Consultant to develop a pilot participatory forest fire monitoring system and build capacity on forest fire monitoring for stakeholders in Lam Dong Province

Name of Client: Regional Community Forestry Training Center for Asia & the Pacific (RECOFTC)

Assignment: Develop a pilot participatory forest fire monitoring system and build capacity on forest fire monitoring for stakeholders in Lam Dong Province

Duration: in the periods from March to June 2024

Deadline for application: 4 March 2024 

1. Introduction

RECOFTC is an international nonprofit organization working towards a future where resilient communities with respected rights thrive in forest landscapes that they manage sustainably and equitably. We take a long-term, landscape-based, and inclusive approach in supporting local communities to secure their land and resource rights, stop deforestation, find alternative livelihoods and foster gender equality. We have more than 36 years of experience working with people and forests and has built trusting relationships with partners at all levels. As a trusted, honest broker, we occupy a distinct position as an international organization that supports, informs and brings together governments, communities, businesses, academia and civil society organisations. Our innovations, knowledge and initiatives enable countries to foster good forest governance, mitigate and adapt to climate change and achieve the UN Global Goals.

RECOFTC operates in the Asia-Pacific region, with country program offices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Viet Nam. 

RECOFTC, in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, is implementing a regional project on Community-based Fire Management (CBFiM) in Asia. The project addresses the root causes of forest fires and their socio-ecological consequences in target landscapes in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam.

To achieve this, a series of interrelated activities will be undertaken to yield the following outcomes: 

• Outcome 1: Community-based fire management policy, planning, and practice are strengthened and well-integrated among local, provincial, and national government structures.   
• Outcome 2: Technologies are shaped by the needs and experiences of communities and are widely used to support forest fire management and control.   
• Outcome 3: Knowledge about forest fire management is shared among and between stakeholders at local, national, and regional levels resulting in improved policies and practices.

In Viet Nam, the CBFiM project was approved by Lam Dong Provincial People’s Committee. The project focuses on managing and monitoring forest fires, using a community-based approach to maximize local resources with the motto "four on-site".

To support forest fire management and control at the community level, the project will develop a participatory forest fire monitoring system and pilot it in the target sites of the project.

RECOFTC is inviting candidates (applying as a team) for a consultancy on developing the pilot participatory forest fire monitoring system.

2. Objective

The main objective of this assignment is to develop a participatory forest fire monitoring system and building capacity for communities and local partners of the project in Lam Dong province.

3. General tasks for the consultant team

This assignment is implemented by a consultant team that consists of one specialist in charge of forest fire monitoring system mobile app developer (as team member) and one forestry specialist (as team leader).

The consultant team will work with the CBFiM Project Coordinator under the direction and approval of the Director of RECOFTC Vietnam Country Program. The team needs to develop a plan to conduct the required tasks, including:

3.1. Data collection

Collect forest data, maps, satellite images, and the most update forest fire danger rating system of Lam Dong Province.

3.2. Developing a participatory forest fire monitoring system (PFFMS) using open source

The PFFMS system includes two modules: (1) mobile phone application for forest fire monitoring and (2) web-based forest fire management and report.

The mobile phone application for forest fire monitoring (both for IOS and Android operating systems) with requirements as follow:

The functions of the mobile phone app include (1) Forest fire monitoring  with functional interface (a) display of the forest status map in different mode (e.g., only forest status map, forest status map overlayed with the forest fire warning system informed by the Forest Protection Department);  (b) reporting forest fire and forest violence; (2) registration form for prescribed and controlled burning requests;  (3) rapid participatory forest carbon volume estimation for  forest types in the targeted sites.

3.2.1 Conditions for the mobile phone application

• The app can operate on cell phones with low configuration.
• The app can be used in offline mode.
• The app is simple and easy to use for people in the community.

3.2.2 The web-based forest fire management and report

Configuration and software requirements:

The software runs online on a Windows Server or Linux server with the .Net FrameWork platform and connects to the Google Earth Engine Platform.

3.2.3 Main functions

Administration functions; database management functions of Forest fire monitoring; prescribe and controlled burning; rapid participatory forest carbon volume estimation

3.3. Develop guidelines for using the PFFMS

• Develop a guideline for using mobile phone application for forest fire monitoring
• Develop a guideline for using web-based forest fire management and report

3.4. Deliver training courses

• Prepare training documents, and training program schedule
• Deliver 02 training courses for community, local forestry staff, forest rangers on the mobile phone application for forest fire monitoring.
• Deliver a training course for forest rangers of for Forest Protection Department staff of Lam Dong to manage the web- based forest fire management and report

3.5 Handover PFFMS to CBFIM Project

Hand over to CBFiM Project for managing, operating, extracting data, reporting, maintaining the PFFMS.

3.6 Provide server for running and maintaining the participatory forest fire monitoring system (PFFMS).

Provide server for running and maintaining security control to combine with the forest fire danger rating system of Lam Dong Province.

4. Task division for the consultant team

The detailed tasks and the number of working days for the consultants are described in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Detailed tasks and LOEs allocated to the consultant tasks

5. Deliverable

5.1. Data

Forest data, maps, satellite images, and the most update forest fire danger rating system of Lam Dong Province used for developing the PFFMS

5.2. Participatory forest fire monitoring system (PFFMS) using open source

Mobile phone application for forest fire monitoring

The web- based forest fire management and report

5.3. Guidelines

Guideline for using web- based forest fire management and report

Guideline for using of mobile phone application for forest fire monitoring

5.4. Training course

All materials and training reports of 02 training courses for community, local forestry staff, forest rangers on the mobile phone application for forest fire monitoring

All materials and training report of a training course for Forest Protection Department staff of Lam Dong to manage the PFFMS.

5.5. Server operation and maintaining services

Provide the iCloud server services for PFFMS operation during timeline of the Project

6. Timeline

7. RECOFTC’s core values

At RECOFTC, our core values are the foundation of our culture and guide all our work. In addition to job-specific skills and experience, the applicant should possess the following characteristics, attitudes, and skills: 

• Embrace innovation 
• Adapt to and learn from challenges 
• Nurture commitment, responsibility, and ownership 
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders 
• Committed to sustainability 
• Cultivate participation, gender equity and social inclusion
• Prioritize wellbeing  

8. How to apply

Interested candidates are requested to submit a technical proposal, CVs of all team members and a cover letter indicating why they are suitable for this position along with salary requirements and current contact details of three referees to [email protected]. Please quote the assignment in the subject line of the email. Only short-listed candidates will be notified. RECOFTC has a competitive compensation package. Offers are based on salary history, relevant experience, and qualifications of the selected candidate.

To learn more about RECOFTC, please visit our website recoftc.org.

Applicants shall not be discriminated against based on ethnicity, religion, age, nationality, physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by RECOFTC’s values and code of conduct. Reasonable accommodation may be made so that qualified disabled applicants can partake in the application process. Please inform RECOFTC’s Human Resources in writing of any special needs at the time of application.

RECOFTC is an equal-opportunity employer, and the successful candidate will be selected based on merit. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

RECOFTC retains the right to offer this assignment at a job grade relevant to the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.