RECRUITMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PAYMENT FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES (PES) SCHEME FOR THE WAP PROJECT.
Procurement Number: EPASL/NRG/UNDP/RFP/2026/0014
Date of First Issue: 31ST AUGUST 2026
Background
The Environment Protection Agency through the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) received funding from UNDP GEF-funded “Sustainable and Integrated Landscape Management of the Western Area Peninsular Project’’ to implement component 1 and part of component 3 of the project. Component 1 focuses on systematic and Institutional capacity for integrated Landscape management to ensure capacities of targeted Government institutions and other stakeholders increased for collaborative land-use decision –making and management. While component 3 focuses on innovative financing to ensure sustainable financing options are piloted through the PES scheme. Part of this fund will be used to hire the services of an international consultant to develop a payment for ecosystem services scheme for the Western Area Peninsula Park.
The western Area Peninsula (WAP) as a multiple-use landscape (69,820 ha) that is dominated by moist closed forest occupying a narrow chain of hills (highest point 900m) surrounded by a thin coastal strip that lines the peninsula to the north, west and south, forming part of the Upper Guinean Forests of West Africa Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). The WAP hosts a significant amount of Sierra Leone’s terrestrial biodiversity, and the forested surface of the WAP acts as the main water tower for the country’s capital, Freetown. The ecosystem services offered by the landscape and its biodiversity are increasingly threatened by unplanned and environmentally unsustainainable land-use practises, manifested by encroachment into forests by agriculture, increased unplanned urban expansion, industrial and artisanal mining (mainly stone quarrying and sand extraction) as well as overexploitation of natural resources (especially forest products).
Effective adoption of an integrated management approach for the WAP is hindered by insufficient systematic and institutional capacities for participatory management of the multiple-use landscape, lack of adequate information and coordination mechanisms, and insufficient financing to support biodiversity conservation and environmentally sustainable land management over the longer term.
Despite challenges of human pressures on the forests within this landscape, these ecosystems offered valuable services ranging from provisioning regulating, supporting and cultural services that are essential for human survival and wellbeing as they contribute to food production, climate regulation, clean water and recreational opportunities. To fully implement Component 3 of the project, the EPA-SL will hire the services of an international consultant to improve on the payment of ecosystem services (PES) framework developed by the national consultant within the (WAP) landscape for informed decision –making and enhancing management effectiveness of the park and its environs.
Specific Tasks: The international consultant will undertake the following tasks/ responsibilities to improve on the PES framework.
- Assess the government of WAP natural resources with key tools (SAGE, GAPA).
- Conduct stakeholder consultations and participatory assessments across various sectors within the WAP landscape
- Analyses legal, institutional, and policy frameworks relevant to PES in Sierra Leone, including the opportunities and constraints.
- Assess markets of key ecosystem services (water, tourism, carbon, NTFPs)
- Provide examples where payments for ecosystem services in protected areas work and suggest ways and means of replicability in WAP.
- Map ecosystem services and potential payment scams.
- Review the current mechanisms and challenges for PES and proffer policy recommendations and operational guidelines.
- Develop a communication strategy of PES for advocacy, awareness, and lessons learned on best practices for PES.
- Establish a monitoring mechanism and evaluation tool to track PES effectiveness in the WAP landscape.
Academic qualifications:
Education:
Advanced degree in Environmental Economics, Natural Resources Management, or related field. A Doctorate degree in the field is an added advantage.
Experiences:
The consultant shall possess:
A minimum of five (5) years of experience in PES or ecosystem services finance with an extensive understanding of biodiversity finance, ecotourism, environmental governance, or related works. Experience in the following fields is relevant:
- Natural capital accounting
- Ecosystem services evaluation
- Ecosystem services assessments
- Biodiversity financing mechanisms
- Monitoring and Evaluation mechanisms
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 49% of the total technical points (70) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
| 1. Technical Capacity and Related Qualifications | Points | |
| 1. | Advanced degree in Environmental Economics, Natural Resources Management, or related field. A Doctorate degree in the field is an added advantage.
|
10 |
| 2. | A minimum of five (5) years of experience in PES or ecosystem services finance with an extensive understanding of biodiversity finance, ecotourism, environmental governance, or related works. Experience in the following fields is relevant:
|
20 |
| 3. | Understanding of the Western Area Peninsula Landscape and proven experience of similar assessments. | 15 |
| 4. | A broader understanding of protected Management, including both terrestrial and Coastal Ecosystem Management and policy analysis. | 5 |
| 5. |
|
20 |
| Total Possible Points | 70 | |
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, including travel costs and DSA).
