Terms of Reference
CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO ASSESS THE IMPACTS OF LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON FLORA IN KENYA’S CONSERVANCIES USING GIS AND REMOTE SENSING CHANGE DETECTION ANALYSIS
1. Background
The Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA) is the national membership organization for wildlife Conservancies in Kenya. KWCA works to strengthen conservancies as effective institutions for biodiversity conservation, livelihoods improvement and climate resilience.
Since the 1990s, wildlife conservancies were set up as a tool for land management, habitat restoration and creating connectivity for pastoral communities and the resident wildlife dispersing on areas outside state protected areas. A key goal in any conservancy is to minimize bare ground, increase grass and tree cover and promote floral diversity and biomass. Conservancy management aim at creating conditions that optimizes feed for livestock and wildlife, sequester carbon dioxide and increase surface water retention. In attaining this goal conservancies contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Conservancy management boards adopt a variety of approaches to achieve this, including; livestock grazing plans, rest periods, core conserved areas, removal of invasive plants and active efforts to manage soils and plant species. Impacts of these actions show positive and negative trends, yet a systematic trend analysis on the impacts of land management regimes on flora has not been determined within Kenya’s conservancies. Reliable, spatially explicit information on land cover dynamics is critical for evidence-based conservancy planning, rangeland management, restoration initiatives, and policy advocacy.
KWCA intends to engage a qualified consultant or consultancy firm to undertake GIS and remote sensing change detection analysis for select conservancies in three sites within Narok, Samburu and Taita Taveta landscapes to determine the extent to which land management regimes are contributing to land restoration relative to similar adjacent areas.
2. Objectives of the Consultancy
2.1 Overall Objective
To analyze land cover maps to determine land use & cover changes, trends analysis and identify impacts (positive or negative) on flora in select conservancies within three sites in Kenya.
2.2 Specific Objectives
- Use of secondary information to characterize the land management practices within the selected conservancies and their change over time.
- To analyze spatial and temporal land cover changes and quantify change rates over a select time
- Document key drivers of land cover change relevant to wildlife conservation and community land use to inform
- To provide geospatial datasets and maps that can be integrated into KWCA’s monitoring, evaluation, and planning
3. Expected Deliverables
The consultant shall deliver:
- Inception Report indicating rationale for site selections and detailed methodology
- Prepare a comprehensive technical report detailing methodology, findings, interpretation, and recommendations
- Final technical report with maps, analysis, and recommendations relevant to conservancy management
- Presentation of results to KWCA and stakeholders
4. Qualifications and Experience
4.1Consultant / Firm Qualifications
- Advanced degree in Remote Sensing, GIS, Geomatics, Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management, or a related field
- Minimum of 5 years proven experience in land cover mapping and change detection analysis
- Demonstrated experience working with wildlife conservancies, rangelands, or community-managed landscapes in Kenya or East Africa
- Prior experience working with NGOs, conservation organizations, or donor-funded projects is an added advantage
4.2 Technical Competencies
- Proficiency in Remote Sensing and GIS tools
- Experience in accuracy assessment and validation techniques
- Strong analytical, report writing, and stakeholder presentation skills
5. Reporting and Supervision
The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the KWCA Programs Manager and working with relevant staff based on agreed milestones.
6. Confidentiality and Data Ownership
All data, maps, reports, and outputs generated under this consultancy shall remain the property of KWCA. The consultant shall not share or publish any outputs without prior written authorization from KWCA.
7. Application Requirements
Interested consultants or firms should submit:
- A technical proposal detailing methodology, work plan, and team composition
- A financial proposal
- CVs of key personnel or company profile
- Evidence of similar assignments completed (with references)