- Background
Guyana’s forest covers approximately 85% of the country and is estimated at 18.475 million hectares (Guyana Monitoring Reporting and Verifications System (MRVS) Interim Measures Report, 27 January, 2015). It contains over 5GtCO2 in above ground biomass. The second most important source of carbon dioxide emissions world-wide comes from deforestation and forest degradation, estimated at approximately 18% of global emissions. Guyana is committed to its international responsibilities and obligations, including obligations to address issues relating to climate change, more specifically, reductions of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation; conservation of forest carbon stock, sustainable forest management and the enhancement of forest carbon stock.
The government of The Cooperative Republic of Guyana (CRG) has embarked on a National Strategy towards the establishment of a Green Economy. The strategy includes the protection and sustainable management of the country’s forest patrimony in an effort to reduce global carbon emissions and at the same time attract resources to foster socio-economic growth and development.
The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) is a global partnership focused on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). The Readiness Fund of the FCPF assists tropical and sub-tropical developing countries in generating the systems and policies in preparation for REDD+, conserving forest carbon stock, supporting sustainable management and enhancing forest carbon stocks. To comply with FCPF requirements, the government of the CRG prepared a Readiness Preparation Proposal (RPP) that lays out a roadmap of preparation activities needed to be undertaken for Guyana to become REDD+ ready for all State Forests. The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) through the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), the State Agency with the mandate for the administration and management of the State Forest Estate, is responsible for overseeing the national implementation of key technical aspects of REDD+ activities, including REDD+ readiness activities as outlined in Guyana’s R-PP.
The agreement between Guyana and the FCPF establishes that a mid-term review of the results achieved so far under REDD+ Readiness phase should be carried out to date
- Objective of the consultancy
The objective of this assignment is to conduct the mid-term review of The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) REDD+ readiness project in Guyana. The review will verify compliance with the performance indicators and objectives as defined in the Technical Corporation agreement have been met as of the date of the evaluation. The review will also identify major bottlenecks, make recommendation on how to address them, and update the Risk Analysis Matrix.
- Main Activities
To achieve the objectives of the consultancy, the individual consultant will perform at the minimum the following activities:
- Review the Programme activities under the Readiness implementation phase and any report/recommendations to date. Particular attention is to be paid to Logical Framework indicators (and to its translation into the IDB Project Monitoring Reporting system);
- In cooperation /collaboration with the PEU, examine the overall progress made in the Program execution, and the extent to which the performance indicators have been fulfilled. Verify compliance with the performance indicators for each year, as per the Results Matrix and the general progress made in program execution in all components of the program;
- Assess the general progress made in Program execution (including field works advance);
- Assess the communication mechanisms among the different parties involved and make recommendations where applicable;
- Draw on lessons learned and recommendations for improving the program;
- Identify potential options and analyze current constraints and challenges facing the executing agency in relation to the execution of the Readiness Program and recommend ways for improving the program which could include modification of activities, program timelines, responsibilities of the Executing Agency’s staff, schedule of activities and budget allocations;
- Update the risk analysis matrix.
- Available Documents:
Available documents will be made to the consultants, these include but are not limited to the following:
- Project Agreements
- Project Proposals
- Semi-annual reports
- Contract documents
- Annual Operating Plans
- Procurement Plans
- Consultants reports of different consultancies implemented to date
- Expected Results/Deliverables
The consultant will submit the following deliverables:
- A Work Plan and schedule of visits and interview. This work plan should include timelines, draft travel itineraries if relevant, and persons to be interviewed.
- Draft Mid-term Evaluation Report incorporating lessons learned and recommendations for improving the program.
- Final Mid-term Evaluation Report. This report should include cover, main document, and all annexes.
The consultant is expected to provide for the Program the following information:
- The state of compliance with the performance indicators for each year, as per the Results Matrix and the general progress made in Program execution;
- A list of current issues that are delaying Program execution, including an analysis of the current communication system among different parties;
- A list of proposed recommendations and cost on how to address those issues;
- An updated risk analysis matrix for the Program.
- Schedule of Payment
Payments will be made based on the following payment schedule:
| Reports and Payment schedule | Payment |
| First payment
Upon submission and acceptance of the work-plan for the Mid-term Evaluation |
10% |
| Second payment
Upon the submission and acceptance of the Draft Mid-term Evaluation Report |
40% |
| Final payment
Upon submission and acceptance of the Final Mid-term Evaluation Report |
50% |
Note: Upon signing the contract for this consultancy, the consultant agrees to maintain confidentiality of the data and information provided.
- Coordination
Coordination and technical supervision of the consultancy will be carried out by the Ministry of Natural Resources, which has full authority and responsibility for this contract including oversight over service provider and of the procurement process. The Ministry of Natural Resources, through the Project Executing Unit (PEU) will as far as possible provide access to the available information to be used in the preparation of the Mid Term Report. The management of MNR will, through the Project Coordinator, approve all outputs from this consultancy.
- Characteristics of the Consultancy
Type of Consultancy: Individual consultant
Start-up date, length and duration: The level of effort is expected to be 30 days over a ninety (90) days duration starting in September, 2018 and ending in November, 2018.
- Qualifications
- The Consultant must have a Master’s Degree or equivalent in the field of Economics and Development Planning, Business Administration, Finance, Natural Resource Management and/or Environmental Management.
- At least 10 years of experience in the evaluation, preparation and execution of projects with multilateral lending agencies and experience in the forestry sector or with REDD+ projects is required.
- Broad-based work experience and thorough knowledge of functional specialty. Ability to develop, analyze and articulate project issues. Ability to diagnose problems and propose reliable solutions.
- Fluency in the English Language and excellent verbal and written communication skills are also required.
Background in project management, natural resource management, and experience in producing project evaluation and technical reports. Knowledge of the project operations and typical structure of technical cooperation operations financed by multilateral financial institutions. Knowledge of the Climate Change sector is a must. Previous experience in Guyana (and in the region) will be considered an asset.
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