Link to Atlas Project

Documents

Overview

TERMS OF REFERENCE  

Ref: PN/FJ/019/20

Consultancy Proposal (CV & Financial proposal Template) should be uploaded on UNDP e-tendering Portal (https://etendering.partneragencies.org)  no later than, 19 February  2020 (New York Time). Any proposals received after the due date/time will not be accepted. Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to procurement.fj@undp.org. UNDP will respond in writing or by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants. Incomplete, late and joint proposals will not be considered and only offers for which there is further interest will be contacted. Failure to submit your application as stated as per the application submission guide (Procurement Notice) on the above link will be considered incomplete and therefore application will not be considered.

NOTE:

Proposals must be sent/uploaded through UNDP e-tendering Portal. Candidates need to upload their CV and financial proposal -using UNDP template.

If the selected/successful Candidate is over 65 years of age and required to travel outside his home country; He/She will be required provide a full medical report at their expense prior to issuance to contract. Contract will only be issued when Proposed candidate is deemed medically fit to undertake the assignment.

BACKGROUND

A. Background:

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) embarked on the “R2R- Pacific Islands Ridge-to-Reef National Priorities – Integrated Water, Land, Forest and Coastal Management to Preserve Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services, Store Carbon, Improve Climate Resilience and Sustain Livelihoods” in the last decade to “provide an opportunity for Pacific SIDS [Small Island Developing States] to develop and implement truly integrated approaches for the sustainable development of island economies and communities”. Under the umbrella of this larger project, several Pacific Island nations including Tuvalu, established demonstration sites within their national boundaries. For Tuvalu, a sub-component of the larger Pacific R2R programme was initiated in 2015, the “Implementing ‘Ridge to Reef’ approach to protect biodiversity and ecosystem functions in Tuvalu (Tuvalu R2R Project)” which has the main aim “to preserve ecosystem services, sustain livelihoods and improve resilience in Tuvalu using a ‘ridge-to-reef’ approach”.

To achieve this objective, the Tuvalu R2R programme has four components: “enhancing and strengthening conservation and protected areas (Component 1); rehabilitating degraded coastal and inland forests and landscapes and supporting the delivery of integrated water resource management (IWRM) and integrated coastal management (ICM) at a national scale whilst piloting hands-on approaches at the island scale (on three selected pilot islands) (Component 2); enhancing governance and institutional capacities at the national, island, and community levels for enhanced inland and coastal natural resource management (Component 3); and improving data and information systems that would enable improve evidence-based planning, decision-making, and management of natural resources in Tuvalu (Component 4)”.

The Tuvalu R2R Project is a 5-year project, implemented by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Tourism, Environment and Labour (MFATTEL) in partnership with the Department of Environment of MFATTEL, Ministry of Home Affairs and Rural Development (MHARD), Ministry of Natural Resources and UNDP. There are multiple outcomes projected with the most relevant to the BioRap survey being: “formalized community management systems of marine conservation areas across 9 islands equipped with functional management plans; enhance and/or develop a centralized GIS database system on biodiversity, natural resources, and governance systems; implement sustainable land management interventions and agroforestry interventions; and enhance awareness and build capacities on the Ridge to Reef approach”.

The Tuvalu archipelago consists of three islets (Nanumanga, Niutao and Niulakita) and six atolls (Funafuti, Nanumea, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae and Vaitupu), with a total land area of approximately 26 km2. Funafuti is the largest atoll, and includes numerous islets situated around a central lagoon that is approximately 25.1 x 18.4 km. The island nation’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) covers an oceanic area of approximately 900,000 km2 which is home to a highly diverse array of marine life, with estimates of species richness ranking amongst some of the highest in the Indo-Pacific realm. The predominant vegetation type (covering ~ 40% of land surfaces) on the islands of Tuvalu is said to be “coconut woodland”. Terrestrial fauna and flora communities are typically depauperate for isolated coral atoll/ reef islets, and are dominated by coastal/littoral pantropical species. With rising sea levels and subsequent land loss, Tuvalu’s terrestrial habitats are imminently threatened, and as a consequence, so too are the local and scientific knowledge of the biodiversity that exists within.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

B.  Scope of work and key responsibilities

The Tuvalu R2R Project partners plan to undertake a Biodiversity Rapid Assessment (BioRap) on four islets/atolls in the Tuvalu archipelago, namely Niutao, Funafuti, Vaitupu and Nukulaelae. It is intended that biodiversity surveys will be conducted at these four locations, involving baseline field ecological surveys of plants, vegetation, avifauna, and marine habitats, as well as information on mammals (native and introduced/invasive), reptiles and invertebrates.  For this purpose, a specialist team of consultants are required to achieve the following objectives:

1. To develop specific and feasible methods for conducting baseline field ecological surveys of plants (vegetation), avifauna (birds), mammals (native and introduced/invasive), reptiles, amphibians, insects, and marine species, with a particular focus on species of cultural significance and unique to Tuvalu. Survey methodologies utilized in the BioRap are to be compatible and build on experiences of similar ecological surveys conducted in other Pacific Islands but adapted to the specific focus of the Tuvalu R2R Project.
2. To conduct field work/surveys for an environmental baseline of the biodiversity of the four islets/atolls (Niutao, Funafuti, Vaitupu and Nukulaelae), implementing the developed methods (in 1 above).
3. Based on the data collected, subsequent analysis thereof, and described within consequent report(s), the consultants should provide a set of key management and policy options that national and local stakeholders should consider employing to strengthen existing conservation efforts, such as the protection and management of important ecosystems and species found in Tuvalu.
4. Whilst coordinating and conducting the BioRap surveys, the consultants are expected to work alongside, and build local capacity amongst a team of national (including local community) representatives. From the initial information collected the team of consultants are to provide specialized training for government staff in surveying and/or monitoring methods and the identification of biological indicator species.
5. From the surveys and the stakeholder interactions, the team is expected to generate a detailed technical and scientific report with results and findings, including conclusions and recommendations on (1) healthy ecosystems; and, (2) key biota indicators that could be used for monitoring changes in important ecosystems.

