Consultant

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Title: Consultancy to restore the micro-catchment of Ruzizi I hydropower dam and to stabilize rivers and gullies banks within Bukavu City.

Open to: Local Associations and/or Non-Government Environmental Organizations.

1. Background

   The Ruzizi Basin is both host to a rich diversity of threatened and endangered species, and the lynchpin for economic growth opportunities in the region. For instance, it serves as a critical supplier of hydropower to the Eastern DRC, Burundi, and Rwanda with the potential to generate over 500 megawatts of electricity. The Ruzizi Basin, holds great promise for large-scale restoration as NBS interventions have the potential to have an outsized impact on Africa’s rainfall patterns critical for food and water security and more immediately for the 11 million local Ruzizi Basin residents whose livelihoods rely on the health and well-being of the Basin.

   Despite this importance, the proliferation of informal settlements on steep slopes has drastically reduced open and green spaces within city boundaries and increased the density of impervious surface areas. The loss of vegetation has subsequently contributed to a high volume of runoff, polluting the waters with sediment and trash. Furthermore, the loss of vegetation in these areas has increased urban heat island effect, which has consequences for human health, economic productivity, energy use, and social connectivity. A high rate of deforestation for biomass energy production (charcoal) and unsustainable agricultural practices on steep slopes in the peri-urban areas have contributed to recurring flooding and landslides. These disasters have caused loss of life and significant economic damage. Landslides and soil erosion contribute to the siltation of the Ruzizi River and the hydropower dams that it hosts. Due to a serious lack of basic infrastructure in these settlements, there are significant water and sanitation concerns for untreated waste, limited access to clean drinking water, and significant air pollution.

   Thanks to the financial support from Caterpillar Foundation in the framework of WRI Cities4Forest Programme, WRI developed and is implementing the project entitled “NBS for climate and water resilience in urban and peri-urban areas for people, climate, and nature” with aim to enhance community and ecosystem resilience for 2.3 million residents in the cities of Bukavu and Uvira in Ruzizi Basin by designing and implementing locally appropriate NBS, increasing access to sustainable livelihoods, and improving energy and water security.

   Specific targets of this project are the following: i) Over 10 kilometers of water-related NBS interventions improve water quality and quantity in wetlands, riverbanks, and gullies; ii) 20 hectares of priority degraded urban green spaces rehabilitated; iii) 10 kilometers of planted trees along key transportation roads/urban avenues and streets increase flood and landslide protection while increase the capacity of carbon sequestration and storage and urban amenity; iv) 10% reduction in sedimentation and solid wastes deposit in Ruzizi I and Ruzizi II hydropower dams, greatly increasing electricity supply; v) 1,000 jobs created for women and youth through NBS implementation and solid waste management activities.

   For this project, restoration efforts focus on the urban and peri-urban areas in and around the cities of Bukavu and Uvira in the South-Province of DRC. These cities are among Ruzizi Basin’s largest cities, as well as among the fastest growing cities in the region due to the migration of people fleeing from armed groups operating in surrounding rural areas.

   📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

   ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

   Small-scale project interventions will focus on integrated approach involving re-greening efforts and the establishment of riparian buffer zones around the hydropower dams and upstream on the Ruzizi River, halting the rate of ecosystem loss, and management of solid wastes from urban areas to protect water bodies including hydropower dams and rivers. A multi-partner approach to address landscape degradation and water-based risks in these cities will be implemented. Leveraging WRI success in designing and implementing NBS and deep experience in engaging stakeholders (NGOs, Women and Youth Associations, local NGOs, academia and research institutions, and private actors), we will support the interventions that will deliver improved resilience outcomes for the residents of Bukavu and Uvira.

   Specifically, key activities of the project include: i) Conducting baseline studies to create the basis for monitoring improvements in tree cover, and flood and sedimentation risk reduction, solid wastes management, gender, equity an social inclusion for the implementation of the project) offering the Caterpillar Foundation and WRI an opportunity to track the progress and the impact of the project overtime; ii) Establishment of efficient and effective stakeholder consultations sessions that both address local power dynamics and increase local buy-in and ownership of the urban and peri-urban interventions; iii) Facilitating experience and knowledge sharing trips between the stakeholders of Bukavu and Uvira, as well as other cities where urban water resilience and greening cities are being developed to help spur cross-collaboration learnings and scale up adoption.

   In the light of the above, WRI is seeking the Consultant/Service provider to restore the forest ecosystems within Ruzizi I hydropower micro-catchment and consolidation of the banks of Ruzizi River and gullies to control sedimentation, landslide, and floods within and around Bukavu city.

   1. Expected deliverables

      2.1. Overall objective of the activity

      The overall objective of this activity is to contribute to the resilience of the populations of Bukavu to disasters linked to climate change (landslides, floods, and other disasters linked to anthropic activities) by improving the production of water and hydroelectric energy through the restoration of forest ecosystems around Ruzizi I hydropower dam and consolidation of the banks of rivers and gullies within Bukavu city.

      2.2. Specific objectives

      The specific objectives of this activity are the following:

      • Restore the vegetation cover and establish erosion control system in the degraded areas in the micro-catchment of Ruzizi I hydropower dam (DRC side), with a combination of planting species of high economic interest (e.g. fruit trees) and establishment of erosion control vegetation hedges (e.g. Pennisetum spp, Trypsacum spp, etc.). The site to be restored were identified through assessment of restoration opportunities conducted by WRI and the results were validated by local stakeholders. Species to be planted were also identified through participatory approach by local experts.
      • Stabilization of the banks of rivers (including Ruzizi River) and gullies within Bukavu City to control landslides, flooding, and sedimentation by establishment of soil-fixing plant species;
      • Raise awareness among populations living around the Ruzizi River and gullies on good practices in favor of environmental protection including soil erosion and landslides control, and restoration of degraded spaces within Bukavu city using nature-based solutions (NbS). This should be done through public meetings organized with support from Bukavu City Council.

        The Consultant will work in close collaboration with appointed representatives of WRI. All deliverables will be produced in English or French.

        2.3.