Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697629451318.pdf (Antigua and Barbuda)
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA Department of Environment Terms of Reference Protected Area System Specialist Job Title Protected Areas System Specialist Contracting Authority Department of Environment, Ministry of Health and the Environment, Antigua and Barbuda Date of Issue 5 June 2020 Deadline 26 June 2020 Duration 6 months To Apply Interested persons are invited to apply for this opportunity.
Please email the Procurement Officer at DOE@ab.gov.ag and copied to antiguaenvironmentdivision@gmail.com the following: Request for Specific Consultancy Services 1.

Cover Letter 2.

Curriculum Vitae 3.

Technical Proposal 4.

Financial Proposal 5.


Contact information for three (3) references Please use email subject line: “…Application for Protected Area System Specialist…” EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) The Department of Environment (DoE) provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.
The DoE also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs.

LATE BIDS Late Bids will not be opened and will be returned to Bidder.

1 Terms of Reference Protected Areas System Specialist I.

About the Department of Environment The Department of Environment is a Government agency within the Ministry of Health and the Environment in the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.
The overall mission of the Department of Environment (DOE) is to provide technical advice on the environment and to design and implement projects on behalf of the Government and the people of Antigua and Barbuda.

These interventions are designed to protect and enhance the country's environment, as well as seek common solutions to national, regional and global environmental challenges.
The Department of Environment accomplishes its mission inter alia through: • An integrated environmental planning and management system established on the basis of public participation and interagency collaboration, • Efficient implementation of appropriate programmes, projects and technical services, • Providing accurate council on environmental management as well as effective and consistent enforcement of environmental laws and regulations, and • Provide the public with easily accessible information and technical assistance on environmental issues.
The Department of Environment manages projects within four main Programmes, which are aligned with national legislation and international environmental agreements.

These are: 1.

2.

3.

4.


Climate Change Programme (Adaptation, Mitigation, and Capacity Building) Biodiversity Programme Pollution Programme Monitoring, Evaluation and Data Management Programme The DOE has an active portfolio of projects, with project sizes ranging from USD 50K to USD 15 million, with an additional 15 projects under development.
Partners of the DOE include UN Environment, UNDP, IUCN, Caribbean Development Bank, Government of Italy, Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund, among others.

The DOE was accredited as a direct access entity to the Adaptation Fund in 2015 and to the Green Climate Fund in 2017.
The DOE is focused on designing high-impact, transformational projects that maximise funding directly available to the public, private and civil society actors in order to meet an ambitious environmental agenda.

2 II.
2 II.

About the Project The Path to 2020 Project aims to implement Objective 1 of Antigua and Barbuda’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2014 – 2025): A national system, including protected areas, for the management and conservation of biodiversity conservation is developed and established.
By strengthening institutional coordination for protected areas, supporting legal frameworks, and blending local co-investment with international financing, this project will position Antigua and Barbuda to tap into global opportunities in conservation investments.

The project will use innovative financing to enable the private sector and NGOs to participate in the management and sustainable use of protected areas.

The project has three main components: i.


Strengthening regulations, institutions and financing mechanisms for the National Protected Areas System: In Antigua and Barbuda there are several agencies responsible for the declaration and protection of protected areas.
This component will support the development and implementation of effective coordination systems for protected areas among the various Government agencies while effectively setting the baseline and enabling environment for the involvement of NGOs and the private sector.

ii.
ii.

Expansion of protected areas in support of species conservation: The proposed extension of the Shekerley Mountain area as a conservation investment zone would increase protection for biodiversity of global significance over 3,035 hectares, including the only remaining wet forest ecosystem (moist evergreen closed canopy forest) in the country, and a number of restricted-range bird species and the island's most rare fern species.

iii.
iii.

Pilot livelihood financing mechanisms that support conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and plant genetic resources in the newly designated Shekerley Mountain Management Area: This component of the project will use the SIRF Fund as the mechanism for channelling grants and structuring equity and other innovative microfinancing.

This component is expected to raise significant financing from the private sector as co-financing for the overall project.
Protected Area System The National Parks Act, 1984 makes provision, for the preservation, protection, management and development of the natural physical and ecological resources and the historical and cultural heritage of Antigua.
A number of areas were designated as National Parks in 1984, primarily for their historic and cultural values, namely Nelson’s Dockyard (a historic and cultural site), Devil‘s Bridge (a unique natural rock formation); Green Castle Hill (an Amerindian site), and Fort Barrington (an important historical site).

