Context and Justification
The Scaling
Climate Action by Lowering Emissions (SCALE) Umbrella Trust Fund is a new World
Bank facility that aims to catalyze transformative climate action by deploying
Results-Based Climate Finance (RBCF) in developing countries.
SCALE
operates in 3 steps:
-
Explore the potential for RBCF in connection
with a World bank operation to ensure that carbon finance can serve as a
multiplier of the Bank impact;
-
Support the issuance of carbon credits in
relation with Bank operations;
-
Provide payments base on the number of carbon
credits that are produced.
As such,
SCALE helps mobilizing public and private sector investments for low-carbon
development, supporting the issuance and sale of verified, high quality ERs
that can enhance the Bank operations.
Burkina Faso
has been identified as a potential candidate for SCALE support because of the
numerous efforts supported by the World Bank since 2010 in the Reduction of
Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+).
The Communal
Climate Action and Landscape Management Project (CCALM - P170482) is a key
support of the investment in REDD+ activities, which is expected to lead to the
issuance and sale of carbon credits. The carbon revenues would then multiply
the impacts of the CCALM project. The generation and sale of carbon credits
from landscape investment is one of the major objectives of the CCALM project,
and SCALE support is expected to accelerate the delivery and increase the
impact.
However,
before committing further, the World bank needs to better assess the potential
for carbon credit generations in REDD+. For this purpose, it is essential to ensure
that the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) and the Safeguards Information System (SIS) are compliant
with the requirements of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) and international standards.
The NFMS aims
to ensure regular and accurate monitoring of forest dynamics, particularly in
terms of deforestation, reforestation, and the evolution of forest carbon
stocks. It will serve as the basis for reporting REDD+ results, monitoring
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and implementing carbon finance
mechanisms.
With the
technical and financial support of its partners, Burkina Faso has an
institutional framework for the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS).
However, this institutional framework dates back to 2020 and has never been
operationalized. It needs to be updated in light of the dynamics of
stakeholders, but above all, it needs to be operationalized given that the country
has begun implementing the third phase of its REDD+ process through the
implementation of a jurisdictional emissions reduction program in the AFOLU
sector. The country thus needs this tool to effectively monitor REDD+
activities and the results in terms of greenhouse gas emission reductions and
carbon storage.
Furthermore,
Burkina Faso intends to combine the NFMS and the Safeguards Information System
(SIS). The country has a report on the SIS that will serve as the basis for the
operationalization of this system as well.
Given the
progress in the implementation of the jurisdictional program, and in order for
Burkina Faso to benefit from the results-based payments, it is imperative for SCALE
to ensure that Burkina Faso can operationalize the NFMS and SIS to meet the
requirements of the REDD+ process.
In this
context, the World Bank wishes to recruit a specialized consulting firm to
support the Permanent Secretariat for REDD+ (SP/REDD+) and build the capacities
within the Ministry of Environment for the operationalization of the NFMS
(including the SIS) and ensure its compliance with the technical and
institutional requirements of the REDD+ process. This support will cover the
establishment of tools and the capacity building of stakeholders.
These terms
of reference are prepared to specify the conditions for mobilizing a consulting
firm for this purpose.
Objectives
The objective
of this mission is to build the capacities of the Ministry in charge of
Environment, through the guidance of SP/REDD+, to establish an operational,
robust, and aligned National Forest Monitoring System (including a safeguards
information system) that meets the requirements of REDD+ and Burkina Faso's
climate commitments. This will ultimately help the Communal Climate Action and
Landscape Management Project (CCALM - P170482) delivering better outcomes in
relation with the future REDD+ ER-Program.
Specifically,
it involves:
a. Assessing
existing capacities and identifying improvement needs for both the NFMS and
SIS.
-
Conduct a baseline assessment of the
infrastructure, databases, and technical capacities already available for
forest monitoring in Burkina Faso,
-
Analyze existing methodologies and their
compatibility with the requirements of the UNFCCC, REDD+, and MRV (Measurement,
Reporting, and Verification),
-
Identify gaps in human, material, and
technological resources for the establishment of an effective NFMS (including
an SIS).
b. Develop
a draft methodological protocol for forest monitoring and the collection of
safeguards information to be validated by SP/REDD+.
