Description de l'offre

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Cameroon is recruiting an Independent Consultant for the final evaluation and lessons capitalization of the project: « towards Zero Wildlife Crime in Boumba-Bek & Nki National Parks in TRIDOM Cameroon for Elephant Security and Indigenous People &Local Communities benefits »

Want to make a positive difference to the future of people and our one shared home the Earth? Working with WWF could be the opportunity of a lifetime:
All around the world, people are waking up to the deepening crisis of nature loss. A growing realization that nature is our life-support system. Nobody will be spared from the impacts of its loss. Here at WWF, we are helping to tackle this enormous global challenge.
Our people come from hugely diverse backgrounds and with a variety of expertise, ranging from HR and finance to advocacy and conservation science. We welcome applications from anyone who believes they can help us create a better future for people and wildlife.
What we do:
We are an independent conservation organization, striving to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife. From individuals and communities to businesses and government, we are part of a growing coalition calling on world leaders to set nature on the path to recovery by 2030. Together, we seek to protect and restore natural habitats, stop the mass extinction of wildlife, and make the way we produce and consume sustainably.
1. Project Context and background
1.1. The TRIDOM Landscape and its Strategic Importance
The Tri-National Dja-Odzala-Minkébé (TRIDOM) is one of the most intact forest massifs in Central Africa, covering approximately 17.8 million hectares across Cameroon, Congo and Gabon, representing around 10% of the Congo Basin rainforest. The Cameroonian segment of the TRIDOM landscape spans 4.9 million hectares in South-East Cameroon and harbours five protected areas, including Nki National Park (309,365 ha) and Boumba-Bek National Park (278,252 ha), which constitute the main intervention zone of the project.
This area is of exceptional biological importance: it harbours significant populations of forest elephants (Loxodonta africana cyclotis), great apes (western lowland gorillas and chimpanzees), pangolins, and extraordinary floristic and faunal diversity. The landscape is also the traditional territory of the Baka, an indigenous hunter-gatherer people (IP), and other local Bantu communities (LC) whose livelihoods depend closely on forest resources.
1.2. The Project under Evaluation
Entitled 'Towards Zero Wildlife Crime in Boumba-Bek & Nki National Parks in TRIDOM Cameroon for Elephant Security and IP&LC Benefits', the project started on 1 July 2023 and ends on 30 June 2026. It is implemented by WWF Cameroon's Country Office (CCO), with funding from WWF Netherlands (WWF NL) amounting to €1,400,000, as part of a broader programme estimated at €6,000,000 integrating several donors (WWF France, WWF Sweden, UNESCO, etc.).
This project constitutes the third phase of WWF's continuous intervention in TRIDOM over more than 25 years. It is structured around two strategies of the TRIDOM Conservation Strategy:
• Strategy 2: Strengthening the rights position of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP&LC) in natural resource management;
• Strategy 5: Conserving biodiversity, with a focus on anti-poaching, permanent presence in forest clearings and monitoring of target species.
The project is organized around five specific objectives: Obj. Objective Statement Key Indicator
Obj. 1
By 2026, conflicts linked to NRM are reduced by 50% and at least 10% of IP&LC in the project area perceive direct and indirect benefits from wildlife management initiatives relative to 2023 baseline.
No. of complaints raised and resolved through the complaint mechanism; proportion of population with favorable perception of conservation.

.
Obj. 2
By 2026, permanent presence in selected forest clearings demonstrates zero poaching index and an increased frequency of elephant and other key wildlife species observed relative to 2023 baseline.
Daily frequency of elephants observed in clearings; number of independent elephant events per 100 nights via camera traps.
Obj. 3
By 2026, illegal signs per patrol efforts in WWF-supported zones inside Nki and Boumba-Bek NPs are reduced by at least 25% and the ratio of prosecutions per defaulters has increased by at least 50% relative to the June 2023 baseline.
Encounter rate of illegal signs per patrol effort; ratio of prosecutions per defaulter.
Obj. 4
By 2026, at least one conservation policy action per year is taken for better management of wildlife resources through informed advocacy relative to 2022 baseline.
