TERMS OF REFERENCE: RECRUITMENT OF A NATIONAL CONSULTANT/RESEARCH FIRM TO DEVELOP A METHODOLOGICAL/PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PLANS (BMPS) IN CAMEROON

I. General Information
Job title/expected service:
Recruitment of a national consultant or research firm to develop a methodological/practical guide for the development of Biodiversity Management Plans (BMPs) in Cameroon.
Number of positions: 01
Position level: National consultant
Nature of the consultation: Substantive
Type of contract: Fixed-term consultancy
Location of assignment: Yaoundé
Duration of assignment: 10 working days
Estimated period: December 2025– January 2026
II. Context and objective
Context
Cameroon, through the Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED), is committed to strengthening the integration of biodiversity into Environmental and Social Assessments (ESAs). To this end, the country has received technical and financial support from WWF Cameroon through the BIODEV 2030 Phase 2 initiative to develop two regulatory instruments:
•
The ministerial decree setting out the specific conditions for taking biodiversity into
account in ESAs in Cameroon;
•
The ministerial decision setting out guidelines for the development of Biodiversity
Management Plans (BMPs) in Cameroon.
These texts, which are in the process of being adopted, now establish the obligation for any
project, programme or plan with an impact on biodiversity to develop a BMP in accordance with national requirements and international standards such as: the World Bank's Environmental and Social Standards No. 6 (WB, 2018), Performance Standard No. 6 of the International Finance Corporation (IFC, 2012), technical guidelines, safeguard policies and environmental and social standards of other organisations such as the AfDB, FAO, IUCN, etc., and the guidelines of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
2
In order to ensure the harmonised and consistent implementation of these texts, WWF Cameroon, in partnership with MINEPDED, has once again mobilised financial resources within the framework of the BIODEV 2030 - Phase 2 project to recruit a consultant to develop a methodological/practical guide for the development of PGBs in Cameroon. This guide will serve as an operational tool for administrations, consulting firms, project developers and any other relevant stakeholders.
General objective
To develop a technical and practical guide describing the steps, methods, tools and requirements to be followed for the development, implementation and monitoring-evaluation of Biodiversity Management Plans (BMPs) in Cameroon.
Specific objectives
The consultant will be required to:
1. Analyse existing national (decrees, decisions, supplementary texts) and international standards relating to biodiversity management and environmental and social assessments;
2. Define a standardised methodology for developing BMPs adapted to the Cameroonian
context;
3. Develop a methodological and practical guide illustrated with technical data sheets,
models, survey plans and templates applicable to different types of projects;
4. Harmonise national requirements with recognised international standards (BM NES 6,
SFI NP6, AfDB SO6, FAO, IUCN, SER);
5. Propose a framework for capacity building and dissemination of the guide to
stakeholders.
III. Expected results
At the end of the assignment, the consultant shall deliver:
•
A comprehensive methodological/practical guide for the development of PGBs in
Cameroon, including:
o Detailed development of all parts of the technical guidelines referred to above
in the context of: Methodology, description of the initial state, identification of impacts, impact management measures, stakeholder consultation, monitoring and evaluation, etc.;
o Guiding principles and legal basis;
o Links between the PGB and the Environmental and Social Management Plan
(ESMP);
o Correspondence with international standards.
•
A methodological framework note validated by MINEPDED and WWF;
•
A summary presentation of the guide at a technical validation meeting.
o NB: Particular emphasis should be placed on practical tools and models
(inventory sheets, report templates, monitoring indicators, etc.);
3
IV. Functions, responsibilities and tasks of the consultant The consultant or firm will be responsible for:
1. Preparatory phase
o Collect and analyse existing regulatory texts and technical guides in Cameroon
(decrees, orders, directives);
o Examine international standards (WB, IFC, AfDB, FAO, SER, IUCN, CBD);
o Develop a methodological framework note specifying the structure and
approach for developing the guide. 2. Guide development phase
o Develop a structured document presenting at least the elements mentioned in
Section III on expected results;
o Define the institutional and procedural mechanisms for approving, monitoring
and reporting on PGBs;
o Illustrate good practices using case studies from Cameroon and other countries.
3. Validation phase
o Present the draft guide to the MINEPDED/WWF team and the Technical
Committee for review;
o Incorporate the comments made;
o Produce the final version of the guide and a summary note.
