Request for Proposals (RfP) Implementation of the gender and environmental and social management system (GESS) for the TWENDE project: Towards Ending Drought Emergencies: Ecosystem Based Adaptation in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Rangelands.
TWENDE PROJECT- Nairobi, Kenya
RfP Reference: IUCN-2025-11-P02886-11
Welcome to this Procurement by IUCN. You are hereby invited to submit a Proposal. Please read the information and instructions carefully because non-compliance with the instructions may result in disqualification of your Proposal from this Procurement.
1. REQUIREMENTS
1.1. A detailed description of the services and/or goods to be provided can be found in Attachment 1.
2. CONTACT DETAILS
2.1. During the course of this procurement, i.e. from the publication of this RfP to the award of a contract, you may not discuss this procurement with any IUCN employee or representative other than the following contact. You must address all correspondence and questions to the contact, including your proposal.
IUCN Contact: daniel.lekuroito@iucn.org
3. PROCUREMENT TIMETABLE
3.1. This timetable is indicative and may be changed by IUCN at any time. If IUCN decides that changes to any of the deadlines are necessary, we will publish this on our website and contact you directly if you have indicated your interest in this procurement (see Section 3.2).
DATE - ACTIVITY
18 November 2025 - Publication of the Request for Proposals
20 November 2025 - Deadline for confirmation of intention to bid
23 November 2025 - Deadline for submission of questions
27 November 2025 - Planned publication of responses to questions
03 December 2025 - Deadline for submission of proposals to IUCN (“Submission Deadline”)
10 December 2025 - Clarification of proposals
12 December 2025 - Planned date for contract award
15 December 2025 - Expected contract start date
3.2. Please email the IUCN contact to confirm whether or not you are intending to submit a proposal by the deadline stated above. This will help IUCN to keep you updated regarding the procurement.
4. COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL
4.1. Your Proposal must consist of the following three documents:
Signed Declaration of Undertaking (see Attachment 2)
Technical Proposal (see Section 4.4 below)
Financial Proposal (see Section 4.5 below)
Proposals must be prepared in English.
4.2. Your Proposal must be submitted by email to the IUCN Contact (see Section 2). The subject heading of the email shall be IUCN-2025-11-P02886 11. The bidder’s name is the name of the company/organisation on whose behalf you are submitting the proposal, or your own surname if you are bidding as a self-employed consultant. Your proposal must be submitted in PDF format. You may submit multiple emails suitably annotated, e.g. Email 1 of 3, if attached files are too large to suit a single email transmission. You may not submit your Proposal by uploading it to a file-sharing tool.
IMPORTANT: Submitted documents must be password-protected so that they cannot be opened and read before the submission deadline. Please use the same password for all submitted documents. After the deadline has passed and within 12 hours, please send the password to the IUCN Contact. This will ensure a secure bid submission and opening process. Please DO NOT email the password before the deadline for Proposal submission.
4.3. Pre-Qualification Criteria
IUCN will use the following Pre-Qualification Criteria to determine whether you have the capacity to provide the required goods and/or services to IUCN. Please provide the necessary information in a single, separate document.
Pre-Qualification Criteria
1. 3 relevant references of clients similar to IUCN / similar work
2. Confirm that you have all the necessary legal registrations to perform the work.
4.4. Technical Proposal
The technical proposal must address each of the criteria stated below explicitly and separately, quoting the relevant criteria reference number (left-hand column).
Proposals in any other format will significantly increase the time it takes to evaluate, and such Proposals may therefore be rejected at IUCN’s discretion.
Where CVs are requested, these must be of the individuals who will actually carry out the work specified. The individuals you put forward may only be substituted with IUCN’s approval.
IUCN will evaluate technical proposals with regards to each of the following criteria and their relative importance:
Description - Information to provide - Relative weight
1. Understanding of the assignment - Demonstrates a clear understanding of the assignment, context, and expected deliverable - 10pts
Clarity and completeness of the Proposal Completeness of the proposal - 10pts
2. Methodology - Presents a sound and realistic approach, methodology, and work plan to achieve the objectives - 20pts
3 Relevant Experience
At least three (3) years’ experience in developing, implementing and monitoring environmental and social safeguards instruments and gender mainstreaming. - 15pts
Proven previous experience in gender equality and social inclusion programming in international organizations. Familiarity with the environmental and social policies of Green Climate Fund (GCF) - 15pts
Experience in implementation support of conservation, landscape restoration or natural resource management projects in Rwanda - 10pts
4. Qualifications - Master’s degree in anthropology, social science, gender studies, natural resource management, economic or international development or law or similar education – but with focus on social issues - 10pts
5. Work Plan and deliverables schedule - Realistic and coherent work plans aligned with the proposed timelines and deliverables - 10pts
TOTAL 100
4.5. Financial Proposal
4.5.1. The financial proposal must be a fixed and firm price for the provision of the goods/services stated in the RfP in their entirety.
