CALL FOR CONSULTANT – KITUBULU FOREST

TERMS OF REFERENCE
TO UNDERTAKE ASSESSMENT OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND
ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF KITUBULU CENTRAL FOREST RESERVE
MARCH 2026

Background

Uganda is a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity and REDD+ an international Mechanism to mitigate climate change by supporting policy implementation at the national level, with an aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to deforestation and forest degradation. REDD+ goes “beyond deforestation and forest degradation, and includes the role of conservation, sustainable management and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

In October 2025, the National Forest Authority a body mandated by law to sustainably manage central forest reserves issued a license to Tian Tang chinese group to clear Kitubulu Forest Reserve located in Entebbe Uganda, around the lake shores of Lake Victoria the largest Lake in East Africa. The Environmental body National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) mandated with regulating environmental activities and ensuring adherence and compliance to environmental national laws and policies issued a certificate of approval of an Environmental Social Impact Assessment to Tian Tang Chinese group investor giving it a go ahead to clear the forest and put up infrastructure development.

This certificate in essence gives Tian Tang the authority to go ahead clear 150 acres of forest cover and replace it with government offices , a shopping mall and other commercial developments thus leaving thousands of bird species, mammals such as monkeys, snakes with no place of habitat. The total acreage of the forest is approximately 197 acres, what is being given away to Tian Tang group is 150
acres. It should be noted that 6 hectares of the same forest were also given away to Abacus African Ventures for clearing to set up an Eco-tourism.

This means that only 41 acres stand to remain of the entire forest when cleared to set up these developments and yet Kitubulu forest reserve is a category IV protected area under the IUCN serving as a critical buffer for Lake Victoria. It’s from this background that Fem Earth intends to conduct a study on the social economic and ecological benefits of Kitubulu forest so as to use the findings for lobby & advocacy purposes.

2 Objective and scope of Services

The overall objective of the assessment is to assess the social economic and ecological loss of forest benefit if the 150 acres of forest cover are lost. The economic loss should be in terms of the cultural benefits, tourism, livelihoods, educational benefits such as research and other biodiversity loss.

Specific objectives

To assess the economic benefits communities derive from the forest.
To assess the economic benefits that government derives from the forest through tourism and other ways.
To evaluate how forestry activities, management plans, or conservation initiatives affect the people, communities, and cultures that depend on or interact with the forest.
To analyze the impact on local jobs related to forestry operations.
To assess the value of non-cash benefits provided by the ecosystem to local livelihoods.
To map locations of high cultural, spiritual, or historical significance, such as sacred graves or burial sites.
To document the traditional ecological knowledge and management practices of local communities.
To assess how forest use, access, and benefits differ between men and women, ensuring women’s roles are documented.
To identify wildlife populations (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates) and their habitat usage.
To identify species that play a critical role in the ecosystem, such as fig trees, which are key food sources for many animals.
To identify, quantify, and evaluate the biological and physical components of the forest.

Issues to be addressed in the assessment

The analysis should take into account the following direct and indirect benefits
accruing from Soil Protection, Water Conservation, Climate Control, Carbon
Sequestration, Timber, Non Timber Forest Products, Recreational Use, Cultural
Value, and Medicinal Value. The legal framework, community livelihoods should
also be looked at.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant shall be tasked with the following;

Meet/Speak to with the Fem Earth team for an initial briefing.
Conduct desk/literature review for the assignment.
Production of deliverables within agreed timeline and in accordance with quality requirements of the guidelines.
Use the collected data to generate, analyze & compile the information needed through the data collection tools into a report.
Presentation of the draft study to Fem Earth for feedback.
Attend the research sharing meeting with stakeholders.

Major Deliverables for the consultant

Two deliverables are expected from the consultant:

A short inception report to define the scope of work and proposed timeline outlining the approach to be taken and key assumptions.
A Report on the findings of the study not more than 30 pages including the summary.

Deliverables for Fem Earth

Give guidance to the consultant on the information required relating to the assignment
Pay the consultant agreed the agreed fees.
Availing necessary resources.

Approach & sources of information

Interviews with key informants like the cultural institutions, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of water & Environment, Tour operators.
Literature review of other related studies
Submitting the final report to Fem Earth.

Timeline

It is expected the study will start immediately on signing of the contract and last 3 weeks from the date of contracting.

Qualifications of the Consultant

At least a master’s degree in forestry or any other related conservation field.
Significant experience at developing and implementing Eco system economic assessments based on cost-benefit analysis principles.
Strong experience and ideally publication track record in the field of economic assessment of ecosystem valuations.
Strong quantitative and statistical skills for data work.