Terms of References (ToRs): Consultancy to review SACOLA strategic plan

Background

The International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) is a coalition of three international conservation organizations (Conservation International, Fauna & Flora International and WWF) with a mission of securing the future for mountain gorilla.

The programme operates in the three countries that share the habitat of the mountain gorillas; Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda, and works in close partnership with the Protected Area Authorities of the three countries (Rwanda Development Board, RDB in Rwanda; Institute Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, ICCN in DRC; Uganda Wildlife Authority, UWA in Uganda) and the umbrella mechanism for transboundary collaboration through the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC).


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The IGCP strategy is based on five objectives:

• Strategic Objective 1: By 2024, improved tourism practices contribute to risk reduction to mountain gorillas by at least 30%;
• Strategic Objective 2: By 2024, men and women in park adjacent communities perceive that the positives from mountain gorilla conservation are equitably distributed and outweigh the negatives;
• Strategic Objective 3: By 2024, improved monitoring and transboundary collaboration contributes to at least 30% reduction in illegal activities in mountain gorilla habitat;
• Strategic Objective 4: By 2024, habitat and buffer zone safeguarding processes contribute to healthy mountain gorilla populations while protecting community rights;
• Strategic Objective 5: By 2024, enhanced internal and institutional capacity to deliver mountain gorilla conservation.

In 2018, IGCP supported SACOLA in developing its 5-year strategic plan with an aim to support it to achieve lasting results, and meet the needs of its members, communities, partners and stakeholders. Since then, some work has been going on to implement the strategy.

However, some setbacks occurred as well, including the impacts of COVID-19 that greatly affected SACOLA’ s operations and capacity to generate funds to invest in the implementation of this strategy. With the now changing context, it is vital to review the current strategy, with an aim to identify challenges that affected its implementation, lessons learnt that need to be taken forward in the next 2 years as SACOLA decided to extend the current strategy up to 2024.

It is against this background that, IGCP in partnership with SACOLA are looking for a consultant to conduct the review of the current SACOLA strategic plan and propose practical recommendations to improve strategic delivery in the next 2 years of the current strategy extension.

About SACOLA

Sabyinyo Community Livelihoods Association (SACOLA), is a non-profit-making association governed by the law n° 2°/2000 of July 26, 2000, relating to the non-profit-making associations. It was created in 2004 by the population of the former Kinigi District surrounding the Volcanoes National Park with the assistance of the Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN), the International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP), the government authorities of surrounding sectors and Kinigi District. The association started with 34 founder members representing the rest of the population of sectors surrounding Volcanoes National Park.

SACOLA Association was created within a framework of conservation of Volcano National Park in order to help the surrounding population to initiate development activities for improving their livelihood while at the same time limiting the threats to conserving Volcano National Park in general and mountain gorillas in particular. 

Mission and objectives of SACOLA

SACOLA’ s mission is to improve the relationship between the local community and the Volcanoes National Park towards conservation of natural resources, mainly the endangered mountain gorillas

SACOLA’ s specific objectives include:

• To sensitize communities neighboring Volcanoes National Park so that they can contribute to its sustainable conservation;
• To sensitize the communities on the need for organizing income generating activities through cooperatives working for poverty alleviation;
• To help the population to develop competences in management and customer care for tourists visiting Volcanoes National Park and other touristic sites;
• To sensitize the population to fight against diseases;
• To contribute to livelihood improvement of the communities in the area through infrastructure projects like water, schools, health centers, and tourist’s accommodation facilities.
• To carry out social, economic, or cultural activities that can help members to develop themselves and the community.

Purpose, objectives and scope of the assignment

The main objective of this assignment is to review the implementation of existing SACOLA strategic plan and elaborate clear and comprehensive recommendations for the nest 2-year strategic plan extension that takes into account the current SACOLA operational context.

More specifically, the objectives of the assignment are:

1. To assess the progress of implementation of the strategic programs/projects/activities as proposed in the current strategic plan
2. To conduct a situational analysis to have an overview of the organization’s strength, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities in terms of the implementation of the strategic plan.

