National Expert for Updating the Management Concept for the Three Alazani Rivers Biosphere Reserve

ANNOUNCEMENT OF PROCUREMENT OF CONSULTANCY SERVICE

NATIONAL EXPERT FOR UPDATING THE MANAGEMENT CONCEPT FOR THE THREE ALAZANI RIVERS BIOSPHERE RESERVE

CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION: December 1, 2024

PUBLICATION REFERENCE: 062/RECC/G/GIZ – 2023-EA-2.15

BACKGROUND

UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BRs) serve as model regions for sustainable development, integrating nature conservation with social and economic activities. The Three Alazani Rivers Biosphere Reserve (BR) in Georgia, designated by UNESCO in 2022, requires an updated management concept to ensure effective governance and sustainable development.

To support this process, REC Caucasus seeks to engage a national expert to update the Management Concept of the Three Alazani Rivers BR. The project is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

• Review and Update the Existing Management Concept:
  • Align with international best practices and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve requirements.
  • Ensure compliance with national policies and sectoral strategies related to biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource management.
• Define Strategic Objectives and Key Components:
  • Governance and institutional framework.
  • Conservation and biodiversity protection measures.
  • Sustainable economic development strategies.
  • Community engagement and participation mechanisms.
  • Capacity-building and education strategies.
  • Financial sustainability and funding mechanisms.
  • Monitoring and evaluation framework.
• Stakeholder Consultation and Validation:
  • Engage government agencies, local communities, NGOs, and experts to ensure a participatory approach.
  • Organize and facilitate stakeholder meetings to validate the updated concept.
• Deliver Final Updated Management Concept:
  • Submit a draft version for review and feedback.
  • Incorporate comments and finalize the document for approval.

DELIVERABLES

The expert delivers the following:

• Deliverable 1: Inception Report (Due: February 28, 2025)
  • Outlines the methodology, approach, and work plan.
  • Provides an initial assessment of the existing management concept.
• Deliverable 2: Updated Management Concept (Due: March 30, 2025)
  • Incorporates new data, aligns with best practices, and conforms to national policies.
• Deliverable 3: Stakeholder Workshop and Validation (Scheduled: May 9, 2025)
  • Facilitates discussions among key stakeholders to validate the updated concept.
• Deliverable 4: Final Updated Management Concept (Due: May 9, 2025)
  • Integrates stakeholder feedback and finalizes the document.

DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The assignment is scheduled to take place from December 12, 2024, to May 9, 2025.

PARTICIPATION

Participation is open to all Georgian nationals (natural persons) participating individually.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• The consultant must meet the following qualifications:
• At least 10 years of experience in protected areas management, sustainable development, and conservation planning.
• Fluency in Georgian and English.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION

Interested candidates should submit their applications via email, indicating the publication reference number in the subject line. The application must include:

• Technical Proposal (Technical Offer)
• Financial Proposal (Financial Offer)
• Supporting Documents (Copies of diplomas/certificates – optional)

The application should be submitted in PDF format to:

Ms. Natia Tskhovrebadze
Project Coordinator, REC Caucasus
48-50 Mtskheta Street
0179 Tbilisi, Georgia
E-Mail: natia.tskhovrebadze@rec-caucasus.org

CC to:

Ms. Nino Rostomashvili
Project Officer, REC Caucasus
48-50 Mtskheta Street
0179 Tbilisi, Georgia
E-Mail: nino.rostomashvili@rec-caucasus.org

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Applications will be evaluated using the quality/price-based selection method (80/20). The evaluation criteria are:

NOTIFICATION OF AWARD AND CONTRACT SIGNING

• Only the successful applicant will be contacted via email.
• The selected applicant must sign and return the contract within 5 working days of receipt.
• Failure to comply may result in annulment of the award and selection of an alternative applicant.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION

The deadline for submission of applications is December 1, 2024 18:00 Local Time (GET).

ATTACHMENTS FOR DOWNLOAD

The following attachments are available for download:

1. Terms of Reference
2. Technical Proposal
3. Financial Proposal