1.0 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
1.1 Statement of Purpose
It is the intention of The Nature Conservancy (“Conservancy” or “TNC”) to solicit Proposals for the provision of Consultancy to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Greater Kafue Landscape Carbon Project.
2.0 PROJECT BACKGROUND
The Greater Kafue Ecosystem (GKE) comprises the core conservation area in Kafue National Park (KNP), adjacent community-stewarded Game Management Areas (GMAs) and communal lands surrounding these that act as buffer zones where people and wildlife co-exist. Recently the GKE has seen a considerable increase in conservation investments via conservation management partnerships between TNC, African Parks and the Ministry of Tourism. The focus of African Parks (AP) through Greater Kafue Landscape Ltd (GKLL), the delivery vehicle for AP’s co-management mandate for the KNP, is the protection and restoration of KNP which forms the core of the GKE. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) focus is the improved governance and management of the GMAs around KNP working with local communities and the Government through a Conservation Collaboration Agreement. These agreements have catalysed significant long-term funding with the potential for conservation successes that have local, regional, national and international significance.
Historically, conservation has largely failed to deliver the tangible benefits that promote reinvestment and stewardship of conservation areas and the government, and communities have seen little economic benefit from these landscapes. To change this will require a change from the ‘business as usual’ approach to developing strategic plans that support the financial outcomes of the area. A significant boost for this is enabling conditions provided by a robustly governed and professionally managed conservation landscape to secure increased durable revenue flow into conservation and community benefit.
Improved fire management is a key protection and restoration strategy for both KNP and surrounding GMAs that also has the potential to deliver revenue to the GKE based on carbon financing. The proposed carbon project based on improved fire management (the Kafue Landscape Fire Carbon Project) focuses on a landscape-level intervention across the conservation zones of Mufunta GMA and Sichifulo GMA, theGreater Nkala CFMA (proposed), and Kafue National Park. Given the scale and potential for cumulative impacts on biodiversity and community livelihoods, the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) will serve as the primary vehicle for ensuring compliance with both national law and international best practice standards (including CCB Standards and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement). Furthermore, since the project will be adhering to the Zambian regulatory context and emerging precedents for nature-based solutions it needs to demonstrate a commitment to high-integrity benefit-sharing mechanisms that meet or exceed the national benchmark.
2.1 The Kafue Landscape Fire Carbon Project
Seasonal fire is a natural dynamic of the miombo forest ecosystems of the 66,000sq km Greater Kafue Ecosystem (GKE), however, human-induced fire is widespread, unplanned, and unmanaged at a scale that vastly exceeds any ecological benefit. According to TNC data, over the last 13 years, over 70% of the KNP and 30% of the surrounding community-owned GMAs burn every year, with almost half of the fires in the ecosystem burning in the late season (July-November), when their intensity and destructive nature are significantly increased.
The current fire regime has negative, but largely unquantified, consequences for habitat health, vegetation composition, and soil structure. The primary objective of the Kafue Landscape Fire Carbon Project is shifting the fire regime from the current extensive, late, hot and uncontrolled fires to reduced, planned, early season fires through a comprehensive fire management programme.
The Project area covers ~3,587,060 ha mix of land tenure systems. To support the PDD and satisfy ZEMA requirements, the SEA must evaluate the strategic implications of this landscape-wide shift in fire management. This includes assessing not only potential impacts on wildlife habitat but its potential impact on the socio-economy of the landscape including traditional grazing rights, and the collection of non-timber forest products (NTFPs). The consultant will analyse how the carbon project’s ‘Plan and Program’ integrates with existing Management Plans for the Park and GMAs to ensure ecological integrity and social equity.
2.2 Consultancy Agreement
TNC and GKLL are seeking an experienced Lead Environmental Consultant/Firm to plan and lead the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Kafue Landscape Fire Carbon Project. The consultant will coordinate closely with the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment and other partners to deliver the statutory environmental clearances required for the project.
The consultant will lead the project through all phases of the ZEMA SEA process to final approval.
2.3 Objectives and Scope of Work
The work conducted under this consultancy shall be guided by the Consultant’s expert opinion and professional judgment to ensure all statutory requirements and international best practices are met. While the Consultant is expected to advise on the most effective process and methodology, the following objectives represent the core requirements of the engagement. The ultimate deliverable and measure of success for this consultancy is the formal approval of the project by ZEMA and the issuance of a Decision Letter.
Objective 1: Phase 1 & 2 – Screening, Inception, and Scoping
- Statutory Notification: Prepare and facilitate the formal Notification of Intent to ZEMA on behalf of the Proponent (Ministry of Green Economy and Environment).
- Stakeholder Integration: Review and validate existing stakeholder mapping data from the TNC community conservation teams in Mufunta, Sichifulo, and Nkala. Conduct supplementary consultations to meet ZEMA scoping standards.
- ToR Development: Draft the Terms of Reference (ToR) and facilitate the ZEMA Scoping Meeting to identify key environmental and social issues. Secure ZEMA approval for the ToR.
Objective 2: Phase 3 – The Main Assessment & Baseline Study
- Data Collection: Establish ecological (fire regimes, biodiversity) and socio-economic (land-use, gender-sensitive resource dependence) baselines.
