Terms of Reference (ToR) for ‘Sensitizing Workers in Transportation Industry Along Araniko Highway and - (Langtang) Rasuwagadhi Highway on Illegal Wildlife Trade’

1. Background

The Hariyo Ban Program II, funded by USAID and implemented by four consortium partners - WWF (lead), CARE, National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) and the Federation of Community Forestry Users in (FECOFUN), aims to increase ecological and community resilience in two landscapes - Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape (CHAL) and the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL). It works on two core interwoven components - biodiversity conservation including livelihoods and climate change adaptation with governance and gender equality and social inclusion (GESI as cross-cutting themes. The goal of the Program is to increase ecological and community resilience in biodiverse landscapes - Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape (CHAL) and the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL). This goal will be achieved through two objectives (a) improving conservation and management of TAL and CHAL landscapes; and (b) reducing climate change vulnerability in the landscapes. Similarly, the program is focused in three sub-basins (Seti, Marsyangdi and Daraudi) in CHAL and core areas (Chitwan, Banke, Bardia and Suklaphanta National Parks and their buffer zones) and critical forests corridors (Barandhabhar, Kamdi, Karnali and Brahmadev) in TAL.

2. Rationale

Nepal is endowed with exceptionally rich biodiversity and provide refuge for globally significant wildlife species including snow leopard, red panda, brown bear, musk deer, wild ass, rhino, tiger, Asian Elephant, dolphin, gharial, etc. Similarly, Nepal is a repository of medicinal and aromatic (MAPS) plants, and other commercially valuable flora as well. However, the biodiversity in Nepal is under immense threats. Key wildlife populations including rhino, tiger, snow leopard, musk deer, red panda and other protected species are still threatened by poaching and illegal trade of their body parts. Huge number of different MAPS and other commercially valuable plant species are extracted illegally and traded. Several seizures of wildlife parts such as skin and bones of tiger, leopard and snow leopard; plants and their bi-products; and arrest of poachers and illegal traders in these landscapes imply that Nepal is used as a major hub and transit country by organized wildlife poachers and illegal wildlife traders. The Environment Investigation Agency’s (EIA) reports that Nepal is used as a transit point for illicit trade of wildlife parts and derivatives. Commodities such as shahtoosh, fur, musk pods, bear bile, tiger skin and bones, ivory, rhino horn, leopard parts and live animals (turtles, birds), etc are mostly traded off through Nepal. According to TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, “Transportation and logistics businesses, such as passenger and cargo airlines, shipping companies, express couriers and freight forwarding companies, are becoming increasingly vulnerable to exploitation by illegal wildlife traffickers." In Nepal, it has been detected that vehicle, air and by foot have been used for illegal wildlife trade in and across the border. Thus, transportation workers and other logistics business workers such as lorry workers, truck workers, cargo workers need to be sensitized on illegal wildlife parts trade. There are porous borders with in East, West and South and difficult terrain border in the North with . Thus, Nepal is all the time vulnerable to be used as transit point or trade route for illegal wildlife trade. The two highways that connect Kathmandu to China viz. Arniko (Kathmandu-Tatopani) Highway and Kathmandu-Rasuwagadhi Highway are being used as major trade routes. Therefore, in order to raise awareness amongst local people and another non-conventional sectors’ based on the given objectives, Hariyo Ban Program seeks consultancy services from consulting firms/organizations. It is expected that various transportation workers, passengers and tourists will be sensitized on illegal wildlife trade.

3. Objective

The overall objective of this work is to create awareness amongst wide range of stakeholders including transportation workers about wildlife trade. The objectives of this consultancy are as follows:

a. is to carry out sensitization program amid workers in the transportation industry plying public buses, lorries and cargo trucks who could be engaged in illegal wildlife trade in two different routes that connects to the adjoining China border.

b. to develop and install hording boards with messages depicting illegal wildlife trade in different strategic locations of the two highways.

c. to develop, print and stick stickers depicting illegal wildlife crimes in the public transportation that are being used in two highways.

4. Methodology

The Consulting firm will carry out the work employing following methodology for different objectives: a) Sensitization Program • Conduct meetings with the relevant Transportation Associations along Araniko Highway and Kathmandu-Rasuwagadhi Highway to elucidate the project and seeking their buy in. • Select transportation workers (numbers) from public vehicles, lorry and cargo trucks and sensitization locations (venues) in consultation with the relevant associations • conduct 10 sensitizations programs (4 in Ktm-Rasuwagadhi and 6 in Araniko highway)

b) Design, Develop and Install of Hoarding Boards • Obtain permission from relevant government offices for the installation of hoarding boards in the highways. • Design and develop different messages in two different areas for the hoarding boards and finalize with the Hariyo Ban team. • Consult with relevant district government authorities such as Langtang National Park, District Forest Offices and local bodies to finalize the strategic locations to erect the hoarding boards. • Hoarding boards with refractive materials to be erected with metal stands at 18 strategic locations (10 in Araniko Highway and 8 in Ktm-Rasuwagadhi Highway).

c) Develop, Print and Stick Stickers • Design different types of stickers with anti-poaching and illegal wildlife trade messages and share with the project team. • Design 5 different types of stickers of A3 size and print 100 (hundred) copies of each type. • Stick the stickers in the public vehicles that travel along the highways in coordination with Transportation Associations.

5. Deliverables

• Inception report, including a detailed plan of action with a frame work of proposed activities, methodology to be applied and schedule. • Final technical report, other relevant documents (if any), photographs (high resolution) • Financial report with supporting invoices

6. Duration and Time Frame

This consultancy will cover a period of 4 months within 15th Nov 2017 to 15th April 2018 Inception report, including a detailed plan of action with a frame work 2nd week after signing the of proposed activities, methodology to be applied and schedule. contract Undertake work 3 months Final technical report, other relevant documents (if any), photographs 1 week after completing work (high resolution) Financial report with supporting invoices 1 week after completing work

Reports will be written in English. Final deliverables will be provided in hard copies and digital copy (MS Word).

7. Team of experts

A team will lead this consultancy work involving expertise in the field of Forest and Biodiversity, Social Science and Transportation entrepreneurship.

8. Qualification

The team leader must have a minimum of Master’s degree with at least five years of work experience.

9. Proposal submission details

Submit separate technical and financial proposals in two sealed envelopes along with an application letter via post or hand delivered to the following address:

Program Officer, Wildlife Trade Monitoring Hariyo Ban Program, WWF Nepal PO Box: 7660, Pavitra Pyara Marg, Baluwatar, Kathmandu, Nepal The technical proposal should include details of methodology and tools, should include the applicant’s profile and current portfolio; physical facilities, relevant experience and list of clients, specifying work done; relevant human resources, and follow up, copies of the organization’s registration or equivalent; latest tax clearance certificate (for company); registration with social welfare council (for I/NGO), and renewal (if applicable); PAN/VAT; and other relevant legal documents. The financial proposal needs to be in Nepali Rupees and should include a detailed breakdown of the total budget proposal including: fee, travel/accommodation cost, communication costs, consultative meeting cost, designing, printing, publishing of hoarding boards and stickers cost, metal stands cost, and other relevant logistics.

10. Logistic support

The consultant will manage his/her own logistic support for the completion of this project and required cost will be paid as per WWF Nepal policy. WWF will help organizing sharing workshop at WWF Nepal office.

11. Budget

The payment is subject to tax deduction as per prevailing government rules. The payment will be made in instalment basis based on WWF Nepal policy.