REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

for the realization of a harmonized methodology on participatory mapping of representative areas of Pool and Niari

09/09/2024

ACQUISITION SUMMARY

WRI intends to award a fixed-price contract for the realization of a harmonized methodology on participatory mapping of representative areas of the Pool and Niari departments. The approach will consist of analyzing and comparing different existing methodologies before proposing a harmonized one, which will be presented to the various stakeholders. Key deliverables will include detailed documents of the different participatory mapping methodologies, the harmonized methodology before field testing, a final version of the methodology, enriched based on tests carried out in the communities of Pool and Niari, the validated methodology, and a final report on the entire process.

Submissions must be sent no later than October 23, 2024. The proposed budget is between 12,000 and 15,000 USD.

About the World Resources Institute

Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to put ideas into action. We work with governments, businesses, and civil society to find solutions to urgent environmental challenges. WRI's transformative ideas protect the earth and promote development insofar as sustainability is essential to meet human needs and aspirations in the future.

The foundation of our work is to provide high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world's greatest environmental and international development challenges and improve people's lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to take ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring partners together to develop groundbreaking ideas and solutions at scale to achieve lasting and far-reaching impact.

About the project name

This consultancy falls within the framework of the CAFI PUDT project. The general objective is to analyze and compare the different existing methodologies on participatory mapping.

General project context

The Sustainable Land Use Program (PUDT) is supported by the Government of the Republic of Congo via its partnership with the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI). The general objective is to define a concerted process for rural land use planning, to support the implementation of the country's economic diversification policy (PND- 2022-2026).

The diversification of economic rent capture sources constitutes the country's priority (PND 2021-2026). This diversification will amplify the main direct causes of deforestation and degradation of Congolese forest resources, which are agriculture in the broad sense and shifting cultivation, unsustainable production and consumption of wood energy, unsustainable and/or illegal logging and mining, and finally urban development. This amplification will increase the country's climate vulnerability, which currently records, according to the NERF report, a deforested area estimated between 2016-2022 at 145,138 ha ± 22,188 ha (with a 90% confidence interval) corresponding to emissions of 81,309,120.9 tCO2 eq ± 38.7% on the one hand.

On the other hand, increased vulnerability resulting from a degraded area between 2016-2022 estimated at 246,791 ha ± 81,064 ha (with a 90% confidence interval) corresponding to emissions of 25,779,438 ± 84.8% t CO2 eq.

The draft land use planning code would help remedy the shortcomings of current land allocation and use rules through the inclusive development of new provisions in favor of resource conservation and their rational exploitation, for the benefit of the economy and rural populations.

Participatory mapping is one of the expected products within the framework of the Sustainable Land Use Program (PUDT), *Product 2.4. Production of base maps for Pool and Niari,* broken down into *Activity 2.4.2. Participatory mapping of representative areas of Pool and Niari.*

Cooperation between MATIER and WRI:

MATIER and the World Resources Institute (WRI) signed an agreement within the framework of the CAFI-PUDT project in July 2023, whose main objective is to contribute to the development of a land use planning portal, through capacity building actions, targeted research, and mapping with some support for inter-institutional coordination.

As a partner, the World Resources Institute is responsible for proposing participatory mapping resulting from a harmonized methodology of different existing mappings and methods. Thus, WRI is seeking the services of a consultant to carry out participatory mapping studies of representative areas of Pool and Niari until April 2025. The consultant will analyze and compare the different methodologies on participatory mapping, harmonize the methodology with stakeholders (civil society, community leaders, and executives from land affairs, forest economy, agriculture, environment, and IGN administrations), and test the methodology in about ten communities in the Pool and Niari departments. This harmonized methodology on participatory mapping will be enriched by several actors during a national workshop.

SCOPE OF WORK AND OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES

Under the responsibility of the WRI Country Director for the Republic of Congo, the consultant will have the following main missions:

• Carry out a documentary analysis of the different methodologies on participatory mapping of village lands and local communities' and indigenous populations' settlement areas;
• Conduct consultations with different structures working on participatory mapping in the Republic of Congo;
• Help develop a harmonized methodology on participatory mapping based on several existing methodologies and contributions from experts from different structures (Administrations, CSOs, University, etc.)

The selected consultant will carry out the missions alongside the WRI team.

