INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT SCOPE OF WORK

A. DAI ORGANIZATION AND VALUES

DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All of our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

B. PROJECT BACKGROUND

The USAID Sustainable Forest Management Project (the Project) will work with the Government of Vietnam (GVN) to reduce carbon emissions associated with deforestation, the degradation of natural forests, and poor plantation management. The Project will implement a “Green Prosperity” approach that strengthens local communities’ ability to protect their natural resource base and reduce emissions while building a strong foundation for sustainable livelihoods and equitable economic growth.

The Project will work in seven provinces (Lao Cai, Son La, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Tri, Quang Nam) and focus on five objectives:

1. Improve and expand community forest management
2. Increase conservation-friendly enterprises in forest-dependent communities
3. Increase functionality of law enforcement system for forest crimes
4. Improve production forest management practices
5. Mobilize domestic resources for forest management and protection

The Project will be implemented during the period 2020-2025 by DAI in collaboration with RECOFTC and Preferred by Nature as partners, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) as the counterpart and the Management Board of Forestry Projects (MBFP) as project owner.

C. DESCRIPTION OF CONSULTANCY SERVICE:

I.           BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

The Prime Minister issued Decision 524/Q?-TTg on 1 April 2021 on the Plan for planting 1 billion trees. To implement the Plan, on 3 June 2021, Son La PPC issued Decision 1132/Q?-UBND on the Provincial Plan for planting trees in the province in 2021-2025, aiming at mobilizing maximum non-state resources, step by step improving the forest quality and coverage, strengthening the active participation and contribution of communities in environment protection, improvement of landscapes and response to climate change, thus promoting green growth and rapid and sustainable development.

However, the system of Guideline on planting, caring, and protecting trees in the province of Son La has not yet been developed and promulgated. Therefore, it is an important and urgent task to develop a “Guideline on planting, taking care of and managing green trees, scattered trees in Son La province”. The PPC and DARD has assigned Son La FPD to act as the focal point for the development of this Guideline.

The implementation of the activity would help increase the coverage and quality of trees, especially native large-timber species in forest and urban areas of Son La province, thus increase the capacity of carbon sequestration and storage of forest in the province.

DAI will recruit 02 consultants to support Son La FPD to develop the drafts of the Guideline:

Consultant 1: Team leader, experts of forestry, silviculture, forestry policies. Consultant 1 is responsible for assessing the results of planting and taking care of and managing trees in Son La province in 2017-2020 and developing the drafts of the Guideline for 2021-2025.

Consultant 2: member of the consultant team, expert of GIS, map and data analysis. Consultant 2 is responsible for supporting the Team Leader in data collection, data analysis, development of related reports, especially for the contents related to maps and figures in the reports and Guideline document.

This SOW describes the Scope of Work of Consultant 1.

II.         OVERALL GOAL

This consultancy assignment aims at supporting on La FPD to develop a “Guideline on planting, management and protection of scattered trees in Son La province“ in order to implement the Plan of Planting One Billion Trees as specified in the Prime Minister’s Decision No 524/Q?-TTg dated 1 April 2021 in such a way that fits the practical condition of the province.

III.       DETAILED GOALS

• Review, develop and finalize the standards, list of tree species for scattered tree plantation in the province in 2021-2025, technical guideline for planting, taking care of, managing and protecting trees to guide the implementation of People’s Committees at city and district levels;
• Finalize and submit to the authorized body for approval the “Guideline on planting, management and protection of scattered trees in Son La province“.

IV.       SCOPE OF WORK AND TASKS

Scope of Work

1. Collect information, data; conduct field surveys, on-site data collection
2. Develop thematic reports on:
1. Assessment of the status of planting, taking care of and protecting trees in the province in 2017-2020;
2. Proposed standards, list of tree species for scattered tree plantation and technical Guideline for planting, taking care of, managing and protecting trees in the province in 2021-2025.
3. Support the development of the Guideline on planting, management and protection of scattered trees in Son La province.