4.5.2. Prices include all costs
Submitted rates and prices are deemed to include all costs, insurances, taxes (except VAT, see below), fees, expenses, liabilities, obligations, risk and other things necessary for the performance of the Terms of Reference or Specification of Requirements. IUCN will not accept charges beyond those clearly stated in the Financial Proposal. This includes applicable withholding taxes and similar. It is your responsibility to determine whether such taxes apply to your organisation and to include them in your financial offer.
4.5.3. Applicable Goods and Services Taxes
Proposal rates and prices shall be exclusive of Value Added Tax.
4.5.4. Currency of proposed rates and prices
All rates and prices submitted by Proposers shall be in KES (Kenyan shillings).
4.6. Additional information not requested by IUCN should not be included in your Proposal and will not be taken into account in the evaluation.
4.7. Your proposal must remain valid and capable of acceptance by IUCN for a period of 90 calendar days following the submission deadline.
4.8. Withdrawals and Changes
You may freely withdraw or change your proposal at any time prior to the submission deadline by written notice to the IUCN Contact. However, in order to reduce the risk of fraud, no changes or withdrawals will be accepted after the submission deadline.
5. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS
5.1. Completeness
IUCN will firstly check your proposal for completeness. Incomplete proposals will not be considered further.
5.2. Technical Evaluation
5.2.1. Scoring Method
Your proposal will be assigned a score from 0 to 10 for each of the technical evaluation criteria, such that ‘0’ is low and ‘10’ is high.
5.2.2. Minimum Quality Thresholds
Proposals that receive a score of ‘0’ for any of the criteria will not be considered further.
5.2.3. Technical Score
Your score for each technical evaluation criterion will be multiplied with the respective relative weight (see Section 4.4) and these weighted scores added together to give your proposal’s overall technical score.
5.3. Financial Evaluation and Financial Scores
The financial evaluation will be based upon the full total price you submit. Your financial proposal will receive a score calculated by dividing the lowest financial proposal that has passed the minimum quality thresholds (see Section 5.2.2) by the total price of your financial proposal.
Thus, for example, if your financial proposal is for a total of CHF 100 and the lowest financial proposal is CHF 80, you will receive a financial score of 80/100 = 80%
5.4. Total Score
Your proposal’s total score will be calculated as the weighted sum of your technical score and your financial score. The relative weights will be:
Technical: 70%
Financial: 30%
Thus, for example, if your technical score is 83% and your financial score is 77%, you will receive a total score of 83 * 70% + 77 * 30% = 58.1% + 23.1% = 81.2%.
Subject to the requirements in Sections 4 and 7, IUCN will award the contract to the bidder whose proposal achieves the highest total score.
6. EXPLANATION OF PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE
6.1. IUCN is using the Invitation Procedure for this procurement. This means that only invited bidders may submit a proposal. IUCN typically invites from four to six bidders to submit a proposal.
6.2. You are welcome to ask questions or seek clarification regarding this procurement. Please email the IUCN Contact (see Section 2), taking note of the deadline for submission of questions in Section 3.1.
6.3. All proposals must be received by the submission deadline in Section 3.1 above. Late proposals will not be considered. All proposals received by the submission deadline will be evaluated by a team of two or more evaluators in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in in this RfP. No other criteria will be used to evaluate proposals. The contract will be awarded to the bidder whose proposal received the highest Total Score. IUCN does, however, reserve the right to cancel the procurement and not award a contract at all.
6.4. IUCN will contact the bidder with the highest-scoring proposal to finalise the contract. We will contact unsuccessful bidders after the contract has been awarded and provide detailed feedback. The timetable in Section 3.1 gives an estimate of when we expect to have completed the contract award, but this date may change depending on how long the evaluation of proposals takes.
7. CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROCUREMENT
7.1. To participate in this procurement, you are required to submit a proposal, which fully complies with the instructions in this RfP and the Attachments.
7.1.1. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have submitted a complete and fully compliant proposal.
7.1.2. Any incomplete or incorrectly completed proposal submission may be deemed non-compliant, and as a result you may be unable to proceed further in the procurement process.
