INVITATION

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) seeks qualified consultant or firm to conduct the final external evaluation of the Hampel project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES OF PROJECT

WCS is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to saving wildlife and wild lands through science, international conservation, education, and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is implementing a strategic project, entitled « Securing the biodiversity, ecosystem services and ecological processes of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve and enhancing the well-being of its resident communities,”, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) through DKK 11.2 million funding from the Hempel Foundation.

Implemented between October 2020 and June 2024 (extended until February 2025) within the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR) – a World Heritage Site located in the biodiverse Ituri Forest in Eastern DRC-the project sought to address complex conservation and human development challenges in one of the most ecologically significant yet socio-politically fragile regions of the Congo Basin. The OWR, spans approximately 13,760 km², and is home to globally important species such as the okapi and forest elephants and harbors over 1,200 plant species and 333 bird species. However, it also faces acute threats from illegal mining, deforestation, poaching, and weak governance structures.

To address these challenges, the project was designed around the following three (out of four) strategic pillars with an overarching goal to secure the ecological integrity of the Reserve while simultaneously supporting the rights and resilience of resident communities:

1. Improved management capacity and effectiveness (Pillar 2) – Strengthening institutional and operational capacity of the OWR through infrastructure, staff training, and administrative systems.
2. Enhanced community well-being and governance (Pillar 3) – Developing and implementing inclusive community development strategies that prioritize participatory governance, sustainable resource use, and alternative livelihoods, particularly among historically marginalized Indigenous Peoples.
3. Green growth and sustainable financing (Pillar 4) – Advancing long-term financial sustainability through the development of an investment plan and diversified financing streams, including climate financing and ecotourism potential.

The project has operated in a challenging context marked by armed conflict, artisanal mining pressures, and widespread poverty, requiring a multi-faceted, adaptive management approach.

As part of the project close-out process, WCS seeks to hire a qualified consultant or firm to conduct the final external evaluation of the project.

Interested candidates can download the full application file

PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 31/07/2025