Community Consultation in and around Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape (World Heritage Property in Danger)

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Ref: BC 501RSS4001

Project title: Community Consultation in and around Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape (World Heritage Property in Danger)

Posting date: 11 August 2026

Closing date: 25 August 2026

Rationale & Context

The Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape (BBML) safeguards one of the largest terrestrial mammal migrations on Earth, the Great Nile Migration, and is one of Africa's most important wildlife landscapes. Stretching across Boma and Badingilo National Parks, managed by African Parks in partnership with the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, and the surrounding community lands, the landscape supports exceptional biodiversity while sustaining the livelihoods, cultures and traditional knowledge of the communities who have lived alongside its wildlife for generations.

In July 2026, the Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in recognition of its Outstanding Universal Value. At the same time, it was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, recognizing the urgent need for strengthened national and international action to address threats including commercial poaching, insecurity, climate change, infrastructure development and land-use pressures.

The long-term protection of the landscape depends on the active participation of the communities who live in and around it. As custodians of the landscape, local communities play a central role in conserving its wildlife, protecting migration corridors and maintaining traditional knowledge that has shaped the landscape for generations. World Heritage status provides an opportunity to strengthen this partnership by supporting community-led conservation while creating new opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and local development.

With support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), UNESCO will undertake a series of community consultations across the Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape. The consultations will raise awareness of the World Heritage inscription and what it means for communities, gather community perspectives on the future management of the property, and strengthen dialogue between communities, government and conservation partners. They will also support implementation of the decisions of the World Heritage Committee and contribute to the preparation of the property's first State of Conservation Report.

Specific Objectives

• Raise awareness of the Outstanding Universal Value of the Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape, why it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and why its wildlife and habitats need to be conserved.
• Explain what World Heritage status means for communities living in and around the landscape, including how conservation can support local livelihoods and long-term stewardship of the property.
• Support the ongoing process of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) by ensuring communities receive clear information about the property and have the opportunity to share their views.
• Document community perspectives and traditional knowledge to inform the future management of the Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape.

Expected Results

• Communities living in and around the Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape have increased awareness of its Outstanding Universal Value, the implications of World Heritage status, and the importance of conserving the landscape.
• Community consultations are conducted across the landscape, bringing together local communities, traditional leaders, local authorities and other stakeholders to support dialogue on the management of the property.
• Community perspectives, concerns and recommendations are documented and shared with UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture, Museums and National Heritage, the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, and other partners to inform implementation of the World Heritage Committee decisions and future management of the property.
• The ongoing process of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is supported through inclusive and culturally appropriate consultations with communities across the landscape.

Scope of Work

The selected organization will work under the overall supervision of UNESCO, and in close coordination with the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, African Parks, local authorities and other partners, to plan and facilitate community consultations across the Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape. The consultations will support awareness raising, the ongoing process of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and dialogue with communities following the inscription of the property on the UNESCO World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger.

The selected organization will be responsible for the following activities:

1. Develop a consultation workplan covering the target communities across the Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape, including a stakeholder mapping, consultation schedule and security considerations.
2. Organize and facilitate community consultations with traditional leaders, elders, women, youth, local authorities and other community representatives across the landscape, ensuring broad and inclusive participation.
3. Raise awareness of the Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape by explaining its Outstanding Universal Value, the reasons for its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger, and what World Heritage status means for communities living in and around the property.
4. Facilitate discussions on the conservation and management of the landscape, including the protection of wildlife migration corridors, the role of communities in conservation, sustainable use of natural resources, and opportunities for sustainable livelihoods linked to World Heritage status.
5. Support the ongoing process of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) by ensuring communities receive clear and accessible information and have opportunities to raise questions, share concerns and provide feedback.
6. Document community perspectives, traditional knowledge and recommendations relevant to the future management of the property and submit these findings to UNESCO.
7. Manage the technical and logistical arrangements for all consultation activities, including travel, venues, participant coordination and liaison with national and local authorities.
8. Support communication and visibility activities in collaboration with UNESCO, including photography and stories, in line with UNESCO's visibility requirements.

Deliverables

1. Inception report- to outline a detailed field plan for community consultations across the landscape and counties in Jonglei, Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), and Central/Eastern Equatoria, complete with a conflict-risk mitigation plan, and including dates.
2. Interim progress report for the activities completed, plus high-resolution photos and testimonies from participants, alongside signed consent forms.
3. Final narrative and financial report, and remaining photos, testimonies and consent forms.

 

Payment Schedule

% Payment

Inception report- to outline a detailed field plan for community consultations across the landscape and counties in Jonglei, Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), and Central/Eastern Equatoria, complete with a conflict-risk mitigation plan, and including dates.

37%

Interim progress report for the activities completed, plus high-resolution photos and testimonies from participants, alongside signed consent forms.

50%

Final narrative and financial report, and remaining photos, testimonies and consent forms

13%

Duration of assignment

The assignment is expected to be completed within 4 months from the date of contract signature.

Timeframe

Action

September 2026

Detail inception activities, consultations, meetings and coordination

October 2026

Pre- interim report of the activities completed

November 2026

Interim Report

December 2026

Final narrative and final report

Eligibility criteria

• Valid registration as a National NGO or CSO with the South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC).
• Demonstrated previous experience in similar assignments and qualifications over the last 5 years
• Proven capability to operate independently in highly remote environments lacking road infrastructure, requiring extended travel on foot
• Provide samples of work and at least 3 references

 

Evaluation criteria

The technical evaluation will be out of 70% while financial evaluation will be out of 30% to make the total 100%

Criteria and Obtainable Mark

1. Proven experience in working with communities in and around Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape and related remote and rural communities

40%

2. A clear understanding of the tasks, with a practical approach to dealing with communities in obtaining free, prior and informed consent for World Heritage processes.

15%

3. Better understanding of the setting of the communities in the landscape and the local authorities

15%

Sub total

(70%)

Financial Evaluation

(30%)

Total

100%

Interested National Organizations/CSO should submit their bids electronically to procurement.juba@unesco.org on or before 25th August 2026 with attachments in pdf and the subject line: Community Consultation in and around Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape