Enterprise and Business Development Consultancy

Consultant: Enterprise and business development Consultant
Department: Conservation
Program: Field Conservation
Project number: 25-028
Location: Hoima, Uganda
Duration of assignment: 30 days
Expected Start Date of Assignment: June 10, 2019
Title: Terms of Reference for Enterprise and business development consultancy for the “Community adaptability to loss occasioned by wildlife in Uganda.” project.

Introduction/Background:

Chimpanzee Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation Trust (Chimpanzee Trust) is a Non-Governmental-Organization established in 1998 as a combined national and international initiative and a globally recognized collaborative conservation effort geared towards developing and implementing a long-term strategy for conservation of chimpanzees and their habitats in Uganda. Its mission is to promote chimpanzee conservation and environmental management for sustainable development. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees with representatives drawn from Uganda Wildlife Authority, Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda, The Jane Goodall Institute, Uganda Wildlife Education Centre and the Uganda Wildlife Society. The Chimpanzee Trust has implemented projects in the Northern section of the Greater Virunga Murchison Landscape, with a specific focus on Chimpanzee Habitats both protected and on private land in the landscape.

Background, how the project started:
Bugoma Central Forest Reserve (CFR) is a 411km2 government forest located in Hoima District Western Uganda. Like all Central Forest Reserves in Uganda, Bugoma CFR is managed as a Central Forest Reserve under the forest (Declaration) Order and the Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 63 of 1998. The project will support communities that neighbour Bugoma CFR, and those that neighbour the last remaining forest blocks on private land that are home to wildlife in the 4 parishes of Bulimya, Munteme, Bubogo and Kaseeta.

The Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (Chimpanzee Trust) received a grant for the “Community adaptability to the loss occasioned by wildlife in Uganda” project. The project will address the issue of conversion of forests to agriculture that amplifies human-wildlife conflicts (HWC) including crop damage and attacks on humans. The project will implement an integrated community adaptability program to change attitudes, minimize damage, compensate affected persons and improve local livelihoods targeting people in the Albertine Rift Landscape in the district of Kikube, western Uganda. This project will contribute to the protection and conservation of endangered chimpanzees amongst other wildlife on community and private forests and Bugoma Central Forest Reserve.

A threats analysis conducted in 2012 by the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) identified soaring problems of degradation and loss of ecosystem services provided by the forest and the named rivers including encroachment for agricultural land; Illegal timber harvesting; Crop raids by wildlife; Sedimentation and flooding; High Influx of immigrants anticipating opportunities in the oil sector; Lack of clearly marked buffer zones for the forest and the associated rivers and depletion of forested riverine corridors on private land.

In western Uganda, 98% of households rely on agriculture as their primary livelihood occupation, of which 79% is in subsistence agriculture1. However, primates especially chimpanzees are increasingly being forced into proximity with local subsistence farmers as a result of increasing encroachment and fragmentation of important protected and un-protected forests.

HWC is a complex phenomenon and there are limited practical community-led solutions on avoidance, minimization, response and long-term compensation mechanisms of affected households. In 2017, the government of Uganda introduced clauses in the revised wildlife bill to address HWC including suggesting compensation of affected victims, but there is lack of practical local led experiences on how such a policy can be implemented, or if it is practical and viable. Accordingly, establishment of a community-led system that improves community protected area authority relations, and that can put compensation on the last radar will provide a great learning opportunity to Uganda and help inform policymakers on how such a program can be implemented to save government millions of shillings in compensation.
Aim/Purpose of the consultancy: To develop enterprise and business strategy, and set up the infrastructure and institutional set-up for the project. This consultancy shall result in setting up structures and organising farmers for the resilience fund.

Objectives of the assignment

  1. Develop economic models and business plans for priority economic activities for implementation
  2. To consult potential beneficiaries on viable economic activities, and identify priority activities for implementation per village/ producer group.
  3. Train and put in place required infrastructure and institutional set-up to operate the priority economic models/ business plans.
  4. Create market linkages for products and services that accrue from the economic activities.

Scope of the assessment: The consultancy will be conducted in 32 villages in parishes of Kaseeta, Bubogo, Munteme and Bulimya of Kikube district. The engagement of communities will be done in areas near Bugoma forest reserve and major private forest blocks in the area (the 4 operational parishes of the project) of Uganda.

Cost: The Consultancy cost for each day will be UGX 550,000 per day, to cover all the costs related to the consultancy.

Time element: The consultancy service will be carried out in 30 days over a period of 3 months. The perspective start date is June 10, 2019, ending in September 10, 2019. The Consultant within the period shall assign one day for preparation and one day for reporting. The Consultant will share activity strategy and methodology with Chimpanzee Trust Executive Director or his delegate and a report provided to the Chimpanzee Trust, a week after the exercise end date.

Methodology: The Consultant shall employ good governance techniques specifically participation, inclusiveness, equality and equity for all participants. Gender incorporation and mainstreaming are vital components of this project and have to be highlighted in the baseline process for the project. The Consultant shall incorporate qualitative and quantitative methods in his data collection and reporting facets. This is what is expected of the Consultant.

The Consultant has the flexibility to choose different methods as necessary to fulfill the objectives. However, it’s expected that participatory approaches should be adopted especially for interaction during group discussions. The Consultant will do his best to make to ensure the use of resources available to him within the limited time.

The following are the expected outputs:

  1. Economic models and business plans for priority activities selected
  2. Infrastructure and institutional set-up for operating the priority economic models
  3. Consultation reports and household socioeconomic details

Reporting: The Consultant will share a draft report with Chimpanzee Trust Management, getting inputs prior to providing a final report consolidated with comments.

Management and logistical support: The Baseline Consultant will be assisted by the Education Officer (Conservation Education Coordinator) and Field Conservation Officer (Field Manager), who will be charged with ensuring they support the Consultant from the time he is awarded the Contract to the end of the assignment. Chimpanzee Trust will provide office space in the Hoima in case the Consultant needs where to sit while in Hoima Town. Chimpanzee Trust’s Local Community Engagement Monitors (Project Staff) will provide support to the Consultant during the collection of data.

The Consultant is expected to bring his own equipment. The Consultant should have an understanding of the Project Landscape and Culture. The main working language is English, though for community equity purposes local dialect of Runyakitara shall be used. The Consultant is expected to write the reports in English.

Time frame: The assignment will be carried out within thirty working days. The Consultant is expected to travel to Hoima Town and to selected-parishes near Bugoma CFR and major private forest blocks during the engagements.


Chairperson, Procurement Committee

Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust

Plot 1 Bank Close, Entebbe Town

P.0.Box 884, Entebbe-Uganda

Tel:+256414320662, +256755221877

www.ngambaisland.org

Comment(1)

  1. Aganyira Moses says

    its very true the problem is real on the ground.

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