Consultant at International Centre for Research in Agroforestry

Job Summary

The overall objective of the Observatory Forests of Eastern and Southern Africa (OFESA) is to support the improvement and implementation of the OFESA prototype, to create a reliable system of monitoring to assist countries in reporting on their climate obligations. A key activity under result 1 is the is Development of a governance framework for data sharing (e.g. a data sharing policy) endorsed by national forestry agencies in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Uganda. A key output for the project is a data sharing framework document to facilitate sharing of data. This activity requires knowledge and information on the legal issues, policies and regulations related to data sharing, and other issues such as the intellectual property rights, endorsements and approvals that are needed regarding data. The purpose of the consultancy is to review the context and policy issues in the countries and provide recommendations to support the long-term service of OFESA.

Duties and responsibilities

Scope of the assignment

The consultant is expected to undertake the following:

• Provide an overview of the data sharing environment/context in the project countries
• A Data Sharing Agreement Assessment: Review existing guidelines, regulations and laws regarding data sharing within countries and their application to the functioning of the OFESA observatory.
• Identify the gap into the current regulations/policies of data sharing and the aspects that need to be improved or clarified.
• Identify the legal barriers for a better implementation of data sharing policy with a focus on the institutional arrangements and intellectual property
• Identify comparative approaches and provide good practice recommendations for data sharing agreements relevant to the Project.
• Select key informants at the national to be surveyed with a focus on state official’s government’s agencies, research institutions and OFESA partners
• Provide recommendations to OFESA regarding required data sharing structures to facilitate long term service of the observatory

Approach and Methodology

The assignment will involve:

• Assessment: Review of legal issues on data sharing in the countries. These will include regulations, frameworks, policies on data sharing in the 5 countries covered by the project.
• This will include visit to project countries and hold discussions with actors in the countries.
• Hold discussion with key informant at the national level to be surveyed with a focus on state official’s government’s agencies, research institutions and OFESA partners
• Write up of the findings that highlight the key issues including legal barriers, opportunities, and recommendations for the functioning of OFESA, and drafted data sharing agreement
• Management of the legal expert consultancy
• The consultant will report to the Senior research officer, OFESA Project in Nairobi. S/he will also be expected to work closely with OFESA project leader and project manager based in Nairobi.
• CIFOR will provide:
• Relevant project documents, reports and contacts
• Guidance and technical support as required throughout the review.
• Introductions to key stakeholders where necessary.
• Logistical support for field travel.
• Comments and feedback on, and approval of, all deliverables within agreed timeline.

The consultant will be responsible for:

• Developing the workplan for the assignment.
• Regular progress reporting to the OFESA project manager and responding to any comments.
• Production of deliverables within agreed timeline and in accordance with quality requirements.
• Production of the final review report containing data against all indicators in the project results framework, evidence-based responses to the key review questions, summary of lessons learnt and recommendations for future implementation.

Deliverables/ Expected Outputs

The main outputs of this assignment will be comprised of:

• Drafted data sharing agreements. Proposed data sharing agreement will provide a coordination mechanism to support data-sharing between (RCMRD, ministries, research
• institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private interests, and other stakeholders with appropriate data-sharing protocols. Data sharing agreements set out the purpose of the data sharing, cover what happens to the data at each stage, set standards and help all the parties involved in sharing to be clear about their roles and responsibilities.
• Recommendations and guidance for implementation. The consultant will distil results and key insights into a final report that provides recommendations for the implementation of prepared data sharing agreements. The report will include aspects provided by and agreed with OFESA project leader.

Knowledge, experience and competencies

The consultant shall have:

• Depth of knowledge of interconnected issues of policy and legislation, information management, natural resources management and climate change.
• Master’s Degree in Law, Social Sciences with a specialization in Policy. A PhD is an asset
• A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience in forest management, natural resources management and climate change.
• Extent and relevant experience in different countries and regions, especially in East and South Africa

Timeframe and schedule

• The assignment will be conducted within 50 days between April and August 2022.