The international consultant is requested to prepare and submit his or her technical and financial proposal to be submitted to the address not later than 28TH September 2026 at (1:00 Pm).
Note: The consultant 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 SL is soliciting the services of an international Consulting expert to Support the Development of a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Scheme for the WAP project “using the approval format and a consultative process involving national stakeholders. The Agency has secured fund from UNDP and is therefore inviting an international consultant 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, etc.) to submit Technical and financial proposals for the assignment. The Technical Proposals will be publicly opened on [28th September 2026] 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 individual international 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. But excluding travel costs and DSA.
- 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 Profile
- Samples of previous work/ experience from similar project.
Duration of work:
The assignment is expected to be undertaken within 12 weeks from the date of signing the contract.
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 [28th September 2026] at [1:00 pm],
Proposals along with relevant documents must be submitted in sealed envelope boldly marked: “Preparation of a system to Support the development of a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Scheme for the WAP project’’ 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
Bids 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/ab.massaquoi@epa.gov.sl no later than 28th September 2026.
Executive Chairperson
Environment Protection Agency-SL;
2nd Floor
38 Freetown Road, Wilberforce Village
Freetown
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR HIRING AN INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT
Project Title: Sustainable and Integrated Landscape Management of the Western Area Peninsula (WAP) Project in Sierra Leone.
Assignment Title: Improve the Payment for Ecosystem Services Framework to a PES Scheme for the Western Area Peninsula National Park.
Duration: September 2026 – October 2026
Expected Start Date: October 2026
Type of Contract: Individual/Firm
BACKGROUND
The Environment Protection Agency through the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) received funding from UNDP GEF-funded “Sustainable and Integrated Landscape Management of the Western Area Peninsula Project” to implement component 1 and part of component 3 of the project. Component 1 focuses on Systemic and Institutional Capacity for Integrated Landscape Management to ensure capacities of targeted Government institutions and other stakeholders increased for collaborative land-use decision-making and management. While component 3 focuses on Innovative Financing to ensure sustainable financing options are piloted through the PES scheme. Part of this fund will be used to hire the services of an international consultant to develop a payment for ecosystem services scheme for the Western Area Peninsula Park.
The Western Area Peninsula (WAP) has a multiple-use landscape (69,820 ha) that is dominated by moist closed forest occupying a narrow chain of hills (highest point 900m) surrounded by a thin coastal strip that lines the peninsula to the north, west, and south. Forming part of the Upper Guinean Forests of West Africa Biodiversity Hotspot, the landscape includes two Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). The WAP hosts a significant amount of Sierra Leone’s terrestrial biodiversity, and the forested surface of the WAP acts as the main water tower for the country’s capital, Freetown. The ecosystem services offered by the landscape and its biodiversity are increasingly threatened by unplanned and environmentally unsustainable land-use practices, manifested by encroachment into forests by agriculture, increased unplanned urban expansion, industrial and artisanal mining (mainly stone quarrying and sand extraction), as well as overexploitation of natural resources (especially forest products). Effective adoption of an integrated management approach for the WAP is hindered by insufficient systemic and institutional capacity for participatory management of the multiple-use landscape, lack of adequate information and coordination mechanisms, and insufficient financing to support biodiversity conservation and environmentally sustainable land management over the longer term.
Despite challenges of human pressures on the forests within this landscape, these ecosystems offered valuable services ranging from provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural services that are essential for human survival and wellbeing, as they contribute to food production, climate regulation, clean water and recreational opportunities.
To fully implement Component 3 of the project, the EPA-SL will hire the services of an external consultant to improve on the payment of ecosystem services (PES) framework developed by the national consultant within the WAP landscape for informed decision-making and enhancing management effectiveness of the park and its environs.
Scope/Objective
This assignment seeks to evaluate and propose a robust payment for ecosystem services scheme to incentivize sustainable environmental practices and enhance natural resource management for sustainable financing of the WAP landscape for the long-term conservation, and ensuring equitable benefit-sharing with local communities.
The specific objectives are as follows:
- Design a PES Scheme for the Western Area Peninsula National Park tailored to national and local contexts.
- Propose a mechanism for management and governance of PES within the WAPNP.
- Propose financial mechanisms and institutional arrangements for PES implementation.
- Develop monitoring and evaluation tools for PES effectiveness.
- Develop a communication and sensitization campaign strategy for PES
Specific Tasks/Responsibilities
The international consultant will undertake the following tasks/responsibilities to improve on the PES framework.
