Consultant for Practical and Technical Concepts of Reduced Impact Logging in Democratic Republic of Congo

Yanonge Village

Organization: CIFOR - Center for International Forestry Research
Location: Yanonge Village
Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
- Democratic Governance
- Innovations for Sustainable Development
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Closing Date: Closed

Reference number: 2153
Job status: In-progress
Job category: Consultancy
Duty station: Yanonge Village, Democratic Republic of the Congo
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CIFOR-ICRAF
The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) envision a more equitable world where trees in all landscapes, from drylands to the humid tropics, enhance the environment and well-being for all. CIFOR and ICRAF are non-profit science institutions that build and apply evidence to today’s most pressing challenges, including energy insecurity and the climate and biodiversity crises. Over a combined total of 65 years, we have built vast knowledge on forests and trees outside of forests in agricultural landscapes (agroforestry). Using a multidisciplinary approach, we seek to improve lives and to protect and restore ecosystems. Our work focuses on innovative research, partnering for impact, and engaging with stakeholders on policies and practices to benefit people and the planet. Founded in 1993 and 1978, CIFOR and ICRAF are members of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.

CIFOR-ICRAF is looking for a

Consultant for Practical and Technical Concepts of Reduced Impact Logging in Democratic Republic of Congo

Overview

The "Nouveau Paysage du Congo" (NPC) project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) in partnership with Resources & Synergies Development (R&SD). The project aims to preserve the integrity of the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve (RBY) through sustainable management based on appropriate conservation practices. It also seeks to solve the problems of managing ecosystem services in the surrounding Yangambi landscape (territory of Isangi, Province of Tshopo). The project will convert the largely degraded and unproductive Yangambi landscape, which surrounds a protected area near a major urban centre, into a pole of sustainable development based on conservation, development of productive sectors and renewable energy. To achieve its objectives, the project is working in different sectors, including artisanal logging, with the following activities: a) Support small-scale loggers in Yanonge village in adopting legal logging practices such as obtaining legal documents (agreement and artisanal logging permit) from the forestry administration. b) Improve capacities of a local association of small-scale loggers in terms of i) business management; ii) knowledge of required conditions to be legal logger); iii) wood anatomy and wood technology; and vi) reduced impact logging (RIL). c) Improve quality of sawn timber through adoption of better logging techniques (e.g., using rail mill guiding system for the chainsaw) and the use of a circular saw in Yanonge to transform the “raw” artisanal timber into a semi-finished product according to customers’ requests. d) Implement techniques for wood drying (see solar kiln and improved air drying). e) Seek responsible and favourable markets for legal timber in Kinshasa and/or Uganda, including value-added artisanal timber from Yanonge district. In this context, the project is looking for an expert in RIL as described in point b) and c) of the previous paragraph to improve capacities of the 11 members of the artisanal logging association of Yanonge.

Duties and responsibilities

The main objective is to provide practical and technical knowledge of RIL to members of a local timber association of Yanonge to achieve low-impact, sustainable management of forests in which these loggers carry out their operations. Duration of the assignment is 25 days, i.e. approximately: 3 working days at the place of residence, 2 days of international round trip travel, 3 days of domestic round trip Kinshasa-Kisangani-Yanonge, 17 days of field work, in the Yalikandja-Yanonge Sector, Tshopo Province, in DR Congo. The training should take place before March 2022.

Task 1. Before training:

Propose a methodology and a preliminary training schedule to be validated by CIFOR to facilitate the support and logistical organization of the training.
Assess capacity of members to identify needs regarding different aspects of RIL.
Improve and propose initiatives for monitoring the work of logging teams, traceability and the flow of timber from production to sale.
Provide the list of needed equipment for carrying out the training (chainsaw model, rail mill guiding system model, etc.).
Provide CIFOR with teaching material for participants.

Task 2. During training:

Providing training course relating to the following phases of RIL:

Phase 1: Practical and technical components of logging operations

Teach safety concepts, such as the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Provide tree felling techniques and practices.
Train chainsaw operators to properly use and handle the chainsaw to get the maximum amount of sawn lumber during processing.
Train the whole team to maintain and repair a chainsaw and to sharpen chainsaw chains.
Train chainsaw operators on processing logs in forest to get the best performance that minimizes cutting waste.
Train chainsaw operators on using rail mill guides system for chainsaw.
Train small-scale loggers to calculate the volume (m3) of felled and processed logs, and the marking of tree stumps after felling.
Train team leaders to improve the removal of lumber (removal in forest until reaching the main road: motorcycle-bicycle or other means of transport).

Phase 2: Notions on management of an exploitation site

Provide training on how to plan, organize and manage a logging site.
Provide training on how to set up work schedules: monthly, weekly, daily.
Provide training on how to set up an organizational chart.
Provide training on how to budget costs of production in forestry operations.
Provide training on how to plan and optimize the road network.
Provide training on how to plan the trails and/or the evacuation trails.
Train forest site manager to keep a daily inventory of sawn products, to follow the flow of processed wood from the forest to point of sale (traceability through tree stump marking and processed wood) and to manage operating equipment.
Train participants to manage hydrocarbons and operating waste (fuel storage, spare oil spare components...), even after logging operations.

Tasks 3. After the training:

Write a detailed report on the RIL training course for the CIFOR team, with recommendations to ensure follow-up and good continuity of RIL.

Theoretical training will take place in Yanonge village, Province of Tshopo. Practical training will take place at logging sites, in the Yalikandja-Yanonge sector, in forests which are legally logged by legal operators with artisanal logging authorizations. The consultancy duration will be max 25 days (17 in the field).

The consultant must ensure that training complies with legal and regulatory requirements in the DRC, especially the "Operational Guide – Principles of Reduced Impact Forest Exploitation (EFIR).”

Education, knowledge and experience

academic qualification in forestry or related fields;
practical and proven professional experience in the field of RIL of at least five years in tropical countries;
fluency in French (spoken and written).

Terms and conditions

This is a part-time consultancy position.
Working location will be in Yanonge village, Province of Tshopo, DRC.
The application files will contain: a letter of motivation (one page max), a detailed CV with 3 reference persons, as well as the technical and financial offers.