World Wildlife Fund, Inc. (WWF) policies and procedures for all GEF financed full-sized projects require a midterm review (MTR). The following terms of reference (TOR) sets out the expectations for the MTR for the project: Integrated Landscape Management to secure Nepal’s Protected Areas and Critical Corridors[1], hereafter referred to as the “Project.” The technical consultant selected to conduct this evaluation will hereafter be referred to as “evaluator.”

The Project seeks to promote integrated landscape management to conserve globally significant forests and wildlife. The Project was organized into the following components:

• COMPONENT 1: National capacity and enabling environment for cross-sectoral coordination to promote forest and landscape conservation
• COMPONENT 2. Integrated Planning for Protected Area Buffer Zones and Critical Corridors in the Terai Arc Landscape
• COMPONENT 3. Forest and wildlife management for improved conservation of targeted protected area buffer zones and corridors in the Terai Arc Landscape
• COMPONENT 4. Knowledge Management and Monitoring and Evaluation

SCOPE AND OBJECTIVE FOR THE EVALUATION         

WWF is seeking an independent consultant to undertake a midterm review (MTR) of the Project. The scope of the MTR will cover the WWF GEF financed components.

The objective of this evaluation is to examine the extent, magnitude, sustainability and potential for project impacts to date; identify any project design or management issues; assess progress towards project outcomes and outputs; and draw lessons learned that can improve the project effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of project benefits.  Based on this assessment, it is expected that the evaluator will provide feasible recommendations that could be applied for the remaining duration of the project.

[1] See project website and related documents for more information.

POSITION DETAILS

Location: Flexible, ideally presence in Nepal

Reporting to: Amelia Kissick, WWF-US

Preferred timeframe for Review: August - October 2023

Potential sites to visit: Kamdi corridor/Banke, Banke National Park and buffer zone, Bardia National Park and buffer zone, Karnali corridor/KailaliLocation: Flexible

Reporting to: Amelia Kissick, WWF-US

Implementing Agency: WWF GEF Agency

Executing Agency: Nepal Ministry of Forests and Environment (MOFE)

Total GEF Approved Budget US $ 6,697,248

Period to Be Evaluated: August 6, 2019 – through time of evaluation

The evaluation will adhere to the relevant guidance, rules and procedures established by WWF^[1] and align with GEF policies^[2] and guidelines.^[3] The evaluation must provide evidence‐based information that is independent, participatory, transparent, and ethical. The evaluator must be unbiased and free of any conflicts of interest with the project. The evaluator is expected to reflect all stakeholder views and follow a participatory and consultative approach. There should be close engagement with government counterparts, the GEF operational focal points in each country, the Executing Agency project management unit (PMU), partners and key stakeholders. Contact information will be provided.

The Evaluation process will include the following, with deliverables marked by “*”:

1. Kickoff and inception meetings;
2. Desk review consisting of, but not limited to:

• Project Document and CEO Endorsement Letter;
• Project agreements, Government of Nepal endorsement letters, project operational manual, program implementation guidelines;
• Relevant safeguards documents, including WWF GEF Agency Categorization and Compliance memo, Environmental and Social Management Framework, Process Framework; Grievance Redress Mechanism, etc.;
• Annual Work Plans (AWP) and Budgets, Line Ministry Budget Information System (LMBIS);
• Project Progress Reports (PPR) including Results Framework and AWP Tracking;
• GEF Agency reports, including Project Implementation Reports (PIRs) and Project Support Mission Reports (PrISM);
• Relevant financial documents, including financial progress reports; co-financing monitoring tables and co-financing letters;
• Meeting minutes (Project Advisory Committee (PAC), Project Executive Committee (PEC), Field Coordination Committee (FCC) and relevant virtual meetings with the WWF- GEF Agency and extended team); and
• Other relevant documents provided by the Executing Agency and partners.