The preservation, refurbishment, and development of these national assets could contribute to the development of heritage-based tourism in the country.
At present, Nelson’s Dockyard National Park (a designated World Heritage Site) is the only one of the four sites that is actively managed; this site has a well-established management plan and financial mechanism that has kept the PA operational for the past thirty years.
The primary management focus on the Nelson’s Dockyard NP is historical and cultural conservation, but the park also has an environment unit that works on issues such as controlling invasive lemon grass and classification of floral species in the park.

The Boggy Peak National Park will be the first functional terrestrial protected area with a significant focus on biodiversity conservation, and the Shekerley Mountain 3 Management Area will be the second such site (Figure 1 and 2).
The marine areas and marine reserves designated under both the Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act, 1972 and the Fisheries Act, 1983, form the core of the country ‘s marine protected areas.

The most notable of these is the North East Marine Management Area (NEMMA), which was declared a marine protected area under the Fisheries (Marine Reserve Area) Notice, No 36, 2005.

The NEMMA covers some 3,100 hectares and encompasses 28 named islands.
At present, the Nelson’s Dockyard NP is the only one of Antigua and Barbuda’s nine established Protected Areas to collect entrance fees (Figure 1 and 2); approximately 130,000 persons visit the park each year, generating almost USD4 million / year in revenues (the average visitor spends around USD30 per person).

Antigua and Barbuda first drafted a Protected Areas System Plan in 2010, with a clearly articulated systematic approach to protected areas management.
This draft PA System Plan is fragmented, outdated, and was never approved and endorsed by Cabinet.

Once comprehensively revised and updated, will lay the framework for improving management effectiveness by sharing responsibility among PA staff, and increasing revenue generation and collection through rationalization of site fees throughout the protected areas system.
Table 1: List of Protected Areas in Antigua and Barbuda Site Name Cades Bay Codrington Lagoon Devil's Bridge Diamond Reef and Salt Fish Tail Reef Fort Barrington Goat Point Sanctuary Greencastle Low Bay Sanctuary Nelson's Dockyard National Park Status: Staff (S), Management Plan (M), Operational (O) S, M, O S S S S, M, O (legally designated, functional mngmt.
plan, staff) Management Authority National Designation IUCN Marine Area (km2) Terrestrial Area (km2) Total Area (km2) Existing Protected Areas Marine Fisheries Division Reserve Barbuda Council National VI VI Park National Park National Parks Authority Barbuda Council Marine Reserve V Ia 17.97 1.10 19.07 20.45 43.36 66.81 0.56 0.43 0.99 14.57 0 14.57 National Park National Parks Authority Barbuda Council Marine Reserve National Park National Parks Authority Barbuda Council Marine Reserve National Park National Park Authority Not Known Not Known III Not Known VI 0.25 0.09 0.35 18.18 0 18.18 0 0 0.35 0.35 48.72 48.72 18.10 22.56 40.65 4 Northeast Marine Management Area (NEMMA) Palaster Reef Sanctuary Two Foot Bay Sanctuary Boggy Peak National Park Wallings Reservoir S, M (legally designated, expired mngmt.
plan, 1 staff) Fisheries Division (monitoring done by EAG) Management Area Not Known 100.24 7.59 107.84 Barbuda Council Marine Reserve Ia 3.83 0 3.83 Barbuda Council Marine Reserve Not Known 48.39 0 48.39 Sub-Total – Existing Protected Areas 242.54 124.20 369.75 Proposed Protected Areas Department of Environment National Park Not Known Being established under SPPARE Forestry Unit Not Known Sub-Total – Proposed Protected Areas Forest Reserve 0 Total 242.54 0 0 10.39 10.39 4.12 4.12 14.51 14.51 138.72 384.24 Antigua's Protected and Ecologically Sensitive Areas ± Diamond Reef and Salt FishTail Reef Fort Barrington Greencastle Hill Boggy Peak* Legend Marine Protected Areas National Parks Proposed National Parks Key Biodiversity Areas NorthEast Marine Management Area Devil's Bridge Cades Bay Nelson's Dockyard 0 2.5 5 10 Kilometres Esri, HERE, Garmin, (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community Created by Janeil Johnston at the Department of Environment for DCA, to show National Parks, Protected Areas, and Environmentally Sensitive Sites in Antigua.
Data sourced from the Environmental Information Management and Advisory System, January 2020.

Basemap: Esri Light Grey Canvas.