-
Develop a harmonized methodology combining
remote sensing, forest inventories, and field data collection,
-
Define and/or adopt monitoring indicators to
measure deforestation, forest degradation, reforestation, the evolution of
forest carbon stocks, and safeguards,
-
Establish an early warning system to quickly
detect land use changes and forest cover loss,
-
Integrate the requirements of carbon finance
mechanisms (ART-TREES) and voluntary markets into the structuring of the NFMS
(IALM from VERRA).
c. Coordinate
with SP/REDD for the development of a digital platform for managing and
analyzing forest data and safeguards information.
-
Design a centralized database to store and
manage spatial, quantitative, and qualitative information on Burkina Faso's
forests,
-
Integrate GIS (Geographic Information System)
and advanced remote sensing tools for real-time forest monitoring,
-
Ensure the interoperability of the NFMS with
other national and regional databases, particularly those used for monitoring
NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) and conservation projects, as
applicable.
d. Build
capacities of the SP/REDD+ for defining/updating the institutional and
operational framework for the management of the NFMS and SIS.
-
Develop a governance model defining the roles
and responsibilities of the various institutions involved,
-
Propose a coordination mechanism between
national and international actors to ensure effective and transparent
functioning,
-
Define a financing and sustainability model.
e. Strengthen
national capacities in forest monitoring
-
Organize training sessions for stakeholders
involved in forest monitoring (forest technicians, GIS experts, policymakers,
etc.),
-
Produce methodological guides and technical
manuals for the use of forest monitoring tools and methods,
-
Conduct pilot tests in selected regions to
refine data collection protocols, systems, and results,
-
Ensure the transfer of skills to national
institutions to guarantee the sustainability of the NFMS.
Expected
Results
At the end of the study, the following results are
expected:
·
Existing capacities are assessed, and improvement
needs for both the NFMS and SIS are identified,
·
A methodological protocol for forest monitoring and
the collection of safeguards information is developed,
·
A digital platform for managing and analyzing forest
data and safeguards information is developed,
·
An institutional and operational framework for the
management of the NFMS and SIS is defined,
·
National capacities in forest monitoring are
strengthened.
Expected Deliverables
The following deliverables are expected from this
service:
·
Deliverable 1: Inception report detailing the work
plan and methodology.
·
Deliverable 2: Report on the baseline assessment of
existing capacities and improvement needs.
·
Deliverable 3: Methodological protocol for the NFMS
with recommended indicators and tools, including for the SIS.
·
Deliverable 4: Centralized database and operational
GIS platform.
·
Deliverable 5: Governance and coordination model
between national and international institutions.
·
Deliverable 6: Training program and technical manuals
to strengthen the capacities of national stakeholders.
·
Deliverable 7: Pilot implementation report, including
collected data and system evaluations.
·
Deliverable 8: Final report with recommendations for
system improvements and sustainability strategies.
NB: All
documents and training must be conducted in French.
Methodology
The consulting firm must adopt a rigorous,
participatory, and internationally aligned approach to ensure the effective
operationalization of the NFMS and SIS. This approach will combine the
assessment of existing capacities, system design, deployment, stakeholder
training, and integration into national and international mechanisms.
The first phase will involve conducting a thorough
diagnostic of the current forest monitoring framework in Burkina Faso. The
objective is to identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement to
ensure effective monitoring that complies with REDD+ MRV (Measurement,
Reporting, and Verification) requirements. This assessment will include an
analysis of existing forest databases and their relevance for the NFMS, an
evaluation of currently used monitoring tools and infrastructure, including
remote sensing, GIS, and forest inventories, as well as the identification of
capacity-building needs, particularly in training, equipment, and institutional
coordination. This phase will result in a detailed diagnostic report outlining
recommendations for optimally structuring the NFMS.
