Request for Expressions of Interest for Provision of Consultancy Services

REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR PROVISION OF CONSULTANCY SERVICES

LIBERIA FOREST SECTOR PROJECT

PROJECT ID: P154114

GRANT ID: TFA2427

(REFERENCE NO: FDA/LFSP/CONS/24)

1.  This request for expressions of interest follows the General Procurement Notice for this project that appeared in Development Business No. WB452-01/17 of January 31, 2017.

The Government of Liberia through the Forestry Development Authority (Implementing Agency) has received a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) acting as administrator of the Liberia Single Donor Forest Landscape Trust Fund (financed by the Government of Norway) in the amount of US$36.7 million towards the cost of the Liberia Forest Sector Project, and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this Grant to eligible payments under a consultancy contract for a study on Tourism and Eco-tourism potential in targeted forest landscapes of the Liberia Forest Sector Project.

2.  OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF SERVICES

The main objective of this assignment is to undertake a strategic study of the targeted forest landscapes of the Liberia Forest Sector Project and identify sites with potential for ecotourism and tourism, and develop a sample pilot Ecotourism project within one of the identified sites.

The main tasks of the consultant firm specifically will be:

·  Identify, collect and collate all relevant studies undertaken on Liberia Tourism and Ecotourism (including the ITC Liberian National Export Strategy on Tourism 2016-2020), with an aim to avoid duplication, but rather to build on concrete actions and next steps identified by those studies.

·  Identify and document all existing sites, potential tourism attractions and activities, and tourism facilities that underpins eco-tourism potential in and around Liberian protected areas within the LFSP Targeted Forest Landscapes, along with the current impediments to tourism development.

·  Document the status of resources of touristic (infrastructures, facilities, practices, institutions) and cultural (material and immaterial resources) importance and identify the resources needed for the implementation of various eco-tourism activities through a locally led value chain analysis for eachsite.

·  Conduct a detailed assessment and document the current socio-economic conditions within the designated buffer zone areas of those aforementioned Protected areas

·  Undertake a survey to identify and assess whether there exist national tour operators in Liberia;

·  Perform a study focusing on local community views towards tourism; assess the potential and feasibility of eco-tourism in those PAs;

·  Identify regionally connected tourist activities in terms of cultural activities and events, themes, itineraries, transport, sharing expertise etc.

·  Identify and assess issues that are detrimental to eco-tourism potential within those LFSP landscapes where those PAs are situated;

·  Map out and photograph potential sites for tourism using GIS, camera and video recordings.

·  Devise plans to encourage community participation, create awareness, and put in place measures that will boost eco-tourism activities;

·  Identify and document major socio-cultural and heritage sites surrounding the protected areas mentioned above and developfeasiblestrategies to overcome the obstacles hindering development of this sector.

·  Conduct gender analysis during social assessment to identify gender related issues and opportunities to maximize involvement of women and youth in natural resources management in support to ecotourism;

·  Summarize the findings and analyze strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of current socio-economic (including tourism and culture) situation which should be incorporated into their existing and future strategic operational and Management Plans;

·  Based on outcomes of the baseline study, identify priority issues that include risks associated with, threats to biodiversity conservation, social livelihood and agro-economy, and possible longer-term changes in climatic patterns;

This assignment is expected to be implemented within 120 days.

The full terms of reference is attached (Attachment 1) to this request for expressions of interest.

3.  The Forestry Development Authority now invites eligible consultancy firms to indicate their interest in providing the required Services for the Liberia Forest Sector Project. Interested consultants must provide documentary evidence indicating that they are qualified to perform the services. Information of all relevant past experience of similar assignments must be submitted for consideration. The qualification and experience criteria to be used for selection are indicated below:

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

·  At least five years’ experience working in protected areas, biodiversity conservation, biodiversity research, and management planning;

·  Must have proven experience working on international donor-funded projects, especially assessing strategic tourism potentials;

·  Availability of Competent Staff with relevant qualification and experience to undertake the assignment;

·  Experience working in Africa; West Africa is desirable.

