Consultancy Service to Support for Environmental and Social Co-benefit and Risk Assessment of Nghe An and Thanh Hoa's Provincial REDD+ Action Plans

TERMS OF REFERENCE

SUPPORT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CO-BENEFIT AND RISK ASSESSMENT OF NGHE AN AND THANH HOA’S PROVINCIAL REDD+ ACTION PLANS

Organisation:        SNV Netherlands Development Organisation
Program:               REDD+
Donor:                   BMUB
Abstract:              Consultancy service to support for Environmental and Social Co-Benefit and Risk Assessments of Nghe An and Thanh Hoa’s Provincial REDD+ Action Plans        
Location:               Hanoi
Duration:               Indicative 30 man-days over the period from February to June 2018

Background and rationale                                                                                                

SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) has been working in Vietnam since 1995. Using market based approaches and balancing benefit for gender equality promotion, SNV is committed to reducing poverty by catalysing environmentally sustainable solutions for the poor in agriculture, energy, water & sanitation, and REDD+.

Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+) is a mechanism that has been developed through international negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that will provide results-based financial incentives to developing countries for actions which reduce emissions from forested lands and investing  in low-carbon paths to sustainable development. Vietnam has demonstrated considerable interest in REDD+ and has made important progress to date in terms of preparing for REDD+ implementation at both national and sub-national levels.

In 2012, Vietnam developed its first National REDD+ Action Plan (NRAP) and requested the development of action plans at provincial level. Since then, a total of 19 provinces (including Nghe An and Thanh Hoa) have now elaborated and approved Provincial REDD+ Action Plans (PRAPs), the majority with support from various international development assistance programmes in the forest sector. However, in recognition of various shortcomings, Vietnam decided to review and revise its NRAP. In April 2017, Vietnam’s Prime Minister approved a revised National REDD+ Action Programme (NRAP). The new NRAP outlines 7 work packages with a total of 35 strategic Policies and Measures (PaMs) which provide clearer guidance on how Vietnam intends to achieve REDD+. The new NRAP is oriented in the wider context of green growth/sustainable development and calls for considerable inter-sectoral coordination in order to achieve REDD+ objectives, notably including work packages on integrated land use planning and sustainable agriculture. Another key difference is that the new NRAP is for the period 2017-2030.

Provinces are therefore requested to update their PRAPs in line with the new NRAP. This is particularly important for North Central Coast (NCC) Provinces which form the Emission Project Area for Vietnam’s submission to the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility’s (FCPF) Carbon Fund. Comments on Vietnam’s last Emission Reduction Project Document (ERPD) indicated the need to align provincial level plans with the activities proposed in the ERPD with realistic activities, budgets and clear indications of the siting of activities.

SNV in partnership with the Vietnam REDD+ Office (VRO) is implementing a project entitled “Operationalising National Safeguards Requirements for Results-based payments from REDD+”, funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB). The project aims to support Vietnam to become eligible for results-based payments through the establishment of a country safeguard framework and improved institutional capacity for REDD+ safeguards implementation, monitoring and reporting at national and sub-national levels. The project collaborates closely with the UN-REDD Programme and the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) in supporting Vietnam to achieve this objective.

The project supports Vietnam to define its country approach to REDD+ safeguards at the national level in order to meet the UNFCCC requirements. Meanwhile at the sub-national level, the project aims to support the development of PRAPs for two provinces within a priority forest landscape i.e. Nghe An and Thanh Hoa. The intention being to demonstrate a process for ensuring that multiple benefits and safeguards are thus integrated into sub-national implementation plans for REDD+ activities. The project requires the support of a dedicated consultant to conduct an environmental and social co-benefit and risk assessment in Nghe An and Thanh Hoa as part of the process of updating their PRAPs.

Objectives

The overall objective of the assignment is to conduct an assessment of environmental and social co-benefits and risks associated with REDD+ activities as identified in the updated Nghe An and Thanh Hoa PRAPs and develop a clear framework of co-benefit enhancement and risk mitigation measures and procedures in response.

An important objective of the work is to propose a safeguards plan that is consistent with the proposed Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for the Emission Reduction Project Area, whilst also being aligned with an emerging Country Safeguards Framework (being developed concurrently by the project and other stakeholders at the national level) that utilizes existing Vietnamese safeguards-relevant policies, laws and regulations to address and respect UNFCCC safeguards requirements throughout REDD+ implementation. As such, the work may serve as a pilot approach for the integration of safeguards in sub-national REDD+ planning, and implementation. Finally, by indicating safeguards monitoring arrangements and information to be collected, the work will also inform the development of sub-national reporting systems to the Safeguards Information System (SIS), also currently under development at the national level.

Tasks

Working closely with and under the direction of the SNV’s International REDD+ Technical Advisor:

• Desk review and scoping (3 days): Conduct a desk review of relevant literature to understand the background context relevant to causes and drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Nghe An and Thanh Hoa provinces. In particular, review the Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) and Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) prepared by the FCPF programme and in relation to the proposed ERPD for the NCC region.
  Based on the literature review identify key potential environmental and social issues for further exploration during the field assessment. Prepare a brief explanatory background on the key issues.

• Design approach (2 days): Develop/refine an approach and work plan for consulting relevant stakeholders in Nghe An and Thanh Hoa provinces

• Field Assessment (12 days): Field assessment is to be comprised of provincial multi-stakeholder workshops and site visits (including participatory consultation with affected communities, especially ethnic minorities and other vulnerable groups).
  
  • Workshops: Prepare materials and lead the organisation and facilitation of consultation meetings and workshops in the provincial capitals (Thanh Hoa City and Vinh)
  • Site visits: Conduct site visits and participatory environmental and social impact assessment in consultation with local stakeholders at priority field sites

• Report writing (10 days): Prepare a report documenting the key environmental and social safeguard issues and a proposed plan of co-benefit enhancement and risk mitigation measures. The report should also outline appropriate institutional arrangements (and capacity-building needs to address gaps) for safeguards implementation as well as monitoring and reporting procedures regarding the implementation of specific safeguards measures proposed.

• Final presentation, consultation and adjustment (3 days): Present proposed safeguards plan at provincial workshops and adjust as necessary, based on comments/feedback.

The consultant will also work with and be supported by the Nghe An and Thanh Hoa PRAP Update Consultant and the Vietnam REDD+ Office REDD+ Safeguards Officer.

Timeframe

The work specified in this term of reference will cover 30 man-days and be delivered between 1st March, 2018 to 30th June, 2018.

Deliverables

• 01 Inception report (including brief desk-based scoping of key environmental and social issues, approach and work plan for the assignment)
• Workshop and consultation materials (presentations, questionnaires etc.)
• Environmental/Social Co-benefit and Risk Assessment Reports for each province in English (including plan of safeguards measures).

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in environmental science/forestry/rural development/sociology
• Minimum seven years of experience in conducting environmental and social safeguards studies (e.g. EIA/SEA).
• Specific knowledge and understanding of REDD+ and REDD+ safeguards issues and requirements will be particularly advantageous
• Specific knowledge of the environmental (ecosystems, species and habitats and other environmental issues) and social (livelihoods and vulnerability) context in Nghe An/Thanh Hoa province will be a distinct advantage

Application

Interested consultant(s) send application letters and CVs, together with an indication of expected fee rate, to [email protected] by 24th February 2018.