NATIONAL CONSULTANCY- KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE (KAP) EXPERT

Procurement Number: EPASL/GEF/GOPL/ RFP/2025/005

Date of First Issue: 22^nd May, 2025

Background

The Government of Sierra Leone through the Environment Protection Agency has secured funds from The Global Environment Facility (GEF) to implement a project on “Enhancing the Formalization and Mercury Reduction in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) in Sierra Leone”. The project implementation phase was officially launched in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on 12 November 2024, by the Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) – Execution Agency and the Conservation International (CI) – Implementing Agency.

Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) provides an essential livelihood for at least 80,000 miners in Sierra Leone. An increase in the international price of gold and a decrease in alluvial diamond deposits have attracted more people to engage in this sector, especially among rural communities. ASGM generates supplementary cash flows in the farming off-season.

However, this largely informal and unregulated sector poses severe negative impacts on both the environment and the health of people, and its contribution to the GDP is hard to quantify because of the informality. ASGM is the largest user and emitter of mercury into the environment, and this has devastating health and environmental consequences. ASGM operations also degrade land because they leave behind open mine pits, cause deforestation and pollute ground and surface water.

Objectives

The project aims to reduce the use of mercury in the ASGM sector through a holistic, multi-sectoral, integrated formalization approach, and increasing access to finance leading to the adoption of sustainable mercury-free technologies and access to traceable gold supply chains. The expert will carry out a prior KAP assessment.

The expert will work closely with the Project Management Unit (PMU), EPA-SL and CI to carry out the following specific objectives:

1. Conduct one Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) assessment, including a mapping of the different sources of information on ASGM at the national level, to inform the knowledge management strategy
2. Use findings from 1 above to develop two gender sensitive awareness-raising and advocacy strategies on safe ASGM mercury-free technologies (one in each pilot site and one at the national level)

Methodological Approach

A major barrier to preventing mercury use in the gold process is believed to be limited knowledge and access to information about the dangers of mercury. The consultant will develop KAP statically valid sampling strategies and instruments, that will enable the prior assessment of the level of knowledge and capacities regarding mercury management, for targeted stakeholders in the ASGM supply chain. The instruments should allow for an understanding of the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of stakeholders, stratified by geography (pilot area versus national), gender and type of group (miners, buyers, community people) related to ASGM, including an assessment of the capacities and level of knowledge of different stakeholders regarding mercury use and mercury waste disposal.

This activity will also involve the review of available national information on mercury use and contamination related to small-scale gold mining and an analysis of the data captured to develop a gender-sensitive strategy to tackle mercury use in the ASGM.

The applicant is expected to outline the proposed methodology in detail, including sampling frame, informed consent procedures, and gender-sensitivity indicators.

Academic qualifications:

Education:

Advanced degree in environmental science, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), natural resources management, land-use planning, socio-economic development or related fields.

Experiences:   

Applicants should have strong evidence of knowledge and a minimum of five (5) years of experience in natural resources management, land-use planning, socio-economic development or related fields.

1. Demonstrated expertise in collection, analysis, and reporting of data specifically for men and women as well as in explaining complex issues to diverse stakeholders.
2. Familiarity with and experience of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP)
3. A demonstrated understanding of CI-GEF’s Policies and principles
4. Strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and project management skills.
5. Knowledge on awareness-raising and advocacy strategy on safe ASGM mercury-free technologies
6. Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, work well independently, and manage work with minimal supervision
7. Strong team player with collaborative approach, excellent interpersonal, organizational, prioritization, and time management skills.
8. Ensuring equal access to services for women and men

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English. All documents are expected to be produced in English.

Evaluation method and criteria

Technical Criteria weight 70%

Financial Criteria weight 30%,

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

Financial Proposal:

Financial proposal that indicates all-inclusive fixed total contract price supported by a breakdown of costs (including professional fee, and specified other costs if applicable.

The National consultant/firm is requested to prepare and submit their technical and financial proposal to be submitted to the address not later than 18^th June at (1:00 Pm).

Note: The consultant/firm shall be ranked and the first ranked on the list shall be selected for the proposed assignment given that, their fee rates are within the budget.  The selection process will be based on the Least Cost Selection

Service Required: The Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) is seeking a competent expert with experience in Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) ideally with national and/or regional experience and preferably based in Sierra Leone. The Agency has secured fund and is therefore inviting consultants who can provide a statement of capability and experience indicating that they are qualified to perform the service (description of similar assignment, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.) to submit Technical and financial proposals for the assignment. The Technical Proposals will be publicly opened on [18^th June, 2025] at [1:05 pm], in the presence of the bidders’ designated representatives and anyone who chooses to attend, at the address below.

This advertisement is open to all National Consultants.

 Kindly submit the following documents;

• Technical proposal
• Financial Proposal, that indicates all-inclusive fixed total contract price supported by a breakdown of costs (inclusive professional fee and specify other costs if applicable.
• A Cover Letter
• Personal CV indicating educational background/professional qualifications. contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
• Individual / firm Profile
• Samples of previous work/ experience from similar project.

Duration of work:

The assignment is expected to be undertaken within 32 days from the date of signing the contract.

Duty Station: Home Base

Interested consultant may obtain further information and collect the terms of reference (TOR) at the address below between [9am to 4pm Mondays to Fridays] or send an email to the below email address.

Technical and Financial proposals must be delivered either by hand or mail to the address below on or before [18^th June, 2025] at [1:00 pm],

Proposals along with relevant documents must be submitted in sealed envelope boldly marked: “NATIONAL CONSULTANCY- KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE (KAP) EXPERT’’ at the address below.  Late proposal will be rejected and returned unopened. In addition to the original of the proposals, the number of copies required is 2.

WOMEN ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Proposal must be delivered to the address below or by email to kamara.isatu2000@gmail.com/isatu.kamara@epa.gov.sl and copied to massaquoiabubakar@gmail.com no later than 10^th June,2025.

Executive Chairperson

Environment Protection Agency-SL;

2^nd Floor

38 Freetown Road, Wilberforce Village

Freetown