No. of policy actions taken per year; % of WWF recommendations are integrated into policy documents.
Obj. 5
By 2026, increased accountability and transparency in TRIDOM Cameroon leads government and WWF to take proper action against at least 75% of misconduct cases by state agents and WWF staff.
No. of misconduct cases exposed; ratio of misconduct cases to actions taken.
1.3.
Key stakeholders
The main project stakeholders include: MINFOF (main co-implementer), Baka communities (indigenous peoples, main beneficiaries and biomonitoring actors), local Bantu communities from the 66 villages in the periphery of the parks, local councils (Ngoyla, Yokadouma, Moloundou), eco-guards, logging companies holding FMUs, partner NGOs (ZSL, AWF, CEFAID, PERAD), judicial institutions, and donors (WWF NL, WWF France, WWF Sweden).
2. Scope of the mission and responsibilities
The final evaluation is a standard requirement under WWF's reporting obligations to its main donor, WWF Netherlands. It responds to a three-fold imperative:
• Accountability: To provide an independent and credible assessment of results achieved against set objectives, for the benefit of WWF NL, WWF CCO and MINFOF;
• Institutional Learning: To document and analyse lessons learned, good practices and innovations (notably the permanent presence approach in forest clearings) to inform future programming phases in TRIDOM and in other comparable landscapes in Central Africa;
• Capitalization: To produce an actionable capitalization, note on IP&LC engagement models in inclusive conservation, governance mechanisms between protected areas and surrounding communities, and anti-poaching approaches that have demonstrated results.
3. Objectives of the evaluation
The evaluation pursues three complementary objectives:
Objective 1 – Results Assessment
To independently assess the extent to which the project has achieved its objectives, results and deliverables as defined in the logical framework and Annual Work Plans (AWPs), using the five standard OECD/DAC criteria (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability).
Objective 2 – Process Analysis
To analyse the quality of project implementation: programme governance, coordination between partners, management of environmental and social safeguards (ESSF), consideration of IP&LC rights and interests (particularly the Baka), gender mainstreaming and the functioning of the complaint’s mechanism.
Objective 3 – Capitalization
To document and analyze the project's innovations, good practices and lessons learned in order to extract transferable insights applicable to other community conservation contexts in Central Africa. Particular attention will be paid to the permanent presence approach in forest clearings, Baka involvement in biomonitoring, and benefit-sharing mechanisms.
4. Scope and evaluation questions
4.1. Evaluation Scope
The evaluation will cover the entire project implementation period (1 July 2023 – 30 June 2026) and will assess the two strategies and five objectives of the WWF Netherlands-funded project in Nki and Boumba-Bek National Parks and their peripheries. Given that this project is embedded within the broader Jengi/TRIDOM conservation programme supported by multiple donors, the evaluation will also assess how WWF Netherlands funding contributed to, complemented, and leveraged synergies within the broader programme landscape, while maintaining the primary focus on the WWF NL-funded intervention.
4.2.
Evaluation Questions by OECD/DAC Criterion
RELEVANCE
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To what extent were the project's strategies and objectives adapted to the conservation needs and priorities in the intervention areas and to the rights, needs and interests of IP&LC?
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How did the project adapt to evolving ecological, socio-political, governance and community dynamics during implementation?
•
To what extent did the inclusive conservation approach adopted (permanent presence, community biomonitoring) address the root causes of poaching and conflict identified?
•
How well was the WWF Netherlands-funded intervention embedded within, and complementary to, the broader Jengi/TRIDOM programme?
EFFECTIVENESS
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To what extent were the five specific objectives achieved relative to the planned targets for 2026?
•
What factors facilitated or hindered the achievement of results? What corrective measures were taken and with what effect?
•
How and under what conditions did the permanent presence approach in forest clearings (IKWA, Pondo) contribute to reducing poaching pressure, improving elephant security and increasing elephant presence?
•
How effectively did the complaint mechanism implemented by PERAD function effectively and contribute to reducing conflicts, trust building between IP&LC and park authorities?