7.1.3. IUCN will query any obvious clerical errors in your proposal and may, at IUCN’s sole discretion, allow you to correct these, but only if doing so could not be perceived as giving you an unfair advantage.
7.2. In order to participate in this procurement, you must meet the following conditions:
Free of conflicts of interest
Registered on the relevant professional or trade register of the country in which you are established (or resident, if self-employed)
In full compliance with your obligations relating to payment of social security contributions and of all applicable taxes
Not been convicted of failing to comply with environmental regulatory requirements or other legal requirements relating to sustainability and environmental protection
Not bankrupt or being wound up
Never been guilty of an offence concerning your professional conduct
Not involved in fraud, corruption, a criminal organisation, money laundering, terrorism, or any other illegal activity.
7.3. You must complete and sign the Declaration of Undertaking (see Attachment 2)
7.4. If you are participating in this procurement as a member of a joint venture, or are using sub-contractors, submit a separate Declaration of Undertaking for each member of the joint venture and sub-contractor, and be clear in your proposal which parts of the goods/services are provided by each partner or subcontractor.
7.5. Each bidder shall submit only one proposal, either individually or as a partner in a joint venture. In case of joint venture, one company shall not be allowed to participate in two different joint ventures in the same procurement, nor shall a company be allowed to submit a proposal both on its behalf and as part of a joint venture for the same procurement. A bidder who submits or participates in more than one proposal (other than as a subcontractor or in cases of alternatives that have been permitted or requested) shall cause all the proposals with the bidder’s participation to be disqualified.
7.6. By taking part in this procurement, you accept the conditions set out in this RfP, including the following:
It is unacceptable to give or offer any gift or consideration to an employee or other representative of IUCN as a reward or inducement in relation to the awarding of a contract. Such action will give IUCN the right to exclude you from this and any future procurements, and to terminate any contract that may have been signed with you.
Any attempt to obtain information from an employee or other representative of IUCN concerning another bidder will result in disqualification.
Any price fixing or collusion with other bidders in relation to this procurement shall give IUCN the right to exclude you and any other involved bidder(s) from this and any future procurements and may constitute a criminal offence.
8. CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION
8.1. IUCN follows the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The information you submit to IUCN as part of this procurement will be treated as confidential and shared only as required to evaluate your proposal in line with the procedure explained in this RfP, and for the maintenance of a clear audit trail. For audit purposes, IUCN is required to retain your proposal in its entirety for 10 years after the end of the resulting contract and make this available to internal and external auditors and donors as and when requested.
8.2. In the Declaration of Undertaking (Attachment 2) you need to give IUCN express permission to use the information you submit in this way, including personal data that forms part of your proposal. Where you include personal data of your employees (e.g. CVs) in your proposal, you need to have written permission from those individuals to share this information with IUCN, and for IUCN to use this information as indicated in 8.1. Without these permissions, IUCN will not be able to consider your proposal.
9. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
If you have a complaint or concern regarding the propriety of how a competitive process is or has been executed, then please contact procurement@iucn.org. Such complaints or concerns will be treated as confidential and are not considered in breach of the above restrictions on communication (Section 2.1).
10. CONTRACT
The contract will be based on IUCN’s template in Attachment 3, the terms of which are not negotiable. They may, however, be amended by IUCN to reflect particular requirements from the donor funding this particular procurement.
11. ABOUT IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Headquartered in Switzerland, IUCN Secretariat comprises around 1,000 staff with offices in more than 50 countries.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,300 Member organisations and some 10,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well being.
www.iucn.org
https://twitter.com/IUCN/
12. ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 Specification of Requirements / Terms of Reference
Attachment 2 Declaration of Undertaking (select 2a for companies or 2b for self-employed as
applicable to you)
Attachment 3 Contract Template
Terms of Reference
Title: Implementation of the gender and environmental and social management system (GESS) for the TWENDE project: Towards Ending Drought Emergencies: Ecosystem Based Adaptation in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Rangelands.
LOCATION: Office of TWENDE PMU located in Nairobi, Kenya, with frequent travel to project sites.
Objective of the Consultancy
This consultancy has the following objectives:
1. Ensure that environmental and social risks of TWENDE sub-projects/site level activities are proactively identified, assessed, mitigated, and reported in accordance with IUCN’s Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS), the Green Climate Fund’s (GCF) Environmental and Social Safeguards policy (ESS), and national safeguard policies and legislative frameworks.