1. Inception report that outlines evaluation methodology, approach and timeline;*

1. Field visits with PMU and project partners, as necessary and feasible;
2. Interviews, discussions and consultations with executing partners, GEF Operational Focal Points (OFP), PAC and PEC members, project beneficiaries (both men and women), and others;
3. Post-field visit debrief and presentation* of initial findings to project management team and other partners as feasible;
4. Draft report* not to exceed 40 pages (excluding annexes) shared with GEF AMU and PMU for review, feedback and approval.  A sample outline will be provided; and
5. Final approved MTR report* that has incorporated feedback and corrections.

EXPECTED CONTENT OF THE REPORT

The Midterm review report will include (see Annexes for details):

• Information on the evaluation process, including when the evaluation took place, sites visited, participants, key questions, summary of methodology and rating rubric, and feedback log showing how comments on draft were incorporated;
• Assessment of Relevance (project design, theory of change) and Coherence;
• Assessment of project Results Framework plus rating of project objective and outcomes;
• Assessment of Effectiveness and ratings of Implementation and Execution;
• Assessment and rating of Monitoring and Evaluation design and implementation;
• Assessment of knowledge management and communication approach, including activities and products;
• Assessment of replication and catalytic effects of the project;
• Assessment of stakeholder engagement, gender strategy and gender-responsive measures;
• Assessment of any environmental and social impacts and safeguards used for the project, including the Indigenous People Planning Framework (IPPF) and planning framework (PF). Plus, review of the risk category classification and mitigation measures;
• Assessment of the Grievance Redress Mechanism including its socialization with stakeholders and their understanding of how it operates and their confidence in it;
• Assessment of Efficiency, financial management and summary of co-financing materialized;
• Summary table of key findings by core criteria^[4] and GEF ratings, including justification and/or indicators for their determination;
• Key lessons tied to identified strengths or issues;
• Recommendations that include: practical and short-term corrective actions by evaluation criteria to address issues and findings; and reflect best practices towards achieving project outcomes, and knowledge sharing / replication for other projects of similar scope.

[1] For additional information on evaluation methods adopted by WWF, see the WWF Evaluation Guidelines , published on our WWF Program Standards public website.

[2] Please see Evaluation Policy and Monitoring Policy.

[3] Please see the GEF Ethical Guidelines as published on GEF website. Please reference GEF Terminal Evaluation Guidelines, which may be adjusted for midterm reviews.

[4] See annex A

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience
• Previous experience with evaluation methodologies
• Excellent written and oral communication in English.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Recent experience conducting evaluations (for GEF financed projects is an advantage);
• Technical knowledge in planning for protected area buffer zones and critical corridors, human-wildlife conflict, and forest/landscape conservation;
• Knowledge of GEF monitoring and evaluation policies;
• Experience with WWF Project and Program Management Standards or Conservation Standards;
• Experience with social assessments, participatory techniques, and gender mainstreaming;
• Knowledge of participatory approach in biodiversity conservation and community based natural resource management;
• Knowledge and experience in implementing or reviewing application of social and environmental safeguards policies in GEF (or similar) projects;
• Fluent Nepali language preferred; and
• Regional experience an asset.   

PAYMENT MODALITIES AND SPECIFICATIONS

Payment, expense reimbursement, and other contractual terms and conditions are outlined in the consultant agreement made between WWF and the evaluator(s). Payments are according to deliverables submitted. Twenty-five percent of payment will correspond with completion and approval of Inception Report. Fifty percent of payment will correspond with submission and approval of the debrief presentation and the Draft Report. The final twenty-five percent will be delivered with the submission and approval of the Final Report.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested consultants are invited to submit a technical and financial proposal with their curriculum vitae, a relevant writing sample and references. The financial proposal should include fee and reimbursable expenses, such as travel costs, if applicable. The budget shall not exceed USD $34,000. Individual or team applications are welcome. Applicants are requested to send their application to Amelia.kissick@wwfus.org by March 31, 2023.

The selection of candidates and contractual agreements will be in compliance with WWF procurement policies^[1] and subject to GEF requirements. WWF applies a fair and transparent selection process that will take into account the competencies/skills of the applicants as well as their financial proposals. Women and members of social minorities are encouraged to apply.

See full terms of reference with annexes at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ImABn6YBZ0Tg8s-62T8HRRPHkIUD-JiI?usp=sharing

[1] WWF Procurement Policy