Term of Reference (ToR) - Senior Expert Consultant - Asia

Technical Knowledge Input for the Restoration Calculator: Economics of Ecosystem Restoration 

Background and objectives 

Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF), in partnership with Conservation International (CI), is developing the Restoration Calculator, a user-friendly decision-support online tool designed to assess the economic viability of ecosystem restoration strategies through cost-benefit analysis. The tool is intended to support policymakers, project developers, investors, and technical analysts in comparing restoration approaches, estimating costs and benefits, and generating evidence-based information to support policy and investment decisions. 

A central component of the methodology is the collection of data on costs and benefits associated with different restoration approaches in selected countries. In this context, CSF seeks to hire Senior Expert Consultants to provide technical input, such as average cost values for different restoration approaches to the Restoration Calculator by completing standardized questionnaires based on their own professional knowledge and experience with ecosystem restoration. This approach recognizes the value of expert knowledge as a primary data source and compensates consultants for the time and expertise invested in sharing it. 

The objective of this Term of Reference is to hire individual senior consultants to provide technical and economic input on restoration costs for multiple restoration approaches in one given country. The consultant’s main task will be to answer a structured questionnaire provided by CSF, based on their own expertise and professional experience with ecosystem restoration. Consultants will complete standardized questionnaires covering average costs and potential revenues from one non-timber forest product (NTFP), associated with 3 specific restoration methods, drawing on their own knowledge (and educated guesses when necessary), without the need to conduct third-party interviews or field visits. 

The consultant should present his/her proposal to be responsible for only ONE of the countries and ecosystems presented by Table 1. 

 

Table 1. Countries and Ecosystems of interest of this Term of Reference
Countries	Ecosystems
Cambodia, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Vietnam	Arid or Semi-Arid Zones  Savanna or Dry Forest  Mountaine Forest  Mangrove  Subtropical Forest

 

 

The consultant must provide information for the restoration methods: Enrichment with native species (up to 50% of the area), Direct Seeding, and Seedling Plantation, each approach having two scenarios, with and without NTFP. For reference, see the proposed questionnaire at: https://questionnaire-restoration.vercel.app/ 

 

Specific Objectives 

The consultant shall: 

● confirm the targeted country, ecosystem, and one priority non-timber forest product (NTFP) to be considered for the Agroforestry questionnaire in the country context; 

● complete the standardized questionnaires provided by CSF based on their own professional knowledge and experience, providing detailed estimates of costs, revenues, and benefits for each applicable restoration method; 

● provide contextual annotations where specific values require explanation, approximation, or qualification; 

● participate in an alignment and training session with CSF prior to questionnaire completion; 

● submit a brief technical note summarizing the basis of the information provided, any data limitations, and recommendations for how the country data should be interpreted in the broader modeling context 

● participate in a final session call with CSF after completing the questionnaire(s), to ensure consistency and quality; 

Scope of work 

Type of Contract: Individual senior expert consultant. 

Duty Station: Remote. All activities will be conducted remotely. No field travel is required under this assignment. 

Duration: The consultancy is expected to be carried out over 20 calendar days from contract signature 

Level of Effort: The assignment includes participation in two call sessions, completion of standardized questionnaires, and preparation of a technical note. 

Coordination: The consultant shall work directly with the CSF Project Coordinator and in coordination with the broader project team. The consultant must be available for virtual alignment and calibration sessions as scheduled by CSF 

 

 

Activities and Expected Products 

The activities and expected products under this consultancy are presented below. 

Item 1 – Alignment, Inception, and Scope Confirmation 

Activities: 

● Participate in an inception meeting with CSF to clarify the scope of work, targeted ecosystem, applicable restoration methods, questionnaire completion procedures, and expected deliverables. 

● Confirm, together with CSF, the priority NTFP to be covered in the questionnaire for the country context. 

● Submit a brief inception note confirming the selected ecosystem, applicable restoration methods, priority NTFPs, and a proposed timeline for questionnaire completion. 

Product 1: Inception Note with Scope Confirmation 

Item 2 – Completion and Submission of Questionnaires 

Activities: 

● Complete the standardized questionnaires provided by CSF for each applicable restoration method, drawing on your own professional knowledge, experience, and any existing estimates, project records, or reference materials you have access to. 

● Provide quantitative estimates for cost items, yields, revenues, and co-benefits as requested in the questionnaires, with qualitative annotations where values are approximate or context-specific. 

● Review and verify the internal consistency of all questionnaire entries before submission. 

Product 2: Validated Questionnaire Package 

A complete set of questionnaires covering all applicable restoration methods for the selected ecosystem, fully filled out based on the consultant's own expertise and experience. 

Item 3 – Technical Note 

Activities: 

● Prepare a technical note summarizing the basis of the information provided in the questionnaires, including the types of projects and initiatives that informed the estimates, any data gaps or limitations identified, and recommendations for how the country data should be interpreted within the broader modeling context. 

● Submit a final annex with any reference materials, project summaries, or supporting documents used as basis for the questionnaire responses, where applicable and permissible under confidentiality constraints. 

● Participate in a final call session to present the main information provided in the questionnaires and to answer questions from the CSF team. 

 

Product 3: Technical Note and Annexes 

Products, Deadlines, and Disbursement Schedule 

 

	Product	Delivery Time	Disbursement
1	Inception Note with Scope Confirmation	3 calendar days after contract signature	10%
2	Validated Questionnaire Package	15 calendar days after contract signature	70%
3	Technical Note and Annexes	20 calendar days after contract signature	20%

 

Payments shall be made upon approval of each product by CSF. Requested corrections shall be incorporated by the consultant within the deadline indicated by the supervisor, without additional cost. 

