Consultant - Eco-Tourism Opportunities and Interventions

Introduction

The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) is the lead apex institution for community-driven development in the country. Set up as a fully autonomous not-for-profit private sector organization, PPAF enjoys facilitation and support from the Government of Pakistan, World Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), KfWEntwicklungsbank (Development Bank of Germany), and other statutory and corporate donors. PPAF aims to be the catalyst for improving the quality of life, broadening the range of opportunities and socio-economic mainstreaming of the poor and disadvantaged, especially women. 

The understanding and experience of PPAF about the dynamics and dimensions of poverty has grown to recognize that poverty is not just about low income levels but is endemic in households and communities which have limited opportunities, few assets, low education and health status, lack of access to basic infrastructure and suffer from lack of social, economic and political participation. This refined understanding has enabled PPAF to expand its vision to encompass Pakistan without hunger and poverty and its mission is to reduce poverty in the country through a multipronged strategy which enables poor rural households to increase their productive potential, reduce their vulnerability through investments in assets, skills and access to services and increase their social, economic and political participation.

The core operating units of the PPAF deliver a range of development interventions at the grassroots/community level through a network of more than 130 Partner Organizations (PO) and 1020 Union Councils across the country. These include social mobilization, livelihood support, access to credit, infrastructure and energy, health, education and disaster management. Externally commissioned independent studies have demonstrated positive outcomes and impact of PPAF interventions on the lives of benefiting communities related to their economic output, household incomes, assets, agricultural productivity skills, and other quality of life indices. 

Background 

The Italian Development Cooperation (IDC) has entrusted to PPAF € 40 million soft-loan for the execution of the Programme for “Poverty Reduction through Rural development in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Fata and neighboring districts/ Programme for Poverty Reduction/PPR)”. 

The Pakistan-Italy partnership to support beneficiaries rural Communities within the PPAF methodology framework will encompass leading principles of Italy’s Official Development Assistance (ODA), including its adhesion to the Aid Effectiveness agenda (Paris, Accra and Busan), mainstreaming guidelines, local coordination and sharing of responsibility with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Development Partners. Capitalization and appropriation of output results of PPAF and Italian Cooperation portfolio will be a logical scope to pursue, in response to the aforementioned criteria. The Programme funding encompasses untied and tied components: the first for the preparation and execution of all field activities, the latter, worth € 2 million, for the procurement of goods and services of Italian origin. Harmonized and coherent utilization of tied fundswill also be part of the technical package adopted for Programme implementation. 

The Programme covers 14 districts and 38 Union Councils in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and FATA. The population is approximately 995,000, constituted by 136,000 households, out of which 86,000 HH (63%) are involved directly and indirectly with agriculture/horticulture and livestock, and 12,000 HH (9%) are earning their livelihoods through fisheries. Remaining 38,340 HH (28%) are either employed, self-employed or have established their own small businesses/enterprises.  The components covered under the PPR include Social Mobilization, Livelihoods and Enterprise Development/LEP, Construction and improvement of small-scale community-infrastructures/CPI, Health and Education. 

Selected local communities, cooperating with a variety of national to local level stakeholders, will be supported to use and manage their resources and capacities in a proactive and sustainable manner, not only to improve their livelihoods, but to also contribute to ecosystem stability, functions and services. Lessons learnt from successful activities will be documented, and widely disseminated to encourage up-scaling in other areas of the country. 

The AICS has entrusted to World Bank, via an "Agreement for Advisory Services", as the supervision body for the program including oversight andmonitoring, implementation and compliance of environmental and social management framework and fiduciary (financial management and procurement) control of the Programme, which is carried out on regular basis and through semi-yearly "Implementation Support Missions/ISM".

Rationale for the Consultancy 

In many countries cultural, historical and archaeological tourismis promoted for economic development. It can contribute very consistently to different levels of the economy (nationally and locally), providing ample space for the creation of infrastructure while contributing substantially to opportunities available in specific areas where there is a scarcity of current income generation opportunities. Uncontrolled tourism in areas of Cultural Heritage Sensitivity might have an adverse impact on the integrity of that culture that it is promoting. Responsible and Sustainable Tourism is the approach that could be particularly appropriate for the management of cultural resources in sensitive areas (including Kalash, Swat and similar valleys and areas) to help eliminate poverty. Following the needs of the Programme and the findings of roundtables and associated consultancy on “Revitalizing Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage”: Suggested Strategies for PPAF”, cultural tourism emerged to be an area to be explored further. Globalization, modern communications, and economic mobility have brought in external cultural trends that run the serious risk of replacing indigenous originality. A lack of awareness of this issue has caused a loss of cultural identity among youth in the region.

Ecotourism/ Responsible and Sustainable Tourism helps in community development by providing the alternate source of livelihood to local community which is more sustainable. Its aim is to conserve resources, especially biological diversity, and maintain sustainable use of resources, which can bring ecological experience to travelers, conserve the ecological environment and gain economic benefit.

In order to assess ecotourism potential in the selected districts of PPR and to recommend interventions for sustainable development of the area, the services of an individual Consultant, well conversant with the themes, technicalities and milieu are requested to be hired. 