EFFICIENCY
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To what extent were financial, human and material resources mobilized used efficiently to achieve results?
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How effective were the project administrative, financial and compliance systems in relation to WWF procedures and donor requirements?
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How effective were the coordination and collaboration mechanisms between the various stakeholders (WWF CCO, MINFOF, NGO partners, IP&LC) efficient?
•
To what extent did integration with the broader Jengi TRIDOM programme create operational efficiencies, synergies, or added value?
IMPACT
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How did biodiversity (including elephant populations and other target species), governance systems, and IP&LC well-being evolve/attributed during the project timeframe, and how did the project contribute to these observed changes?
•
What intended or unintended positive and negative effects emerged from project interventions, particularly regarding IP&CL, social cohesion, gender dynamics, and community-park relations?
•
To what extent did the community biomonitoring approach generate reliable and useful data? How was/is or will this information be used for operational and strategic decision-making?
SUSTAINABILITY
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To what extent are the results, capacities, governance mechanisms and changes established by the project likely to be maintained beyond the project period?
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How well established and autonomous are the community structures (multi-stakeholder platforms, Community Based Organization, biomonitoring associations etc.)?
•
What key risks, enabling conditions, and investment gaps could affect sustainability, particularly regarding MINFOF engagement, eco-guard motivation, and livelihood alternatives for IP&LC?
To what extent is WWF’s exit strategy realistic, and what financing mechanisms are in place to sustain it?
4.3.
Specific Capitalisation Questions
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What methodological or organisational innovations deserve to be documented and shared as good practices (particularly the permanent presence approach, SMART, Baka involvement in biomonitoring)?
•
What lessons drawn from engagement with IP&LC in this highly sensitive context (past allegations of abuse) are transferable to other contexts?
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How could this inclusive conservation model be adapted or scaled up in other forest landscapes of Central Africa?
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How did WWF Netherlands funding contribute to the broader conservation outcomes of the Jengi/TRIDOM programme, and what lessons can be drawn regarding donor complementarity, leverage, and programmatic integration?
5.
Methodological Approach
5.1.
Guiding principles
The evaluation will be conducted according to the principles of independence, impartiality, transparency, utility and ethics. The consultant will adopt a participatory and inclusive approach, ensuring that all stakeholders have a voice, including marginalised groups (Baka, women, youth). The evaluation will respect data protection standards and the 'do no harm' principle in interactions with communities.
The overall approach will be mixed, combining quantitative and qualitative methods. The consultant will propose a detailed evaluation design in their technical offer, which will be discussed and validated with WWF CCO at the start of the assignment.
5.2.
Data Collection Methods
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Comprehensive desk review: Project documents (proposal, AWPs, semi-annual and annual technical reports), SMART reports, biomonitoring data (elephant frequency in clearings, camera-trap activity), IMETT/METT-4 scores, complaint mechanism reports (PERAD), financial reports, relevant scientific publications. Where accessible, relevant programme documents from complementary, donor-funded interventions within the Jengi/TRIDOM programme should be used to assess strategic coherence, complementarity and contribution pathways.
•
Semi-structured interviews: With the WWF project team (PM, eco-guards, coordinators), MINFOF representatives (NP Conservators), IP&LC representatives (Baka and Bantu communities, including women and youth), multi-stakeholder platform members, partner NGOs (PERAD/RACOPY,).
•
Focus groups: With beneficiary communities in villages surrounding the parks (Salapoumbe, Koumela, Ngoyla, etc), ensuring separate sessions for women and Baka communities. • Field visits if possible: Direct observations in IKWA clearing (Nki NP) and Pondo clearing (Boumba-Bek NP), meetings with permanent presence teams, visits to biomonitoring sites.
•
Secondary data analysis: Elephant population data (transects and camera traps), SMART patrol data, judicial statistics (arrests, prosecutions, convictions), community socio-economic data.
5.3.
Triangulation and quality assurance All findings must be triangulated from at least three independent sources of information. The consultant will present a preliminary report (draft) to the WWF CCO team and key stakeholders before finalizing the report, in order to validate facts and gather observations.
