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Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a fifteen day consultancy assignment to develop a system for regular monitoring and tracking of timber trade at cross border sites of Kenya and Tanzania. 

OVERVIEW

Uncontrolled timber exploitation and trade of wood and wood products as a result of poor policy implementation, inadequate law enforcement, poor governance and lack of accountability is contributing to degradation of forests and woodlands in Kenya and Tanzania. This project seeks to address these problems by analysing domestic and regional market issues. From this analysis, basis to identify where there may be needs for review of our policies, law and practice and policy dialogue will be provided. With greater understanding of the issues, this project will seek to inform stakeholders of the scope of the problem that will help prompt the two governments to make appropriate actions to solve the problems.

Hence, the East African Wild Life Society (EAWLS) in Collaboration with Tanzania Natural Resources Forum (TNRF) is seeking to recruit a consultant with forestry professionalism to undertake research on Wood and Wood Products Trade in Kenya and Tanzania Border Points and finally develop a system for regular monitoring.  The candidate should be able to work with the lead government institutions (Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Wildlife Society (KWS) and Tanzania Forestry and Beekeeping Division (TFBD)), TRAFFIC, East Africa Community (EAC), Timber Trade Associations (TTA), Kenya Revenue Authority Custom Department, Tanzania Revenue Authority Custom Department among others.   

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The consultant will be contracted to undertake a research study on domestic timber or wood market patterns, origins, management systems or other information that would facilitate improved management of domestic use of resources and cross border trading.  This study will primarily focus on traded goods that cross the border one way or the other: small, large scale, transit goods, authorized or not authorised etc.

Specifically, the consultant will be expected to carry out the following 

1. Review legal documents including Forest Policies, Acts, regulations and guidelines that control forest products trade practices in Kenya and Tanzania.
2. Establish the key players are in timber and wood products trade; what their roles and obligations are; how they are fulfilling their various roles and obligations; what is being traded; where are major harvest areas and destination of traded items; what are the transport routes including check points and avoided check points; what is the scale: size of trader (trade organizations?), volume of traded goods? Etc.
3. Identify issues leading to poor governance and inadequate law enforcement in cross border sites and identifying possible ways of addressing them.
4. Describe with elaboration what the pros and cons are for operating legally and illegally and relate it to: How laws, regulations and practice create enabling environment for legal above board business: How laws, regulations and practice in some cases may encourage illegal operations, and,• thereby assess the current state of affairs and solicit ideas on where we would want to be in future.
5. Interview timber trade associations on their perceptions of the trade and how it influences the prices, TRAFFIC, Civil Society Organisations, officials at check points and border points who are supposed to keep records among other players.
6. Work with lead institutions (KFS, KWS and Tanzania Forestry and Beekeeping Department, EAC, TRAFFIC and timber trade association) and identify issues leading to poor governance and inadequate law enforcement and identifying possible ways of addressing them   

EXPECTED OUTPUTS 

• A report on Illegal Wood and Wood Products Trade in Kenya and Tanzania Border Points 
• A developed system of regular monitoring and tracking of illegal trade at cross borders sites   

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

A minimum bachelors degree in the relevant discipline (biological sciences , forestry, natural resources, environment, economics etc.) 

• A minimum of ten years of relevant professional experience in natural resources and environment.
• Familiarity and practical experience working on policy and programmatic issues related to timber and forest product trade, forest management and biodiversity conservation. Experience of working with NGOs will be an added value.
• Proven skills in monitoring and evaluation, project planning and report writing.  

HOW TO APPLY 

1. Interested candidates should submit their applications with (a) cover letter summarizing the candidate’s suitability against the selection criteria and quoting the position; (B) three referees; and (C) curriculum vitae.
2. TNRF will only respond to those candidates who strictly meet the set requirements for the advertised positions. Please do not apply unless you have the required qualifications.
3. Applications should be sent by registered mail, courier service or e-mail (email subject line should quote position and all soft copies should be in MS Word) Applicants should choose one method of sending applications. Duplicate Applications will be disqualified.
4. Only successful candidates will be contacted and at the interview should provide originals and copies of both academic and professional certificates and testimonials and last performance appraisal evaluation.

Please send your application to the address or e-mail indicated below before the deadline of 29 July 2011. 

THE ADMINISTRATOR

TANZANIA NATURAL RESOURCE FORUM

P.O. Box 15605. Arusha, Tanzania

E-mail: MTT_Consultant@TNRF.org