BACKGROUND
WWF has been working in Central Africa for more than 20 years, with a global mission to stop the environmental degradation in the world and build a future where humans live in harmony with nature.
The Congo Basin is the second largest block of tropical rainforest on the planet and forms part of our global natural heritage. Many people depend on goods and services from these forests for their livelihoods. The Congo Basin also contains a unique and abundant biodiversity and forms an important habitat for unique and endangered species such as the African forest elephant, the gorilla, chimpanzees, bonobos, hippopotamus, okapi, etc.
The region is extremely rich in oil and mineral resources and has the right climatic conditions for some types of agro-industry, including palm oil. Hence, the region is receiving a lot of interest and focus from foreign investors who are looking to expand their mining and agro-business activities in Central Africa. Governments of the Congo Basin recognize that this increasing interest from investors represents a great opportunity for the much needed economic development of the region.
Cameroon, for instance according to both the Vision 2035 and the Growth and Employment Strategy Paper, is focusing on promoting huge investments in the agricultural and extractive sectors as a possible solution to the high unemployment rate. In recent years, in the agricultural sector focus has been on developing the palm oil sector. The interest in this sector can be attributed to the increasing global demand for palm oil at the expense of other vegetable oils, due to its importance, availability and low cost.
These emerging projects and activities in extractive industries and agro-industry can have major negative direct and indirect environmental and social impacts. If not planned carefully, they can result in large areas of intact tropical rainforest and ecosystems being permanently destroyed and fragmented, which will result in threats to long term survival of flagship species (great apes), endemic flora and fauna and fragile habitats and ecosystems as well as in large numbers of rural livelihoods affected. Moreover, lack of appropriate planning can result in conflicts of different forms of land-use and in loss of land-use rights of local communities and have other negatives impacts on social values. It is apparent that with the increased interest, from both government and investors in new industrial mining and agriculture developments, it is a challenge to maintain the relatively intact ecosystems and natural resources in the Congo Basin, including Cameroon. This explain why the Government of Cameroon in its continued engagement to protect its rich biodiversity as well as harness the benefits this offers for a sustained economic growth and improved well-being of its people adopted in 2012 its second version of its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP II). This second version with its four strategic goals orients all national interventions in matters of biodiversity. For the Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED) as Government focal institution of the CBD, building the understanding on the value of Cameroon’s rich biological diversity as well as its contribution to development that is sustainable remains essential.
It is based on this that WWF Cameroon and MINEPDED believes that identification and protection of High Conservation Value forest areas is urgently needed to ensure that the upsurge of investments in sectors like extractive, agro-industries especially oil palm expansions and infrastructure are sustainable and maximize the benefits to Cameroon and Cameroonians. To achieve that, WWF as a support to the Ministry of Environment is looking for an individual consultant able to propose methodology for identification of national HCV and to define national HCV indicators.
PURPOSE AND MAJOR FONCTION
The consultant work must be considered as a first step towards achievement of national interpretation of HCV and developing national land use planning in Cameroon.
In summary, the work aims at supporting WWF Cameroon in proposing methodology for national HCV identification and defining national HCV indicators and to align the outcome with Strategic Goal B of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) II focusing on maintaining and improving the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, habitats, species, and genetic diversity piloted by the Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED).
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSABILITIES
Working in close collaboration with WWF Cameroon and MINEPDED,
- Contact key government and stakeholders in Cameroon to gather their view and collect data (building from existing data gaps );
- Work in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development to coordinate activities of thematic working groups in charge of definition of national HCV indicators and consolidate the outcomes from these WG into a coherent report.
- Define thresholds in order to determine which values and areas are significant and crucial and which ones are not
- Propose methodology for national HCV identification;
- Build capacity of stakeholders on existing HCV criteria and generic indicators
- Fix thresholds for what is major and minor national HCV indicators;
- Facilitate workshops for validation of methodology for national HCV identification and national HCV indicators;
- Facilitate posting of validated national HCV indicators on the HCV Natural Resource Network website.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The following main results are expected:
- The methodology for national HCV identification is available and validated at national level by stakeholders.
- The national HCV indicators are defined, validated at national level and integrated as part of the NBSAP to help in maintaining and improving the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, habitats, species and genetic diversity.
- Ensure that validated HCV indicators are posted on the HCV Natural resource Network website.
PROFILE AND FUNCTIONAL SKILLS
- Minimum of Master Degree in Environment, Natural resource management and/or Forestry with relevant knowledge of high conservation value (HCV) areas;
- Minimum of 5 years professional experience in identification and protection of HCV areas;
- Relevant experience in HCV national interpretation and land use planning process;
- Working experience in the Congo basin area in general and in Cameroon in particular;
- Fluent in English and French
DELIVERABLES
- A final report (hard and soft copies) in English and French including validated methodology for national HCV identification and list of validated national HCV indicators;
- Reports of key meetings;
- Report of national workshops
ESTIMATED TIME FRAME
Consultation duration is sixty (60) days and the expected implementation plan is the following:
- Data collection and stakeholder’s capacity building on HCV: 10 days (Cameroon);
- Development and validation of methodology for identification of national HCV: 20 days (10 days Cameroon and 10 days home base);
- Definition and validation of national HCV indicators: 25 days (10 days Cameroon and 15 days home base);
- Posting validated national HCV indicator on HCV Natural Resource Network website: 5 days (home base).
HOW TO APPLY:
OFFERS OF SERVICE
The offer of services should include the following items:
- A clear description of why the consultant is a suitable candidate
- A clear methodology
- A work plan that provides breakdown and logical sequencing of activities including time frame
- The deliverables
- The detailed budget
Application and all supporting material should be sent in electronic form to therecruitccpo@wwfcarpo.org at WWF CCPO and copy DHalleson@wwfcarpo.org andLMiaro@wwfcarpo.org.