6.
Expected deliverables The consultant will produce the following deliverables, written in English (with an executive summary in French for each main deliverable): No. Deliverable Description Deadline
D1
Inception Report
Detailed work plan, revised methodological note, data collection tools (interview grids, focus group guides, evaluation matrices), field mission schedule.
D+5 after contract signature
D2
Draft Evaluation Report
Complete report including: executive summary, context, methodology, results by OECD/DAC criterion and by objective, conclusions and prioritised recommendations. Maximum 60 pages excluding annexes.
D+20 after start of field mission
D3
Debriefing Presentation
PowerPoint presentation of main findings, conclusions and recommendations, for a debriefing workshop with stakeholders.
D+22
D4
Final Evaluation Report
Consolidated version of the report incorporating observations from WWF CCO and WWF NL following the debriefing workshop.
D+25 (end of assignment)
D5
Capitalization Note
Synthetic document (maximum 15-20 pages) documenting transferable innovations, good practices and lessons learned, with operational recommendations for future programmes.
D+25 (end of assignment)
All deliverables will be submitted in electronic format (Word and PDF). Raw data collected (anonymized recordings, interview notes, quantitative data) will be submitted to WWF CCO as an annex to the final report.
7.
Indicative mission schedule The assignment spans 25 days, including approximately 10 to 12 field days in the intervention area (South- East Cameroon). The schedule below is indicative and will be refined in the inception report. The assignment spans 25 days, including approximately 10 to 12 field days in the intervention area (South-East Cameroon). The schedule below is indicative and will be refined in the inception report. Phase Activities Days
Phase 1 – Start-up (D1-D5)
Briefing meeting with WWF CCO; Comprehensive desk review; Finalisation of data collection tools; Drafting and submission of the inception report.
5 days
Phase 2 – Field Data Collection (D6-D17)
Travel and field missions to Ngoyla, Yokadouma, Koumela, Ngatto, Interviews with MINFOF, IP&LC communities, eco-guards, NGO partners; Community focus groups; Visits to IKWA or Pondo clearings.
12 days
Phase 3 –
Analysis and
Drafting (D18-D22)
Analysis of collected data; Triangulation; Drafting of the preliminary report.
5 days
Phase 4 – Debriefing and Finalisation
(D23-D25)
Presentation of preliminary findings to WWF CCO and stakeholders; Integration of observations; Drafting of the final report and capitalisation note.
3 days
TOTAL
25 days
8. Consultant profile
8.1. Required qualifications & experience
Academic Background
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Minimum Master's degree (or equivalent) in environmental sciences, conservation biology, rural development, social sciences, project management or a related field.
Professional Experience
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At least 8 years of professional experience in conservation, community development or project management in the environmental sector;
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Proven experience of at least 3 final or mid-term evaluations of conservation or development projects funded by international institutional donors;
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Experience working in Central Africa and, preferably, knowledge of the Congo Basin context and/or transboundary conservation landscapes;
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Experience evaluating projects integrating dimensions of indigenous peoples' rights, inclusive conservation and gender.
Technical Skills
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Mastery of OECD/DAC evaluation criteria and standards;
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Skills in mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative): interviews, focus groups, analysis of ecological and socio-economic data;
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Knowledge of wildlife monitoring (an asset); anti-poaching approaches (SMART, zero-poaching framework);
•
Knowledge of environmental and social safeguard frameworks (ESSF) of international conservation organisations (an asset);
•
Proficiency in standard IT tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and qualitative analysis software (NVivo, Atlas.ti or equivalents – an asset).
Language Skills • Excellent command of English (written and oral) – mandatory; • Good command of French (reading and writing) – mandatory, as reference documents are written in French;
8.2.
Exclusion Criteria
The selected independent consultant must not have been directly involved in the design, implementation or management of the evaluated project during the last three (3) years. Any contractual, professional or personal relationship likely to create a conflict of interest must be declared upon submission of the offer.
8.3.
