Consultant to Review of Opportunity Cost Analysis for REDD+ in Lam Dong

Country: Vietnam
Organisation: SNV – Netherlands Development Organisation
Program: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+)
Project: Poverty and Sustainable Development Impacts of REDD+
Abstract: Consulting services to review and improve existing opportunity cost estimates.
Duration: 15 Days

1. SNVs Assignment Objectives:
The objective of this short consultancy assignment is to review existing opportunity cost estimates conducted for two SNV REDD+ pilot districts in Vietnam; Cattien and Bao Lam. Upon review, improvements should be identified and made to the existing estimates, in addition to identifying the key areas of the estimates which are essentially ‘pro-poor’ – i.e. those opportunity cost estimates which directly relevant to poorer people in the areas. This assignment should also aim to illustrate the different opportunity cost estimates in the form of two supply curves for the two districts using the World Bank Abacus model for estimating opportunity costs, whilst providing recommendations on the future use of opportunity cost estimates in other areas of Vietnam.

2. Background:
The emergence of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) in Viet Nam has prompted questions to be raised as to the competitiveness of REDD+ against existing land use practices. One way in which to measure the competitiveness of REDD+ against these different land use types is to measure the amount of money would need to be paid to people for either not converting a forested area into an alternative type of land use (i.e. crops), or to not degrade the forest landscape. This measurement is known as the opportunity cost of REDD+.
SNV has conducted two preliminary estimates of opportunity cost for different land uses in the Cattien and Bao Lam Districts in Vietnam. The first attempt was conducted in 2010, and the second, using updated information on land-use change and earnings data, in 2011 using the World Bank’s Abacus model. The second set of estimates will be the focus of this review.

3. Tasks of the consultant:
To be completed by 26 March, 2012

Review of the existing opportunity cost estimates
Identify key areas of inaccuracies and potential improvements
Make improvements to the estimates utilizing existing data made available by SNV using the World Bank Abacus model
Present the results in the form of two supply curves
Identify areas of the supply curve that are relevant to the livelihoods of poorer people in the two districts
Provide a brief report on the implications for REDD+ in the 2 districts based on the opportunity cost estimates and recommendations for the replication of opportunity cost estimates in other areas of Vietnam

4. Expected outputs and deliverables:
Based on the above tasks, the consultant should deliver:
Updated opportunity cost estimates presented in the form of supply curves using the World Bank Abacus model
Report outlining
changes made to previous estimates;
the relevant sections of the supply curves to poor people in the two districts
what the curves demonstrate in terms of the viability or business case for REDD+ in the two areas
recommendations for how similar opportunity cost estimates could be done for other areas of Vietnam
recommendations on the applicability of integrating opportunity cost estimates into broader land-use planning processes in Vietnam

5. Timeframe and Location
The consultant will be recruited for a period of 15 days over a period of 2 months (with possible extension if necessary) from the date of signing the contract.
It is expected that the consultant must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform these services to the highest professional standard.  A consultant for this assignment will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out by SNV. Interested individual consultants and may obtain further information from the SNV through Mr Adrian Enright (phone number: 0122 629 1923 or email: [email protected] ). Interested consultants should submit their application, including latest CV, by email to [email protected] no later than Tuesday 31 January 2012.