Terms of reference – Consultance
Introduction & context
Over the past 30 years, WCS Congo has been the government’s main conservation partner, helping the Ministry of Forest Economy ( MEF ) manage wildlife and its habitat in several national parks, reserves and buffer zones of protected areas in the country. In these sites, WCS develops and implements actions for effective protection of wildlife, community management of natural resources, ecological monitoring, scientific research and environmental education.
For more than 20 years, the wildlife health program (Wildlife Health Program, WHP) implemented by WCS Congo in partnership with the National Laboratory of Public Health (LNSP), has been, works to monitor wildlife mortality and minimize the risk of disease transmission to communities. This program raises awareness among communities in northern Congo and has implemented an early warning system for unexplained deaths of’ wild animals that covers more than 30,000 km2. The WHP is responsible for the care and release of’Africa grey parrots, as well as any other animals seized and brought to the rehabilitation center of Nouabale-Ndoki National Park. This program also covers a research program on the surveillance and diagnosis of bat diseases, including,conducted in collaboration with the NIH and other stakeholders’, as trade and consumption of bats is becoming more common in urban areas. Finally, the WHP is actively involved in capacity building for WCS field teams (researchers and eco-guardians) and its national partners.
Within the framework of community surveillance, Ebola virus disease (EVD) is at the heart of the concerns. The last four epidemics of’Ebola in’homme in the Republic of Congo – in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2005 – are considered to have links with wildlife, including, because the affected hunters had recently consumed infected bush meat. Subsistence hunting is essential for food security in this region, but it is increasingly threatened by the trade of WILD animals to urban and peri-urban communities, which puts pressure on the populations of’wild animals and increases the rarity of the latter. Thus, a carcass of wild’s discovered opportunistically may seem like a great opportunity to feed. By highlighting the risks associated with contact,the butchering or consumption of’a carcass potentially infected, dead from unknown causes, or, the risk of spreading Ebola virus (EBOV) and’ other zoonotic pathogens in local communities can be reduced. Working in parallel with these hunting communities to monitor wildlife health and record carcass sightings, and, it is possible to give the’ alert quickly in case of’appearance of a disease of wild fauna and flora and’help to prevent the spread.Working in parallel with these hunting communities to monitor wildlife health and record carcass sightings, and, it is possible to give the’ alert quickly in case of’appearance of a disease of wild fauna and flora and’help to prevent the spread.Working in parallel with these hunting communities to monitor wildlife health and record carcass sightings, and, it is possible to give the’ alert quickly in case of’appearance of a disease of wild fauna and flora and’help to prevent the spread.
Justification for the consultancy
In partnership with the LNSP, WCS has been working with hunters since 2005, forest communities and forest rangers to set up an early warning system for’EBOV by monitoring the health of wild animals. This system allows not only to monitor and’sample the carcasses of’wild animals through a network of thousands of hunters, but also, but also to promote best practices in disease risk reduction for communities that depend on bushmeat for their protein needs.
The modalities of awareness-raising campaigns among the communities have remained virtually unchanged since their inception. They also lacked a’a form of assessment on their quality and effects that would allow managers to measure the degree of change in habits in the face of carcasses. The absence of such data means that the outcome of these outreach efforts remains poorly understood.
Indeed, there has been no basic’ study prior to the’ initiation of the campaigns. Individual carcass behaviour surveys conducted between 2009 and 2020 focused exclusively on men, traditionally being hunters, through superficial’ surveys. It has therefore been difficult to perform an analysis and draw conclusions from these data. In 2021, a new research protocol on attitudes to carcasses was developed, the questionnaire was refined, and the, and the surveys deployed with the’ set of villagers over the age of 18. Today’, after more than 2 years of’ use, it is time to derive recommendations, to reevaluate the methodology of campaigns and the relevance of carcass surveys, and,as well as the tools used during these activities.
It is important to note that’in 2024, a survey on behaviors, attitudes and practices in the field « One Health » will be deployed in northern Congo.
The objective of the consultation is the’assessment of awareness campaigns among the populations of northern Congo, the methodology of the surveys and the monitoring tools used. More specifically,’evaluation aims to answer the following questions :
- To what extent are the awareness methodologies and tools adapted to the needs and context ?
- What is the target audience’s perception of awareness campaigns ?
- To what extent do the methodology and tools of the follow-up surveys allow to EVALUATE the’effect of the campaigns and the’evolution of attitudes ?
The consultant in campaign evaluation is responsible for ANALYZing the methodology, and for proposing recommendations for the implementation of campaigns, as well as the improvement of monitoring surveys and’ evaluation of’ effectiveness. The’ WCS team is responsible for coordinating the field mission and making all relevant data and documents available to the consultant. The evaluation consultant is then tasked with performing the’analysis described above and providing a detailed report.
Temporal framework
Consultancy is estimated at about 20-25 men-days.
Procedure of the’assessment:
- Thematic bibliographic review linked in the region
- Review collected data and methodology up to now’hui
- Meeting and discussion with the management and the’ team WHP – meeting of’orientation and to bring additional background information
- Follow-up of’a mission to raise awareness among communities, with a pre/post evaluation system
- Methodology, protocol and tools analysis, and impact analysis obtained in the field
- Restitution of the first observations to the WHP team’, on site
- ’assessment report
Deliverables
- A session of restitution and discussion with the’ WHP team and coordination, at a distance
- A’assessment report will be produced in French and delivered by the consultant within 1 month of the mission
Consultant profile
The delivery will be entrusted to an independent consultant of international renown, who must have a confirmed experience on’ evaluation of biodiversity conservation and community monitoring programs. Proven experience on awareness program evaluations is needed, in the field of conservation or health a plus.
A good knowledge of Central Africa’ is essential, and Congo will be considered an asset.
Mastery of French is required,’anglais is a plus.
’ interest submission
L’offre will include the following elements :
- Technical and methodological proposal
- CV with three professional references
- ’accompanying letter.
- Financial proposal in USD, including daily fee rates, and international transportation.
The national transport, the local’ accommodation and the Per Diem will be supported by WCS Congo. Note that’it takes a day of transport between Brazzaville and Ouesso, headquarters of the WHP program in the north.
About the WCS
The Wildlife Conservation Society is an international NGO headquartered at the Bronx Zoo in New York City, ’ works to save wild flora and fauna and address global challenges in more than 50 countries in Africa, Asia, America and the world’s oceans. The Africa Program is the largest of the WCS field programs, with approximately 1,100 employees in 12 national programs in four major regions (Central Africa, Sudan-Sahel, and, Eastern and southern Africa, Madagascar and the western Indian Ocean).
Our MISSION is to save wild fauna and flora from all over the world through science, conservation’action, conservation, from’education and’incitation of people to appreciate nature. Our VISION is a world where flora and fauna thrive in healthy lands and seas that are valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of the’ life on earth. Our GOAL is to conserve the world’s largest wilderness areas in 16 priority regions, home to more than 50% of the world’s biodiversity. Our VALUES are respect, responsibility and transparency,’innovation, diversity and’inclusion, collaboration and’integrity.
How to apply
Interested applicants should submit their application to wcscongobrazza@wcs.org and cc mcournarie@wcs.org before the 10 march 2024.