Call for Expressions of Interest to Conduct an Integrated Management Effectiveness Tool (IMET) Assessment for Protected Areas in Cross River State – Nigeria 4 views

1. Background

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is implementing the EU Support for the Protection of Forests and Biodiversity in Cross River State (PROFAB) project in 85 communities across 3 major protected areas in Cross River State. The expected impact of the project is that the rainforests of Cross River State are effectively conserved for biodiversity and climate change mitigation, providing connected habitat, critical for Cross River gorillas, Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees, and forest elephants; conserving carbon; and sustainable livelihoods for local communities. Part of the project implementation is to upgrade the existing Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) to the Integrated Management Effectiveness Tool (IMET) which is a Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME) tool that allows an in-depth assessment of protected areas and helps protected area managers take analysis-based management decisions for improved conservation outcomes. As such, we are engaging an IMET Coach to help us establish an IMET baseline for each protected area during Y1, against which we will repeat the scores at the end of the project in Y4 to measure the project’s impact. The IMET analysis will include staff and representatives of Cross River National Park (CRNP), Cross River State Forestry Commission (CRSFC), Conservation Association of Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary (CAAFiM), Conservation Association of Mbe Mountains (CAMM), and WCS. This exercise will support the expected impacts of the PROFAB – Improved management of 535,000 ha of forest within Cross River State (Cross River National Park: 350,000 ha; Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary: 100,000 ha; and the Mbe Mountains: 85,000 ha) as measured by improved IMET scores

2. Objective this ToR and Concept Note

This Concept Note and ToR define the scope of work for conducting an IMET Assessment in selected protected areas within Cross River State, including the CRNP, Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mbe Mountains. The overall objective is to conduct a comprehensive IMET Assessment to determine the level of management effectiveness and generate evidence-based recommendations for improved conservation management for the 3 protected areas.

Specific objectives are to:

1. Assess management context, planning, inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes using the IMET framework for each of the 3 protected areas.

2. Identify gaps in governance, staffing, financing, law enforcement, monitoring, and community engagement for each of the 3 protected areas.

3. Facilitate participatory stakeholder consultations with government agencies, communities, and partners related to the management of each of the 3 protected areas.

4. Produce an IMET Assessment Report with recommendations and a prioritized management improvement plan for each of the 3 protected areas.

   3. Scope of Work

The IMET Coach will:

1. Review existing documents including management plans, annual work plans, patrol data (SMART), budgets, biodiversity monitoring data, and legal frameworks.

2. Facilitate IMET workshops with protected area managers, rangers and field staff, local communities, government stakeholders and conservation partners.

3. Carry out IMET scoring sessions in line with the tool’s methodology.

4. Analyze management effectiveness, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and priorities.

5. Develop an Improvement Action Plan based on IMET results.

6. Prepare and present a draft and final IMET Assessment Report.

   4. Required Qualifications

   (a). Certified IMET Coach.

   (B). Demonstrate experience conducting IMET, METT, or similar assessments.

   (C). Experience working in Nigeria or West Africa forest landscapes will be an added advantage

   (D). Strong facilitation, data analysis, and report-writing skills.