2. Support the systematic application of the ESMS procedures which are established in the project’s Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) throughout the project lifecycle.
3. In case adjustments to the ESMF procedures are required (e.g. due to changing context, national policies etc.), ensure timely update and approval by GCF.
4. Integrate risk management strategies into project implementation, supervision, monitoring, and reporting. This includes overseeing compliance with ESMS requirements, supporting the preparation and implementation of safeguard instruments for each sub-project (e.g., ESMPs, GRM, SEP, Gender and Youth Action Plan), and ensuring that these tools are effectively embedded in field operations.
5. Deliver technical support, coaching, and training to enhance safeguard understanding and compliance across all actors involved in project implementation to ensure consistent and high quality application of safeguard standards.
Background
IUCN Project Reference: P02886
Donor reference: FP113
The International Union of Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) mission is “to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.” IUCN projects aim to achieve positive conservation and social outcomes, including benefits for communities that depend on natural resources. However, unintended negative environmental and social impacts may occur when projects are implemented. Within the context of its mission, IUCN intends to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to avoid or minimize negative environmental and social impacts while stimulating positive impacts. To put this intention into practice, IUCN has established an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) as an intrinsic part of IUCN’s project cycle. It provides systematic steps and operational tools for managing the environmental and social performance of projects implemented or supported by IUCN. The system allows IUCN to screen potential projects for negative environmental or social impacts and develop suitable measures to avoid, minimise, or compensate for these impacts.
It also ensures that the implementation and effectiveness of mitigation measures are monitored and that any impacts arising during execution of the project are addressed. The ESMS requirements are documented in the form of a management manual (referred to as the ESMS Manual) that, together with the ESMS Standards, establishes IUCN’s ESMS Policy Framework.
The IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) operates in twenty-four countries in the Horn of Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. The current ESARO programming is composed of a suite of mutually interrelated programs and projects designed to address some of the most profound challenges affecting people and nature in the region. Among the projects implemented by IUCN’s Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office is the GCF-funded TWENDE Project - Towards Ending Drought Emergencies: Ecosystem Based Adaptation in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Rangelands. IUCN is recruiting a consultant to support the ESMS implementation of the TWENDE project.
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 15,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
www.iucn.org
https://twitter.com/IUCN/
About the Project
TWENDE - Towards Ending Drought Emergencies: Ecosystem Based Adaptation in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Rangelands (TWENDE)
IUCN Project Reference: P02886
Donor reference: FP113
The objective of the TWENDE project is to reduce the cost of climate change-induced drought on Kenya’s national economy by increasing resilience of the livestock and other land use sectors in restored and effectively governed rangeland ecosystems. The project will contribute to improved adaptation to climate change of Kenya’s national policy of “Ending Drought Emergencies”, as outlined in “Kenya Vision 2030”.
The Project addresses the overarching climate change challenges through three components, and their relevant outputs and activities:
Component 1: Climate change adapted planning for drought resilience.
Component 2: Restoration of rangeland landscapes for ecosystem-based adaptation.
Component 3: Climate change resilient ecosystem management for investments.
The project will strengthen climate change adaptation in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). The project will be implemented in 2 landscapes encompassing 11 counties, which have devolved powers under Kenya’s new constitution. The project will benefit 620,000 people in 104,000 households and will protect or restore 500,000 hectares of rangelands in a landscape of 2.5 million hectares. The target landscapes are dry season grazing areas: critical resource zones that provide refuge during periods of drought. The TWENDE Project is implemented by IUCN (accredited entity) together with the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) of Kenya, State Department of Livestock Development (SDLD) Kenya, and Conservation International as executing entities in partnership with ICRAF, IUCN Kenya, Just Dig It and WRA.
IUCN’s role of the Accredited Entity to Green Climate Fund (GCF) is to coordinate all activities implemented by implementing partners for TWENDE (NDMA, SDLD, CI, IUCN Kenya, JDI, and ICRAF) through relevant Project Management Units (PMU) under strategic guidance of the National Project Steering Committee chaired by the State Department for Livestock Development in Kenya. The PMU also coordinates the work of Partner Coordination Teams, efficiency of landscape coordination hubs, and effectiveness of partners’ Environmental and Gender Action Task Groups. The project has been screened on social and environmental risks in accordance with the requirements of IUCN’s Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS). Generally, the project is anticipated to lead to positive environmental and social impacts as it aims to increase the resilience of the livestock and other land-use sectors through restored and effectively governed rangeland ecosystems in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands. However, the ESMS Screening identified potential environmental and social risks including the risk of inadvertently impacting vulnerable or marginalized groups, risk of inter- or inner-community tensions due to project impacts or benefits, social risks from water abstraction for irrigation purposes, occupational health and safety risks when carrying out physical works (such as restoration measures, water infrastructure), etc. Environmental risks include impacts on water bodies, use of species with risk of developing invasive characteristics, and others.
