SOW.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Environmental and Social Performance Due Diligence – Solomon Islands Threshold Program (Sustainable Forestry, Land Access and Tourism)

A. Introduction

On January 23, 2003, the United States established the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), an innovative foreign assistance program designed to reduce poverty by promoting sustainable economic growth. MCC, a U.S. government corporation, is based on the principle that aid is most effective in countries that promote good governance, economic freedom, and investments in people. In collaboration with MCC, partner countries are striving to achieve sustainable economic development through their MCC-funded activities while at the same time minimizing environmental and social risks and enhancing environmental and social benefits.

MCC recognizes that the pursuit of sustainable economic growth and a healthy environment are related. Economic growth that doesn’t adequately address the associated risks of environmental degradation can leave the poor particularly vulnerable. MCC’s Environmental and Social Performance (ESP) Practice Group therefore works with partner countries to integrate internationally-accepted principles of environmental and social sustainability into the design and implementation of MCC funded programs. The MCC ESP team has primary responsibility to manage the environmental and social performance of all programs, tasks and activities, and ensure compliance with MCC’s Environmental Guidelines, including the IFC Environmental and Social Performance Standards.

B. Countries

Solomon Islands, and any MCC eligible country.

C. Scope and Objectives

The Solomon Islands Threshold Program is being designed to address identified constraints to economic growth related to land access and natural resource management, with a particular focus on sustainable forestry and tourism development in the Western Province and Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. These constraints involve multiple crosscutting environmental and social themes including, among others, governance and regulatory enforcement in support of sustainable forestry, community based natural resource management, and sustainable tourism; stakeholder engagement and consultation regarding land use, land rights and collective natural resource rights; local benefit sharing; and the environmental and social impacts of the forestry and tourism sectors.

The social and environmental footprints of forestry, tourism and initiatives in similar sectors often have negative effects on local communities that require prevention, compensation and or mitigation programs. Such measures, if not adequately designed and implemented, can be a source of conflict and are often extenuated in the absence of adequate regulatory and governance structures. Development and implementation of the MCC Solomon Islands Threshold Program therefore requires attention to community based-approaches to support the sustainable forestry and tourism sectors in alignment with MCC’s Environmental Guidelines and the IFC Environmental and Social Performance Standards.

The MCC ESP team seeks a consultant with broad expertise regarding the management of environmental and social impacts of sustainable forestry, community based natural resource management, and sustainable tourism. Community-based experience of these sectors in the Solomon Islands is highly desired; stakeholder engagement and consultation regarding land use, land rights and collective or traditional approaches to natural resource management will be necessary throughout the assignment. Using this broad expertise, the Consultant will assist MCC’s efforts to integrate environmental and social sustainability into the design and implementation of any MCC funded activities considered under the Solomon Islands Threshold Program and facilitate compliance with MCC’s Environmental Guidelines and IFC Performance Standards.

D. Phases and Tasks

The Consultant shall support the MCC Solomon Island Country Team and partners during each of the following respective phases of Threshold Program development and implementation:

i. Root Cause Analysis Phase: The Consultant shall support the Solomon Island Country Team and partners (see ‘coordination’ section, below) by identifying, analyzing and contributing thematic information related to the environmental and social performance of the two binding constraints to economic growth (access to land and forest resource management).

ii. Program Design Phase: The Consultant shall support the Solomon Island Country Team and partners by assisting the ESP team to identify and evaluate potential projects or programs to address the results of the Root Cause Analysis in alignment with MCC’s Environmental Guidelines.

iii. Program Implementation Phase: Implementation of the selected Threshold Program(s) will occur in two phases: (i) program mobilization and “entry into force” preparation which involves putting in place all entities, procedures and requirements to proceed with program implementation (anticipated January 2021 – September 2021); and (ii) program implementation (anticipated October 2021 – October 2024). The Consultant shall provide oversight support to facilitate compliance with MCC’s Environmental Guidelines throughout the Threshold Program mobilization and implementation, as needed and at the direction of MCC.

