Request for Proposal – Evaluating and Improving Capacity Building in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo

Introduction and Context

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. We envision a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth. WCS’s goal is to conserve the world’s largest wild places in 14 priority regions, home to more than 50% of the world’s biodiversity.

For nearly 30 years WCS’s largest country program in the Republic of Congo has been protecting wilderness that sustains the local people, protects natural resources, and buffers global climate change. WCS Congo has been the government’s principle conservation partner, assisting the Ministry of Forest Economy (MEF) in managing wildlife and its habitat in several of the country’s national parks, reserves, and protected area buffer zones.

The Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP) covers more than 4,000 square kilometers of contiguous lowland rainforest in northern Republic of Congo. It is arguably the best example of an intact forest ecosystem remaining in the Congo Basin. The park has never been logged, contains no roads within its borders, and still protects wildlife populations deep within its interior that have had little or no contact with people.

Created in 1993, the park and its buffer zone have benefited from more than 25 years of collaborative management between the Congolese Government and WCS to emerge as one of the most crucial protected areas for the conservation of wildlife in Central Africa. In October 2014, WCS signed a Cooperative Agreement with the MEF, creating the Nouabalé-Ndoki Foundation (NNF), a Public-Private Partnership that will ensure the long-term management and financing of the park.

The Park Management Unit (PMU) oversees the day-to-day operations of the Park. The Park management is divided into five areas of service, including the anti-poaching, community development, research and biomonitoring, logistics, and administration and finance. This consultancy would focus on the latter four services.

The Community Development team addresses threats to conservation by improving the wellbeing in surrounding communities. The programs are designed to reduce pressure on wildlife through a combination of conservation education, promoting tourism, encouraging sustainable livelihoods, and supporting basic services including schools and health centres.

The Research and Biomonitoring team conducts long-term monitoring of the Park’s most important wildlife populations. There are three research sites in the Park, including two sites dedicated to the study of great apes and a third site that is one of the longest running continuous studies of western lowland gorillas and forest elephants in the world. Additional research programs include the Elephant Listening Project and the Ndoki-Likouala large scale survey. This team also works closely with the WCS Wildlife Health Program.

The Logistics Team supports the programs through ensuring transportation of people and goods throughout the park. This team is also responsible for procuring supplies and construction projects happening around the park, including new worker’s camp near the park headquarters and housing at the research sites.

The Administrative and Finance team oversees human resource and financial management of the park operations, of which there are more than 220 full time staff and 300 daily workers. The Park Director oversees the five services and is responsible for long-term strategy of the Park.

Two recent reviews of training and capacity building of NNNP personnel found that the majority of personnel had only basic or intermediate capacity and that a major weakness of the program is the lack of targeted capacity building. As a result, employees have stagnated in developing new skills or finding opportunities to advance in their career path.

Each service has unique training and capacity building needs to address within their teams as well as potential for career development. Capacity building and investment in Park staff career development is key to the NNF success in managing NNNP for years to come. We seek a human resource professional or consulting agency with experience in learning and development to develop a capacity building and career development strategies for NNNP.

Objectives and deliverables

The specific objectives for the consultancy for Evaluating and Improving Capacity Building of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo:

• Undertake desk research, including background review and analysis of documents on the project including the 2019 capacity building evaluation, training materials to understand the ground situation, and existing policies;
• Meet with WCS Congo staff based in Brazzaville, including the Congo Country Director, Technical Director, Director of Administration and Finance, and Senior Socio-Economic Advisor;
• Meet with and NNNP Park Management Unit (PMU);
• Carry out a stakeholder analysis to identify and understand the roles and responsibilities of key personnel;
• Conduct a gap analysis to identify and understand training gaps that impact job performance;
• Highlight issues and capacity development priorities;
• Work with NNNP PMU to organize and facilitate a Training Needs Assessment workshop, focus groups, and individual interviews and surveys;
• Identify specific technical and functional capacities required for employees to perform the functions based on the expected roles and responsibilities as defined by management;
• Identify priority key training needs and develop a training plan for short-term, medium-term, and long-term in consultation with WCS that considers formal education, in-service training courses, and on-the-job training;
• Consider the organizational culture, enabling environment, and how to create a learning environment specific to NNNP;
• Provide recommendations on ideal staffing;
• Develop a Training Plan with recommended training opportunities for employees.

Total Activity Level of Effort: The project duration will be defined by the applicant.

Proposed Activity Timing: Q22023

Required Expertise and Qualifications:

• Postgraduate or other advanced university degree in business administration, public administration, or any other relevant domain and at least 5 years of experience in capacity building and career development or a Bachelor’s degree and at least 8 years of experience in capacity building and career development in an international NGO.
• Demonstrated experience in developing capacity building and career development strategies in international NGOs.
• Experience of working and collaborating with personnel in international NGOs, preferably in Central Africa.
• Excellent writing and analytical skill in drafting concept notes and reports.
• Understanding and knowledge of computer applications, including MS Word and Excel.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in French; working knowledge of English and/or Lingala will be and added advantage.