The ESMS Standard on Indigenous Peoples was triggered because of the presence of indigenous groups. However, as these groups are considered the main beneficiaries of the project, no stand-alone Indigenous Peoples Plan was required, and the project’s participatory planning approach is considered to meet the Standard’s requirement in terms of meaningful and effective consultation with these groups.
The Cultural Heritage Standard was triggered but risks were considered minor. The Biodiversity Standard was triggered, some of the risk issues required further assessment and mitigation measures, minor issues were expected to be appropriately addressed by good practices guidance. While the Standard on Involuntary Resettlement and Access Restrictions was not triggered due to the voluntary nature of the restrictions that might be put in place, precaution will need to be exercised to ensure that the decision making process is considered adequate and reflects voluntary, informed consensus among the community / all users of the resources who have legitimate rights.
Because of the identified impacts and the fact that site-level activities / subprojects would need to be developed with further details the project has been classified as moderate risk, and an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) was prepared as the overarching safeguard document for the project. The ESMF was part of the project submission package and has undergone review from GCF and a final version has been approved. The ESMF is part of GCF’s funding agreement.
INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP OF THE ASSIGNMENT
In line with IUCN ESMS policy, projects categorized moderate risk or higher require a dedicated safeguard specialist, either as staff member or in form of a consultancy, to coordinate the implementation and monitoring of ESMS requirements and to handle emerging risks, address grievance and serious incidents. For TWENDE it has been decided that a combined ESMS and gender consultancy (GESS) was the most conducive option.
The GESS consultant will be hosted in the TWENDE PMU (Project Management Unit) based at the IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office and will support the PMU and its implementing partners in the systematic application of Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) procedures which are established in the projects’ Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) throughout the project lifecycle.
The assignment is supervised by the IUCN Regional Program Delivery Manager, Multilateral Finance and technically the assignment is guided by the IUCN regional ESMS Specialist, based at IUCN ESARO. The Consultant is expected to have monthly review meetings on ESMS implementation status with the Regional ESMS Specialist. An ESMS refresher training and review workshop will be held in Kigali, Rwanda, at the beginning of December 2025 for the PMU and project staff of implementing partners of the project - jointly with staff from the GCF funded project “Transforming Eastern Province of Rwanda through Adaptation" (TREPA). The objectives of the workshop are to review past safeguard implementation, develop or update site-specific safeguard and gender plans and instruments, and integrate their implementation into the projects’ workplans. It further aims at strengthening partners’ understanding on specific safeguard topics and to reactivate the GYAP (Gender and Youth Action Plan) and ESMP Task Groups and set up their roadmap. The training will be organized by IUCN with the support of an international safeguard consultant, but the GESS consultant for TWENDE hired under this ToR is expected to participate and actively engage in the review, update and revision of instruments and plans as they will be responsible for coordinating their future implementation.
Description of the Assignment
The main tasks required to be completed as part of this assignment are listed below, and for each task the expected level of effort (LoE) has been estimated which includes travel to project sites. However, in a field-based project setting, tasks and timelines may be dynamic. For example, field-based assessments may take longer than planned; there may be changes in project sites requiring renewed ESMS screening; multiple rounds of feedback may be expected on donor reports; the number of grievances and serious incidents cannot be known upfront, tasks such as responding to serious incidents or dealing with grievances reported may take longer than estimated; or other matters may come up based on emerging needs.
The consultant is expected to show flexibility in adapting to the needs of the project and in managing priorities and may also be required to perform other relevant duties as may be required from time to time. The LoE estimated below is therefore indicative only. The consultant is expected to maintain a time protocol for all effort expended and discuss upcoming work and priorities with the regional ESMS specialist and the Regional Program Delivery Manager on a monthly basis and when the need arises.
The assignment will comprise the following tasks:
1. Familiarize with existing documentation and reporting Review project documents prepared at submission and any updates hereafter, including (but not limited to):
Funding proposal, stakeholder analysis, theory of change.
ESMS Screening and Clearance Report.
Reports of relevant studies carried out during project preparation and implementation phase.
Safeguard instruments: ESMF, ESMPs produced for sub-projects / site-level activities, Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and any updates, project-level grievance mechanism (including grievance register and log), as well as others where relevant.