- Assess the governance of WAP natural resources with key tools (SAGE, GAPA.)
- Conduct stakeholder consultations and participatory assessments across various sectors within the WAP landscape
- Analyse legal, institutional, and policy frameworks relevant to PES in Sierra Leone, including the opportunities and constraints
- Assess markets of key ecosystem services (water, tourism, carbon, NTFPs)
- Provide examples where payments for ecosystem services in protected areas work and suggest ways and means of replicability in WAP.
- Map ecosystem services and potential payment schemes.
- Review the current mechanisms and challenges for PES and proffer policy recommendations and operational guidelines;
- Develop a communication strategy of PES for advocacy, awareness, and lessons learned on best practices for PES;
- Establish a monitoring mechanism and evaluation tool to track PES effectiveness in the WAP landscape.
Deliverables
The consultancy firm/Consultant shall produce the following key deliverables electronically, with printed copies provided for official use where required. Each deliverable will be considered complete only upon review and approval by EPA-SL.
- Inception report with methodology and work plan delivered within two weeks of contract start date, detailing the data collection tools and methodologies, including all forms, questionnaires, models, spatial files, and source codes developed for data gathering, as well as a log or database of contacts for sectors contacted.
- The consultant or firm shall submit a package of these tools along with a brief explanatory note on how to use them and their accompanying metadata.
- Stakeholder mapping and ecosystem services inventory.
- Draft PES scheme and a proposed financial mechanism.
- Final PES scheme with detailed monitoring mechanism and a communication strategy for implementation.
- The report will be submitted at the end of the assignment and must be approved by EPA-SL and validated by relevant stakeholders as the final PES scheme.
Timeline and Schedule
The total duration of the consultancy is twelve (12) weeks from the start date. This timeframe accounts for the period of stakeholders’ engagement, data gathering, and final submission of deliverables. The consultant should be available in country to conduct field visits, consultations, and remote work as needed during the duration of the contract. The EPA-SL will provide timely feedback at each milestone to keep the schedule on track. If any significant delays or obstacles arise (for example, difficulties obtaining data from certain sectors), the consultants should immediately communicate these to the EPA-SL, so that adjustments can be made.
The schedule below is a tentative timeline for each deliverable and the corresponding payment schedule.
| No | Deliverable | Timeline | Payment schedule |
| 1 | Inception Report | 3 weeks | 30% |
| 2 | Draft Report (tools, data collection, consultations, and analysis) | 6 weeks | 40% |
| 3 | Final Report of PES Scheme | 4 weeks | 30% |
| This project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Implementing Partner; the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, involving relevant stakeholders such as MDAs, NGOs/CSOs, communities, and other interest groups across the WAP landscape.
The Consultant will report to the Executive Chairman or his representative (the Director, Natural Resource Governance), who is leading the delivery of the assignment. The task will be done leveraging on the PES framework developed by the national consultant to inform further desk/literature review, data collection, and consultation of relevant government institutions, civil society organizations, communities, the private sector, and other interest groups. The international consultant will deliver the task in close collaboration with the national consultant for support while working closely with all relevant institutions and the technical representatives of the Environment Protection Agency to ensure an inclusive and participatory process for the adoption of the PES scheme. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Timeline against Deliverables: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Based on the scope of the work outlined above, the Consultant will be expected to undertake the assignment for twelve (12) weeks. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Qualifications: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Academic requirements
Advanced degree in Environmental Economics, Natural Resource Management, or related field. A Doctorate degree in the relevant field is an added advantage. Experiences: A minimum of five (5) years of experience in PES or ecosystem services finance with an extensive understanding of biodiversity finance, ecotourism, environmental governance, or related works. Experience in the following fields is relevant: a) Natural capital accounting b) Ecosystem services evaluation c) Ecosystem services assessments d) Biodiversity financing mechanisms e) Monitoring and Evaluation Systems Language Requirements: Fluency in written and spoken English. All documents are expected to be produced in English.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Competences | |||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate Competencies
Technical Competencies
Professionalism
Communication:
Teamwork:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Application | |||||||||||||||||||||
Qualified and interested Individuals are hereby requested to apply. The application should contain the following:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Evaluation Method & Criteria | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical Criteria score 70%
Financial Criteria score 30% Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49% of the total technical points (70) would be considered for the financial evaluation.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Approved:
Abu Bakar Massaquoi (PhD.)
Executive Chairman, EPA-SL
Signature: …………………………………
Date: …………………………………