Based on the assessment results, the consulting firm
will develop a robust methodological protocol for the establishment of the NFMS.
This will include the development of a combined monitoring system integrating
remote sensing for land use change monitoring, forest inventories for carbon
stock assessment, and the use of local databases to validate spatial analyses.
It will also involve defining key indicators for monitoring deforestation,
forest degradation, reforestation, and forest carbon stocks. The establishment
of an early warning system based on satellite imagery and field data will
enable rapid detection of forest loss and land use changes. This phase will
conclude with the technical and institutional validation of the proposed
methodologies before their implementation.
Once the NFMS is designed, it will be deployed on the
ground and accompanied by a training and capacity-building program to ensure
its adoption by national institutions. This will include the development of an
interactive GIS platform for managing, analyzing, and disseminating forest
data, the preparation of methodological guides and sampling protocols detailing
best practices for forest data collection and analysis, and the training of
stakeholders, including ministries, researchers, local authorities, and NGOs.
This training will cover the use of GIS and remote sensing tools, the
application of MRV methodologies for forest monitoring, and the interpretation
and use of data generated by the NFMS. The objective is to ensure national
ownership of the NFMS and minimize dependence on external expertise.
Finally, to ensure the sustainability of the NFMS,
the consulting firm will propose strategic recommendations for its integration
into national and international policies and financial mechanisms. This will
involve proposals for integrating the NFMS into NDCs (Nationally Determined
Contributions) and carbon finance programs, enabling Burkina Faso to access
REDD+ funding and other climate initiatives. The development of an
institutional model will define the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders
for the long-term management and monitoring of the NFMS. A sustainability
framework will also be defined to ensure that the NFMS can be maintained and
improved over time through national and international funding. This phase will
conclude with the submission of a final report detailing strategic and
institutional recommendations for anchoring the NFMS in national policies.
6.
Qualifications and Experience of
the Firm
The consulting firm must meet the following
conditions:
·
Have proven experience in setting up forest
monitoring systems, REDD+ reporting, or other environmental monitoring
initiatives,
·
Have a good understanding of the REDD+ process,
particularly the NFMS and SIS pillars,
·
Have expertise in remote sensing, GIS, carbon
assessment, and forest inventory methodologies,
·
Demonstrate a good understanding of environmental and
social safeguards of multilateral partners and within the REDD+ framework,
·
Have knowledge of international standards for AFAT
carbon accounting in general, and forest carbon in particular (IPCC guidelines,
ART-TREES, VERRA, GFOI),
·
Have knowledge of the Cancun Safeguards and REDD+
safeguards implementation guidelines,
·
Be able to work with government institutions, local
communities, and international organizations,
·
Have experience in capacity building and technical
training,
·
Have conducted at least 03 to 05 similar complex
services over the past 10 years (scope of contracts, nature of the service,
technical field, and geographical context) approved by certificates of
satisfactory completion and/or final validation reports is an asset.
Key Personnel
The firm will propose personnel in accordance with
the needs of the mission. However, the team must include at a minimum the
following profiles with a minimum of a Bachelor's degree + 5 years and 10 years
of experience:
·
Forester: To
coordinate and supervise the entire study.
·
Geographic Information System
(GIS) and Remote Sensing Expert: For
the production and analysis of spatial data using applications such as Collect
Earth, Collect Mobile, Saiku, Google Engine, Sepal, etc., as well as the use of
tools such as drones for mapping needs.
·
Environmental and Social
Safeguards Expert: To
conduct sectoral or national environmental and social assessments of public
policies or development strategies.
Additional competences to be valued:
·
Expertise in Database Design and
Management: For
the design of qualitative data collection tools, the design, development,
administration, and maintenance of databases.
·
Expertise in Legal and
Institutional Framework: For
the definition of institutional arrangements.
Duration of the Mission
The duration of the mission is 12 months from the
date of signing the service order. The selected firm will propose a detailed
schedule of the mission for validation by the SP/REDD+.