National Consultant for Sub-national REDD+ Safeguards Information System Design

TERMS OF REFERENCE:

NATIONAL CONSULTANT FOR SUB-NATIONAL REDD+ SAFEGUARDS INFORMATION SYSTEM DESIGN

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+) is an international policy initiative, developed through international negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). REDD+ will provide results-based financial incentives to developing countries for actions that reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development. Vietnam has demonstrated considerable interest in REDD+ and has made important progress to date in terms of preparing for REDD+ implementation at both the national and sub-national levels.

SNV, in partnership with the State Steering Committee Office (SSCO) for the National Target Programme on Sustainable Forest Management and REDD+, is implementing a project titled “Operationalising National Safeguards Requirements for Results-based payments from REDD+”, funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). The project aims to support Vietnam to become eligible for results-based payments, through the establishment of a country safeguard framework, and improve institutional capacity for the implementation of REDD+ safeguards, monitoring and reporting at national and sub-national levels.

One of the key requirements for REDD+ countries to be eligible to receive results-based payments is having a functional REDD+ Safeguards Information System (SIS) in place. By the end of 2018, Vietnam developed and launched an online SIS web platform (http://sis.vietnam-redd.org/). However, most of the information currently are on how Vietnam is addressing Cancun safeguards at the national level, and Vietnam needs to collect the information on respecting Cancun safeguards at the sub-national levels to feed into the SIS.

Therefore, SNV will recruit 01 national consultant to work with the SSCO for sub-national SIS design in order to collect and aggregate information from existing national and provincial information systems as well as PRAP M&E framework.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the assignment is to work with the project and the SSCO to develop a practical and cost-effective sub-national SIS design including data collection templates and data entry systems.

TASKS

Working closely with and under the direction of the Deputy Director of the SSCO and SNV:

• Prepare a detailed work plan for the assignment.
• Review the current online SIS web platform, and sub-national info/data collection requirements.
• Assess existing SIS design, capabilities, system specifications, data sharing/integration challenges, technical/IT issues.
• Propose a practical and cost-effective electronic system design – how info/data is collected at field levels and entered; how it could/should be collated at provincial levels; how data from provinces may then be collated at national level and entered into the national SIS.
• Analyse/Advise on technical systems requirements – software etc.
• Lead consultations on the design with relevant stakeholders.
• Develop suitable digital data entry forms/tools based on the overall systems design and reporting templates developed through the guidelines consultancy.
• Develop and lead a simple training course for field level, provincial and national systems users/managers in how to use the systems.
• Provide guidance in the field (1-2 short trips in each province) to support relevant actors in the field test implementation, monitoring and reporting on REDD+ safeguards.
• Pilot monitoring and reporting of REDD+ safeguards.
• Backstopping support/field demonstrations/on the job training during field piloting, review and then finalise the system to address issues discovered during piloting.
• Review data entry, collation systems.
• Lead a review workshop, surveys, consultations on user experiences.
• Based on review, finalise system design and estimate costs for implementation at provincial and national scales.
• Prepare a brief final report summarising activities, changes made and any issues for monitoring and maintenance.

TIMEFRAME

The tasks specified to be performed around 50 days between 01 March until 31 August 2020.

DELIVERABLES

• Work Plan
• Data entry system for site levels
• Training materials
• Consultation workshop reports and supporting documents (agenda, presentations, minutes/summary of key comments and outcomes, participant lists, photos etc.)
• Cost estimation for implementation at provincial and national scales
• Brief report summarising activities, changes made and any issues for monitoring and maintenance.

REQUIREMENTS

• Graduate university degree in Forestry, Natural Resource Management or related discipline with strong background in ICT (information system/software);
• Knowledge of web, HTML, CSS, PHP and JavaScript programming;
• At least 10 years experiences with design, development and management of information systems, including indicator selection, data collection and management;
• Knowledge of, and experience working with, existing forestry related information and monitoring systems in Vietnam would be an advantage;
• Proven capacity to liaise and effectively work with government agencies;
• Fluent in Vietnamese and English.

APPLICATION

Please send your application letter and CV, together with an indication of your expected remuneration, to the link https://smrtr.io/3MgNn by 17th February, 2020. 

CVs received after this date will not be considered.