Request for Proposal
Consultancy: “Socio-economic Assessment Alalapadu”
Conservation International Suriname (CIS) is looking for a consultant for a Socio-economic Assessment in Alalapadu, for a period of 5months.
Background
Alalapadu is a Trio Indigenous village in the South of Suriname, close to the border of Brazil. The village is located along the Wiumi Creek,
which flows into the Sipaliwini River and consists of approximately 140 inhabitants divided over 23 households (73 men and 67 women). On
education, this village has a primary school up to the eighth grade, with approximately 42 school-age children. The village is mostly accessible byair transportation and takes approximately one-hour 45minutes of travel time. In Alalapadu, the inhabitants speak the Trio language. In thisvillage electricity is scarce. There is no infrastructure and access to clean potable water. Mobile network connections and supermarkets are also
not present. However, satellite Wi-Fi is available to connect with outsiders.
Conservation International Suriname (CIS) is pioneering an innovative approach to nature conservation called the Conservation Stewards
Program (CSP) which is based on Conservation Agreements with the Indigenous communities in TWTIS. A Conservation Agreement is defined
as: “A negotiated exchange of benefits in return for changes in resource use, depending on verified performance”. The conservation agreements
are voluntary and consider all human and indigenous rights. The overall goal of the conservation agreements is to improve the well-being ofcommunities and the health of the ecosystems around the communities by implementing conservation actions and providing incentives for theseactions.
Since 2018 Alalapadu is running a community owned business enterprise with the help of CIS under the name of Stichting Tuhka, where they
make products from a Non-Timber-Forest-Product (NTFP), the Brazil Nuts (Bertholletia excelsa). The products that are produced are theTuhka oil and Tuhka roasted nuts. CIS is continuously in the process of investing in the Indigenous people of Alalapadu to enhance theircapacities to protect the forest and to safeguard the quality of the products being manufactured. Apart from supporting the community tostrengthen its capacities to run the livelihood project, CIS also focuses on the village's socio-cultural elements.
ObjectiveA socio-economic baseline study was performed in 2017, which gave insight of the socio-economic situation during that period (before theimplementation of the Tuha livelihood project). Subsequently an assessment was conducted in 2020 to measure the adaptive capacity, on at least
the three interventions listed above: socio-economic, socio-ecological, and socio-political/institutional dimensions, and an insight into theperceived livelihood of the people in Alalapadu.
The goal of the consultancy is: i) to conduct a third assessment based on previous data and gather the necessary socio-economic, and sociopolitical/institutional dimensions information to evaluate the impacts of the interventions that CIS has done in Alalapadu between 2020 andpresent and ii) to measure the significant changes occurred since 2017, on an individual-level, household-level, community-level, and projectlevel in Alalapadu. The indicators are grouped under physical, financial, human, social and natural capital.
The following specific activities can be listed:▪ Collect data of selected indicators to allow CIS staff to acquire a better understanding of the changes occurring in the community ofAlalapadu.
▪ Compare indicator values, either qualitatively or quantitatively, with baseline indicator values, preferably those representing thesocioeconomic situation since 2020.
▪ Use these comparative insights to measure socioeconomic changes in general since 2017 and particularly since 2020, as well as theeffectiveness and understanding of the conservation actions, and benefits provided under the conservation agreement.
▪ Recommend actions that may help the local community achieve sustainable livelihood and the conservation objectives set for Alalapadu
and its surroundings.
Timeline & Deliverables# Activity
Deliverables/reports
Workplan containing (but not limited to):-Develop Workplan- A timeline
1 -Review existing- Proposed methodology (cultural appropriate)
reports and data
- A research plan/program with clearly defined objectives and day to day activities
Design research
2 instruments(Field trip in March/April)

Research instruments (in Dutch & Trio) should include:- Consent form to conduct study- Review & adjust relevant indicators- Community data collection sheet- Field work preparations

Due dates
January
22, 2024

February
12, 2024

-Data analysis
3-Report Writing-Validation of resultsin Alalapadu
4 -Compose FinalReport(Field trip in May)

Draft report containing (but not limited to):- Collected data with analysis & conclusions- Attendance lists and pictures
Final report containing (but not limited to):-Validation report-Summary of the results in English & Dutch- Recommendations-Attendance list and pictures of the meeting.

April 19,2024

June 05,2024

Note: due dates and field trip dates are subject to change due to weather conditions of next year.

Location of Task/Applicable Trips/Arrangements▪ Field activities will be performed in Alalapadu▪ Field supplies will be provided in consultation with CIS▪ Consultant will arrange the following, in coordination with CIS:
a. Printing of training materialb. Translation and payment of training documents
c. Payments for oral translations in the village
Requirements
Applicant should meet the following requirements:▪ A relevant Bachelors degree or higher in Sociology and/or (cultural) Anthropology and/or Social Sciences;▪ A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in socio-economic baseline assessments with Indigenous communities in Suriname;▪ Experience in the cultural background, lifestyles and challenges of Indigenous communities;▪ An academic level of report writing skills▪ Good communication skills;▪ Analytical and problem-solving skills▪ Working knowledge of social work and social legislation▪ Dutch and English proficiency, both in speaking and writing;▪ Excellent knowledge of Sranan Tongo.
Selection Criteria▪ Overall quality of CV and Cover Letter (English & Dutch proficiency) – 5 pts▪ Education Requirement - 3 pts▪ Work Experience Requirement- 5 pts▪ Experience with similar projects- 5 pts▪ Understanding of the challenges and cultural background of Indigenous communities - 3 pts▪ Highly familiar employing cultural awareness and sensitivity - 3 pts▪ Comprehensive technical proposal on how to conduct the socio-economic assessment – 10 pts▪ Detailed budget in accordance with the activities, deliverables, and timeline – 10 pts
Interested?
Applications should be sent, in Dutch or English, to procurementsr@conservation.org on or before December 05, 2023, by 4 PM. Please
specify “Consultant Socio-economic Assessment Alalapadu + Your Name” in the subject line. Applications should include:A resume of the applicant providing detailed information on the requirements and criteria listed in the “requirements” and “selection criteria”
sections of the RFP.
Questions and clarifications regarding the consultancy may be addressed no later than December 04, 2023, 10.00am toprocurementsr@conservation.org.