V. Indicative methodology The mission will be based on:
•
An in-depth documentary analysis of existing texts and guides;
•
Targeted interviews with technical staff from MINEPDED, WWF and other relevant
administrations (MINFOF, MINEPIA, MINEE, MINMIDT, MINTP, MINEPAT, etc.);
•
A comparative approach with international standards;
•
Participatory validation of results through an internal technical review.
VI. Schedule of Deliverables, Deadlines and Payments
No.
Deliverable
Description
Estimated
deadline
% Payment
1
Scope note and
methodology
Definition of the approach, structure and schedule for the assignment
D+3
30
2
Provisional version of the
methodological guide
First version of the guide, submitted for technical review
D+7
40%
3
Final version of the guide
Consolidated version after
validation
D+10
30
4
VII. Duration
The consultancy is planned for a total duration of ten (10) working days, to be completed within a maximum period of two (02) weeks.
VIII. Functional skills
The consultant or firm must demonstrate:
•
Proven expertise in biodiversity, environmental and social assessment;
•
Confirmed experience in drafting technical guides or tools for environmental
management;
•
Good knowledge of international standards (BM NES 6, SFI NP6, BAD SO6, FAO, IUCN,
etc.) and the Cameroonian legal framework;
•
An ability to work in synergy with public institutions and technical partners.
IX. Required qualifications
•
University degree (minimum 5 years of higher education) in ecology, environment,
conservation biology, environmental assessment or a related field;
•
At least 8 years' experience in conducting studies or formulating methodological
guidelines in the environmental field;
•
Proven experience in the use of the Cameroonian legal framework and international
conventions relating to biodiversity;
Previous experience with MINEPDED, WWF or an international cooperation project is an asset.
X. The Technical Proposal must include the following elements:
•
Cover letter: Brief description (one page max);
•
Consultant's CV;
•
Proof of experience in providing similar services;
•
Description of the methodological approach to be used
•
Schedule for the provision of services;
•
Intervention schedule;
•
Financial offer.
•
National Identity Card of the applicant. In the case of a firm, a complete tax file (including the tax compliance certificate) and the National Identity Card of the legal representative must be provided.
•
Bank Account Attestation;
•
Taxpayer’s Attestation (NUI)
XI. Criteria for Evaluating Bids
Eligible proposals will be evaluated on the basis of full and open competition, in strict accordance with the combined scoring method, whereby the technical proposal will be weighted at 80% and combined with the price offer, which will be weighted at 20%.
It should be noted that failure to comply with the constituent elements of the tender is grounds for disqualification.

XII. Supervision and Coordination
The mission will be jointly supervised by MINEPDED (CBD National Focal Point) and WWF Cameroon. The consultant will work closely with the CBD National Focal Point and the PGB Technical Committee.
XIII. How to Apply
Interested candidates are requested to submit their bids, in French or English, electronically as indicated in point 7 to the following email address: wwfcopprocurement@wwfcam.org, or physically at the WWF Cameroon Country Office in Yaoundé - Bastos, behind the British American Tobacco factory.
For any additional information, you may contact the following numbers: (237) 222 21 70 84 / 222 21 70 83 / 222 00 77 03 / 677 50 00 35 / 699 50 36 21.
Alternatively, you may also submit your inquiries in writing to: wwfcopprocurement@wwfcam.org.
Please mention in the subject line: "DEVELOPMENT OF THE METHODOLOGICAL/PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PLANS (BMPs) IN CAMEROON"
Deadline for receipt of applications: 19 December 2025
We thank you in advance for your interest in this call for expressions of interest. Please note that only pre-selected service providers will be contacted for the next stage of the process.
If you are not contacted within three (03) weeks of the deadline for submitting applications, please consider that your offer has not been accepted.
WWF is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of gender, race, religion, experience, or background.
The publication of any job, consultancy or service provider opportunity and any subsequent communications, interviews, or discussions does not constitute a binding commitment by WWF. No contractual or financial obligation shall arise on the part of WWF until a formal written contract has been duly signed by both Parties following completion of the selection process.
All stages of this process remain part of the negotiation phase and are subject to WWF’s internal validation and administrative approvals. WWF reserves the right, where necessary, to modify, postpone, or cancel the process at any stage prior to formal engagement, without incurring any liability toward applicants or third partie
Technical Proposal
80%
Cover letter, expertise and experience
25 points
Description of the method of service delivery
40 points
Service delivery schedule
15 points
Monitoring plan
10 points
Financial proposal
20%
Complete offer (listing and pricing of all expenditure items, terms and conditions of payment)
Budget
10 points
10 points