Hariyo Ban Program Terms of Reference for Development of Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley Management Plan 1. Background Wetlands bring many benefits, including water supplies, food, fodder for livestock, groundwater recharge, flood control, and processing of wastes. They are an important resource for tourism and recreation, and many are sacred sites. They also harbor different species of flora and fauna. The lake cluster of Pokhara valley was designated as the 10 th Ramsar site of Nepal on 2 nd February 2016. It comprises nine lakes; Phewa, Begnas, Rupa, Dipang, Maidi, Khaste, Neurani, Kamalpokhari and Guinde located in the two municipalities of the Kaski district. Two of them, Phewa and Kamalpokhari, are located in Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan city while the rest are in Lekhnath Municipality. The total area of the lake cluster covers 261.1 sq km comprising water bodies, agriculture land, forests, settlement and other built-up areas. Agriculture dominates the land use/land cover in the catchment areas, followed by forests and water bodies. Water bodies comprise nearly 3.5% of the total catchment area of the lake cluster. The lake cluster has international importance, as it supports vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered species as well as threatened ecological communities. Many local people depend on resources from the lakes and their catchments, and electricity is generated through hydropower. However, the lakes face many threats, including pollution, and increased sedimentation due to forest destruction, settlement expansion and road construction. The declaration of the wetlands as Ramsar site will help to accelerate action to save the lake cluster, while safeguarding the livelihoods of local people. In this context, we seek consultancy services for the preparation of an integrated management plan for the Pokhara valley lake cluster recently declared Ramsar sites. The plan will be
prepared with wide consultation of stakeholders and in close coordination with concerned government authorities. The plan will identify existing management of the lakes, the direct threats and root causes of wetland degradation, future opportunities for the lakes, and propose immediate and longer term action needed for sustainable conservation and management of the lake clusters with local participation and benefits. It is envisaged that the plan will integrate biodiversity, hydrology, climate change, infrastructure and socioeconomic aspects. 2. Objective The overall objective of this assignment is to prepare an integrated management plan of the Pokhara valley lake cluster. The specific objectives are to: Assess threats, vulnerabilities, opportunities and strengths of each of the nine wetlands of the lake cluster of Pokhara valley Prepare individual management plans of the wetlands in consultation with local stakeholders Prepare a comprehensive management plan of lake cluster of Pokhara valley with recommendation of institutional and financial sustainability 3. Methodology Prepare Pokhara valley lake cluster management plan by: conducting extensive review and analysis of all relevant reports, approaches, and strategies related to the Pokhara valley lakes, and to wetland management planning assessing threats and vulnerabilities of each lake through a participatory process in close discussion with local communities and stakeholders developing stakeholder-led individual management plans for the nine lakes developing a single integrated management plan for the nine lakes that considers broad issues common to all the lakes at a larger scale yet enables local management of individual lakes, which can be used for policy interventions, fundraising, learning, etc. interacting with key stakeholders and experts including Government authorities during the overall process of plan preparation working through a participatory process, including consultative and planning workshops at various levels and at various stages
using remote sensing/gis, hydrological and climate modeling tools during the planning, and producing comprehensive maps integrating climate change, infrastructure development and socioeconomic aspects into the threat assessment and planning discuss and explore the role of local communities and private sector that livelihood of local communities and ecotourism activities can be enhanced and strengthening Identify the roles and responsibilities of local communities, government offices and nongovernmental organizations to conserve the lakes and their resources Consultation with Ramsar designated authority and focal point regarding to the compliance on record keeping and updating of Ransar information sheet The consultants will: Prepare an inception report with detailed methodology, present it, and agree and reach a common understanding about the approach and scope of the work Undertake stakeholder analysis and field visits for consultation with and participation of concerned stakeholders including relevant stakeholders and government line agencies; activities include participatory threats assessment and planning at individual lake level and lake cluster level Conduct consultative