Terms of Reference

Context Review: Forest Monitoring in Uganda

WRI is hiring a consultant to conduct a situational analysis and stakeholder mapping exercise as part of the exploratory phase of a qualitative case study on use of forest cover change data and information. The case study will inform a broader evaluation of the Global Forest Watch platform managed by the World Resources Institute (WRI.) Following the situational analysis and stakeholder mapping, the consultant will continue to engage in the case study through support to interview and data collection.

1. BACKGROUND & PURPOSE

About WRI & Global Forest Watch

WRI is a global research organization that spans more than 50 countries, with offices around the world including in Brazil, China, Ethiopia, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the United States. Our more than 750 experts and staff work closely with leaders to turn big ideas into action to sustain our natural resources—the foundation of economic opportunity and human well-being.

WRI is conducting an impact evaluation of Global Forest Watch (GFW), a hallmark initiative under the Institute’s Forests Program. Global Forest Watch is a leading provider of independent data and analysis about the state of forests globally and how they are changing. Key features of GFW include: satellite-based monitoring of global forest change; open access to hundreds of geospatial datasets relating to forests, from protected areas to logging concessions to biodiversity values; and easy-to-use online tools for data visualization, analysis, and download. Based on the idea that open access to transparent, accurate and timely information about forests can support law enforcement, increase awareness, and inform decision-making about forest management and land-use allocation, GFW aims to provide cutting-edge tree cover data and related contextual information to enable users to conserve forests, enforce legal protections and prevent deforestation. The impact evaluation of GFW seeks to understand the contributions of the initiative to decision processes that may result in changes in deforestation trends, and capture lessons learned to improve future programming.

Overview of the Evaluation

In the four years since its launch, the GFW platform has been visited by more than 2 million users from every country in the world. The GFW theory of change argues that those users will apply the cutting-edge tree cover change data and related contextual information to protect and conserve forests wherever they are. We have logic and anecdotal evidence to support this theory, including the integral role of satellite monitoring to reduce deforestation in Brazil1. GFW has documented dozens of use cases that tell us at least some users apply GFW data to improve protections for forests or to halt bad actors from engaging in illegal deforestation. These stories and anecdotes paint a limited picture however, and alone are not sufficient to test the theory of change or evaluate the impact of the platform. WRI is now undertaking more rigorous research and analysis to understand the relationship between data transparency and forest outcomes, and the effects on the people who depend on forests.

The GFW impact evaluation seeks to answer the question of whether use of transparent, near real-time spatial information about forest change through Global Forest Watch and country specific Forest Atlases contributes to changes in country-level deforestation trends. We expect the evaluation will illuminate key factors to success as well as barriers in areas where data availability is found to have no or limited impact. These lessons will be crucial to building on the work of Global Forest Watch, informing future program design and developing guidance for other programs across WRI that employ similar approaches to supporting environment and development goals based on transparent data provision and monitoring.

In addition to these internal uses, we anticipate the evaluation will provide value to external stakeholders across the forests, natural resource monitoring and development communities. As an example of a transparency mechanism for sustainable natural resources management and example of a public goods application of satellite data and spatial analysis, we expect the findings of this evaluation to grow the existing knowledgebase around transparency and open data applications to improve management of forest and other natural resources.

The evaluation will combine quantitative and qualitative analysis methods to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact and contributions of Global Forest Watch. These include a literature review, econometric analysis and four qualitative case studies.

Case Study Approach

The evaluation will include paired qualitative case studies that will explore why and how forest monitoring through GFW and/or the Atlas did or did not contribute to changes in deforestation in select countries, as well as the current state of play of the use of near real-time data for monitoring and the potential for uptake. Through these case studies we hope to improve our understanding of the direction of causality between data use and forest change, how prior and external conditions affect the outcomes of data use, and any unintended consequences, favorable or unfavorable.

The evaluation team applied a set of pre-determined criteria to select case study countries:

• High forest importance, based on biodiversity, extent of intact forest, and deforestation risk;
• Sufficient forest monitoring using GFW based on user data from the platform and Forest Atlases;
• Adequate feasibility;
• Matching drivers of deforestation, and;
• Either high or low level of WRI engagement.

