TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES ON “RESEARCH ON BIODIVERSITY THREATS AND HOW THEY CAN BE CONTROLLED.

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES ON “RESEARCH ON BIODIVERSITY THREATS AND HOW THEY CAN BE CONTROLLED.

1. Background of RCCDN

RCCDN is a national member-driven civil society network working on environment, climate change and other development challenges. It is a network composed of 67-member organisation working throughout the entire Rwandan territory.

The objectives of RCCDN were designed to ensure effective networking and communication among members in the country to collectively identify their priority needs and be empowered to take a stand positioning for sustainable development amidst climate change challenges. These objectives are as follows:

• Build capacity of communities, network members and other stakeholders, necessary to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change in Rwanda.
• Lobby government and policy makers for climate-compliant development initiatives, enact and implement laws and policies that recognize climate change as a key driver to sustainable development.
• Engage cooperating partners, local and international stakeholders to take into account local climate concerns in the international instruments and development aid architecture.
• Establish accurate documentation and research on climate change response measures in Rwanda.
• Engage Rwandan negotiators to promote a just and equitable development outcome in the UNFCCC negotiations.
• Participate in local, national, regional and international climate change discourse.

RCCDN is looking for a consultant to conduct research on “biodiversity threats and how they can be controlled”.

1. Background  and rationale of study 

Both plant and animal species are disappearing at an alarming rate. The loss of biodiversity has been due to several threats that are found in protected areas even the forest reserves as describes by National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of 2016. These threats include poaching, boundary encroachment, alien invasive species, uncontrolled fire, tree cutting and vegetation clearing, illegal mining, human-wildlife conflict, wildlife poisoning, illegal fishing and illegal grazing. Apart from the protected areas some threats have been identified even outside the protected areas like illegal mining and agricultural intensification as well as the cross-cutting environment and climate change related threats that include fluctuating levels of lakes, species migration to new habitats where survival of certain species is not guaranteed.

Take an example of one cooperative reported in one of the local media bwiza.com, the production of honey shifted from 5 tonnes per year down to 0.5 tonnes per year corresponding to a loss of 90% of honey production. In the whole District of Nyamasheke, the honey production decreased from 50 tonnes per year to 19 tonnes per year. The loss is estimated at 62% of the net production of honey. Among other reasons suspected by the local populations include deforestation and chemical pesticides applications. It has been scientifically proven that Cypermethrin, Lamdba-Cyahalothrin and Ridomil which are widely used in Rwanda are highly toxic to bees. Butterflies are no more seen, and certain species of birds have become a part of history. This is by and large due to human activity on the ecosystem including use of chemical pesticides.

The loss of biodiversity is raising human survival threats as a result of reducing ecosystem services ranging from supporting, providing, regulating to recreation services. Among supporting services affected are pollinating, photosynthesis, nutrient cycling, water cycle, creation of soils and energy flow. Limitation of these services greatly affects other ecosystem services. Among providing services affected are food productivity, drinking water, forest and forest products, natural gas, medicinal benefit, animal feed and energy. Among regulating services affected are air and water purification, erosion and flood control, carbon sink and storage, and climate regulation. Among the recreation services affected are national culture, knowledge acquisition and dissemination, tourism and amusement.

Rural women in Rwanda, especially the poor, are highly vulnerable to biodiversity loss effects. They often need to walk long distances to collect water, fuelwood, wild foods, medicinal herbs, and materials for different household uses. Evidence suggests that women/girls bear more of the cost of distant water sources in Rwanda. In urban areas, waiting in line for long hours at communal water points is common. The time spent to collect these natural resources leaves women with less opportunities and choice (than men) for other productive, social and educational pursuits. As biodiversity shrinks, men aggressively take lead to possess the limited resources which compromises accession rights of women creating gender imbalance and family conflict.