Examples of specific tasks and services which may be requested during the above phases may include but are not limited to:

1. Conduct stakeholder mapping of key forestry and tourism sector stakeholders, including government, donor, civil society and community-level stakeholders, in order to support MCC stakeholder engagement and data collection concerning program development and implementation;

2. Contribute to the planning and/or implementation of stakeholder engagement and consultation to facilitate the integration of community-based perspectives regarding forestry, land use, and sustainable tourism development, including those of indigenous, vulnerable or disadvantaged stakeholders, in alignment with IFC Performance Standards, among others;

3. Conduct literature reviews, desk-top research, or primary data collection to provide written assessment of key themes for consideration or inclusion in the Root Cause Analysis, Opportunity Assessment or related deliverables and milestones, including, but not limited to:

a. Assess the effectiveness of existing or potential stakeholder engagement, consultation and conflict mediation processes to facilitate sustainable forestry activities, or similar developments, including, but not limited to Timber Rights Hearings, participatory mapping of overlapping land rights/use claims, consensus building and conflict meditation, or participatory monitoring frameworks;

b. Asses the effectiveness of sustainable forestry initiatives and opportunities at the local/community-level, including a review of public, donor or civil society activities, opportunities or examples of local supply chain development in sustainable forestry, FSC certification, community-based natural resource management structures, conservation concession procedures, or methods to enhance local benefit sharing in forestry or related developments;

c. Assess environmental and social risks and opportunities in the sustainable tourism sector, including the quality and capacity of tourism development plans, community-level risks and benefits of tourism development, and potential cumulative or indirect environmental and social impacts of tourism development;

d. Assess climate-related risks, impacts, adaptation strategies, and existing strategies or programs with respect to forestry and sustainable tourism sectors;

e. Identify opportunities to utilize approaches to natural resource management incorporating ecosystems services, natural resource accounting, or suitable methods to account for cultural, traditional or non-monetary value;

f. Assess current alignment between the forestry, natural resource management and sustainable tourism sectors compared to the IFC Environmental and Social Performance Standards, and identify opportunities to increase environmental and social performance;

g. Provide technical expertise and assistance in assessing and evaluating data, reports, geospatial information, policy recommendations or related information provided by MCC Solomon Islands Team partners or secondary sources;

4. Support the identification, assessment, and evaluation of potential programs or project elements under consideration by the MCC Solomon Islands team and partners, with emphasis on ways of enhancing project design and/or benefit streams from an environmental and social perspective; identifying major environmental and social risks, impacts and opportunities; and assessing alignment with MCC Environmental Guidelines and IFC Performance Standards. Examples of potential programs may include, but are not limited to:

a. Pilot implementation of participatory process to identify, define or legitimate land use, land access or land rights for sustainable development;

b. Sustainable tourism development planning, impact assessment or strategy development;

c. Policy or legal reform to support forestry transparency initiatives, FSC certification, re-entry forestry guidelines, benefit sharing, or related measures;

d. Institutional capacity building to support enforcement of sustainable natural resource management measures;

e. Strategic support for Community Conservation Concessions to promote sustainable development and community benefit sharing from natural resource management or tourism investment;

f. Pilot projects incorporating blended finance investment in sustainable forestry or natural resource management initiatives;

5. Participate in trips to the Solomon Islands for the purposes of due diligence and/or implementation monitoring, oversight and supervision, depending on the phase of the Threshold Program, and provide a comprehensive trip report upon completion. MCC staff members from the Solomon Island Country Team may participate in missions; alternatively, they may provide guidance to the Consultant to conduct such missions separately;

6. Assist in reviews of project-related documents including feasibility studies, environmental and social impact assessments and management plans, contractor terms of reference or bidding documents, work plans, performance monitoring plans, disbursement requests, or other deliverables to ensure compliance with the MCC Environmental Guidelines and International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability; and

7. Provide appropriate guidance, tools, and assistance to help strengthen institutional capacity and policies to integrate internationally accepted principles of environmental and social sustainability into the design and implementation of MCC-funded projects.