Figure 1: Map of the protected and ecologically sensitive areas in Antigua, including marine protected areas, proposed and established National Parks and Key Biodiversity Areas.
5 Goat Point Sanctuary Barbuda's Protected Areas ± Legend 3 Nautical Mile Boundary National Park Sanctuary Site Marine Protected Area No-Net Zone Reef Colony with 20m Buffer Codrington Lagoon National Park Two Foot Bay Sanctuary Low Bay Sanctuary Palaster Reef Marine Reserve Palaster Reef Sanctuary 0 2.5 5 10 Kilometers Esri, HERE, Garmin, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community Created by Janeil Johnston at the Department of Environment to show National Parks and Protected Areas in Barbuda.
Data sourced from the Environmental Information Management and Advisory System, February 2020.

Basemap: Esri Light Grey Canvas.

Figure 2: Map of the protected and ecologically sensitive areas in Barbuda, including marine protected areas, proposed and established National Parks and Key Biodiversity Areas.

III.
III.

Scope of Work Purpose and Objective of Consultancy The Department of Environment is seeking to hire a Protected Area (PA) System Specialist to carry out an assessment and update of Antigua and Barbuda’s PA system, ensuring the delivery of key project outcomes under Component 1 of the Path to 2020 Project.
Objective Through stakeholder meetings, the consultant will seek to give greater coherence and clarity to the managed use of the national PA System for Antigua and Barbuda, including conducting assessments on the current state of PAs and on the capacity of PA management authorities.

The project’s primary aim for the system is to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services through the strengthening capacity of PA system.
6 Activity Description Under Output 1.1 of the Project “Protected Areas System Plan for Antigua and Barbuda updated and formally approved” the consultant will carry out the following activities: 1.

Comprehensively assess the current state of existing PA sites in Antigua and Barbuda, including the assessment of the roles and capacities of existing PA management authorities 2.
Develop methodologies or guidelines to standardize roles and responsibilities for PA management authorities and procedures for the development of PA management plans 3.

Drawing on good practices locally and regionally, and using the new national PA standards, formalize a cost-effective and participatory monitoring method for protected areas; 4.

Update the draft national PA System Plan for Antigua and Barbuda 5.
Develop prepackaged training material with information on the procedures for development of PA management plans and the methodologies and monitoring methods developed for protected areas 6.

Improve management capacity of national PA system in Antigua and Barbuda, by increasing the country’s Protected Areas Capacity Scorecard scores by 15% over baseline VI.

Deliverables The consultant will provide the following outputs: i.

Inception Report and desk review that will include: a.
A literature review of protected areas in Antigua and Barbuda and its current management structure b.

A detailed work plan with methodology ii.

Monthly Report iii.

Through consultations with relevant stakeholders produce: a.

An assessment of the current state of terrestrial and marine protected areas including a relevant action plan to address any challenges b.
An assessment of the roles and capacities of PA management authorities including a relevant action plan to address any challenges c. Methodologies or guidelines for the development of PA management plans d. Cost-effective and participatory monitoring methods developed for protected areas Draft PA system plan to obtain feedback from stakeholders Final PA System Plan for Antigua and Barbuda including relevant recommendations and comments from the review process Prepackaged Training Material Protected Area Capacity Scorecard scores increased by 15% over baseline Final Report iv.
v. vi.

vii.

viii.

VII.

Reporting Requirements Under the general supervision of the Path to 2020 Project Coordinator, the Consultant will be contracted to undertake and complete the specified activities, outlined in Section 3 – Scope of Work.

Seven (7) working days after the contract or agreement has been signed by the consultant and the Department of Environment (DoE), the consultant will submit a detailed Work Plan, inclusive of 7 timelines for the submission of monthly and final reports.
Within fifteen (15) working days of completing the specified scope of work, the consultant will prepare and submit to the DoE, a Final Report.

The Final Report should be submitted electronically to the Project Coordinator in Microsoft Word.

The Final Report should also be accompanied by a signed invoice in the amount claimed by the Consultant in Eastern Caribbean Dollars.

The invoice should include full banking instructions in order to facilitate wire transfer of funds by DoE.

VIII.
VIII.

Duration The assignment should not exceed a total of six (6) months for the Consultant.

IX.

Required Qualifications and Experience • A relevant advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent in biological sciences, environmental management, natural resource management, ecology, forestry or another related field.

A first level university degree with a relevant combination of professional training, certification and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Minimum of 8 years work experience in protected area or natural resource management, preferably with work experience in Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean • Previous development and/or implementation of Protected area management plans • Proven ability to provide technical guidance to a wide range of stakeholders to achieve stated project objectives • Excellent English Language skills.
• Highly developed communication skills, including ability to draft/edit texts and to articulate ideas in a clear, concise style to a variety of audiences.

