objective of the consultancy

DRC Uganda is looking to engage a project developer to:

• Conduct a feasibility study with DRC in West Nile region of Uganda to assess the viability of the development of a large-scale forestry/clean cooking project
• Travel to West Nile and identify potential sites for a project, speaking to DRC staff, members of the refugee and hosting communities and other key stakeholders including government-local and central, social entrepreneurs to understand land access considerations
• Assess the potential of different tree species in the set location and their likelihood of survival
• Map out potential District and central government forest reserves adjacent to Refugee hosting districts including acreage, community relations and existing collaborative forestry management systems
• Assess and recommend financing modalities required for sustainable financing of the project, including the incorporation of carbon credits and other funding sources.
• Assess the potential leakage issues, speaking to communities facilitated by DRC to understand best approaches to reducing risks

The findings from the feasibility study will be used to develop a project approach to be implemented in Uganda.

Roles and Responsibilities

Reflecting the above objectives, DRC and the project developer will take on the following roles and responsibilities:

DRC will

• • Facilitate travel to refugee hosting districts in West Nile and refugee settlement access where needed – Facilitate meetings with local government, key stakeholders and community members in selected locations – Support with data gathering and provide community perspectives to ensure any project is supportive of community perspectives.

The Project developer will:

• Provide guidance to DRC around preparation for the field visit prior to travel to ensure DRC can prepare accordingly
• Gather all required information and data so that a project can be developed from feasibility study findings
• Use expertise around soil sampling etc to conduct a carbon baseline as a starting point for discussions on carbon credits

Deliverables

The Consultant will submit the following deliverables as mentioned below:

Field trip preparation

Conversations with DRC teams, assessment of viable locations, organizing of meetings

Report of findings

Consolidation of data and findings into a feasibility report

Final presentation to DRC and potentially also to stakeholders

Presentation on findings with clear next steps

The documentation should be delivered through email.

Duration, timeline, and payment

The total expected duration to complete the assignment will be no more than 19 working days

The consultant shall be prepared to complete the assignment no later than 30 days after the field trip has taken place

Proposed Composition of Team

The consultant to provide a detailed list of competent and experienced team members in line with the objective of the consultancy.

Eligibility, qualification, and experience required

Essential:

• Experience developing forestry projects with carbon credit elements
• Strong links to carbon markets or ability to purchase carbon credits
• Ability to setup projects using future carbon credit revenues
• Strong track record in the carbon accreditation process
• Excellent analytical, interpersonal, communication and reporting skills.
• Strong communication skills (oral and written) in English.

Desirable:

• Experience in community forestry project approaches
• Experience in clean energy and clean cooking carbon accreditation

Eligibility:

• The consultant has the authorization to work in Uganda

Qualification:

• Relevant academic background. Post-graduate university degree in social sciences / business development or another relevant

Technical supervision

The selected consultant will work under the supervision of:

• Head of Programs – Uganda Country Office
• Global Leads on Environment and Climate Change
• Regional Programme Innovation Coordinator

Location and support

Address of the work assignment. Refugee hosting districts of West Nile and South West parts of Uganda.

Travel

Travel to selected Refugee hosting districts in both West Nile and South West based on objective of the task as determined by the consultant

The Consultant will therefore be expected to arrange transportation, accommodation, insurance, food and to make adequate provision in the Financial Proposal.

Submission process

DRC invites interested firms, teams of individuals or individuals, with an experience and skills described above. The bid must include:

a) A cover letter of no more than 3 pages introducing the consultant / consultant team and how the skills and competencies described above are met, with concrete examples. Please also use this cover letter to indicate the consultants’ availability for the proposed period.

b) An outline of no more than 3 pages of the proposed methodology and indicative workplan. Methodology should incorporate the following:

o Sampling approach;

o Data collection methods and evaluation plan;

o Potential opportunities, limitations and how these would/could be explored and mitigated respectively.

c) A one-page budget (preferably in an excel format) of the offer, covering all major anticipated costs

d) A CV for the consultant(s) – max 3 pages each, including 2 referees (with phone number and email address). The CVs submitted should be for those who will directly undertake the evaluation; most preferably, lead and co-lead. Changes in key personnel (lead or co-lead consultants) are not allowed after the contract is awarded.

e) Two samples of reports from previous consultancies relevant to this task – covering carbon markets and financing with a bias in forestry and experience in payment for Eco system services.

f) Experience in executing such consultancies in refugee hosting communities.

Only electronically submitted technical and financial proposals to rfq.uga-kla@drc.ngo by 30th June 2023will be considered.

Please find complete tender documents in the following link: RFP-UGA-SERV-2023-005 Feasibility study for a carbon forestry project in refugee hosting districts in Uganda