Request for proposals - A Policy Strategy and Engagement Consultant to Support the Africa Protected Area Directors Network

Full Job Description

Introduction

The Africa Protected Areas Director network (APAD) is a platform open to the representatives of national authorities of Protected Areas operating throughout Africa. APAD aims to: foster information sharing; develop a common agenda for Africa’s Protected Areas; and facilitate collaboration and collective responsibility among the Africa Protected Areas Directors. The Africa Protected Areas Director network (APAD) was formed in 2020 in response to the unprecedented disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic caused to the management and operations of Africa’s Protected and Conserved Areas, and with a view to articulate aligned priorities and needs of Africa’s Protected Area Directors at the inaugural Africa Protected Areas Congress (APAC).

APAD is underpinned by an Africa-led agenda for protected and conserved areas as the backbone of natural infrastructure. Three thematic objectives cut across APAD’s work: (1) To ensure sustainable financing for all of Africa’s protected and conserved areas; (2) To strengthen the resilience and emergency preparedness of Africa’s protected and conserved areas to disasters and pandemics; (3) To establish cooperation mechanisms among APAD members and their networks.

The African Wildlife Foundation also known as AWF is the oldest and largest Africa-based and Africa-focused conservation non-governmental organization with a mission to ensure wildlife and wild lands thrive in modern Africa. The African Wildlife Foundation’s 2020-2030 strategy looks to forge a uniquely Africa-led conservation agenda and narrative that safeguards biodiversity, secures ecosystem services, and delivers economic and social benefits to communities as well as to local and national economies. The African Wildlife Foundation works in 10 African countries across 17 landscapes with programs across 3 broad themes: wildlife conservation, land & habitat protection, and community empowerment. This work is supported by a policy and leadership program that is focused on African leaders and institutions, and the peers they engage at the national, regional, and global level.

The African Wildlife Foundation’s policy and global leadership engagement is based on the principle that African leaders are integral to ensuring that all relevant constituencies in and beyond Africa prioritize the conservation of the continent’s biodiversity. It is supported by the African Wildlife Foundation’s partnerships with pan-African platforms and networks, including the Africa Protected Area Directors network (APAD), for which AWF hosts the secretariat function.

APAD and AWF, alongside other partners are collaborating to implement its inaugural project titled Advancing pan-African Collaboration for Improved Protected and Conserved Area Governance. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, the project will seek to enhance APAD’s cooperation mechanisms, enhance collaboration between APAD, Youth and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities as co-implementers of biodiversity conservation. The project is implemented with direction from a steering committee which is made up of APAD leadership, APAD members, collaborators of APAD and the APAD Secretariat.

This project aims to promote the recognition and contribution of APAD to Africa’s implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework which sets out goals and targets to be achieved by 2030 to halt biodiversity loss. To this end, APAD and AWF are seeking a consultant to support the realization of the following objectives: (1) Develop knowledge products for policy influencing including but not limited to 2 workshops, 2 policy briefs, 2 position papers, 1 factsheet, and 1 toolkit; (2) Develop case studies on Africa’s implementation of conservation priorities by a minimum of 8 APAD member countries; (3) Host an APAD conference and carry out a behavioural change and communications outreach campaign.

Scope of Work

1. Lead in consolidating / developing a toolkit around an issue of keen and practical interest and use for the APADs.
2. Coordinate APAD member countries in developing case studies on their role in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This will entail:
   1. Desk and primary research and analysis of how members contribute to the development and implementation of National Biodiversity and Strategy Action Plans.
   2. Designing and administering a case study template for member completion.
   3. Reviewing submitted case studies.
   4. Facilitating the development of recommendations for enhancing member roles in their national conservation agenda.
   5. Leading the documentation of these case studies in relevant formats.
3. Lead in coordinating the development of an in-person conference of APADs that serves as a culmination of the learning and sharing processes.
4. Provide advisory input to 2 workshops, 2 policy briefs, 2 position papers, and 1 factsheet, 1 communications outreach campaign guided by the project’s objectives and themes and key stakeholders.

