VANUATU: FORESTRY CONSULTANT

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page. 

GGGI is an implementation partners to the Regional Pacific NDC Hub, was established as a response to calls from Pacific leaders to have a regional facility to support countries to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. The NDC Hub is owned and driven by the Pacific countries and has been set up to support countries NDC enhancement and implementation goals. With financial support from the Germany, Australia and New Zealand governments, and the EU, the NDC Hub delivers a range of services to member countries through its four implementation partners, GIZ, GGGI, SPC and SPREP. Through the Pacific NDC Hub, GGGI delivers technical support in: Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu.

GGGI is recruiting a Lead Forestry Consultant to support implementation of Vanuatu NDC Investment Strategy (including project pipeline) – forestry sector. 

Lead Forestry Consultant will lead this work with close cooperation with GGGI Vanuatu Team, GGGI Regional Pacific NDC Hub Team to deliver NDC Investment Strategy (including project pipeline) for Forestry Sector. Main outcome of this consultancy is:

• Vanuatu Forestry Sector NDC Investment Strategy (including project pipeline)

Vanuatu’s Revised and Enhanced 1^st Nationally Determined Contribution 2021-2030 should be used as the main source of information. In addition, Lead Forestry Consultant shall base this work on existing relevant strategies, policies, reports (including published and un-published, grey literature) and workshop reports available. Non-exhaustive list in the case of Vanuatu, the relevant key national level strategies and plans consist of the following:

• Vanuatu Low Emission Development Strategy (LEDS) 2023
• Vanuatu National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) 2016-2030
• Vanuatu Climate Change and Disaster Risk reduction Policy 2016-2030
• Meteorology, Geological Hazards and Climate Change Act No.25 of 2016
• Vanuatu NDC Implementation Roadmap
• National Communications (NC-1,2 and 3)
• Utilities Regulatory Authority (URA) Reports

As well as relevant polices covering forestry sector including,

• Sustainable Forest Management Policy and REDD+ Programme/ strategy
• Forestry and Protected Areas Management
• Vanuatu National Forest Inventory
• Livestock farming and pasture management
• Vanuatu Forest Policy 2013-2023
• Ecotourism Policy (Supported by Local Communities)

The documents delivered through this assignment will be the reference documents for all stakeholders involved in the implementation of NDC activities in the forestry sector. They will also be used for establishing contacts with potential support providers with the aim of leveraging climate finance and support for NDC implementation.

Following are tasks to be undertaken during the assignment.

Task 1: Project kick-off meeting, desk-based research, consultation and data collection

Indicative activities:

1. Review of the documents mentioned above in section “Objectives of this assignment”, and all relevant documentation, reports, policies, plans, strategies and data for Vanuatu.
2. Identify replicable forestry projects that could be  adapted to Vanuatu's specific context.
3. Coordinate, facilitate and attend a project inception workshop with key stakeholders, preparing the agenda, list of participants (following advice from NDC Hub Focal points and GGGI), an introductory discussion notes and a presentation.
4. For update and finalize the work plan and timeline for the preparation of all deliverables.

Task 2: Development of the NDC Investment Strategy

The NDC Investment Strategy (including project pipeline) is divided in two parts. The first part contains contextual information about forestry sector and area(s) such as the barriers and relevant policies, and suggests a strategy to develop, finance and implement projects. The second part of the NDC Investment Strategy (including project pipeline) contains a pipeline of projects in forestry sector and for each project a short concept note.

Indicative activities:

1. Carry out consultations with relevant stakeholders, to identify specific actions, measures, activities and GHG mitigation potentials.
2. Consult with the private sector/donors/investors in defining enabling environment interventions needed to stimulate investments to implement identified intervention from activity (1):
3. Consider environmental and social risks and assess actions/technologies against the risks and negative impacts which may be incurred.  Gender, social inclusion and equity considerations should be taken into account when considering the measures to be taken for the NDC implementation.
4. Develop a preliminary list of specific interventions in relevant sectors/areas to create a step-by-step pathway to meet emissions reduction target and for its NDC Investment Strategy (2^nd part) (getting more into the details of the proposed projects).
5. Recommend indicative institutional arrangements for implementing the NDC.
6. Draft NDC Investment Strategy for forestry sector  (as per agreed Table of Contents with NDC Focal Point and GGGI)

Task 3: Stakeholder consultations

Indicative activities:

1. In close cooperation with the NDC Hub Focal point and GGGI, organize and facilitate one stakeholder consultation workshop in Port Villa, including: list of participants, draft of agenda and invitation, presentation and workshop report. The Consultant shall present the following documents:

• first part of the NDC Investment Strategy.
• template for the short project concept notes, and
• list of projects which are planned to be included in the project pipelines.

Task 4: Preparation of the final NDC Investment Strategy (including the project pipelines in forestry sector)

As detailed under Task 2, activities will lead to the delivery of the full NDC Investment Strategy report.

For the project pipelines (second part of the NDC Investment Strategy), the focus will be on the concrete interventions in forest sector (at least 10) with the preparation of short concept notes (3-5 pages).

Task 5: Validation Workshop and finalization of the final NDC Investment Strategy report. 

Indicative activities:

1. Validation dialogues will be conducted after completion of the draft document. Carry out validation exercise with key stakeholders.
2. Organize and attend a validation workshop: prepare list of participants, agenda and invitation, prepare presentation and workshop report, draft introductory words from the government.
3. Integrate all comments received and prepare final NDC Investment Strategy (including project pipeline) report for presentation to NDC Focal Points.
4. Present the final Drafts to NDC Focal Points and integrate any comments received;

Final validation of the documents by the respective Governments.

Deliverables will be in accordance with the Project Work plan timeline.

• All deliverables, reports,data and information, and other documents prepared or received from the stakeholders from the start to the end of the assignment shall be saved in MS Teams Platform created by GGGI.
• The Lead Forestry Consultant shall submit each deliverable report in electronic versions readable by a Microsoft Office application.
• All outputs must be in English.        

The Lead Forestry Consultant must:

• Have at least bachelor’s degree with specialty in forestry, forest management, economics, climate change or relevant subjects.
• At least 8+ years of relevant work experience.
• Proven track record in international development project management including participatory planning, report writing and project/financial management.
• Proven track record in stakeholder engagement and consultation.
• Knowledge of the NDC will be an asset.
• Strong verbal and written skills in English and local language(s) of Vanuatu are essential
• Excellent communication, interpersonal skills, and prioritization skills.
• Experience working in Vanuatu and working with multi-cultural teams are highly desired.

The Vanuatu Forestry Consultant will ensure: 

• Availability during the project period.
• No conflict of interest arises while taking this assignment.

Date to close is 11th December,2023 Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered Application. Cover Letter, and CV must be sent in English. A consortium, or a firm may not be engaged for the individual consultant assignment.