E. Deliverables

The Consultant shall provide services to MCC on an as needed basis, and support MCC in a flexible and timely manner needed to meet the evolving needs of Compact development and implementation. The anticipated workload shall include at least two missions to the Solomon Islands in the first six months of the assignment corresponding to the root cause analysis and program development phase. Trip reports shall be completed within 10 days of completion of any Mission. Workload is expected to decrease following program development but is anticipated to continue throughout the duration of the implementation phase. No additional tasks shall imply any additional costs to the Government beyond the amount allowed for in the initial call order; however, this call order may be amended to reflect additional costs associated with implementation planning and oversight requirements in additional countries.

F. Coordination

The consultant shall work collaboratively with the MCC-Solomon Islands Country Team. The team will be supported by multiple additional due diligence consultancies performing the following tasks:

Program Development and Oversight Consultant: to provide (i) analytical and project design support related to the development of the Solomon Islands Threshold Program, including facilitated development of the Root Cause Analysis, Opportunity Assessment, Concept Notes and other program design and development tasks and (ii) oversight support for the implementation of the SI Threshold Program.

Tourism due diligence: to identify root causes of key barriers to international private sector investment in a high quality resort and/or hotel in the Western Province and Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.

Sector and Thematic Due Diligence Consultants: in addition to this ESP consultancy, the MCC-Solomon Islands Country Team shall employ other sector or thematic due diligence consultants, including, but not limited to Political Economy, Gender and Social Inclusion, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

All of the above consultants are expected to collaboratively contribute to the MCC Solomon Islands country team by sharing data, deliverables and reports, participating in regular phone-conferences and email exchanges, and participating in field missions to the Solomon Islands as directed throughout the assignment.

G. Period and Place of Performance

All work under this contract will be completed between effective dates of the contract award for a two year period. The estimated level of effort is 932 hours per year with an estimated 5 trips per year. MCC anticipates this level of effort but does not guarantee this level of effort as it may increase or decrease.

Consultant will perform the tasks under this contract in MCC-eligible countries and at Consultant’s own facilities, as necessary. Preference is for consultants based in the Solomon Islands or surrounding region.

H. Timing and Reporting

All formal communication with MCC, including reports, will be submitted to the Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COR), Program Monitor (PM), and other designated MCC personnel. The COR/PM for this requirement will be identified via separate correspondence.

The COR/PM will have technical responsibility for monitoring the contractor’s performance. The COR/PM will review and evaluate the contractor’s performance, and also will coordinate any communications with relevant counterparts and other donor agencies and organizations.

Any changes in the terms of the SoW will be made in writing and approved by the Contracting Officer. No representation of the COR/PM shall serve as a basis for an alteration in the general scope of this SoW or of the terms and conditions of the SoW unless confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer. The contractor must communicate with the Contracting Officer on all matters that pertain to the Contract terms. Proceeding with the work without proper contractual coverage could result in nonpayment for that work.

I. Evaluation Criteria

Mandatory

· A degree in anthropology, natural sciences, planning, geography, or related social sciences.

· Demonstrated experience in sustainable forestry, sustainable tourism and community-based approaches to land use and land rights in the Solomon Islands or similar contexts in the region.

· Demonstrated experience with the IFC Performance Standards, including stakeholder engagement and approaches to facilitating free prior and informed consent of Indigenous peoples during project development and implementation.

· Thematic understanding of Climate Change, ecosystem services, and natural capital accounting as applicable to potential initiatives in sustainable forestry and tourism.

· At least mid-level professional with minimum ten (10) years of combined coursework and professional experience providing technical support on the assessment of environmental and social risks/impacts and/or promoting sound environmental and social performance of development projects.

· Language requirement: English (spoken, written and reading proficiency).

Preferred

· Residence or base of operations in the Solomon Islands or surrounding region.

· Previous experience working with MCC and MCC country partners.

· Proficiency in Solomons Pijin.

· Demonstrated experience working as part of multi-disciplinary project teams involving environmental, social, legal and policy reform activities typically associated with the sectors noted above.

J. Conflict of Interest

The Consultant will be precluded from bidding on work and services (design, assessment, construction and supervision) to be procured by the local MCAs accountable entity or using funds advanced under a Compact in the relevant country.