Tender Description:

REC-Caucasus announces tender: Procurement of Services of a National Consultant for Gazelle–Livestock Interactions Study in the Dedoplistskaro Biosphere Reserve (DBR).

• Date of Publication: 03.11.2026
• Closing Date for Submission: 24.11.2026, 18:00 Georgian Time
• Publication Reference: 076/RECC/G/UNEP 2026 SC 022

The Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus (“REC Caucasus”) is implementing the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-financed Project “Transforming Policy and Investment through Improving Ecosystem Management and Restoration of Degraded Drylands of Dedoplistskaro Biosphere Reserve in Georgia to Generate Multiple Environmental and Socio-Economic Benefits” (GEF Project ID: 11141). The GEF Implementing Agency for the Project is the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Project is executed by REC Caucasus on behalf of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA).

Under Output 2.2.5 of the Project, which supports strengthening the population and management of the Goitered Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) as a flagship species of the Dedoplistskaro Biosphere Reserve, REC Caucasus is seeking to procure the services of a National Consultant to conduct a study on gazelle–livestock interactions, including potential competition for grazing resources, disease-transmission risks and attitudes of livestock herders, and to propose practical response measures, and therefore makes the present announcement.

DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The assignment is envisaged to be carried out over a period of 5 (five) months, with an expected start in December 2026, through May 2027. The duty station is Tbilisi and the Dedoplistskaro Biosphere Reserve, Georgia (with field work in the DBR landscape).

TERMS OF REFERENCE

For details on the services to be provided (objectives, scope of work, deliverables, payment schedule, qualification requirements, evaluation grid, etc.), please refer to the attached Terms of Reference – see Attachment 1 – Terms of Reference to this announcement.

PARTICIPATION

The call is open to individual national consultants. Applicants registered as Individual Entrepreneurs under the Law of Georgia ‘On Entrepreneurs’ are also eligible to apply.

Applicants should meet the following minimum qualifications, as further detailed in Section VI of the Terms of Reference:

• Advanced university degree (MSc or higher) in biology, zoology, ecology, wildlife management, conservation biology, veterinary science or a closely related field;
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in wildlife conservation, ungulate ecology, wildlife–livestock interactions, species restoration or wildlife population management;
• Demonstrated experience designing and conducting field studies, stakeholder interviews or questionnaires and analysing ecological and socio-economic information;
• Knowledge of gazelle conservation and dryland ecosystems in Georgia, the South Caucasus or comparable landscapes;
• Ability to interpret spatial information and work with GIS specialists to define mapping requirements and review spatial outputs;
• Experience working with government authorities, protected-area administrations, livestock owners, herders, NGOs and research institutions; experience with GEF, UNEP or other donor-funded projects is an asset;
• Excellent analytical, facilitation and report-writing skills, with demonstrated ability to prepare professional deliverables in Georgian and English.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION

Interested candidates should submit (via e-mail, with indication of the publication reference number 076/RECC/G/UNEP 2026 SC 022 in the subject line) a signed Application Submission Form comprising the Cover Letter, Technical Part (Technical Offer, including CV) and Financial Part (Financial Offer) – in PDF format.

Along with the Technical and Financial Parts, candidates could submit documents (such as copies of diplomas/certificates, publications) on an optional basis.

The template for the Application Submission Form is available for downloading from this site – see Section 8 of this Announcement.

Applications should be submitted to:

Ms. Nino Nadibaidze
Project Associate, REC Caucasus
48/50 Mtskheta Street, 0179 Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel: + (995 32) 2-25-07-75
E-mail: nino.nadibaidze@rec-caucasus.org

with CC to:

Ms. Sophiko Akhobadze
Executive Director, REC Caucasus
0179 Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel: + (995 32) 2-25-07-75
E-mail: sophiko.akhobadze@rec-caucasus.org

and

Mr. David Mironidze
Project Financial Assistant, REC Caucasus
0179 Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel: + (995 32) 2-25-07-75
E-mail: david.mironidze@rec-caucasus.org

EVALUATION

Evaluation will be made in accordance with the quality/price-based selection method per REC Caucasus procedures and rules. The best value for money will be established by weighing technical quality against price on an 80/20 basis.

The quality of each technical offer will be evaluated in accordance with the award criteria and associated weighting detailed in the Evaluation Grid specified in Section VII (Award Criteria) and Annex 1 of the Terms of Reference (Quality of technical proposal / approach to the assignment – max. 20 points; Consultant – max. 80 points). Only offers achieving a score of 75 or more shall be declared ‘technically accepted’.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION

The deadline for submission of applications: 24.11.2026, 18:00 Georgian Time.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

NOTIFICATION OF AWARD AND SIGNATURE OF THE CONTRACT

Only the successful applicant will be contacted and informed (via e-mail) that his/her application has been accepted.

Within 5 working days of receipt of the contract, the selected applicant shall sign and date the contract and return it to the REC Caucasus for counter-signature.

Failure of the selected applicant to comply with this requirement may constitute grounds for the annulment of the decision to award the contract. In such a case, the REC Caucasus may award the contract to another applicant or cancel the selection procedure.

The other applicants will be informed of the outcome of the selection process upon request (via e-mail).

ATTACHMENTS FOR DOWNLOADING

Attachments are available for downloading from this site:

• Attachment 1 – Terms of Reference
• Attachment 2 – Application Submission Form

ტენდერის კატეგორია:

• 73200000 კვლევასა და განვითარებასთან დაკავშირებული საკონსულტაციო მომსახურებები
• 90710000 ეკოლოგიური მენეჯმენტი