Consulting Services to Conduct a Feasibility Study on Future Implementation of a Pilot Model of Community Based Forest Management

The Lowering Emissions in Asia’s Forests (LEAF) program is a 5 year program (2011-2015) of the United States Agency for International Development/Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA) that complements the efforts of numerous other donor organizations, private sector investors, and non-government organizations (NGOs) who are working to develop REDD+ capacity and operational frameworks in parallel with on-going United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations that seek to define an effective and equitable REDD+ mechanism.

In Vietnam the program "Lowering Emission in Asia's Forests" was approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Decision No. 1006/QD-BNN-HTQT, dated on May 4th 2012 in which VNFOREST is assigned as the project owner; the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nghe An and Lam Dong provinces, the Netherlands Development Organisation – SNV, Winrock International and Climate Focus are co-implementing the project.

To help LEAF understand the overall picture of the current forest management mechanism in Con Cuong district, Nghe An province as well as to identify the potential of piloting an improved CBFM pilot model, a detailed feasibility study is required. The study will involve collection and analysis of the current information regarding the issues, problems, shortcomings related to the current mechanism, and preparation of a strategy for the future implementation of model.

The 81 hectare of the protection forests located in the Sub-compartment 18, Compartment 777A in Son Khe village, Chi Khe commune will be selected as a trial site for piloting a new forest management mechanism if the feasibility study has a conclusion that the CBFM is appropriate at the conditions of Con Cuong and both sides (the local communities and forest owners) reach an agreement on the new forest management mechanism. This area is allocated on a yearly contract basis to 10 local households for protection.

The consultant will be recruited for approximately a period of 19 days over a period of 2 months from April 2013- May 2013 in Con Cuong, Nghe An.

Details of the job description and requirements please see attached ToR (in English and Vietnamese).

The interest consultants should send their CV to Ms Nguyen Thi Khanh Van, LEAF Field Co-ordinator – Email:  ([email protected]) and cc  to Mr Tran Van Chau, Viet Nam LEAF Forestry and Climate Change Advisor, -Email:  ([email protected]) before 5/4/2013.