I.              CONTEXT

A. BACKGROUND

In 2019, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) established the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC- IF) as the operational office of the Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC). The FSC-IF is a private interest foundation in accordance with Law No. 25 of June 12, 1995, of the Republic of Panama. The mission of FSC-IF is to enable an enabling environment to guarantee the rights of Indigenous Peoples and promote sustainable forest-based solutions within 300 million hectares of indigenous forests on the planet. The vision is that Indigenous Peoples’ global values, rights, livelihoods, ecosystem services, natural capital and communities are incorporated into forest governance, climate change governance and market systems.

Indigenous Peoples’ Alliance for Rights and Development

The FSC-IF is the implementing partner of the five-year Global Development Alliance (GDA) program funded by USAID and FSC: Indigenous Peoples Alliance for Rights and Development (IPARD). The IPARD Program is guided by three development objectives:

Objective 1: To organize and convene a capacity building program for Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and stakeholders.

Objective 2: To foster an enabling environment for the recognition, effective participation and joint decision-making by Indigenous Peoples in matters affecting them, and

Objective 3: Promote the sustainable development of Indigenous Peoples based on sustainable economic models.

IPARD uses three interconnected approaches to support Indigenous Peoples in overcoming their development challenges:

A.    Multi-Sectoral Approach (MSA): under the strategic guidance of IPARD’s Steering Committee (SC), the Program convenes and leverages the expertise of multi-sectoral partners to ensure that the needs of Indigenous communities are considered across a wide range of sectors.

B.    Country-Focused Approach (CFA): IPARD’s programmatic strategy is guided by a country-focused approach, driven by specific national contexts related to Indigenous Peoples. IPARD implements a structured process to identify, evaluate and select countries for its programs. FSC-IF works in conjunction with the IPARD Steering Committee, and according to the guidelines of the multi-sectoral approach, in order to select countries and identify key priorities and strategies.

C.  Indigenous Project Management Approach (IPMA): Leveraging FSC-IF’s networks and relationships with Indigenous leaders and organizations around the world, IPARD seeks ongoing dialogue, consultation, and feedback with Indigenous Peoples to inform the Program. IPARD supports a forum through which the FSC-IF Indigenous Foundation serves as a bridge between Indigenous Peoples, technical partners, national governments, and the private sector. IPARD invests in best practice conservation and effective approaches and methodologies to ensure long-term development of Indigenous Peoples Organizations on multiple management areas to allow them to develop, negotiate, manage, and implement their own programs, projects and other initiatives.

Through these three approaches, IPARD aims to empower Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and catalyze an enabling environment where Indigenous Peoples can pursue their development.

B. IPARD PROGRAM – GLOBAL CONTEXT

The FSC-IF is committed with the implementation of a Free Prior Informed and Consent principles in all its activities design as part of its institutional strengthening as well as the promotion of the understanding of IPARD´s FPIC and similar FPIC tools by Indigenous Peoples around the globe. The FSC-IF needs to develop an FPIC guide and manual aligned with the FSC FPIC Guidelines and USAID’s PRO-IP policy based   on an analysis of FPIC requirements in international law and in the regions where the FSC-IF works.

In addition, IPARD´s Objective 1 focus in capacity development includes a goal to strengthen Indigenous Leaders capacities to understand and effectively lead FPIC processes in their territories. Objective 1 will start  soon with capacity development on FPIC for Indigenous Leaders of the Mesoamerican region. The training on FPIC will provide insightful information that will guide the adjustment of the FSC-IF own FPIC guide and therefore both activities are seen as complementary.

C. OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITIES

General Objective:

The objective of this activity is to create an FPIC Guide and a Manual to aid FSC-IF in the implementation of FPIC in its activities as part of its institutional strengthening.

On the one hand, the FPIC Guide will serve as a tool for FSC-IF to better understand the FPIC situation at a global level and will be referenced by FSC-IF staff, donors, implementing partners, Indigenous Peoples and government; and the other hand, the Manual will serve as an actionable tool for FPIC implementation and will be used internally by FSC-IF staff. Both organizational tools will ensure accuracy and speed in the work performed by users.

Specific objectives:

• Create a global Guide for FSC Indigenous Foundation with guiding principles for applying FPIC.
• Create two level of Manuals for FSC Indigenous Foundation on how to implement this guidance at the national and community levels including step-by-step processes and sample implementation tools that includes: 1) Manual for the Co-creation building with Indigenous People Organizations or Indigenous People Authorities; and 2) Manual to implement FPIC process, which should include FPIC template of different procedures, as well as the used of Equitable Origin´s FPIC 360 tool.
• Develop a tool box manual for FSC IF´s implementing partners, as well as Indigenous People Organizations and other stakeholders

D.  SCOPE OF THE CONSULTANCY

The guidance will be broadly aligned with the FSC Guidelines for the Implementation of the Right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), FSC´s PIPC FPIC Manual, and USAID’s PRO-IP policy and FPIC manual, as well as it will be based on an analysis of FPIC requirements in international law and in the regions where the FSC-IF works.

The manual will include a summary of FPIC case studies as well as steps, tools, and diagrams for FPIC implementation at the national and community levels.

E. CONTRACT CONDITIONS

Type of Consultancy:  firm consultancy with payments according to the deliverables indicated in the payment schedule

Type of contract: Lump sum.

Duration of the contract: 28 weeks

Location: The consultant will carry out the work virtually.

Responsible person:  Program Leader for Objective  2 – IPARD Program

 

F. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Consultants  or key professionals must comply with with the following requirements:

Academic background:

• Bachelor´s degree in social sciences, law, economics, business administration, engineering or other related disciplines.
• Master´s degree in social sciences, law, economics, business administration, engineering or other related disciplines.
• Professional specialization in academic areas related to indigenous peoples will be given special consideration.

General  experience:

• Proven professional experience of at least fifteen  (15) years  working with Free, Prior and Informed Consent
• At least ten (10) years of experience working with Indigenous Peoples issues

Specific experience:

• Demonstrated experience of at least seven (7) years working with methods and procedures for the design or preparation of guides and manuals.
• Three (3) experiences in the development of guides and manuals.

 

II. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

Applications need to include the following documents:

a) A technical proposal to address the general and specific objectives of the consultancy and a timeline to complete the deliverables listed above.

b) CV of the consultants, two professional references or background of consultancy firm.

c) Financial proposal for the services and payment conditions proposal.

 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS 

a) Proposal Submission Deadline

Deadline for submission is April 2nd, 2023 – 5:00 (5:00 p.m. Panama Time).

b) Submission Address

Both the Technical Proposal and Cost Proposal must be submitted via e-mail to: procurement.fscif@fsc.org with the subject line – “Preparation of a guide and manual on free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) for FSC Indigenous Foundation )”.

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