Reports on ESMS trainings and stakeholder meetings carried out thus far.
Preliminary gender assessment, and gender and youth action plan (GYAP).
Annual Project Reports (APR) submitted to GCF, review comments from GCF, and response from IUCN – focusing on the safeguards, stakeholder engagement and Gender sections.
Terms of Reference for the GYAP and ESMP Task Groups established for TWENDE.
The level of effort foreseen for this task is approximately 4 days.
2. Coordinate implementation of safeguard instruments
Engage actively in the ESMS refresher training and review workshop to be held with the PMU and staff of other implementing partners in Kigali in December 2025. Being actively engaged and contributing to the review, update and revision of safeguard instruments and plans will be crucial as the GESS consultant will be responsible for finalizing any open topics and coordinating their future implementation.
Develop a road map for ESMS tasks in collaboration with the international safeguard’s consultant based on the outcomes from the review workshop in agreement with the PMU and implementing partners; including specifying required actions to finalize specific safeguard instruments at site-level and ensure that these tools are effectively embedded in field operations.
Coordinate the implementation of the road map ensuring environmental and social due diligence for all TWENDE site-level activities; this may include the following tasks; however, the final approach depends on the road map agreed during the training and review workshop:
- Review and where necessary update existing screening reports of sub projects / site-level activities and screen all new activities on environmental and social impacts, define risk categories, identify necessary assessments and safeguard instruments, and produce ESMS Screening Reports.
- Support the PMU, implementing partners and service providers in carrying out assessments and preparing safeguards instruments for their sub-projects / site-level activities (ESMP and plans according to standards triggered); ensure their quality, appropriate budget and compliance with ESMS policy and guide pro-active integration into project activity design and workplans.
- Lead the ESMP Task Groups to smoothly coordinate the implementation of site-level ESMPs.
The level of effort foreseen for this task is approximately 20 days. As mentioned above, this is an indicative figure only, with the final effort expended dependent on the number of sub-projects to be screened, number and depth of assessments required, the suite of safeguard tools to be prepared, etc.
3. Gender mainstreaming and stakeholder engagement
Identify any updates required and carry out such updates to the existing Gender and Youth action plan (GYAP); this may include the following but will ultimately depend on the road map defined during the training and review workshop:
- Prepare a gender integration guide for site-level activities and support implementation ensuring the integration of a gender lens in the approaches and/or respond to identified gender gaps in target implementation areas.
- Considering project expected impact indicators, develop gender specific indicators and tools for tracking progress on integration and handling of gender issues in all project activities (site-level and project-wide).
- Develop gender facilitation guides in Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) interventions.
- Lead the GYAP Task Groups to smoothly coordinate the implementation of the GYAPs.
The level of effort foreseen for this task is approximately 10 days. Please note that engagement activities with gender groups are also covered in the task below. Update the project’s overall stakeholder engagement plan (SEP) and coordinate its implementation. This may include the following tasks, but the final approach depends on the road map agreed during the training and review workshop:
- Guide the field coordinator and the 3 landscape coordinators to carry out stakeholder engagement and consultation workshops in each of the 11 counties and in accordance with the project’s SEP. Advise them on stakeholder engagement during the actual design and implementation of (new) site-level activities.
- This task involves travelling at least once during the assignment to each of the project sites in the 11 counties (but a combination with the supervision mission is possible). This is to ensure that the GRM is appropriately set-up and communicated, that engagement strategies are gender-sensitive and that discussions focus on E&S risks and give particular emphasis on any vulnerable groups listed in the SEP.
- Document the stakeholder engagement interventions including recording gender disaggregated data.
The level of effort foreseen for this task is approximately 15 days.
4. Monitor implementation of safeguard instruments and gender plans
Prepare monitoring tools and guide the PMU and implementing partners in monitoring progress on the implementation of safeguard instruments, the gender action plan (or actions) and the stakeholder engagement plan (or individual measures).
Carry out field-based monitoring missions to review progress of implementation of safeguard instruments, gender and stakeholder actions.
Provide ESMS and gender-related refresher training and capacity building support for all project staff and other relevant stakeholders as required.
Support the PMU in drafting the annual progress report (APR) for GCF, working with all implementing partners, with a focus on reporting progress of implementing the safeguards instruments, the gender action plan and the projects’ stakeholder engagement plan.
Participate in annual supervision mission and present progress on the implementation of safeguard instruments, the gender action plan and the projects’ stakeholder engagement plan.