Consultancy Objectives and Scope

Based on the rationale shared above, the consultancy is expected to support PPR/PPAF in exploring eco-tourism in select districts of the Programme, conduct market research and recommend areas for potential interventions. The objectives and scope of the consultancy is shared below:

Assessment of Eco-Tourism Potential in five Selected Districtsof PPR(selection to be decided with the selected  Consultant upon the presentation of the Inception Report)

• Review and identify districts for potential eco-tourism activities and consultancy scope
• Explore and elaborate on the eco-tourism within Pakistan in general and in PPAF districts in particular
• Identify existing and previously done work in the area of eco-tourism by public or private institutions and their utilization in sustainable manner for tourism in selected districts
• Identify best practices of eco-friendly tourism elsewhere (in Pakistan as well as other countries), relevant and replicable to PPR. Identify new trends in Eco-tourism in similar settings internationally and nationally 
• Elaborate on how community based eco-tourism within candidate selected districts could be developed
• Elaborate on relationship between sustainable development and eco-tourism within candidate selected districts
•  

To conduct market research and elaboratefor the selected Districts:

• Local indigenous products
• Places and activities of touristic interest e.g. local music, dance, cuisine, art and craft, specialty agriculture, festivals and events etc.
• Overall potential interventions in these areas 
• Identify and elaborate how the local community will benefit from the economic activities associated with tourism including food, crafts/souvenirs, cultural, homestay and adventure activities. 
• Identify and elaborate about relevant training programmes, and institutions working on the theme not only in the selected districts but also in other areas of the country 

Development of Eco-tourism Management Strategy

• Following the assessment and market research, the Consultant will develop the Eco-Tourism Management Strategy. The Strategy will act as a guiding document for stakeholders particularly partners and communities, proposing a clear road map with specific objectives,expected results, inputs,and action points. 
• The detailed planning will encompass pre-feasibilities and development plans, including but not limited to following subjects:
• Cultural rejuvenation focusing on conservation of cultural, ecological, archaeological and biological diversity
• Sustainable heritage management on improving access to sites, site infrastructure, washrooms, signage and waste management at site etc.
• Creation of income and job opportunities for local communities and artisans emphasizing community wellbeing and prosperity, economic viability and social equity etc. by engaging local communities, particularly women and youth, in eco-tourism so that they benefit from it. 
• Provision of Capacity building for communities and linking them with quality institutions around local value chains on traditional arts and crafts, music, culture, cuisine, guided tours, storytelling, agriculture, rock climbing, trekking etc.
• Improvement tourist facilitation to promote cultural, ecological and archaeological exploration
• Encourage and support community involvement in cultural and ecological heritage conservation by creating income generating activities linked with sites.
• Recommendations for eco-tourism packages focused on quality products and services
• Visitors’ satisfaction and fulfillment initiatives
• Marketing and promotion
• Educate communities about the positive and negative impacts of eco-tourism and develop guidelines and code of ethics for visitors and service providers.

The Strategy will also include specific recommendations for the selected districts on:

• Specific potential interventions for PPAF in general and specific to PPR to promote responsible and community based tourism so that locals can enjoy increased socio-economic benefits and improved environment
• Integration of recommended activities within all components of PPR
• Development of code of conduct, do’s and don’ts for tourists while explaining and considering cultural sensitivities around potential interventions.

Methodology, Approach & Deliverables

The Consultant will:

• Review the documents, files, reports, agreements with Partner Organizations(PO) and any other material deemed necessary 
• Review the research, publications and best practices available on the subject matter
• Have meetings,  discussions and work closely with, PPR &PPAF management, concerned units and staff members
• Consult with stakeholders i.e. PO, other civil society organizations working on eco-tourism, local communities, private sector representatives, local business communities, tourism specialists, agriculturists, artisans, musicians, heritage specialists, economists, officials and staff from government offices and service delivery entities etc.
• Travel to the field as required

The Consultant will be required to furnish following five deliverables: 

• Inception Report with methodology, approach, identification and proposed selection of Programme districts with eco-tourism context and potential, list of stakeholders etc. The selection of the districts will be taken by PPR/PPAF on the grounds of this Inception report.
• Assessment of Eco-Tourism Potential in selected districts, which encompasses the subjects listed at point (4A)
• Market research and needed elaborations of the subjected listed at point  (4 B)
• Submission of draft Eco-Tourism Management Strategy detailing possible initiatives, priorities and development plans to implement eco-tourism initiatives. The document shall take into account opinions, comments and suggestions of the stakeholders. 
• Submission of final Eco-Tourism Management Strategy in line with inputs and feedback of PPAF’s review committee.

Reporting and Coordination

The Consultant will report to the Programme Director PPR.

Qualification and Experience

• Master’s Degree (at least sixteen years of education) in Social Sciences (Degree in Tourism, Hospitality Management, Cultureor relevant field will be accorded more weightage);
• At least fifteen years of working experience in the tourismsector, preferably in public private partnership, and withcommunity participation; 
• Working experience in development sector projects/programmes;
• Fluency in English and Urdu. Knowledge of other local languages will be an added advantage. Extensive and current knowledge of relevant analytical tools, and technical and administrative functions
• Documented international experience of developing eco-tourism and cultural rejuvenation polices 

Selection Method   

• The Consultant will be selected as per the World Bank Procurement Guidelines for Selection of Consultants (January 2011).