Independent National Consultant for Evaluation of the Current General Management Plan (GMP) and Development of a New 10-Year GMP for Bale Mountains National Park

Frankfurt Zoological Society Ethiopia (FZS-ET), in collaboration with the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA), invites qualified and experienced national consultants to apply for a consultancy assignment to evaluate the current General Management Plan (GMP) of Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP) and lead the development of a new 10-year GMP.

Background

Bale Mountains National Park is one of Ethiopia’s most important protected areas, known for its globally significant biodiversity, unique Afro-alpine ecosystems, and critical ecosystem services supporting local and national livelihoods. Over the past decade, the park’s management has been guided by its current General Management Plan (GMP). As the planning cycle concludes, there is a need to conduct an independent evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness of the current GMP and to develop a new 10-year GMP aligned with the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority’s updated GMP preparation guidelines.

FZS-ET therefore seeks to recruit an independent national consultant to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the current GMP and technically lead the preparation of the next General Management Plan for Bale Mountains National Park.

Objective of the Consultancy

The objective of the consultancy is to:

• Conduct an independent and comprehensive evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness of the current GMP for Bale Mountains National Park; and
• Facilitate and technically support the preparation of a new 10-year General Management Plan in line with EWCA’s GMP preparation guidelines and international best practices, including adaptive management principles and the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation.

Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for:

• Reviewing the current GMP and relevant implementation reports and monitoring data
• Conducting field assessments within the park to verify implementation progress
• Consulting key stakeholders including EWCA, BMNP management, government authorities, communities, and conservation partners
• Evaluating GMP implementation using standard evaluation criteria such as relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability, and institutional effectiveness
• Facilitating participatory planning workshops and stakeholder consultations for the development of the new GMP
• Supporting conservation target identification, threat analysis, and strategy development
• Leading drafting, consolidation, and finalization of the new GMP document
• Supporting institutional capacity strengthening within EWCA for adaptive management and GMP preparation.

Duration of Assignment

The consultancy will be conducted over a period of 32 weeks (approximately 8 months) from the date of contract signing.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Interested applicants should meet the following requirements:

Mandatory Qualifications

• Ethiopian nationality
• Advanced degree in conservation biology, ecology, natural resource management, or a related field
• At least 12 years of relevant professional experience in protected area management or conservation planning
• Demonstrated experience in evaluating protected area management plans
• Proven experience in preparing General Management Plans (GMPs) for protected areas in Ethiopia
• Strong understanding of EWCA GMP preparation guidelines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience applying Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation or other adaptive management approaches
• Previous experience working with EWCA and Ethiopian protected areas
• Strong facilitation, coordination, and technical writing skills.