Monitor and address emerging risks.
Record ESMS data of the project and assure maintenance of ESMS records.
The level of effort foreseen for this task is approximately 48 days.
5. Grievance management and serious incident reporting
Implement the project-level grievance mechanism in accordance with the IUCN ESMS Grievance Mechanism, ensure appropriate communication among stakeholders and ensure the mechanism’s maintenance. Ensure channels for grievance reporting at all project sites are also set up and functional.
Receive, record and process grievances, identify whether escalation to the next level is required in line with IUCN’s three-staged grievance process.
Work with the PMU to solve grievances, track cases until closure and maintain a register of grievances and report on progress in solving grievances.
For gender-based violence ensure a survivor-cantered approach; if necessary, identify and engage with gender experts, specialists and groups that are knowledgeable about GBV risks.
Identify and report serious incidents; support the root cause analysis and identification of corrective actions and ensure implementation. Maintain a lot of serious incidents reported and their resolution.
The level of effort foreseen for this task is approximately 10 days but would depend on the type and number of grievances or serious incidents reported
Duration of the Assignment
Approximately 12 months, starting on 1 December 2025
Deliverables and Activities
The consultant will provide the following deliverables and carry out the following activities:
Deliverables
1. Final versions of the updated project-level safeguard instruments: ESMF, GYAP, SEP, GRM
2. Final versions of all ESMS screening reports for sub-projects/at site level.
3. Final versions of requisite safeguard instruments at sub-project / site level.
4. Reports of monitoring missions across project sites and annual monitoring tables/reports for each safeguard instrument, GYAP and SEP (including documentation of stakeholder engagement meetings conducted at each sub-project site)
5. Final versions of the ESMS, stakeholder engagement and gender sections of the APR, including responses to comments and feedback from GCF
6. Grievance and serious incident registers and log documenting the actions for addressing the issues.
7. Gender facilitation guides in FLR interventions
8. Minutes of monthly meetings with IUCN Regional ESMS Specialist and the Regional Program Delivery Manager.
Payment Schedule
The Timetable below summarises the chronological order of deliverables and indicates milestones at which IUCN will pay the Consultant.
Deliverable/Activity - Milestone payment
Deliverable 1-2 - 30%
Deliverable 3-5 - 40%
Deliverable 6-8 - 30%
Skills and Experience
The consultant must have the following skills, education and experience as a minimum:
1. Master’s degree in anthropology, social science, gender studies, natural resource management, economic or international development or law or similar education but with focus on social issues.
2. At least three (3) years’ experience in developing, implementing and monitoring environmental and social safeguards instruments and gender mainstreaming.
3. Previous experience in gender equality and social inclusion programming in international organisations.
4. Familiarity with the environmental and social policies of Green Climate Fund (GCF).
5. Experience in implementation support of conservation, landscape restoration or natural resource management projects including in Rwanda.
6. Strong communication skills, both written and verbal. Proven experience working and engaging with communities on the ground but also with other project stakeholders including involvement of government authorities at districts and provincial level.
7. Strong capacity building skills and ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently, articulate issues and recommend solutions.
8. Ability to influence, motivate, and collaborate with others. A good team player who can work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team, motivates and lead group efforts and network effectively across boundaries.
9. Willingness to travel extensively to remote rural locations. Travel to field sites may constitute approximately 1 trip per month.
This role requires fluent written and spoken English. Knowledge of local languages spoken in the region of project implementation is required.
Supervision and coordination
The consultant will report to and work under the supervision of Regional Programme Delivery Manager, Multilateral Finance.
Declaration of Undertaking in Relation to Implementation of the gender and
environmental and social management system (GESS) for the TWENDE project: Towards Ending Drought Emergencies: Ecosystem Based Adaptation in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Rangelands.
I, the undersigned, hereby confirm that I am an authorized representative of the following organization:
Registered Name of Organization (the “Organization”):
Registered Address (incl. country):
Year of Registration:
I hereby authorize IUCN to store and use the information included in the attached Proposal for the purpose of evaluating Proposals and selecting the Proposal IUCN deems the most favourable. I acknowledge that IUCN is required to retain the Proposal in its entirety for 10 years after then the end of the resulting contract and make this available to internal and external auditors and donors as and when reasonably requested.
Where the Proposal includes Personal Data as defined by the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), I confirm that the Organization has been authorised by each Data Subject to share this Data with IUCN for the purposes stated above.
