TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR MONITORING AND EVALUATION FRAMEWORK AND MONITORING INFORMATION SYSTEM

Transcription

1 TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR MONITORING AND EVALUATION FRAMEWORK AND MONITORING INFORMATION SYSTEM 1. BACKGROUND Zambia has a total land area of 752,618 sq km of which 60% comprises forests. The forests are critical to Zambia s development in that they provide both ecosystem services and goods. Ecosystem services include carbon sequestration and storage, regulation of hydrological flows through infiltration and flood attenuation, amelioration of water quality, erosion control and sediment trapping, and serving as habitat for wildlife and birds which are so important to Zambia s tourism industry. They provide goods such as fuelwood, timber and poles, food and medicinal plants, non-woody raw materials such as thatch grass. The contribution of forestry to Zambia s GDP is currently estimated at 0.8% but taking into account the majority of the goods that are not traded in the formal market, forestry sector contribution to national GDP is probably much higher. Zambia s forest estate contained in both protected forest areas and open areas on customary lands is under serious threat of deforestation and forest degradation. Land-use change and forest loss is the main contributor to the country s GHG emissions. Deforestation and forest degradation in Zambia is estimated to contribute 3% to the total GHG emissions from deforestation worldwide. The deforestation rates in Zambia currently stand at approximately 250,000 to 300,000 hectares per year. Most of this deforestation occurs on customary lands where there is no management regime in place thus facilitating open access conditions. The key drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Zambia include fuelwood (charcoal and firewood), agricultural expansion, timber extraction, bush fires, mining and infrastructure development. Charcoal and firewood make up over 70% of the national energy consumption in Zambia as only 20% of the population has access to electricity. Central Province of Zambia has over the years experienced accelerated deforestation rates mainly due to fuelwood production and agricultural expansion with little effort put into regeneration of the indigenous

2 forests. Owing to its proximity to the Capital City Lusaka where fuelwood demand is highest, Central Province continues to suffer from high deforestation rates. The Promoting climate-resilient, community-based regeneration of indigenous forests in Zambia s Central Province project aims to contribute to overcoming barriers using an integrated approach. In particular, the project will: i) strengthen technical and institutional capacity of foresters and communities in Central Province to plan and implement climate-resilient agro-forestry and assisted natural regeneration in miombo woodlands; ii) establish robust fire monitoring and management protection plans in all districts in Central Province to maintain regeneration in these woodlands and reduce fire frequency; and iii) replace inefficient charcoal production and wood-saving technologies with efficient systems. Local communities at project intervention sites will be included in the selection and implementation of the activities, with a particular focus on enabling the most vulnerable members of these communities, including women. This is a UNDP-implemented and LDCF-financed project. 2. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT The overall goal of this project is To increase the rate of forest regeneration and promote climate-resilient adaptation practices among forest-dependent communities in Zambia s Central Province. The objective of the project is to address twin challenges of REDD+ implementation for climate mitigation and enhance climate resilience of ecosystems and communities through diversification of ecosystem-based livelihoods through ANR and Agroforestry, Integrated Fire Management and by addressing the current unsustainable utilization of biomass for charcoal by enhancing energy and resource use efficiency. 2.1 OVERCOMING BARRIER This project has three main components to overcome the main barriers to improved forest regeneration, fire management and unsustainable charcoal production through three components namely; 1. Piloting of community-based, climate adaptive agro-forestry and assisted natural Regeneration (ANR) techniques 2. Integrated Climate-Resilient Fire Management 3. Increased knowledge about and uptake of appropriate supply-side, biomass energy production technologies 3. CONTEXT The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) consultancy will help to improve the performance and achieve desired results of the project. Its goal is to improve current and future management of outputs, outcomes and impacts under component 1 of the project. The expected outcome of component 1 is enhanced capacity of foresters and communities in Central Province to implement appropriate climate-resilient agroforestry and natural regeneration practices in designated zones. The main output include: i. participatory resource mapping and zoning (identification of suitable areas for agro-forestry and assisted natural regeneration measures) taking alternative climate change scenarios into account completed in all eleven districts of Central Province

3 ii. iii. iv. Between VAGs formally recognised and constituted in Serenje district by Year 2, with clear resource rights and delineation of legally-recognised VAG boundaries and use zones All VAG boundaries and use zones registered under the Zambia Integrated Land Management and Information System Training delivered for at least 20 district forestry officers and 2,000 VAG community members on site-specific appropriate climate-resilient agro-forestry and natural regeneration practices v. Wood fuel collection zones established in all VAGs and coppicing practices promoted vi. Climate-resilient agro-forestry and ANR practices are piloted over 15,000 hectares 4. SCOPE OFTHE ASSIGNMENT In order to track the progress and outcomes as well as the impact of the project interventions, M&E framework and guidelines are required. The M&E will help the communities and project implementing team to monitor the implementation of the project. The consultancy will develop an M&E framework and Monitoring Information System for the livelihood activities and ANR as well as provision of M&E training to the District project implementing team. 5. TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES The task of the national consultant will be to: i. To establish the existence of M& E system(s) used by the local NGOs, Government and other stakeholders working with the local Communities and the extent to which the current system ensures efficient monitoring of results; ii. Conduct consultations with communities on the effectiveness of the current monitoring systems; iii. Develop an M & E System in form of a manual iv. Develop a data base, in collaboration with the project implementation team, that responds to the needs of M&E system in terms of the qualitative and quantitative data requirements v. Assess the capacity of the district implementation team in M&E. vi. Develop a training manual on the use of the M&E system and MIS vii. Organise a training workshop for district implementation team in M&E viii. Develop a management information system that meets the requirements of users at different levels ix. Develop an M&E Action Plan that specifies the responsibilities of officers for prescribed deliverables, including timelines. x. Make presentations of the M&E and MIS systems to the TC 6. EXPECTED RESULTS

4 The expected outputs are: 1. Inception report 2. M&E system developedmonitoring and Information System manual developed. 3. M&E training manual produced 4. Training report Designed and developed evaluation forms 7. DURATION OF THE CONSULTANCY The estimated duration of the consultancy for the national consultant is 55 working days spread for a period of not less than 3 months. 8. EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS i. At least 7 years of professional experience in M&E ii. At least 3 years of experience in working for any international donor-funded program; iii. Experience in development of M&E/MIS systems for projects related to forest management, natural resources management, climate change related projects, iv. Demonstrated experience in designing and managing M&E/MIS systems with similar projects involving multiple partner institutions; v. Experience with gender-sensitive programming. vi. Excellent communication, interpersonal and relationship management skills. vii. Demonstrated problem-solving and analytical skills. viii. Demonstrated proficiency and competency in Participatory Rural Appraisal ix. Excellent computer skills x. Experience and skills in training and transfer of knowledge. 9. Education Requirement : Bachelor s degree in Development Studies, Natural resources, Environmental Science, Forestry, economics, demography, geography or related field. Master s Degree in Development Studies, Natural resources, Environmental Science, Forestry, economics, demography, geography or related field. 10. Preferred Qualification Advanced certificate in monitoring and evaluation will be an added advantage Fluency in English Proven participatory monitoring and evaluation (PME&E) skills will be an added advantage

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