TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR)—–Development of Mangrove Management Plan draft

Job Description

TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR)

Activity 2.5.1: Development of Mangrove Management Plan draft, shared with internal and external experts for review, and disseminated.

The Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL) is a national non-governmental, non-profit environmental organization established in 1986 with the mission of conserving and promoting the wise use of Sierra Leone’s natural resources. It is a membership-based organization open to the public and includes members from many different backgrounds. 

The Society provides policy advice, undertakes environmental education, facilitates learning and advocacy on good conservation practices, implements conservation and sustainable livelihoods projects and facilitates biodiversity research. 

CSSL is at the forefront of protecting endangered species and their habitats in Sierra Leone, working in collaboration with several partners both in-country and internationally to deliver its programmes and get its message out. These partners include grassroots community-based groups, other NGOs, schools, government agencies, academic institutions and international conservation and sustainable development organizations.

Background

The Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL) in collaboration with local communities and partnership with GOAL Sierra Leone through the Jersey Oversea Aid Grant is implementing a mangrove restoration and sustainable management initiative in nine (9) communities located in

Western Area Rural District (3 communities) and Samu Chiefdom, Kambia District (6 communities)

These mangrove ecosystems are critical for biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, fisheries productivity and coastal protection. However, they face increasing threats from over-harvesting, unsustainable land use, and weak local governance.

To ensure long-term sustainability, CSSL intends to develop a participatory Mangrove Management Plan to guide conservation, restoration and sustainable use of mangrove resources in the target Project communities.

2. Objective of the Assignment

The overall objective is to develop a comprehensive, participatory and implementable Mangrove Management Plan for 9 communities in Western Area Rural and Samu Chiefdom, Kambia District.

3. Specific Objectives

The consultant will:

• Review relevant national policies, laws, and existing mangrove management frameworks
• Conduct field consultations and stakeholder engagements in the target communities
• Assess current status, threats and opportunities for mangrove management
• Identify governance structures, roles and responsibilities
• Propose clear management strategies, zoning, enforcement, restoration and livelihood options
• Develop an implementation framework, monitoring plan and sustainability strategy

4. Scope of Work

The consultant will:

• Conduct desk review of relevant documents
• Develop an inception report and methodology
• Support CSSL in stakeholder consultations on methodologies used and validation
• Visit and consult in the 9 target communities
• Draft the Mangrove Management Plan
• Incorporate feedback from CSSL and stakeholders
• Produce a final Mangrove Management Plan ready for validation and dissemination

5. Deliverables

• Inception report and work plan
• Draft Mangrove Management Plan
• Final Mangrove Management Plan (after review and inputs)
• Executive summary and policy brief version

6. Duration of Assignment

The assignment will last 30–45 days from the date of contract signing.

7. Roles and Responsibilities

CSSL will:

• Organize stakeholder strategy meeting
• Organize validation and dissemination workshops
• Facilitate community entry

Consultant will:

• Lead technical drafting and field data collection
• Produce all required documents
• Integrate all stakeholder inputs into the final plan

8. Required Qualifications and Experience

• A master’s degree or higher in Environmental Studies, Forestry, Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Development Studies, Economics, Statistics, Geography or a related field.

• Professional experience:

• At least 7 years of proven experience conducting baseline studies, impact assessments, or research related to deforestation, land use, smallholder agriculture, or commodity supply chains in sub-Saharan Africa, preferably in Mano River Union region.
• Demonstrated expertise in forest governance, landscape restoration, or climate-smart agriculture, particularly in smallholder contexts.
• Strong background in quantitative and qualitative data collection methodologies, including household surveys, key informant interviews, GIS/remote sensing, and participatory rural appraisal (PRA).
• Experience using geo-spatial mapping tools (GIS, satellite imagery) to assess land cover change and deforestation trends.

• Skills and competencies:

• • Excellent analytical and report-writing skills with the ability to synthesize complex data into actionable insights.
  • Proven capacity to engage with local communities, farmer organizations, government institutions, and private sector actors.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills; fluency in English required (working knowledge of English/Krio is an asset).

• Ability to deliver high-quality outputs within tight timelines and under minimal supervision.

9. Technical and Financial Offer

Interested consultants or evaluation firms are invited to submit a detailed proposal including:

• A technical proposal outlining the proposed methodology, data collection tools, and work plan.
• Profiles and CVs of the evaluation team.
• A detailed financial proposal (budget in leones) showing daily rates, travel costs, accommodation, and other related expenses, plus the respective GST (Goods and Services Tax) in line with Sierra Leone NRA.
• Evidence of previous work or references relevant to the assignment.

Proposals should be submitted by Friday 23rd January to Thursday 5th February 2026, to CSSL on the following email address or hard copy: 

Email: info@cs-sl.org 

Hard copy: Addressed to the Human Resource Officer @ 86A Main Road Congo, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Shortlisted applicants may be invited for an interview or further discussion before final selection.