meetings to collect information and share outcomes meetings/workshops at regional and district level Prepare nine individual lake and catchment area management plans and a comprehensive management plan for the Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley; each plan containing: Description of the lake and its catchment area including hydrology, geology, climate, biodiversity, natural resources and their use, land/lake use, human population and development in the catchment (present and likely future trends); stakeholders; ranked threats Opportunities for future management Objectives of management for the individual lake/lake cluster Planned activities: framework of prioritized activities, criteria, time frame, key responsibilities, and financial plan required to implement the plan
4. Deliverables The deliverables of the consultancy are: The inception report, including a detailed plan of action with a frame work of proposed activities, methodology to be applied, and schedule Stakeholder analysis Planning workshop/participatory meetings to draft major approaches Ten draft management plans (9 individual lake plans and one integrated lake cluster plan) for review and feedback complying with the Ramsar site management guideline Ten final management plans incorporating comments and suggestions All relevant documents, photographs, maps, digital layers, raw data, negatives etc. procured or produced under this contract, in digital and/or hard copy as appropriate Financial report with supporting invoices 5. Duration and Time Frame This consultancy will cover a period of 90 working days starting from the date of signing the contract. Inception report including detailed plan of action with detailed framework of activities, methodology to be applied and schedule Draft lake cluster and individual lake management plans National level sharing of the management plans Final management plans 2 nd week of July 2016 2 nd week of September 2016 2 nd week of September 2016 4 th week of September 2016 All documentation, maps, data, photographs, negatives etc. procured or produced under this contract, in digital and/or hard copy as appropriate, with related analysis, model, and diagrams 4 th week of September 2016 Financial report with supporting invoices 4 th week of September 2016
Management plans and reports will be written in English, and provided in both hard copy and digital copy (MS Word). Photographs, maps and other data will be provided digitally. 6. Team of experts a. Wetland expert - team leader-1 b. Forestry/Biodiversity/ Environment expert-1 c. Legal and policy expert-1 d. Climate change expert-1 e. Land use expert -1 f. GIS expert-1 g. GESI expert 1 h. Socioeconomist-1 7. Supervision This work will be implemented through USAID funded Hariyo Ban Program in coordination with District Development Committee, Kaski District and Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. 8. Eligibility/Qualification Eligible organizations include Nepalese NGOs, consultancy firms, academic and research institutions. International organizations can partner with Nepali organizations, but proposals must be submitted by Nepali organizations as the lead partner. The team members should have a minimum of Master s degree and at least five years of work experience in the relevant field. 9. Proposal submission details Interested teams of experts or organizations are requested to submit separate technical and financial proposals in two sealed envelopes stating the project applied for, along with an application letter via post or hand, delivered to the following address no later than 5:00 PM, Tuesday, July 05, 2016: Coordinator, Biodiversity Conservation WWF Nepal, Hariyo Ban Program PO Box: 7660, Pavitra Pyara Marg, Baluwatar, Kathmandu, Nepal
10. Logistic support The consultant will manage his/her own logistic support for the completion of this assignment and required cost will be paid as per WWF Nepal policy. 11. Budget The consultant should submit a financial proposal that includes detailed breakdown of total budget proposed including: fee, travel cost, communication costs, consultative meeting and reproduction of documents in Nepali Rupees. The payment is subject to tax deduction as per prevailing government rules. The payment will be made in instalments based on submission of satisfactory deliverables. The financial proposal should include: S. No. Organization 1 Organization Registration and latest renewal, 2 Registration with Social Welfare Council for I/NGO (does not apply for private companies) 3 PAN/VAT registration certificate 4 Tax Exemption Certificate, if applicable 5 Latest tax clearance certificate for private company 6 Latest audit report, if amount of award exceeds $5,000 Note that payments are subject to tax deduction as per prevailing government rules. Please use the budget template in Annex 1. Annex 1: Estimated budget S.N Description 1 Consultant Fee based on deliverable and timeframe 2. Field travel 2.1 Air fare 2.2 Accommodation and food 2.3 Field interactions Unit No of Units Rate Amount
2.4 Transportation in field 3. Local transportation in Kathmandu 4. Communication cost 4.1 Mobile re-charge 4.2 Reproduction of documents TOTAL -