Terms Of Reference For Consultancy Services For “Evaluation Of Gender Mainstreaming In Conservation Of Greater Virunga Landscape”
CONTEXT
The Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) was established through a treaty signed by the three partner states of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda on 30th October 2015, as a collaborative transboundary framework of programs, plans and activities to conserve a network of Protected Areas (PAs) in the Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL) of DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda. The treaty was a climax of 10 years of formal engagement between the three countries. The GLV covers spaces and communities around the Protected Areas (PA) of Virunga National Park (NP), Semuliki NP, Queen Elizabeth NP, Volcanoes NP, Rwenzori Mountains NP, Mgahinga Gorilla NP, and Bwindi Impenetrable NP including lakes, rivers, and tributaries.
The objectives of GVTC as enshrined in the treaty are;
• To promote and coordinate the conservation of biodiversity and other socio-cultural values within the Greater Virunga wildlife protected area network;
• To develop strategies for Transboundary management of biodiversity
• To promote and ensure coordinated planning, monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of transboundary conservation and development projects;
• To promote and coordinate tourism development in GVL
• To secure sustainable funding for the Conservation of GVL
• To enhance and harmonise the generation and sharing of knowledge, experience, and best practices for evidence-based decision making
In undertaking to achieve the stated objectives and using various strategies and approaches, GVTC works with both state and non-state partners, including local communities, with the following key roles:
• Coordination and convening of stakeholder partnerships and meetings
• Information and information management/ clearing house
• Brokering/Mediation
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Warning bell/early warning system
• Implementation of some interventions
Protected Areas within GVL play a significant role in countries’ national economies as well as in the livelihood of the neighbouring communities. Currently, businesses for conservation and nature-based solutions have been at the forefront of debates and discussions in the conservation and sustainable development arena as the new sustainable approaches to address the effects of climate change, environmental degradation, and loss of biodiversity. People-centred conservation approach is seen as the holistic approach considering and engaging the local community as the key player in conservation. Tourism is one of the key drivers to bringing together business, nature, and people to ensure sustainability. Due to the effects of COVID-19, it was clear that there was a need to find new strategies to enhance and promote local domestic tourism and engage local communities in a new sustainable and resilient tourism business.

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Purpose And Objectives
The purpose of this consultancy is to develop a Strategy aiming at enhancing local capacities in the tourism business within GVL, considering the GVL specificities and tourism opportunities, lessons learned from previous tourism and community projects, and the global trends for tourism business and climate change resilience.
The specific objectives are;
• To analyse existing community tourism businesses and actors, challenges including effects of COVID-19, success, and lessons learned that would feed in the new strategy.
• To undertake a thorough analysis of factors about tourism development in GVL and new opportunities to explore as a new niche market, considering the current trends of conservation, tourism, and climate change effects.
• To come up with clear recommendations that would support GVTC to strengthen and enhance the capacities of the local community in the tourism business
• To propose measures and concrete actions to deal with the outcomes of the analysis.
• To identify and characterise specifically the relevant capacity needs of local stakeholders about tourism business in the GVL.
• To propose an Action Plan and indicative budget as to priorities that need to be initiated to increase the local capacities in the tourism business

Required Competencies
The consultant must have demonstrated knowledge, skills, and experience in gender mainstreaming in NRM and biodiversity conservation, emphasising protected area management. They must have demonstrable experience working in the three GVL countries. The consultant must also produce evidence of previous similar work in the form of publications, reports, media articles… They must demonstrate the ability to work in a multicultural environment and to master one of the official GVL languages, i.e., English or French, and knowledge of the other is an added advantage

Timeframe
The consultancy should be conducted for 30 calendar days from the date of contract signing. However, the consultant might technically propose a realistic work plan based on this period, which will form part of the GVTC evaluation criteria.

Submission Of Proposals
Interested Consultants are required to submit their proposal note with the following components:
1. The technical part shall include, among other things:
• A detailed description of the methodology to be used for performing the assignment
• A clear and comprehensive work plan outlining the significant activities and implementation schedule, including activity schedules giving details of commencement and completion of different tasks
• Any comments or suggestions on the ToRs
1. A financial proposal with itemised budgets and explanatory notes
The proposal should be limited to 10 pages max in length (not including attachments), single-spaced, using a 12-Myriad Pro font.
Proposals must be either in English or in French and submitted electronically to GVTC Executive Secretary by email at es@greatervirunga.org and copying the following Email addresses:
rkabeya@greatervirung.org; jmukeshiimana@greatervirunga.org and pruhumuliza@greatervirunga.org.
The deadline of submission is 28 November 2022 before 5h00. The entire Consultancy ToRs is posted to GVTC Website; And for any clarification required, contact this Mob. +250 78830 0912
Dr. Andrew G. Seguya,
GVTC Executive Secretary