Team Consultancy option
A team of two complementary consultants may be accepted if duly justified and if a clear distribution of roles and responsibilities is specified in the technical offer. In this case, a lead consultant (team leader) must be clearly identified as the single point of contact and guarantor of the quality of deliverables.
9.
Submission modalities
9.1.
Applications Package
Interested candidates are invited to submit a complete application package comprising:
Technical Offer (maximum 10 pages excluding annexes)
• Understanding of the TOR and the assignment;
• Detailed methodological proposal, including evaluation design, envisaged tools and sampling strategy;
• Detailed work plan with timeline;
• Updated CV(s) of the consultant(s) highlighting relevant experience.
• Samples of previously completed evaluation reports (minimum 2 examples).
Financial Offer and supporting documents
• Detailed budget in CFA francs or Euros, including daily fees, travel and accommodation costs, communication costs and any other planned expenditure;
• A valid National Identity Card or passport (for foreigners);
• A tax clearance certificate and tax registration documents, where applicable;
• Bank account details (RIB);
• Taxpayer Identification Number (NIU).
9.2. Selection criteria
Offers will be assessed on the basis of a grid combining technical and financial dimensions, according to the following weighting:
It should be noted that failure to comply with the constituent elements of the bid is grounds for disqualification Criterion Sub-criteria Weighting
Quality of the technical offer
Understanding of TOR, relevance of methodology, coherence of work plan
45%
Experience and qualifications of the consultant
Training, evaluation experience and experience in conservation in Central Africa
35%
Financial offer
Value for money, clarity and realism of the budget
20%
9.3. Submission Address and Modalities
Interested candidates are requested to submit their proposal, as described in point 7, in French or English, to the following email address: wwfcopprocurement@wwfcam.org
or to the WWF Cameroon offices in Yaoundé – Bastos, located behind the Bastos factory.
Email subject: 'Application – Final Evaluation Jengi + IWT Project FY24-FY26'
The application deadline will be specified by WWF CCO upon official publication of this call for applications.
10. Mission management and supervision
10.1. WWF CCO Responsibilities
• Designate an internal focal point (the Senior M&E or Jengi TRIDOM PM) responsible for supervising the mission and coordinating interactions between the consultant and stakeholders.
• Facilitate access to project documents, data and key stakeholders;
• Facilitated the field mission logistics (introductions to communities and local authorities);
• Review and validate deliverables within agreed timelines;
• Organise the results debriefing.
10.2. Consultant responsibilities
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Conduct the assignment independently, impartially and professionally, in strict compliance with the ethical principles of research with communities (Free, Prior and Informed Consent – FPIC);
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Comply with WWF safeguard policies, particularly standards relating to indigenous peoples and human rights;
•
Ensure confidentiality and anonymisation of data collected during interviews and focus groups;
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Regularly inform the focal point of assignment progress and promptly report any obstacle or difficulty;
•
Produce high-quality deliverables within agreed timelines.
10.3.
Contractual arrangements
The consultant will be engaged on the basis of a consultancy contract signed with WWF CCO. Payment will be made in several instalments linked to validated deliverables. Any significant deviation from the initial work plan must be agreed in writing between the consultant and WWF CCO.
Bids must be submitted in French or English to the following email address wwfcopprocurement@wwfcam.org. Please indicate in the subject line: ‘SELECTION OF A COMPANY SPECIALISED IN THE PROVISION OF STAFF AND TEMPORARY WORKERS ON BEHALF OF WWF CAMEROON’ Submission deadline: 19 June 2026 at 12:00 a.m.
WWF is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of gender, race, religion, experience, or background.
The publication of any job, consultancy or service provider opportunity and any subsequent communications, interviews or discussions does not constitute a binding commitment by WWF. No contractual or financial obligation shall arise on the part of WWF until a formal written contract has been duly signed by both Parties following completion of the selection process.
All stages of this process remain part of the negotiation phase and are subject to WWF’s internal validation and administrative approvals. WWF reserves the right, where necessary, to modify, postpone or cancel the process at any stage prior to formal engagement, without incurring any liability toward applicants or third parties.