Expressions of Interest for the provision of Technical Assistance to Maze National Park Management and the PMU

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Technical Assistance to Maze National Park Management and the PMU Project: Preservation of Maze National Park and its Watershed in Ethiopia (CET 1120) Financier: Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Country: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia The Hailemariam & Roman Foundation (HRF), with financing from Agence Française de Développement (AFD), hereby invites eligible consulting firms to submit Expressions of Interest for the provision of technical assistance to Maze National Park (MzNP) Management and the Project Management Unit (PMU) under the project entitled “The Preservation of Maze National Park and its Watershed in Ethiopia” (2024–2028). The purpose of the assignment is to strengthen park management and project implementation through periodic field missions and remote advisory support. The services shall enhance operational and institutional capacity in biodiversity monitoring, fire prevention and management, inclusive natural resource governance, sustainable water management, and community development facility design, with the overall objective of supporting the long-term ecological integrity of Maze National Park while generating sustainable benefits for surrounding communities. Scope of Services The Consultant shall, inter alia: 1. Strategic and Technical Support Provide technical assistance to MzNP Management and the PMU through at least two field missions per year, each of two to three weeks’ duration, together with continuous remote advisory support;  Support implementation of the park’s 10-year management plan;  Contribute to project monitoring and compliance with AFD procurement procedures, the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), and the Gender Action Plan; and  Support preparation of technical documentation, management tools, operational plans, and progress reports required for adaptive project management.  2. Inclusive Natural Resource Governance and Institutional Strengthening Develop and support implementation of a proactive Fire Prevention and Management Plan, building on HRF’s existing assessment; Build the capacity of park staff and community fire brigades in prevention, early detection, rapid response, and post-incident learning; Strengthen inclusive natural resource governance arrangements and support formal buffer zone agreements with communities for co-management and equitable resource use;  Provide technical advice on sustainable water management in the priority micro-catchments of Domba, Zage, and Masta, including participatory water-sharing systems and adaptive governance arrangements;  Advise on the design and operationalization of the Community Development Facility (CDF), including governance arrangements, allocation modalities, eligibility criteria, and transparency mechanisms; and  Support the adoption of good governance models for livelihood groups and cooperatives operating in the protected-area context.  3. Biodiversity and Ecological Management Review and comment on technical studies relating to biodiversity, fire, vegetation mapping, water, and related themes, in order to ensure methodological soundness, technical consistency, and alignment with international good practice; and  Support operationalization of a biodiversity monitoring system, including the use of SMART and GIS tools, integrated into routine park management and aligned with the park management plan.  Team Composition and Expertise The consulting firm shall mobilize a multidisciplinary Technical Assistance team comprising international and national experts. The proposed team shall collectively demonstrate expertise in protected area management, fire prevention and management, biodiversity conservation and monitoring, natural resource governance, sustainable water management, community-based livelihood development, capacity building, analytical reporting, and adaptive management. National experts shall play a leading role in contextual analysis and field-level implementation support. International experts shall provide international good practice and familiarity with donor-funded project requirements, particularly AFD procedures and environmental and social risk management.