 

Form of Presentation of Products 

All products shall be submitted in digital format, using Microsoft Word, Excel, or compatible editable formats, following the templates provided by CSF. 

The consultant shall ensure that: 

● all questionnaires are fully completed and clearly legible; 

● all numerical values are internally consistent and verified before submission; 

● all product narratives are submitted in English; 

● local terms or expressions relevant to restoration practices may be kept in the original language, provided that an English explanation is included where necessary; 

● data are submitted in accordance with the project's data privacy and anonymization rules. 

The project relies on standardized questionnaires and comparable ecosystem and country-level data; therefore, strict adherence to the templates and methodological guidance provided by CSF is required. 

Supervision and Coordination 

The consultant will be supervised by the CSF Project Coordinator and will work in coordination with the CSF and CI project team. 

CSF will be responsible for: 

● providing methodological guidance, questionnaires, templates, and instructions for data submission; 

● conducting alignment and training sessions prior to questionnaire completion; 

● reviewing submitted products and requesting adjustments when necessary; 

● approving products for payment purposes. 

 

The consultant will be responsible for: 

● participating in all meetings necessary for the satisfactory execution of the assignment; 

● maintaining regular communication with the Project Coordinator; 

● informing the Project Coordinator, in a timely manner, of any issues affecting the schedule or data quality. 

 

Selection Criteria 

The consultant to be hired must demonstrate a strong technical background and direct experience with ecosystem restoration practice, sufficient to independently provide reliable cost and benefit estimates. 

Minimum Qualifications 

● Bachelor's degree in Forestry, Agronomy, Environmental Science, Ecology, Economics, Geography, Rural Development, or a related field. 

● At least 5 years of proven professional experience directly involved in the planning, implementation, or monitoring of ecosystem restoration projects. 

● Demonstrated familiarity with at least one of the restoration methods covered in this ToR (ANR/Enrichment Planting, Direct Seeding, Seedling Plantation, or Agroforestry Systems). 

● Capacity to provide reliable quantitative estimates of restoration costs, revenues, and co-benefits based on personal professional experience, field knowledge, or existing project records. 

● Working proficiency in English, both written and spoken. 

Preferred Qualifications 

● Direct involvement in restoration projects in [Country Name], with knowledge of local cost structures, species, institutional actors, and implementation contexts. 

● Experience in economic analysis, project budgeting, or cost-benefit assessments applied to restoration or land-use projects. 

● Knowledge of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) relevant to the country context. 

● Experience working with smallholders, family farmers, or community-based land-use initiatives. 

● Previous experience contributing to applied research, decision-support tools, or policy-oriented analytical work. 

 

Proof of Experience 

Professional experience must be demonstrated through curriculum vitae, project summaries, reports, contracts, or other supporting documents illustrating direct involvement in restoration-related work. 

 

Selection Procedure 

Interested consultants shall submit: 

● an updated CV in English; 

● a brief statement of interest (up to one page), highlighting relevant experience with restoration implementation and familiarity with the restoration methods and ecosystem of interest; 

● evidence of relevant experience, including supporting documents such as project summaries, reports, or references where available; 

● a brief note (up to half a page) describing the types of restoration initiatives and projects that have informed their technical knowledge, and which restoration methods they feel most qualified to provide estimates for. For reference, see the proposed questionnaire at: https://questionnaire-restoration.vercel.app/; 

● a financial proposal indicating a total lump-sum fee (including any applicable taxes); 

● confirmation of availability to participate in alignment sessions within the proposed timeline. 

Inputs to Be Provided by CSF 

CSF shall provide the following inputs to support the execution of the assignment: 

● project background materials and methodological guidance; 

● standardized questionnaires and submission templates; 

● a reference list of cost items, measurement units, and data entry standards; 

● virtual alignment and training sessions prior to questionnaire completion; 

● technical review of submitted products and feedback for revision. 

 

Non-Compliance and Termination for Cause 

The consultant's failure to comply with project instructions (e.g., use of the validated questionnaire, adherence to methodological guidance) or repeated failure to attend mandatory coordination meetings without valid justification shall be considered a material breach of this Agreement. In the event of non-compliance or unsatisfactory performance, the client reserves the right to suspend all pending payments. Payments will remain withheld until the Consultant completes all necessary remedial actions to the Client's full satisfaction at the Consultant's own cost. If the Consultant fails to remedy the breach within five (5) business days after receiving written notice, the Client may terminate the contract with immediate effect. Final Settlement: Upon termination for cause, the Consultant shall be entitled only to payment for services successfully completed and approved by the Client prior to the date of termination notice. The Consultant shall not be compensated for any work completed or costs incurred after the date of suspension or notice. 

Additional Notes 

The consultant shall treat all information shared and produced under this assignment as strictly confidential and shall comply with the project's data privacy and anonymization procedures. The consultant may only share questionnaire responses, annotations, and supporting materials with CSF and CI, in accordance with project instructions. 

The consultant acknowledges that the Restoration Calculator is a scenario-based tool and that the country data collected under this assignment will contribute to a broader economic modeling effort intended to support evidence-based restoration planning and investment decisions. The information provided will be aggregated and anonymized before any public use. 

Please send your proposal and any questions to: [email protected] 

Submission deadline: April 6, 2026