Specific tasks

Consultant 1 (Team Leader) needs to perform the following tasks:

1.   Make assessment of the current status:

• Prepare for field work: Collect, study existing documents; develop detailed approach and plan of field surveys; survey tools, forms, data analysis tool(s); Outline of the thematic report on the assessment of the status of planting, taking care of and protecting trees in the province in 2017-2020;
• Conduct survey to identify the list and composition of tree species and associated standards; Investigate the growth and development of scattered plants and trees in the area; Investigate and determine the size of the area, locate the scattered green planting areas in 03 districts of Son La province;
• Develop the report on the assessment of the status of planting, taking care of and protecting trees in the province in 2017-2020; Propose standards, list of tree species for scattered tree plantation and technical Guideline for planting, taking care of, managing and protecting trees in the province in 2021-2025.

2.   Draft the Guideline on planting, management and protection of scattered trees in Son La province:

• Use the inputs from the thematic reports mentioned above to develop the drafts of the Guideline;
• Participate in consultation activities, propose agendas of the consultation events, consolidate comments and finalize the Guideline.

The Consultant will cooperate closely with Son La FPD and the focal point of DAI during the implementation of this assignment. He/She is responsible for the contents of the thematic reports and the drafts of the Guideline and associated documents being submitted to Son La DARD for approval.

D. CONSULTATION TIME (LOE) AND DELIVERABLES

I.           LOE AND DELIVERABLES

The Consultant will implement the assignment from 1 March 2022 to before 30 April 2022. The detailed plan is as follow:

Remarks:

• The Project covers per diem, lodging in 6 days of field survey in 3 districts; Son La FPD arranges means of transportation.
• The Project does not cover per diem, lodging, transportation when the consultant works in Son La city.
• All products are submitted in Vietnamese.

II.         QUALIFICATIONS

Criteria	Detailed description
Consultant 1	Team Leader. Expert on forestry, silviculture, forestry policies
Expertise	Minimum bachelor’s degree in forestry or related fields. Having master’s degree or higher is an advantage.
Technical experience	Having at least 10 years of experience in forestry, silviculture, forestry policies; Having knowledge, experience in planting, taking care of, managing trees, scattered trees, native species; Priority is given to consultants who have conducted surveys, studies, Guidelines on silviculture, planting, taking care of, managing trees, scattered trees in Son La or other similar locations.
Skills	Be skillful in Microsoft Office; Have excellent group working skills and collaboration with relevant stakeholders; Experienced in developing analytical reports; Have good ability to write report, presentation and prepare documents for meetings, workshops; Ability of using English: not compulsory, but priority is given to consultants who can communicate with concerned parties in English.

III.        REPORTING

The consultant will sign contract and implement the contract under the supervision of DAI and Son La FPD. All deliverables need to be approved by Son La FPD and DAI before making the final payment.

IV.       HOW TO APPLY AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Individual interested candidates are requested to submit the following documents:

• A CV in English or Vietnamese;
• A cover letter in English indicating why the applicant is suitable for this position along with current contact details of at least three referees in English or Vietnamese;
• Scanned copy of related degrees;
• Similar consultancy projects/reports completed before either in English or Vietnamese.

via email to our recruitment email at [email protected]. Please quote the position title in the subject line: “Candidate’s full name _ Consultant 1 _ Scattered tree plantation in Son La”

Deadline for application: 5.00 p.m. (Hanoi time), on 23/2/2022

Remark: If being recruited, the candidate will have to provide DAI with a release letter with authorized signature and stamp from current employer to certify that candidate will not receive salary from current employer during the implementation of this consultancy assignment. This release letter is required for candidate who are currently working for government agencies only.

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To learn more about DAI, please visit our website: https://www.dai.com/

DAI is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a commitment to diversity. DAI does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, parental status, veteran status, or other non-merit factor

Please find the Vietnamese version here

Organization: DAI
Location:
Application deadline: 2022-02-23
Send application to: [email protected]