- Analysis of Alternatives: Evaluate 3-4 strategic alternatives for achieving the project goals (e.g., varying EDS burn intensities or spatial configurations) to identify the most sustainable option.
- Compatibility & Impact Prediction: Test the project against existing laws (Wildlife Act, Forest Act) and use predictive modelling to assess long-term impacts (10–30 years) on carbon stocks and biodiversity.
Objective 3: Phase 4 – Reporting, SESMP, and Public Validation
- Draft SEA Report: Produce a comprehensive Draft SEA Report including a Strategic Environmental and Social Management Plan (SESMP) that is based off TNC’s existing Environmental and Social Management Plan for the landscape.
- Public Review & Validation: Facilitate the mandatory public review period (30 days) and lead the Validation Workshop to ensure stakeholder feedback is integrated into the final document.
Objective 4: Phase 5 – ZEMA Review and Decision Support
- Final Submission: Manage the final submission to ZEMA and coordinate the technical review process, providing addendums or clarifications as required.
- Decision Facilitation: Liaise with ZEMA to secure the final Decision Letter (Approval/No Objection).
Note: The successful firm/individual will be required to work closely with TNC, GKLL, Forestry Department, DNPW and their partners in the GKE, including local communities, other government entities, NGOs and private sector partners. The work will involve extended periods in the field in very remote settings. The successful individual/team will need to be fully self-sufficient with the ability to operate independently in the field for the duration of project.
2.4 Core delivery team!
The consultant will report to Kafue Landscape Fire Carbon Project Manager for project implementation progress, performance, and key milestones delivery. The consultant will be required to liaise closely with Conservation Director, TNC Zambia with regular interface with the Regional Biodiversity and Science Coordinator, African Parks Head of Carbon and the African Parks Regional Commercial Manager, Zambia & Zimbabwe. In the specific project areas, the consultant will work closely with either TNC staff or project staff as stipulated and agreed upon during the inception meeting.
2.5 Products Delivery
A detailed project information repository must be kept, including documentation of all processes, supporting information and data (Microsoft excel format or spatial information as ESRI shapefiles) must be delivered electronically as stipulated to: Bruce Ellender – bruce.ellender@tnc.org copying; africa.tenders@tnc.org
2.6 Selection Criteria
The evaluation of proposals will be based on the following weighted criteria:
1) Lead Consultant Qualifications:
The Lead Consultant must be a ZEMA-certified Lead Environmental Coordinator in good standing.
Minimum of 10 years of experience in environmental consulting within Zambia or the SADC region.
2) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Experience:
Demonstrated experience in leading at least two (2) SEAs for landscape-level or sector-wide ‘Policies, Plans, or Programs’ (PPP).
Experience specifically with Forestry, Land-Use, or Climate Change SEAs will be highly weighted.
3) Technical Team Composition:
- The proposal must demonstrate a multi-disciplinary team including experts in:
- Fire Ecology/Miombo Management: Understanding of Early Dry Season (EDS) burning and woodland carbon dynamics.
- Social Scientist/Safeguards Specialist: Experience with Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and Community Forest Management Group (CFMG) structures.
- Carbon Markets & Climate Law: Demonstrated literacy in the Green Economy and Climate Change Act of 2024, its regulations, and all relevant policies or frameworks.
4) Community Governance & Local Context:
- Proven track record of navigating community resource governance in Zambia, specifically working with Community Resource Boards (CRBs) and Traditional Authorities.
- Fluency in English and relevant local languages (e.g., Ila, Tonga, or Kaonde) within the team is essential for effective community validation.
5) Remote Field Operations:
Evidence of the ability to operate independently in remote, off-grid settings (Kafue Landscape) for extended periods. This includes self-sufficiency in logistics, transport, and communication.
6) Methodological Clarity:
Quality of the proposed methodology, specifically how the consultant plans to integrate existing TNC stakeholder data and align the SEA timeline with the statutory requirements of the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment.
7) Cost & Timeline
Reasonable financial proposal including a full budget breakdown including professional fees and other reasonable costs needed to complete the outlined deliverables.
Proposals will be evaluated on the realism and efficiency of the proposed project timeline. TNC seeks a consultant who can navigate the ZEMA process as efficiently as possible to meet project development milestones while retaining the highest level of integrity.
- Vendor submits any clarification queries; 15th May 2026, 17:00 hours
- The Conservancy’s Response to Vendor’s Queries; 18th May 2026, 17:00 hours.
2.7 Call for Applications.
Please send your technical and financial proposal of no more than three pages outlining your experience, your interpretation of the terms of reference and outlining how you would execute the assignment. Please submit the cover letter, technical and financial proposal by 23:59pm, 26th May 2026, to Africa Tenders – Africa.tenders@tnc.org and copy Dominic Munkombwe dominic.munkombwe@tnc.org and Bruce Ellender – bruce.ellender@tnc.org.
3.0 Please access all key proposal documents, including full RFP, Conflict of Interest Form, and Contract Terms and Conditions that form the proposal on the link below.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bSPyHHKWOVy4Sqcl4M_fwhYKyCmGUyr2?usp=drive_link