Note: In addition to a cover letter, profile of the firm, and other relevant documents, Consultants (firms) are advised to present all assignments of similar nature undertaken in the following format:

1. 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 Conflict of Interest, January 2011 revised July 2014 (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

5.  Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy agreement to enhance their qualifications.

6.  A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Selection based on the Consultants’ Qualifications method (CQS). For reference, please see paragraph 3.7 of the World Bank’s Consultant Guidelines, January 2011 revised July 2014, by following the link below:

http://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/894361459190142673/ProcurementConsultantHiringGuidelinesEngJuly2014.pdf

7.  Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0900 to 1600 hours.

8.  Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, by mail or by e-mail) by 16:00 GMT on August 22, 2017. Envelopes or subject of emails must be marked “Ref: Study on Tourism and Eco-tourism Potential”.

Forestry Development Authority

Whein Town, Mount Barclay

P. O. Box 3010

Montserrado County

Monrovia, Liberia

Attention: Saah A. David, Jr., National REDD+ Project Coordinator

Tel: +231(0)880699711

Email:

Attachment 1: Terms of Reference

LIBERIA FOREST SECTOR PROJECT

Assignment Title: Study on Tourism and Eco-tourism potential in the Targeted landscapes

Background and Introduction

Natural habitats are vital for assuring sustainable development. Wild habitats are the repositories of biological diversity (biodiversity) -the raw material for natural selection and adaptation. They provide myriad services that enrich and sustain human life with both tangible and intangible economic and social value including watershed protection, biological control of pests, crop pollination and life-sustaining environmental services, such as breathable air and usable water (UNWTO, 2010). Further, Liberia's ecotourism potential has long been recognized, but remainsunachieved to date due toproblemsof sufficientpolitical will, policy coherence, stakeholder coordination, infrastructure,human resources,access to financing, etc.

Secondly, around the world, eco-tourism has been hailed as a panacea: a way to fund conservation and scientific research, protect fragile and pristine ecosystems, benefit rural communities, pro- mote development in poor countries, enhance ecological and cultural sensitivity, instill environ- mental awareness and a social conscience in the travel industry, satisfy and educate the discriminating tourist, and, some claim, build world peace. Although “green” travel is being aggressively marketed as a “win-win” solution for the Third World, the environment, the tourism, and the travel industry, close examination shows a much more complex reality (Martha Honey 1999). In order to harness some of revenue and have a direct impact with limited grand dollars on this massive industry which delivers increasing numbers of travelers to regions and sites rich in biodiversity, and have far reaching effects on global environmental issues from climate change to marine conservation, some environmental grant making have funded ecotourism projects to further conservation goals.

Project description

The Liberia Forest Sector Project (LFSP) aims to contribute to the conservation of Liberia’s globally significant biodiversity, providing better representation of ecosystems within Liberia’s current protected area network and enabling active conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity by local communities. Its output includes improved capacity within the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) for conservation management and engagement with local communities.

The project is implemented by the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) through the REDD+ implementation Unit, and coordinated by its National Coordinator based at the FDA in Monrovia.

Objective of the Assignment

The main objective of this assignment is to undertake a strategic study of the targeted forest landscapes of the Liberia Forest Sector Project and identify sites with potential for ecotourism and tourism, and develop a sample pilot Ecotourism project within one of the identified sites.

