The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Mongolia Program is seeking a short-term consultant to conduct an in-depth analysis of the Law on Fees for Natural Resource Use and its practical implementation in Umnugobi and Dornogovi Provinces. The consultancy will focus on identifying key challenges in implementation, barriers to access, and opportunities to leverage natural resource use fees as a sustainable financing mechanism for community-based natural resource management.
Objectives of the Consultancy: The main objective is to assess how to improve access to and the effective use of the natural resource use fee and related law at the local (soum) level in Dornogovi and Umnugobi Provinces to better support conservation efforts. Specifically, the consultant will:
- Identify barriers and opportunities related to local access and implementation of natural resource use fees in Dornogovi and Umnugobi Provinces.
- Develop a clear roadmap to enable Community-Based Natural Resource Management Groups (CBNRMGs) and herder communities to access and utilize these funds for conservation.
- Provide practical policy recommendations to enhance the law’s implementation on the ground.
Scope of Work / Key Tasks: The consultant will undertake the following key tasks:
1. Local Implementation Analysis
- Evaluate the existing legal framework regarding Natural Resource Use Fee and its practical application in six selected soums across the Southern Gobi:
- Umnugobi: Bayandalai, Nomgon, and Khurmen
- Dornogobi: Khatanbulag, Khuvsgul, and Mandakh
- Identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities in how the Natural Resource Use Fee law is implemented on the ground, focusing on the alignment between policy objectives and local realities.
2. Natural Resource Fee Access Assessment and Roadmap Development
-
Analyze procedures and pathways for herder communities and Community-Based Natural Resource Management Groups (CBNRMGs) to access Natural Resource Use Fees in the selected soums.
-
Map the relevant institutional and administrative frameworks influencing access.
-
Develop a clear, practical roadmap to enable communities to secure and effectively use these funds for conservation and climate adaptation.
3. Policy and Regulatory Advice
-
Provide targeted, evidence-based policy advice to improve the accessibility and effectiveness of the Natural Resource Use Fee law.
-
Ensure the advice is objective, practical, and tailored to the specific needs of herder communities, CBNRMGs, and local governments in the Southern Gobi region.
Expected Deliverables: The consultant will submit a comprehensive report (in English) that synthesizes the findings from all key tasks outlined above. The report should include:
-
An assessment of the current status, challenges, and gaps in the implementation of the Natural Resource Use Fee law in the six selected soums.
-
A clear, practical roadmap for enabling herder communities and Community-Based Natural Resource Management Groups (CBNRMGs) to access and use these funds for conservation and climate adaptation.
-
Objective, evidence-based policy advice tailored to the local context, addressing relevant legal, institutional, and administrative aspects.
Timeline:
The consultancy is expected to run from 4th June to 4th July 2025 (approximately one month).
Qualifications and Experience:
WCS is seeking an individual consultant or consulting entity with the following qualifications:
- Proven experience in natural resource governance and policy analysis in rural Mongolia.
- Expertise in sustainable finance processes that support community-based natural resource management.
- Proficiency in Mongolian and English (both spoken and written).
Application Process:
Interested individuals or legal entities should submit the following documents to btsolmon@wcs.org with the subject line “Short-term consultancy for Natural Resource Use Fees” by May 30th Friday 2025, before 5 PM Ulaanbaatar time:
- A detailed CV or organizational profile highlighting relevant experience.
- A cover letter explaining suitability for the consultancy, including:
- Relevant expertise and experience.
-
A brief project plan and timeline.
-
Price Quote for 1 month work
-
Examples of previous relevant work.
Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Relevant experience and expertise.
- Quality of previous work examples.
- Feasibility and completeness of the project plan and timeline.
- Appropriateness of the budget proposal.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.