• Ability to identify strategic issues, opportunities and risks and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction; • Advanced MS Office skills X.
Evaluation Criteria The evaluation criteria and weightings that will be applied to this TOR are as follows: Category Description Weighting 1 2 3 4 Qualifications of consultant and availability of named individuals including national experts Adherence to TOR specifications and related requirements: Clear understanding of required deliverables Experience with similar work Demonstrated track record of success, supported by references 25 35 25 15 Total 100 8 Annex 1: Path to 2020 Project Project summary This project aims to implement Objective 1 of Antigua and Barbuda’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2014 – 2025): A national system, including protected areas, for the management and conservation of biodiversity conservation is developed and established.
By strengthening institutional coordination for protected areas, supporting legal frameworks, and blending local co-investment with international financing, this project will position Antigua and Barbuda to tap into global opportunities in conservation investments.

The project will use innovative financing to enable the private sector and NGOs to participate in the management and sustainable use of protected areas.

The project has three main components: i.


Strengthening regulations, institutions and financing mechanisms for the national Protected Areas System: The indicator for this Component is: Safeguarding of biodiversity and ecosystem services through strengthening capacity of PA system (17,704 hectares) to conserve and enhance critical habitats and watershed areas.

ii.
ii.

Expansion of protected areas in support of species conservation: The indicator for this Component is: Increased protection for biodiversity of global significance over 3,035 hectares, including the only remaining wet forest ecosystem (moist evergreen closed canopy forest) in the country, and a number of restricted-range bird species and the island's most rare fern species.

iii.
iii.

Pilot livelihood financing mechanisms that support conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and plant genetic resources in the newly designated Shekerley Mountain Management Area: This component is expected to raise significant financing from the private sector as co-financing for the overall project.

The indicator for this Component is: Ensuring the conservation of genetic resources and the sustainable use of at least 10 locally adapted crop varieties.
9 Path to 2020 Project Activity List # ACTIVITIES Component 1: Strengthening regulations, institutions and financing mechanisms for the national Protected Areas System Outcome 1: PA management and financing framework in Antigua and Barbuda strengthened and coordinated to support biodiversity conservation and to enable a Public Private Partnership agreement for future management of the PA system Output 1.1 – Protected Areas System Plan for Antigua and Barbuda updated and formally approved 1.1.1 Comprehensively assess the current state of existing PA sites in Antigua and Barbuda, including assessment of the roles and capacities of PA management authorities - PMU 1.1.2 Establish a national PA coordinating mechanism to provide a central point of coordination for all agencies responsible for PA management including (representation of NGOs, community groups and the private sector) – TAC Subcommittee 1.1.3 Finalize the draft national biodiversity gap analysis 1.1.4 Develop methodologies/guidelines to standardize roles and responsibilities for PA management authorities and procedures for the development of PA Management Plans 1.1.5 Develop national standards and key performance indicators for PA management 1.1.6 Formalize cost-effective and participatory monitoring methods for protected areas 1.1.7 Update the PA Systems Plan and submit to Cabinet and Parliament for approval 10 Output 1.2 – Protected Areas legal and regulatory action plan and development of new regulations 1.2.1 Conduct a legal and regulatory gap analysis of all existing PAs (including boundaries, Gazette publication, Management Authorities, etc.)
and PA management/coordination across the various agencies and stakeholders 1.2.2 Develop a legal and regulatory action plan to address gaps in PA legislation 1.2.3 Draft legislation to facilitate enhanced private sector investments in agrobiodiversity and other genetic diversity protection activities - COMPLETED Output 1.3 – Technical assistance provided for PA management actions and development of the public private partnership strategy 1.3.1 Issue an invitation via the SIRF Fund to all PA Management Authorities to apply for support to develop PA Management Plans that are aligned with the PA Systems Plan; select two PAs using transparent criteria 1.3.2 Identify sustainable livelihood, biodiversity and genetic resource investment and business development opportunities 1.3.3 Conduct training on assessment, planning and capacity building to strengthen PA management 1.3.4 Develop participatory Management Plans for two PAs Output 1.4 – PA System Business Plan developed for triple bottom line revenue generation 1.4.1 Establish a PA Financing Task Force 1.4.2 Assess existing PA financing instruments, develop and/or strengthening potential PA financing instruments 11 1.4.3 Develop a draft ten-year strategic PA System Business Plan and present PA System Business Plan to Cabinet and Parliament 1.4.4 Revise/finalize PA System Business Plan based on lessons learned (Output 3.3) and publish Output 1.5 – Public Private Partnership for management of Antigua and Barbuda’s Protected Areas System established 1.5.1 Develop an
 investment prospectus for a private operator to manage PAs under a ten-year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) and/or Operations- Maintenance-Management (OMM) agreement 1.5.2 Issue prospectus, evaluate proposals, and enter into legal agreements for PA management Component 2: Expansion of protected areas in support of species conservation Outcome 2: Globally significant biodiversity & agrobiodiversity conserved, managed and sustainably used to improve livelihoods and generate PA revenues Output 2.1 – Gazettement and management of the Shekerley Mountain Management Area and the Dunnings Forest ecosystem 2.1.1 Surveying and gazetting the boundaries for Shekerley Mountain Management Area (SMMA) including sub-zones (Dunnings Conservation Investment Zone, Body Ponds Watershed, etc.)
2.1.2 Fence the Dunnings Forest ecosystem to protect it from roaming livestock 2.1.3 Conduct hydrological baseline studies and biodiversity assessment for the SMMA and develop a detailed PA Management & Business Plan for the Shekerley Mountain Area, based on PA Systems Plan guidelines, present to Cabinet and Parliament, and publish in the Gazette 2.1.4 Update the EIMAS and international websites (e.g.
IUCN's World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) 12 2.1.5 Build capacity of the SMMA management agencies and stakeholders to manage the SMMA and to engage in sustainable partnerships with the private sector Output 2.2 – Payment for ecosystem services pilot in the Dunnings Forest ecosystem 2.2.1 Operationalize PES system (e.g.

