Preparation of Operational Manual for comprehensive BSP(ERP)

Source: World Bank — Oromia National Regional State Forested Landscape Program

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION)

Name of Country: Ethiopia

Client: Oromia Environmental Protection Authority (OEPA)               

Name of Project: Oromia National Regional State Forested Landscape Program (OFLP)

Grant No: TA 4442 and TF A4467

Assignment Title: Preparation of Benefit Sharing Operational Manual

Reference No.: ORCU/OFLP/IC/01/2022

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has received financing from International Development Association (IDA) toward the cost of Oromia National Regional State Forested Landscape Program (OFLP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services to prepare benefit sharing plan operational manual. Therefore, the OEPA now invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in preparing the operational manual.

Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. In addition, the consultants should provide the mandatory legal documents such as renewed professional and trade licenses to provide services, VAT Registration Certificate (for Nationals only for contract amount more than ETB 200,000).

General Objective    

The  main objective of the assessment ; based on the already finalized and at hand technical documents including  BSP, the ERPD, the PAD  for the OFLP-ERP  and others as appropriate, is to develop the detail BSP operational manual  that guides the implementation of  the ER benefit in accordance with the BSP document  during ERPA phase one, which  will also be flexible enough to be amended in the future for its use during subsequent  ERPA phase (phase-two).

Specific Objectives

The specific objectives are:

• To conduct desk review of relevant documents including the BSP at hand for ERPA phase one (Forest), the Project Appraisal Document (PAD) of OFLP-ERP, the main emission reduction program document (ERPD) for the OFLP, the OFLP grant PAD, and the OFLP grant PIM as needed;
• To identify key steps and procedures in the process of vertical and horizontal benefit allocation judging by contribution and performance level of beneficiaries, benefit distribution  and fund flow, use of ER fund/ benefit for local level projects ( social and natural resource restoration projects), and environmental and social safeguards requirements to be observed while implementing local projects;
•  To develop an operational manual that guides the implementation of the ER benefits received by each eligible beneficiary (Government, Community and private sector) at all levels- federal up to grass roots level complementary to the BSP; The manual will detail procedures for identifying, designing, implementing and monitoring of the community development projects including responsibilities of each entity ( government body at each level and community at grass root level) throughout the project life cycle.

Scope of the Work

The OFLP-ERP benefit sharing implementation follows the geographic scope of the program (Oromia-jurisdiction) and involves varied stakeholders including, the state level (both national & regional), community across the jurisdiction and the private sectors based on their contribution and verified performance. The OFLP-ERP on the ground is implemented in diverse geographic, ecological and socio- political circumstances as is true in the real world where different actors come into play. As the result, the OFLP-ERPA benefit sharing implementation manual preparation assignment is expected to critically consider these   geographic, institutional  and social dynamics paying emphasis on the potential environmental and social risks identified in the ESRA document, risk management plan with their devised  mitigation strategies. 

Accordingly, the following tasks will be carried out:

1. Conduct an in-depth review of  program document and other relevant materials pertaining to legal, policy and ethical provisions on access to natural resources;
2. Assess on contextual issues of rights and duties of stakeholders in  national and regional policy and legal provisions;
3.  Conduct desk review of relevant documents including the BSP at hand for ERPA phase one(forest), the Project Appraisal Document (PAD) of OFLP-ERP, the main Emission Reduction Program Document(ERPD) of the OFLP, the OFLP grant PAD and OFLP grant PIM as required;
4. Undertake reviews of additional  documents external to the program  but relevant to the benefit sharing rights, responsibilities and duties;
5. Identify key steps and procedures in the process of vertical and horizontal benefit allocation judging by contribution and performance level of beneficiaries, benefit distribution and fund flow, use of ER fund/ benefit for local level projects (Social and natural resource restoration projects) and environmental and social safeguard requirements to be observed while implementing local projects as well as steps and arrangements of monitoring and evaluation of the he BSP implementation.
6. Prepare a BSP operational manual that serves as main guiding document complementing to the BSP document. The BSP operational manual will be used to guide how to implement the share of the ER benefits received by each eligible beneficiary (Government, Community and private sector) at all levels- federal up to grass root level. The manual will detail procedures for identifying, designing, implementing and monitoring of the community development projects including responsibilities of each entity ( government body at all levels and community at grass root level) throughout the project life cycle.
7. Conduct consultations with relevant stakeholders at federal and regional levels at the interim stage of the assignment for feedback  and fact-check  as appropriate, and present key elements and arrangements in the draft operational at advanced stage for more feedbacks from all stakeholders;
8. Develop a plan for monitoring  and reporting of the implementation of the BSP;
9. Incorporate feedbacks, finalize and submit the BSP operational Manual.

Consultant Qualification & Experiences Required

The consultant to be contracted is expected have a minimum qualification of master degree and at least 10 years’ experience in the following fields

• MA/PHD in Social development, Sociology, Economics Environmental Sciences,  Environmental Natural Resources Economics/ Environmental policy, political science, Social Work and other related ;
• Expert in Environment natural resources governance/Natural Resources Policy;
• Previous work and/or experience in developing similar manuals  with social and development issues, human  rights  and the World Bank  Social and Environmental Framework (ESF), the government’s public financial management especially the Channel One fund flow mechanism;
• Good communication, analytical and writing skills;
• Experience on REDD+, particularly on carbon benefit sharing, the economics of REDD+ and land policy issues is desired.

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 and revised July 2014 (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.  In addition, please refer to the following specific information on conflict of interest related to this assignment (paras 1.9 (a-d) of the Consultant Guidelines.

Duration of the Assignment, Work Place and Coordination

The total contract duration for this assignment is three months (Ninety days) from the signing of the contract. The assignment is an in office work and bound to desk and document reviews. As the result the work is conducted in Finfinne/ Addis Ababa.

The individual consultant will have full access to all program documents unless those classified as confidential to ORCU and its partners. In such cases where the IC critically need these confidential documents ORCU deserve the right to decide the modalities of access. The individual consultant will be provided with seat and desk for the times he may stay at ORCU office for document review but also free to select where to conduct the review at his own cost other than ORCU office.

Further information and full version of the ToR can be obtained at the address below during office hours, 9:00am to 12:00am and 2:00pm to 5:00pm local time.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by e-mail) by 5th November, 2022 on or before 05:30PM local time.

Oromia Environmental Protection Authority, Procurement, Finance and Property Administration Directorate, Finfinne/Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel.: +251118349814

Attention: Taye Dugassa, Program Coordinator

Around Sarbet on the Road from Pushkin Square to Kera, Oromia Bureaus New Buildings 7th Floor

Email address: taye_dugassa@yahoo.com CC: biirtaa@gmail.com