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Legal Consultant Providing Legal Service and Support to the Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities (IPLC) Of the Keo Seima REDD+ Project

with Wildlife Conservation Society
Invitation for Bids

BTDC-ID: 35826
Closing Date:

Bid Components

Legal Consultant Providing Legal Service and Support to the Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities (IPLC) Of the Keo Seima REDD+ Project

Announcement Description

Launched in 2010 by the Ministry of Environment in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the Keo Seima REDD+ project aims to protect the ecologically significant Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary. Covering a vast 166,983 hectares in Cambodia's Eastern Plains Landscape, the project helps mitigate climate change by preventing deforestation and forest degradation. The Keo Seima REDD+ project prioritizes environmental and social well-being by adhering to rigorous international standards. These include the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Climate, Community, and Biodiversity (CCB) Standards. These certifications ensure independent validation and verification of project design and implementation, requiring the projects to apply an adaptive management approach throughout the project cycle.

The CCB Standards are particularly stringent, aligning with all aspects of the UNFCCC REDD+ Cancun Safeguards except safeguard (b) on national forest governance1. This safeguard emphasizes respect for the knowledge and rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). The project acknowledges this critical aspect. We recognize relevant international obligations, Cambodian laws, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Furthermore, Cambodia's National REDD+ Strategy emphasizes respect for the rights of indigenous and local communities, including non-discrimination, traditional knowledge, self-determination, benefit sharing, and collective tenure rights2. To date, the Keo Seima REDD+ project has completed four verifications confirming the project’s adherence to the CCB Standards.

The REDD+ project’s Theory of Change and key IPLC-relevant activities were conceived 12 years ago at project start.However, the project exists within a dynamic landscape due to changes in social structure and livelihood strategies, economic pressures, and the regulatory environment.

Bid Components

Legal Consultant Providing Legal Service and Support to the Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities (IPLC) Of the Keo Seima REDD+ Project

  • Career Category: Consultancy
  • Location: Mondul Kiri Province

Objectives

The primary objective of this consultancy is to ensure the respect of indigenous peoples’ rights to land and resources as well as sustainability of forest and land management according to laws of Cambodia and relevant REDD+ standards.

The secondary objectives:

  • To provide suitable legal services, including court procedure or/and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) where applicable, to indigenous communities to protect their land and resources rights recognized under CLT procedure of Cambodian government.
  • To build capacity of indigenous elders/committee members, officials (executive and judiciary), NGOs staff to understand and respect their IPLC’s rights to land and resources.

Scope of Work

The service provider shall be working independently and professionally with its own professionalism in delivery of all tasks and assignments under this TOR. With less or minimal supervision, the service provider will be facilitated by WCS staff in charge of the project.

There are 3 components as tasks and assignments in this TOR as follows:

  • Component 1: Provide ongoing support for all pending court cases related to the Keo Seima REDD+ Project
  • Component 2: New court cases and community consultation
  • Component 3: Capacity building to relevant stakeholders

Please click Attachment below for more information.

Result expected and Timeline

This project, spanning July 2025 through June 2027, strongly focuses on legal support and capacity building for relevant stakeholders in the project. Activities include providing legal advice for existing and new court cases and delivering training on relevant laws and policies.

Bidder Eligibility

  • The service provider (SP) should meet the following criteria for this assignment:
  • The SP shall be a Law office or professional lawyer legally registered and practice at the Bar Association of Cambodia
  • The SP has fundamental knowledge and at least 5-year experiences in working on indigenous’ rights in Cambodia, particularly in Mondulkiri province
  • Indigenous lawyer is preferable
  • Strong understanding of Cambodian law, particularly related to land rights, environmental law, community rights and at least 3-year experiencing in ADR approach in indigenous affairs in Cambodia
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate complex legal information clearly and concisely to non-legal audiences
  • Ability to produce work and communicate in English is required
  • Experience working with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in REDD+ projects is highly desirable.
  • Ability and commitment to deliver all the tasks assigned under this TOR
  • Understanding and experienced in working collaboratively with concerned ministries and sub- national authority particularly, provincial and appeal court.

Submission Requirements

Interested applicants should submit a PDF that includes a CV, cover letter, and financial proposal. The PDF must also contain two work samples that demonstrate your relevant experience. Examples of work samples include links to websites you have created, social media channels you have managed, print materials, reports, blogs, or other communications products.

If your proposed timeline differs from the one provided above, please include a clear explanation and justification in your financial proposal.

Please send your application to email provided in the contact details before July28, 2025, 5:00PM.

 
Attachment
 

Contact Details

Contact Name
  • Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
 
Phone
 
Email