Deliverables

1. Support in consolidating / developing a 1 toolkit for APADs on a key issue of common interest.
2. Case study template and report analyzing case studies, with recommendations on enhancement of the role of Protected and Conserved Areas in the implementation of conservation policy.
3. The Program schedule for planned APAD in person conference Advisory input to:
   1. Knowledge products (2 policy briefs, 2 position papers, and 1 factsheet).
   2. Op-eds, interviews, web articles and other outputs of the communications outreach campaign.

Methodology

The consultant will develop a work plan and conclude a schedule, which will be finalized with the APAD project steering committee and in undertaking the contract assignment will:

1. Determine an appropriate methodology.
2. Work in close collaboration with the APAD project steering committee and the Secretariat. This will include attending project steering committee meetings and any other relevant discussions.
3. Undertake the collection of all required data/information from various sources. This may include conducting phone interviews and other forms of primary data collection.
4. Work with the Secretariat to facilitate the collection of the data/information with required official letters and contacts with focal person(s) wherever required.
5. Undertake a review, assessment, and judgment of the data/information in close consultation with the APAD project steering committee.

Qualifications

1. At least 5 years of consulting experience, with demonstrated project management expertise.
2. Advanced university degree in conservation or any related field or demonstrated equivalent work experience.
3. Familiarity with Africa’s Protected Areas, with academic or work experience preferred.
4. Proven experience in developing strategies and engagement plans.
5. Demonstrated ability to work independently and to coordinate input from a variety of actors.
6. Strong Communication and ICT skills.
7. Excellent analytical writing skills in English, with a strong preference for the development of policy engagement materials. French will be an added advantage.

Confidentiality:

The Consultant will be bound by an absolute duty, both during and after the contractual period, to maintain and safeguard the confidentiality of information that the Consultant will be entrusted with or exposed to during the assignment under this Agreement.

Duration of the Assignment

The consultant will be expected to work within a period of 7 days from the day of signing the contract.

Duty Station

The consultant will undertake a distance mode of working based on the agreed work-plan and methodology. The consultant is expected to use his/her own computer and other equipment required for the task.

Reporting Mechanism

The Consultant will report to the co-chairs of the APAD Working Group on Emergency Preparedness by providing the following:

1. An inception report within 7 days from the date of signing the contract, containing his/her understanding of the TORs, the work plan, methodology and the list of stakeholders who will be consulted.
2. A progress report with the zero-draft toolkit and case studies within 8 weeks from the date of signing the contract.
3. Final draft toolkit and case studies within 16 weeks from the date of signing the contract.
4. A zero draft program schedule within 6 weeks from the date of signing the contract.
5. A final APAD conference program within 10 weeks from the date of signing the contract.
6. A final report by March 15, 2024.

Modalities of Payment

The modalities for the payment of this consultant will be based on the rules and regulations of the Procurement Unit of the African Wildlife Foundation.

Proposal Guidelines and Criteria for Consultant selection

Interested consultants should submit a proposal that includes:

• A detailed description of services offered that satisfy the scope of work;
• A cost breakdown of services;
• At least two examples of services rendered to comparable non-profits, including a detailed description of the work offered; and
• Designated account point of contact.

AWF will evaluate bids based on the vendor’s experience, costs and ability to satisfy the proposed scope of work. Given the Global nature of AWF’s work, vendors with international databases will be given preference.

Submission of Application

Please submit proposals via email to  with a copy to   by 5.00 pm EAT on October 12, 2023.

Early submissions are welcome and appreciated. AWF may request meetings or calls to discuss proposals and reserves the right to reject any and all bids. AWF also reserves the right to consider bids for modification at any time before an award is made.

AWF will not be liable for any costs associated with the preparation, transmittal or presentation of any materials submitted in response to this RFP, but reserves the right to request further information before making an award