Even though the threats have been identified, it is not clear to know which one is more contributing to biodiversity loss than others so that the action can be taken. It is equally not known at which extent biodiversity has disappeared. Humanity is simply living the consequences of this loss including the shortage of ecosystem services. Therefore, mitigation measures are highly needed so as to contain the adverse consequences of these biodiversity loss exacerbated by climate change effects. This requires in-depth research to guide policy and planning decision making processes.

2. Scope of the work 

The consultant will undertake the research on biodiversity threats and how they can be controlled, as a part of implementation of RCCDN Action plan for the year 2022.

The study aims at identifying potential threats on flora and fauna and suggests relevant control measures to contain the threats. To achieve this, the consultant shall carry out a comprehensive study on biodiversity by identifying all sources of threats that are likely to affected them at the end she/he will suggest appropriate measures for mitigating the identified threats.

3. Responsibilities of the consultant

• Develop methods to be used for achieving the purpose of the study,
• Develop tools for data collection as it will be agreed upon with the members of RCCDN during the inception report,
• Participate in the recruitment and training of enumerators that will be sent on the field for data collection,
• Make a report and presentation of the research findings first to the RCCDN members for validation and to the RCCDN with stakeholders,
• Make a final report after incorporating all relevant inputs from RCCDN and stakeholders.
• Produce a Position Paper that will be used to influence Decision makers.
• Produce Policy briefs to be used in National dialogue meetings.

4. Qualifications 

Education:

• At least a Master’s degree in Biodiversity Conservation, Plant/Animal Taxonomy, Ecological Surveys, Ecosystem Assessments and Management;
• At least 10 years of working experience of research in Rwanda biodiversity inventory, ecosystem/species assessments and biodiversity conservation;

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience in coordination of enumerators for biodiversity field surveys;
• Demonstrated experience in training on taxonomy and biodiversity inventory;
• At least 5 years working experience in using IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature ) redlist system of red listing for species and ecosystems;
• Demonstrated experience of at least 5 years of using GIS technology for species distribution;
• Excellent communication skills, reporting with ability to express ideas clearly, concisely and effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Fluency in English, French and Kinyarwanda.

5. Reporting: Final product

Output 1: An inception report to be produced one week after signing of the contract. The Inception Report should outline the methodology to complete the tasks, the activity plan, and details on the entire work plan;

Output 2: Design/ develop a detailed plan for a Biodiversity threats assessment in Rwanda especially in the identified ecological zones

Output 3: A Biodiversity threat assessment report of Rwanda for establishing their baseline values, indicators and index

Output 4: Assess/review indicators and their baseline values for the ecosystem health and the Biodiversity Intactness Index in the targeted districts, including endangered species;

Output 5: Establish systems and processes to measure changes in these indicators that can be integrated in the SMART GIS software to monitor the nature and severity of threats to the relevant ecological processes and components; specifically, for the threats of endangered species in the study area;

Output 6: Stakeholder analysis and capacity assessment of various stakeholders relevant to the biodiversity threat control,

Output 7: Biodiversity species monitoring protocol in the study area;

Output 8: Validation session with RCCDN and stakeholders on biodiversity threat assessment and controlling measures;

Output 9: Provide technical guidance/input to the design of the biodiversity-based project for biodiversity conservation;

Output 10: Final report summarizing activities completed achievements against the ToR and main recommendations for the further development.

6. Duration of the assignment 

This is a 45-working day consulting task, starting from, 15th, June, 2022. The consultant will undertake field work in the study area (selected according the reported threats). The consultant will be in close consultation with RCCDN staff in charge of Research and other relevant staffs.  In particular, the consultant will work closely with RCCDN members located in the districts making the study area.

7. Payment modality 

RCCDN is an equal opportunity organisation for both men and women. Interested consultant should send CV and technical & financial offer to RCCDN at rccdn@rccdnetwork.org Consultants will be assessed based on a combined technical score (70%) and financial score (30%), Not later than 10th, June, 2022.

Done at Kigali 1st June 2022

Mr. VUNINGOMA Faustin

RCCDN Coordinator