requited policy / regulatory changes; determine amount of water levy; design overall payment system; establish criteria for use of water levy funds; etc.)
2.2.2 Implement water levy to support watershed protection, and carry out associated education and outreach to customers 2.2.3 Pilot watershed conservation using PES funds in Dunnings Forest area (create fencing to keep livestock out of the watershed; increase patrolling; possibly restore vegetative cover, etc.)

2.2.4 Assess potential for other PES systems (e.g.
payments based on carbon sequestration, research on genetic biodiversity, and visitor fees for visiting the SMMA) Component 3: Pilot livelihood financing mechanisms that support conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and plant genetic resources in the newly designated Shekerley Mountain Management Area Outcome 3: R Reduced negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services through enhanced sustainable livelihoods in rural communities Output 3.1 – Updated policies and regulations in place for the SIRF Fund’s non-grant financing instruments 3.1.1 Conduct consultations and design a Revolving Fund, micro-equity financing window, or other innovative financial instrument under the SIRF Fund for sustainable livelihoods 3.1.2 Develop a suite of sustainable livelihood interventions that are eligible for financing and define prioritization/selection criteria 3.1.3 Update operational and financial procedures, and develop and pass regulations via negative resolution in Parliament for the sustainable livelihoods private sector window under the SIRF Fund 13 Output 3.2 – Technical assistance and financing provided to pilot grant and non-grant biodiversity conservation and mainstreaming activities in the Shekerley Mountain Management Area 3.2.1 Issue the Call for Proposals via the SIRF Fund using Output 3.1 guidelines 3.2.2 Convene a specialized Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) and a Financial Evaluation Committee and provide training on sustainable agricultural practices to Committee members, Ministry of
 Agriculture staff and agriculture extension officers 3.2.3 Screen proposals for environmental and social risks, technical feasibility, and financial risks 3.2.4 Select and award technical assistance sustainable production grants that comply with and contribute to biodiversity and genetic conservation in the SMMA 3.2.5 Select and award innovative financing proposals (micro-equity; micro-loans/Revolving Fund box hand) that comply with and contribute to biodiversity and genetic conservation in the SMMA 3.2.6 Monitor implementation and manage investments and repayments Output 3.3 – Lessons learned documented and used to facilitate additional project proposals seeking grant and non-grant financing from various investors 3.3.1 Conduct an independent evaluation of the projects financed under Output 3.2, identifying pilot projects that succeeded in delivering value- for-money and high impact conservation 3.3.2 Identify learning and best practices and develop content to facilitate up-scaling through technical case studies, multi-media documentaries, presentations, and integrate field visits on sustainable production into the school curriculum 3.3.3 Identify and support the development of at least 5 proposals that can be submitted for grant and non-grant financing to the SIRF Fund, the private sector, and other investors 14