We applied these criteria with the aim of representing different levels of WRI engagement to help mitigate bias, as well as sufficient monitoring to permit evaluation. We selected two pairs of case studies: Indonesia and Malaysia, and Uganda and Cameroon. These are countries where GFW is used but WRI has had different levels of direct engagement. The pairs also share similar drivers of deforestation; shifting agriculture is prominent in Uganda and Cameroon, and Commodity driven deforestation is common in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Case studies will apply a consistent approach that will draw on established qualitative assessment methods such as process tracing and systems analysis. The overarching objective will be to understand the causal pathways between forest monitoring data provision and use, including what sources of data and information are accessible, to which parties, and if and how they are used to inform what actions and decisions. Case studies will begin with an exploratory phase including a situational analysis and stakeholder mapping, conducted by an in-country consultant. In the following, explanatory phase, the evaluation team will conduct in-country key informant interviews, focus groups and field visits with stakeholders, such as government agencies, civil society, journalists and other partners, and potential outreach through surveys or emailed questionnaires. These Terms of Reference applies to the situational analysis and stakeholder mapping that will support these case studies.

2. ACTIVITIES

The consultant will be expected to conduct the following activities:

A. Context Review

Conduct a situational analysis and stakeholder mapping exercise, collectively called the context review, the results of which will be described in a final report. The review will consist of consultation with WRI staff, review of documents, and initial conversations with stakeholders. It should be carried out in close collaboration with the evaluation team.

The framework for this review describes the relevance of forest monitoring data or implications for its use to protect forests under the following categories of forest governance:

• Global agreements and programs, such as UNFCCC, Paris agreement INDCs, REDD+
• Land tenure, use, and planning, such as land title systems, protected areas designations, concessions and management plans
• Monitoring and enforcement, including the roles of both government agencies and civil society to uphold forest protection laws, regulations and commitments, and implement forest management policy

Parties relevant to the stakeholder mapping may fall into several categories:

• Government: National and subnational, and specific agencies and departments
• Civil society: Journalists, local communities and community-based organizations, academia, international and local NGOs, etc.
• Private: Corporations, private land holders
• Other: Actors responsible for illegal activities

Elements relevant to the situational analysis may include:

• Legal frameworks and policies
• Common practice and implementation
• Economic drivers and pressures on forests

An assessment of the relationships among identified stakeholders and the effects of situational elements on stakeholders and their use of data and information for forest protection will comprise the context review. The following matrix outlines illustrative questions this review should address. 

B. Support to case study interviews

• The evaluation team will spend approximately 10 days in-country conducting interviews with select stakeholders. In preparation for this visit, the consultant will support the evaluation team in identifying key informants and arranging interviews to further explore the roles that data plays in the factors and actions that affect forest outcomes. The consultant will also participate in interviews as needed; support translation from of documents and interviews to English as needed and provide support documenting interviews.

3. DELIVERABLES

• This assignment will be conducted under a deliverables-based contract. The specific schedule of deliverables will be determined upon on-boarding of consultant. It is expected that the consultant will share regular progress updates with the evaluation team over the course of the assignment. At the end of the assignment, the consultant will provide a Final Report including the following outputs:
• List of stakeholders, including institutions, specific actors with in them, and their roles and associations, and their strategies and workflows related to forest monitoring
• Diagram of relationships between stakeholders
• Description of the situation for each of the categories for forest governance.
• Matrix of how each stakeholder participates in or is affected by the situation factors
• In support of case study interviews, it will also be expected that the consultant provide a list of interviews and focus group meetings and related contact information and documentation from interviews.

4. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

• The anticipated period of performance for this assignment will be on/about January 28 to April 26, 2019. The anticipated level of effort over this period is 25 days.

5. QUALIFICATIONS

• Applicants should have demonstrated relevant experience in the forest sector in Uganda, and strong English writing abilities. Previous experience in forest monitoring and/or stakeholder mapping is preferred

6. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Interested applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and brief description of a proposed approach to conducting the context review, including a timeline and budget (no more than 500 words) to gfw@wri.org using the subject line “Uganda Context Review".

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through January 21st, 2019.