| Overview : The COMPACT is a jointly funded programme of the United Nations Foundation (UNF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) with the involvement of UNESCO. COMPACT began in 2000 with the objective of demonstrating how community-based initiatives can significantly increase the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation in natural World Heritage Sites (WHS) by adding value to existing projects and programmes. COMPACT has since successfully piloted its approach in eight world heritage sites. The COMPACT Programme is premised on the notion that world heritage sites are very much a part of the communities in which they are located. As such, they provide rich opportunities to develop and promote effective models for integrating compatible human uses with the protection of ecosystem functions and biodiversity. World heritage sites have the potential to showcase the effective integration of sustainable local development with conservation by demonstrating how conservation can contribute to local and national economic development, culture and pride. A process is currently underway to replicate the COMPACT initiative in the MDP WHS. In order to establish the MDP WHS COMPACT, a planning phase has been initiated with funding support from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which will involve processes as outlined in these terms of reference. This initiative will be implemented by the UNDP GEF SGP in Lesotho and South Africa, in close partnership with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Programme (MDTP) and Sehlabathebe National Park. This being a transboundary initiative, it will involve close collaboration between COMPACT Teams in South Africa and Lesotho, as well as consultation between the experts from both countries. This call for proposals is to solicit proposals from consultants to undertake a preparatory process to develop the MDP WHS COMPACT Site Strategy. This will involve multi-stakeholder consultations, development of baseline assessment and conceptual framework, and elaboration of the COMPACT Site Strategy. Based on the above, services of a consulstant is required to undertake a preparatory process to develop the MDP WHS COMPACT Site Strategy. | 