The consultant must plan to conduct a series of consultations with key experts throughout the region, particularly those with expertise, methodologies, and knowledge in participatory mapping.

The expected deliverables are:

• Detailed document on the analyses and comparisons of different participatory mapping methodologies for local communities' and indigenous populations' territories;
• Minutes of meetings of the expert group from civil society, community leaders, and executives from land affairs, forest economy, agriculture, environment, and IGN administrations;
• First version of the harmonized methodology on participatory mapping;
• Second version of the methodology (enriched by several stakeholders during a national workshop);
• Report of the field test of the harmonized methodology;
• Final report detailing the mission's execution process, expert opinions on the Methodology, recommendations for its improvement, list of relevant documents, list of people met, and any other relevant information;
• Final and validated version of the participatory mapping methodology.

TIMING

The consultancy duration is six (6) months with a probable start date scheduled for January 1, 2025. Deliverables are expected no later than June 30, 2025. The candidate must present a schedule of activities with the launch date, milestones, deliverables, and completion date.

Budget

The budget planned for this call for tenders is between 12,000 and 15,000 USD. WRI is firmly committed to optimizing its resources in all aspects of its work. However, we recognize the importance of this initiative and are willing to negotiate with potential partners if there are strong arguments for additional financial resources.

• Prices must be valid for ninety (90) days.
• A budget proposal with sufficient cost breakdown to assess its reasonableness.
• Please also include a payment schedule associating amounts with work milestones.
• Provide prices for all applicable costs associated with this call for tenders. An estimate of the number of days required to carry out the activities must be provided by the consultant in the proposal and must be included in the estimate. However, once the budget is validated, payment for the service will be conditional on the provision of deliverables and not on the number of days actually worked. All expenses (equipment, materials, supplies, consumables, insurance, travel expenses, etc.) necessary for the execution of the proposal must be mentioned in the budget.

GUIDELINES FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Requirements

The selected supplier consultant will be able to demonstrate their ability to perform similar work, including:

• Criterion 1: Minimum 5 years of experience in carrying out participatory mapping work;
• Criterion 2: Experience in the field of land governance, with a focus on promoting the rights of CLPA;
• Criterion 3: Degree in social science (anthropology, forestry, rural sociology, rural economics or other relevant field);
• Criterion 4: Good understanding and/or use of mapping data for securing land rights;
• Criterion 5: Demonstrated ability to coordinate stakeholder consultations at national and local levels.

Proposal Content

The consultant must submit:

A technical and financial offer which is broken down as follows:

• A statement of interest describing the understanding of the expected mission, the proposed team (if multiple consultants) and how it meets the above requirements (Criteria);
• The CV or CVs of the team members;
• Examples and references of similar previous work;
• An overview of the proposed methodology and work plan;
• A description of how the work and/or organization are sustainable
• A budget proposal with sufficient cost breakdown to assess reasonableness and compliance with our funders' requirements. The model below in Annex 1 is to be considered for the budget presentation. Please also include a competitive payment schedule associating amounts with work milestones.

Expression of interest, deadline for questions and proposal

All expressions of interest and questions regarding this call for tenders must be received by email to the contact persons below no later than October 23, 2024 at 11:59 PM Brazzaville time. Responses to questions will be shared with all parties who have asked questions or expressed interest.

Name Jean BAKOUMA

Title Country Director

jean.bakouma@wri.org

with copy to:

stevanche.nzingoula@wri.org

EVALUATION AND SELECTION

Evaluation Criteria

The following will be the main factors to consider in evaluating all proposals submitted in response to this Request for Proposal (RFP)

• Completion of all required elements;
• The extent to which the supplier, organization, consultant, etc. proposal meets the requirements set forth by WRI as stated in the RFP;
• Experience with similar projects;
• Overall cost of the supplier/organization/consultant, etc. proposal;
• Exclusion and sanctions – WRI will not consider proposals from suppliers/organizations/consultants, etc. who are currently excluded by the US government or named on restricted party lists;
• Sustainability – WRI values sustainability and, all else being equal, will favor a proposal to perform the work more sustainably.
• Equity - At the World Resources Institute, we strive to have an inclusive delivery chain. We believe that environmental and international development communities are strengthened by providing equal opportunities to businesses owned by LGBTQ+ communities, women, indigenous peoples, racialized groups, and people with disabilities - and it is important for WRI to partner with organizations that share these values. Please describe how your organization would adopt an equity-focused approach to the need you propose to help us address and how you integrate equity, diversity, and inclusion into your staffing, board leadership, and programs.