The Terrestrial Vertebrate Ecologist will be directly responsible for the following sub-components of the BioRap:

1. To develop the methodologies for the BioRap terrestrial vertebrate surveys that will be conducted on the four islets/atolls, taking into consideration the nature of the locations to be surveyed, and specific to each terrestrial vertebrate group (amphibian(s), reptiles, avifauna, mammals and others). Particular attention should be given to surveying the endemic Lepidodactylus tepukapili and the survey of small islets.
2. To conduct vertebrate surveys during the BioRap missions, collate the data and perform relevant analyses to describe the status and distribution of each vertebrate group. In doing so, the consultant will compile a baseline terrestrial vertebrate species inventory, noting the status of resident species (i.e. in terms of international distribution and local abundance) and introduced/ invasive species.
3. Baseline maps describing the distribution of vertebrate species with a focus on biological indicator species that could be used for monitoring and assessment of long term environmental change on the four islets/atolls.
4. Training materials for workshops/training sessions with government staff in surveying and/or monitoring methods and the identification of biological indicator vertebrate species.
5. The terrestrial vertebrate section of the final report, addressing the relevant aforementioned objectives.

It is essential for the individual consultant to maintain clear and effective communication with team leader, and through the team leader with UNDP and the Tuvalu Department of Environment, providing regular updates via communication channels. Missions to the four islands are to be tentatively scheduled for mid-March. The Tuvalu R2R Project will provide transportation to and from sites of surveys within Tuvalu.

 D.  Expected Outputs and Deliverables 

The Vertebrate Ecologist is expected to deliver the following products by the end of the consultancy:

• Part of the Inception Report that details the terrestrial vertebrate survey methodologies (including separate methodologies for the three major terrestrial vertebrate groups likely to occur at these locations – reptiles, birds and mammals, as well as opportunistic surveys for potential vertebrate groups) and an associated work plan.

• Training materials for training future government representatives in the various methods used in terrestrial vertebrate surveys and/or monitoring methods, as well as the identification of biological indicator species that occur on the four islets/atolls.

• A section in the final report detailing the following:

1. A terrestrial vertebrate species inventory with an indication of local status (endemic, native, introduced/invasive) and semi-quantitative or quantitative assessment of abundance and distribution.

2. An assessment of the status of terrestrial vertebrate habitats and populations present on the four islands, describing current and/or imminent threats (e.g. climate change, invasive species) which may affect terrestrial vertebrate species populations on the four islets/atolls. The aforementioned inventory should highlight biological indicator species that could be used for monitoring change in the habitats present on the four islets/atolls.

3. Recommended management and policy options that national and local stakeholders could utilize to strengthen existing conservation and management of vertebrate species of conservation and/or cultural significance on the four islands, with reference to national efforts. Recommendations for the assessment, monitoring and management plans for introduced and invasive species.

4. Contributions to the discussion of lessons learnt and recommendations for national biodiversity surveys and local capacity building within the Pacific R2R programme, with a focus on capacity building at the local and national level.

E.  Payment Schedule

  Ten percent (10%) of the consultancy fee will be paid following signing of the contract and draft work plan by March 9;

Twenty percent (20%) percent of the consultancy fee will be paid following submission and acceptance of the inception (including methodologies) report by March 16;

Ten percent (10%) of the consultancy fee will be paid following submission and acceptance of a post mission (outlining key findings) report by April 22nd;

Thirty percent (30%) of the consultancy fee will be paid following submission and acceptance of the draft report by 20 June;

Thirty percent (30%) of the consultancy fee will be paid following submission and acceptance of the final report by July 21;

F. Institutional Arrangement

• The consultant will be monitored, overseen and supervised by UNDP Multi Country Office Fiji in close cooperation with the Department of Environment, Tuvalu.

•The consultant is expected to produce a final report upon successful completion of activities according to the agreed schedules.

• The consultant is expected to provide his/her equipment and gear for conducting the BioRap surveys and analyses.

G. Duration of the Work

The consultancy is for 70 days commencing no later than Feb 21, 2020 and completion no later than July 21, 2020.

• The consultant shall be engaged to undertake the consultancy working according to a planned schedule to be completed by the latest July 21, 2020.

• The consultant is expected to spend a minimum of three (3) weeks in Tuvalu, making the necessary arrangements for the missions, in consultation with the team members and relevant stakeholders.

• The consultant is expected to propose and utilise a work plan, budget and timelines to achieve the expected outputs with the appropriate methodology.

H. Duty Station

I. Supervision / Reporting

  i. The consultant (through the team leader) will report directly to UNDP Head of Resilience and Sustainable Development Unit and/or her/his representative and UNDP Regional Technical Specialist/Advisor based in Suva, Fiji / Bangkok, Thailand.

  ii. The consultant is expected to produce a final report upon successful completion of activities according to the agreed schedules. The consultant is expected to provide his/her own computer for reporting.

COMPETENCIES

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE