Following from the success of the Tonga R2R Phase 1 project, the Government of Tonga (GoT) had requested UNDP for assistance in programming its GEF7 STAR in mid-2019. A PIF was submitted in June 2020 which has now recently been approved from GEF. A team of consultants both international and local will be recruited to facilitate the development of the Tonga R2R Phase 2 Project Document. This will be an 18 months process which includes UNDP – GEF review and clearance process and GEF Secretariate submission, review and CEO Endorsement.    

The Tonga R2R Phase 2 project will focus implementation on 2 islands – Tongatapu and Vavau. The success of the Tonga R2R Phase 1 in Tongatapu has resulted to this project being replicated to Vavau Island taking on lessons learnt.

Fangauta Lagoon is the largest catchment areas in Tonga collectively and covers about 36.6km2. The Fanga’uta Lagoon is the semi-enclosed lagoon of Tongatapu. Fangakakau is a further embayment within the Fanga’uta Lagoon, serving as a second lagoon system (both are referred to, collectively, as “the Fanga’uta Lagoon”). The Fanga’uta Lagoon encompasses an area of 36.6 km² with a mean depth of ~1.4 m and a maximum of 6 m, excluding the entrance channel (MACBIO, 2017). The Fanga’uta Lagoon supports several types of very diverse and productive ecosystems, including mangroves, mudflats, seagrass beds, and coral patch reefs. The lagoon also contributes to the sustainability of the Tongatapu Island’s coastal fisheries. The fauna and flora of the Fangan’uta Lagoon system is relatively diverse: 96 species of fishes; 9 species of large algae (macroalgae); 2 species of seagrasses; 16 species of near-shore plants; 1 species of jellyfish; 1 species of sea anemones; 30 species of hard and soft corals; 40 species of mollusks (including octopus, clams and other shellfish); over 13 species of crustaceans; and over 11 species of echinoderms (starfish, cucumbers and urchins). The lagoon is an important breeding ground for birds and fish, which live within and are supported by the mangroves growing around the lagoon's shores. 

The lagoon was declared a Marine Reserve in 1974 by the government under the Birds and Fish Preservation (Amendment) Act for the protection of fish species and for protection of mangroves as the key nursery habitat for finfish including snapper and mullet. The biodiversity values of the lagoon are noted in the IUCN Directory of Protected Areas in Oceania published in 1991 and the Tonga’s NBSAP Stocktaking Report of 2004 which record the number of species in the lagoon. The Fanga’uta Lagoon marine reserve fits into IUCN Category VI i.e., a protected area with sustainable use of natural resources. The Fanga’uta Lagoon is also important culturally as a place of beauty and enjoyment, and it has a rich archaeological history dating back over 2,850 years to early Lapita settlement.

Management of the lagoon is guided by the Fanga’uta Stewardship Plan (FSP) that was gazetted in July 2017. The Fanga’uta Lagoon is the only protected area in Tonga for wetland habitat and also has the largest area of wetlands in Tonga. The FSP was developed through GEF-5 investment and the UNDP supported project “Integrated Environmental Management Plan of the Fanga’uta Lagoon Catchment Project (FLC)” (referred to as Tonga R2R Phase I in this document). The Tonga R2R Phase I project was formed as part of the “Pacific Islands Ridge-to-Reef National Priorities” project. The terminal evaluation for the Tonga R2R Phase I project recommended that the project should be upscaled and the lessons learned from this project should be replicated by GoT, UNDP and other agencies involved through a second phase. The project was commended for piloting community-based management approaches of the Fanga’uta Lagoon and catchment area, and for generating a lot of practical knowledge. The Phase I terminal evaluation recommended that the second phase should cover all areas of lagoon with a comprehensive suite of activities to improve the lagoon’s ecosystem services.

Specific to this TOR, a National Field Coordinator – Vavau Island consultant will be recruited to work with the Tonga R2R Phase 2 PPG Team in supporting the ground work activities etc on Vavau Island.

Scope of Work

The Field Coordinator will be expected to work closely with PPG team (national and international) to provide technical and logistic support on Vavau Island.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

1. Provide technical input to the Vavau component of the project development
2. Coordinate island level meeting discussion and site visits with key stakeholders and ensure meaningful discussions to address key issues affecting Vavau for the Tonga R2R project to consider
3. Coordinate PPG team members and relations between provincial/district government and the PPG team
4. Facilitate travel, meeting and accommodation logistics needed by the PPG team on Vavau Island
5. Coordinate input into the project document specifically on Vavau
6. Assist local consultants on data collection relating to environmental and social safeguard, gender and stakeholder engagement related work etc
7. Facilitate follow up activities needed by the local consultants
8. Participate in the inception and validation workshop

Final Deliverables

1. Meeting minutes for all consultations conducted
2. Technical input in to the draft project document focusing specifically on Vavau
3. Report on any other follow up actions needed from site

Institutional Arrangement

• The consultant will be working very closely with UNDP RTA (NCE team) and Programme Analyst (UNDP Pacific Office) specifically in charge of the project.
• He/She will be expected to work closely with the Department of Environment that will provide guidance and support on stakeholders consultation etc
• He/She will be expected to work as a team with all other consultants identified as the Tonga R2R PPG team.
• All deliverables identified must be fully met by the consultant at the end of the consultancy term.

Duration of the Work

• The total number of days for this consultancy is 15 working days for a period of 10 months or longer as may be extended subject to progress of work.

Duty Station

• This consultancy will be home-based with possibility of travel to Tongatapu depending on travel restriction conditions within Tonga if any.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Comprehensiveness knowledge of Conservation work in the Pacific Region
• Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and internet in conducting research;
• Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills;
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Positive, constructive attitude to work;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Educational Qualifications:

• Diploma or equivalent to Environmental Management or Science

Experience

• Experience working in government or NGO attending to environment related projects
• Experience in project management, coordination or implementation
• More than 2 years of working with communities and understand the context of Vavau communities

Language requirements

• Fluency of English language is required;

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Lump Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages:

In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 70 points)

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Documentation required

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document:

• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in Annex II.
• Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
• Financial proposal, as per template provided in Annex II. Note: National consultants must quote prices in United States Dollars (USD).

Note: Successful individual will be required to provide proof of medical insurance coverage before commencement of contract for the duration of the assignment.

Incomplete and joint proposals may not be considered. Consultants with whom there is further interest will be contacted. The successful consultant shall opt to sign an Individual Contract or a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) through its company/employer with UNDP.

Annexes

• Annex I - Individual IC General Terms and Conditions
• Annex II – Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual IC, including Financial Proposal Template

For any clarification regarding this assignment please write to [email protected]