Request for Proposal - RFP for Field-testing of the National Forest Stewardship Standard (NFSS) for Tanzania

Closing date: Friday, 15 April 2016

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL – RFP For Field-testing of the National Forest Stewardship Standard (NFSS) for Tanzania Mainland

Tanzania has been in process of developing National Forest Stewardship Standards basing on FSC certification scheme. The Standards Development Group (SDG), submitted an application to FSC International on the intent to write National Forest stewardship Standards (NFSS) and was approved in 2015. The SDG has received strong support from World Wide Fund for Nature – (WWF) Tanzania Country Office and technical and financial support from FSC Regional office for East Africa. The SDG has completed the zero draft of NFSS and has gone through stakeholders consultation's for the last 60 days.

Field-testing is one of the key milestones to ensure consistency of the National Standard under development. The global FSC methodology to conduct a field-test within NFSS Development across the world could need some adaptations to the particular context for Tanzania mainland (large plantations, strong/exclusive dependence of communities' livelihoods to the forest).

The overall objective of the field test is to assess the auditability of the draft 1 of the national standards proposed by SDG. In other words, field tests are a means to ensure that SDG propose a clear wording for each nationREQUEST FOR PROPOSAL – RFP For Field-testing of the National Forest Stewardship Standard (NFSS) for Tanzania Mainland

Tanzania has been in process of developing National Forest Stewardship Standards basing on FSC certification scheme. The Standards Development Group (SDG), submitted an application to FSC International on the intent to write National Forest stewardship Standards (NFSS) and was approved in 2015. The SDG has received strong support from World Wide Fund for Nature – (WWF) Tanzania Country Office and technical and financial support from FSC Regional office for East Africa. The SDG has completed the zero draft of NFSS and has gone through stakeholders consultation's for the last 60 days.

Field-testing is one of the key milestones to ensure consistency of the National Standard under development. The global FSC methodology to conduct a field-test within NFSS Development across the world could need some adaptations to the particular context for Tanzania mainland (large plantations, strong/exclusive dependence of communities' livelihoods to the forest).

The overall objective of the field test is to assess the auditability of the draft 1 of the national standards proposed by SDG. In other words, field tests are a means to ensure that SDG propose a clear wording for each nationally adapted Indicator, which could be audited and applicable everywhere in the Tanzania mainland. For this reason, the SDG has decided to launch NFSS field-test in the Tanzania mainland. A consistent methodology for the field tests will be a major result.

The field testing of the first draft of the national adapted Indicators which is planned to happen in May 2016, will provide an additional opportunity to engage forest owners, companies, directly affected stakeholders and other interested parties in the national standard development process, as prescribed by FSC international requirements. The second draft of the NFSS proposed by the SDG shall be posted for a 2-month public consultation by the second quarter of 2016. The pilot field-test will be held in both natural forests and plantations in the month of MAY 2016.

A Call for Tender is invited to Certification Bodies (CB) to conduct pilot field test. Approximately ten to fourteen (10-14) working days, including the journey to arrive on site, could be compensated to the CB but this shall be mode of application: The assignment shall last for 14 days and interested candidates can send their technical and financial proposals to pndaki@wwftz.org and copy to lmaiga@wwftz.org. The last date for receiving applications is 31st March, 2016 not later than 05:00 pm.

For further information, and getting FULL detailed ToRs Please contact: Lucason Maiga; lmaiga@wwftz.orally adapted Indicator, which could be audited and applicable everywhere in the Tanzania mainland. For this reason, the SDG has decided to launch NFSS field-test in the Tanzania mainland. A consistent methodology for the field tests will be a major result.

The field testing of the first draft of the national adapted Indicators which is planned to happen in May 2016, will provide an additional opportunity to engage forest owners, companies, directly affected stakeholders and other interested parties in the national standard development process, as prescribed by FSC international requirements. The second draft of the NFSS proposed by the SDG shall be posted for a 2-month public consultation by the second quarter of 2016. The pilot field-test will be held in both natural forests and plantations in the month of MAY 2016.

A Call for Tender is invited to Certification Bodies (CB) to conduct pilot field test. Approximately ten to fourteen (10-14) working days, including the journey to arrive on site, could be compensated to the CB but this shall be mode of application: The assignment shall last for 14 days and interested candidates can send their technical and financial proposals to pndaki@wwftz.org and copy to lmaiga@wwftz.org. The last date for receiving applications is 31st March, 2016 not later than 05:00 pm.

For further information, and getting FULL detailed ToRs Please contact: Lucason Maiga; lmaiga@wwftz.org