To propose clear and actionable recommendations about course-correction of the current strategic plan that considers the following:

1. Propose projects and activities that need to be carried forward in the next 2 years of the strategic plan extension,
2. Propose projects/activities of which the implementation approach need to be changed and adopted to the current context
3. Propose approaches/implementation arrangements required to effectively implement projects/activities in the categories above (in a and b).
4. To develop a result-based work plan and budget for the proposed projects/activities
5. To develop a result-based monitoring plan for the proposed work plan

The consultant will work in the area of operation of SACOLA (Kinigi & Nyange). The consultant will interact with SACOLA Executive committee, SACOLA members, SACOLA key stakeholders who participated in the establishment of SACOLA and other stakeholders who work closely with them to obtain all information on the current operation of SACOLA, its achievements, gaps and what should be improved to make SACOLA a stronger organization at national, regional even international level. This should go beyond the current situation of SACOLA.

Expected Deliverables

The following are expected deliverables:

1. An inception report that will be submitted soon after the inception meeting
2. A new reviewed Strategic plan that will also cover 2-years extension of the current strategy
3. Facilitate the validation workshop/meeting of the new revised strategy.
4. Provide final strategic plan  with input from validation meeting if any

Methods

The consultant will propose a detailed methodology that should include but not limited to the following:

Documents review

Documentation will mainly focus on SACOLA’ s origin, governance, and achievements in relation to the vision, mission, and objectives. Documents will include, but not limited to SACOLA constitutions, internal rules and regulations, procedures manual, reports, previous and current strategic plan, project/activity reports, internal and external communications with stakeholders, minutes, SACOLA agreement with Governors Camp and any other document that can help to have a good understanding of the organization.

Interviews and focus group discussion

The consultant will conduct interviews with SACOLA committees, SACOLA members, stakeholders, and partners including: RDB/VNP, Musanze District, IGCP, RGB, Governors Camp, local authorities of Kinigi and Nyange sector and other stakeholders that would help to have information on the current situation of SACOLA and what should be done to help the organization to continue growing and while staying focused on its mission, objectives and improving partnerships and networks as well.

The consultant will also discuss with community members and beneficiaries of projects to compare achievements, gaps and challenges encountered while supporting the community and to have recommendations on the way forward. As and when required, the consultant will combine interviews with focus group discussions to triangulate information from different sources and stablish validity.

Observation

The consultant will conduct direct field observations to obtain first-hand information and evidence and corroborate it with information obtained through other discussions on processes, achievements and challenges relating to SACOLA’ s work. This will be intended to assess authenticity and validity of the information obtained which could later be used to advise on project implementation, outcomes and impact that reinforce the visibility of the organization among SACOLA members and other people who would like to learn or replicate SACOLA’ s achievements.

Field work:

The consultant will take time to visit some of the SACOLA projects and discuss with beneficiaries and SACOLA particular committees that were involved in the project implementation and follow up. This will help to get lessons learned that would support the organization to build on its success and to recommend on how to address gaps and challenges in its project management strategies (associate projects with community problems and needs).

 Time frame:

This consultancy should last fifteen (15) working (payable) days spread over a period of one (1) month, and starting the day after the signing of the contract.

Profile of the consultant

The successful consultant should possess the following qualifications and experience:

• Possess Master or Bachelor degree in one of the following fields: business administration, community Development social work, Economics, Development studies or its equivalent.
• Relevant professional skills and a matching experience in undertaking of assignments of a similar nature and scope;
• A good understanding of the local context, especially conservation of natural resources, tourism community development.
• Good analytical skills and an ability to provide practical and sound advice on rural development issues.
• Good understanding of community, institutional and government roles and responsibilities.
• Have two projects of previous work successfully implemented which are related/similar in nature to this assignment.
• Have full knowledge and command of English and Kinyarwanda, with use of French being an advantage.

 How to apply

   The Letter of expression of interest including the following:

Technical Proposal that comprises of the following:

1. A suitability statement including CV with details of qualifications and experience,
2. A technical proposal that summarizes understanding of the ToRs, a detailed methodology and tools to be used,
3. Reference letters or certificates from the previous similar assignments.

Financial Proposal

The financial proposal shall include direct and indirect costs inclusive of all required taxes (for those not registered in Rwanda, include Reverse VAT of 33% for all professional fees as required by Rwandan law). Financial proposal should be prepared in RWF.

The application including elements above and other supporting documents should be sent to the following email address: procurement@igcp.org, cc: akizihira@igcp.org & bmugabukomeye@igcp.org

The deadline for submitting applications is 12- December  2022, at 3:00 pm Central Africa Time.