The consultant offering the best overall value will be selected. For this contract, technical aspects are considered at 70% and financial offer at 30%.

Selection Process

No proposal development costs will be charged to WRI, all costs must be borne by the bidders. WRI may award to the bidder offering the best value without discussion. However, WRI reserves the right to request clarification from bidders and to negotiate with bidders deemed to be within a competitive range.

WRI may, at its discretion and without explanation to potential suppliers/organizations/consultants, etc., choose to discontinue this call for tenders without obligation to these potential suppliers/organizations/consultants, etc. or to award multiple prizes under this call for tenders. Contracts will not be awarded to suppliers/organizations/consultants, etc., prohibited by the Congolese/US government or named on restricted party lists.

ANNEX 1

Title of the call for tenders

Vendor/Contractor Name

*Instructions:*

Please provide a detailed breakdown of your provisional budget, specifying the unit type, number, and total cost of each budget line. Additional lines for detailed breakdown can be added if necessary.

An estimate of the resources needed to carry out the activities must be provided by the suppliers. However, once the budget is validated by WRI, compensation will be paid in the form of fixed payments based on WRI's receipt and acceptance of deliverables - and not on the number of days/hours actually worked or expenses incurred. All expenses (equipment, vehicles, materials, supplies, consumables, communication means, insurance, travel expenses, etc.) necessary for the execution of the service, including travel expenses, mission expenses, etc.

I. BUDGET

CURRENCY:

[indicate currency here]

| Description | Unit (i.e., days, hours, etc.) | Unit Rate/Cost | Number of Units | Total | Notes/Explanation |

|---|---|---|---|---|---|

| Work time | | | | 21,375 | |

| *example Program Director (daily rate)* | *Day* | *769* | *20* | *15,375* | |

| *example Project Coordinator (effort report)* | *Month* | *4000.00* | *1.5* | *6,000* | |

| Supplies and materials | | | | - | |

| Contractual services to third parties | | | | 3,750 | |

| *example Contract with a local consultant* | *Hours* | *75* | *50* | *3,750* | *A local consultant engaged to conduct land surveys* |

| Publication/Communication Cost | | | | 4,180 | |

| *For example, text revision* | *Hours* | *20* | *65* | *1,300* | *Revision of two 5,000-word working documents, 10 hours each.* |

| *For example, translation* | *Words* | *0.20* | *10,000* | *2,000* | *Translation of two working documents (5,000 words each) from English to Spanish* |

| *For example, printing* | *Copies* | *4.40* | *200* | *880* | *Two 20-page reports, 100 copies each. Printer charges $440 for 100 copies of a 20-page report.* |

| Travel & Per Diem | | | | 4,090 | |

| *For example, airfare: Washington, DC - Bogota, Colombia* | *Flight* | *485* | *2* | *970* | *Two round-trip tickets DCA-BOG* |

| *For example Meals and incidental expenses: Bogota, Colombia* | *Days* | *96* | *10* | *960* | *M&IE at $96 per day x 5 days x 2 people (US Department of State rates)* |

| *For example Accommodation: Bogota, Colombia* | *Nights* | *270* | *8* | *2,160* | *Accommodation at $270 per night x 4 nights x 2 people (US Department of State rates)* |

| Other Costs | | | | - | |

| Subtotal | | | | 33,395 | |

| Rate | Please define the basis on which the rate is calculated. | | | | |

| Indirect costs/overhead | | | | | |

| "Value Added Tax (WRI is tax-exempt in the United States)" | | | | - | |

| Total | | | | 33,395 | |

II. PROPOSED PAYMENT SCHEDULE

| Payment No. | Amount | Base [measurable milestone or quantifiable and verifiable deliverable] |

|---|---|---|

| 1 | | |

| 2 | | |

| 3 | | |

| 4 | | |

| 5 | | |

| 6 | | |

| 7 | | |

| 8 | | |

| 9 | | |

| 10 | | |

| TOTAL | 0 | |