I further confirm that the following statements are correct:
1. The Organisation is duly registered in accordance with all applicable laws.
2. The Organisation is fully compliant with all its tax and social security obligations.
3. The Organisation and its staff and representatives are free of any real or perceived conflicts of interest with regards to IUCN and its Mission.
4. The Organisation agrees to declare to IUCN any real or perceived emerging conflicts of interests it or any of its staff and representatives may have concerning IUCN. The Organisation acknowledges that IUCN may terminate any contracts with the Organisation that would, in IUCN sole discretion, be negatively affected by such conflicts of interests.
5. None of the Organisation’s staff has ever been convicted of grave professional misconduct or any other offence concerning their professional conduct.
6. Neither the Organisation nor any of its staff and representatives have ever been convicted of fraud, corruption, money laundering, supporting terrorism or involvement in a criminal organisation.
7. The Organisation acknowledges that engagement by itself or any of its staff in fraud, corruption, money laundering, supporting terrorism or involvement in a criminal organisation will entitle IUCN to terminate any and all contracts with the Organisation with immediate effect.
8. The Organisation is a going concern and is not bankrupt or being wound up, is not having its affairs administered by the courts, has not suspended business activities, is not the subject of proceedings concerning those matters, or in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure provided for in national legislation or regulations.
9. The Organisation complies with all applicable environmental regulatory requirements or other legal requirements relating to sustainability and environmental protection.
10. The Organisation is not included in the UN Security Council Sanctions List, EU Sanctions Map, US Office of Foreign Assets Control Sanctions List, or the World Bank listing of ineligible firms and individuals. The Organisation agrees that it will not provide direct or indirect support to firms and individuals included in these lists.
11. The Organisation has not been, is not, and will not be involved or implicated in any violations of Indigenous Peoples’ rights, or injustice or abuse of human rights related to other groups or individuals, including forced evictions, violation of fundamental rights of workers as defined by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Declaration on the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, child labour, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment.
< Name and position of authorised representative of the Proposer
Declaration of Undertaking in Relation to Implementation of the gender and
environmental and social management system (GESS) for the TWENDE project: Towards Ending Drought Emergencies: Ecosystem Based Adaptation in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Rangelands.
I, the undersigned, hereby confirm that I am self-employed and able to provide the service independent of any organisation or other legal entity.
Full name (as in passport):
Home or Office (please delete as appropriate) Address (incl. country):
I hereby authorise IUCN to store and use the information included in the attached Proposal for the purpose of evaluating Proposals and selecting the Proposal IUCN deems the most favourable, including Personal Data as defined by the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). I acknowledge that IUCN is required to retain my Proposal in its entirety 10 years after the end of the resulting contract and make this available to internal and external auditors and donors as and when reasonably requested.
I further confirm that the following statements are correct:
1. I am legally registered as self-employed in accordance with all applicable laws.
2. I am fully compliant with all my tax and social security obligations.
3. I am free of any real or perceived conflicts of interest with regards to IUCN and its Mission.
4. I agree to declare to IUCN any real or perceived emerging conflicts of interests I may have concerned IUCN. I acknowledge that IUCN may terminate any contracts with me that would, in IUCN sole discretion, be negatively affected by such conflicts of interests.
5. I have never been convicted of grave professional misconduct or any other offence concerning my professional conduct.
6. I have never been convicted of fraud, corruption, money laundering, supporting terrorism or involvement in a criminal organisation.
7. I acknowledge that engagement in fraud, corruption, money laundering, supporting terrorism or involvement in a criminal organisation will entitle IUCN to terminate any and all contracts with me with immediate effect.
8. I am not included in the UN Security Council Sanctions List, EU Sanctions Map, US Office of Foreign Assets Control Sanctions List, or the World Bank listing of ineligible firms and individuals. I agree that I will not provide direct or indirect support to firms and individuals included in these lists.
9. I have not been, am not, and will not be involved or implicated in any violations of Indigenous Peoples’ rights, or injustice or abuse of human rights related to other groups or individuals, including forced evictions, violation of fundamental rights of workers as defined by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Declaration on the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, child labour, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment.
Step 1: Acquire Tender Documents
Obtain the relevant tender documents.
Step 2: Review Requirements
Thoroughly read the tender specifications, terms, and conditions.
Step 3: Prepare Proposal
Prepare your proposal as guided, ensuring all the required information is included.
Step 4: Submission
Submit your completed proposal by 03/12/2025 via daniel.lekuroito@iucn.org.
NB: The email to be used exclusively for this consultancy is daniel.lekuroito@iucn.org.