Scope of Work

The LFSP (Subcomponent 2.2(iii) includes support for drafting for an analytical study regarding the potential within the targeted forest landscapes. This study intends to assess the extent to which this underdeveloped sector could provide new revenues to the Liberian protected areas and to adjacent communities within the foreseeable future. The consultant firm will be recruited nationally or internationally based on competence to conduct tourism strategic study for those PAs found within the LFSP Targeted Forest Landscapes: Sapo National Park, Gola Forest National Park, Lake Piso Multiple Use Reserve, and the Wonegisi, Grebo-Krahn, Kpo Mountain, Foya, Gbi, and Cestos-Sankwein Proposed Protected Areas. The consultant will work in collaboration with the relevant technical departments of the FDA and partners and will play a lead role in the achievement of one deliverable herein mentioned. Moreover, The consultant firm will conduct a strategic tourism study for the abovementioned Liberian proclaimed and proposed protected areas found within the Liberian national Protected Area Networks (PAN) in order to assess the prospective for eco-tourism within and around those specified protected areas and develop a sample pilot Ecotourism project within one of them, based on the findings of the study. The study results could lead to piloting eco-tourism programs and activities at one of those protected areas that are better suited, more accessible, and faster future income generation opportunities through such initiation. The main tasks of the consultant firm specifically will be:

·  Identify, collect and collate all relevant studies undertaken on Liberia Tourism and Ecotourism (including the ITC Liberian National Export Strategy on Tourism 2016-2020), with an aim to avoid duplication, but rather to build on concrete actions and next steps identified by those studies.

·  Identify and document all existing sites, potential tourism attractions and activities, and tourism facilities that underpins eco-tourism potential in and around Liberian protected areas within the LFSP Targeted Forest Landscapes, along with the current impediments to tourism development.

·  Document the status of resources of touristic (infrastructures, facilities, practices, institutions) and cultural (material and immaterial resources) importance and identify the resources needed for the implementation of various eco-tourism activities through a locally led value chain analysis for eachsite.

·  Conduct a detailed assessment and document the current socio-economic conditions within the designated buffer zone areas of those aforementioned Protected areas

·  Undertake a survey to identify and assess whether there exist national tour operators in Liberia;

·  Perform a study focusing on local community views towards tourism; assess the potential and feasibility of eco-tourism in those PAs;

·  Identify regionally connected tourist activities in terms of cultural activities and events, themes, itineraries, transport, sharing expertise etc. ()

·  Identify and assess issues that are detrimental to eco-tourism potential within those LFSP landscapes where those PAs are situated;

·  Map out and photograph potential sites for tourism using GIS, camera and video recordings.

·  Devise plans to encourage community participation, create awareness, and put in place measures that will boost eco-tourism activities;

·  Identify and document major socio-cultural and heritage sites surrounding the protected areas mentioned above and developfeasiblestrategies to overcome the obstacles hindering development of this sector.

·  Conduct gender analysis during social assessment to identify gender related issues and opportunities to maximize involvement of women and youth in natural resources management in support to ecotourism;

·  Summarize the findings and analyze strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of current socio-economic (including tourism and culture) situation which should be incorporated into their existing and future strategic operational and Management Plans;

·  Based on outcomes of the baseline study, identify priority issues that include risks associated with, threats to biodiversity conservation, social livelihood and agro-economy, and possible longer-term changes in climatic patterns;

Reporting Arrangements

The consultant firm will report directly to the Ecotourism and awareness Manager and LFSP Project Coordinator of FDA and work in close collaboration with other technical departments. FDA will consult with the Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture. The consultant firm will prepare first activities report in ninety (90) days following the start of the consultancy and final report not later than one hundred, twenty days (120days) after the close of the consultancy. The final reports of the consultancy should include:

·  Undertake a detail study to collect up to date baseline tourism potential information and establish database on current status of biodiversity, socio-economics, physical, and climatic conditions of those PAs found within the LFSP landscapes

·  Based on the outcomes of surveys, map and geo-reference, and photographs, critically analyze the present situation (paying due attention to the historical dynamics and future projection of the situation) to identify the opportunities, gaps (capacity need assessment) and threats to biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage conservation, livelihood enhancement, sustainable local development, and institutional development;

·  Conduct a detail eco-tourism potential study. If there is potential for tourism development, prepare a sustainable and integrated Eco-tourism Management Plan that could support national planning and marketing of the Liberian PAN and sets vision, goal, objectives, strategies and actions for eco-tourism development and management within the PAM program;