The World Wide Fund for Nature

Seeks one (1) Consultant, 

To carry out a study on the status and trends of Chinese investments in Cameroon with focus on its social and environmental implications 

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is one of the largest independent conservation organizations in the world. WWF is an international NGO committed to environmental protection.  The  global conservation  organization,  active  in  almost  100  countries,  has  been  working  in  the  Congo  Basin  in Central Africa for more than 20 years. Our mission is to stop the environmental degradation in the world and build a future where humans live in harmony with nature.

Duration of Study: 20 days

I. Context and Justification:

China is emerging as a key trading and economic partner for many African countries including Cameroon. Africa is seen as key to support China’s rapid growth strategy by supplementing their insufficient natural resource base while Chinese foreign direct investments and development assistance are providing African states with financial and technical resources to implement mining and infrastructure projects. In Cameroon since establishing diplomatic and economic relations in 1971, China has been at the forefront of some of the country’s major infrastructure development projects. Today China is emerging as one of the country’s major economic partner. For instance the value of trade between these two countries for January to November 2006 stood at US$ 340 million.  While Cameroon’s trade with China has been dominated with the export of raw materials (rough wood, raw cotton and crude oil), imports from China cover a wide range of products. Though there still remains a classic export-import of goods trade relationship between these two countries, there is an increasing emerging trend in the economic dynamics of this relationship. These emerging new dynamics are not limited to Cameroon but are defined within a broader Chinese policy framework which aims at accelerating the opening of the Chinese economy to the outside world, to introduce foreign technology and know-how and develop foreign trade. This new Chinese policy orientation is spelt out in the China government “go global strategy” which was to encourage Chinese enterprises - primarily state-owned enterprises - to invest overseas.  

In Cameroon, while Chinese imports still flood the local market, much emphasis is on Chinese investments in the infrastructure, natural resources and agribusiness sectors. Cameroon’s determination to become an emerging country by 2035 as spelt out in both the Vision 2035 Document and the Growth and Employment Strategy Paper provides the appropriate framework to justify the intervention of investments in the aforementioned sectors. In the infrastructure sector, China alone is currently financing twelve projects ranging from the construction of low-cost houses, hydropower dams, installation of optic fibres, double carriage highways, seaports, hospitals, schools and stadia. In the natural resources sector, Chinese firms are involved in iron ore exploration at Kribi, nickel and cobalt exploitation in Lomie with the recent purchase of 60% of the GEOVIC shares by a Chinese provincial state corporation. 

II. Purpose:

Majority of these projects are located in areas of pristine ecological importance and therefore great attention need to be placed on their potential environmental and social impacts. A pertinent challenge is how to ensure that these investments generate poverty reduction and sustainable development while alleviating the prospective environmental degradation. WWF through its China for Global Shift Initiative aims to make the fundamental drivers of China’s development – trade and investment environment – friendly so that durable benefits are felt not only in China but also in partner countries like Cameroon. 

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) established in 2000 is a platform used by WWF as an opportunity to discuss the quality of Chinese investments in Africa for instance by engaging the delegates to promote the inclusion of environmental protection in the deliberations of FOCAC. Cameroon participates in the FOCAC deliberations since it was established in 2000. While there have been several reports on China-Cameroon relations, many of these reports have made little reference to the environmental and social implications of the China-Cameroon cooperation. To engage with China, it becomes pertinent to understand exactly their current impacts on the ground. 

WWF Cameroon Country Programme Office is therefore seeking a consultant to critically review the literature on China-Cameroon relationship and provide the status and trends of Chinese investments in Cameroon. The findings and recommendations from this critical literature review will inform WWF future engagement with China in Cameroon within the global framework of the China for a Global Shift Initiative. 

III. Objectives and key tasks:

Overall Objective

Assess the status and trends of all Chinese investments in Cameroon (past and current) with direct implications on the environment.

Specific Objectives:

• To provide an up-to-date list of current projects with Chinese investments including names of projects and Chinese companies, names of contact persons operating in Cameroon, brief company and project profiles including description of type, location, extent and duration of activities, number and nationality of employees and total or anticipated investment volume.
• List of planned projects with confirmed or likely Chinese involvement including total or anticipated investment volume.
• To compile an overview and brief description of the development and status of past and current conflicts associated with Chinese investments, especially those that have received high media attention.
• Assess the literature on China-Cameroon relations and the extent to which it integrates concerns on environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and social safeguards of Chinese investments in Cameroon.
• To examine the policy and regulatory framework for infrastructural and natural resource (extractive) investments with regard to Chinese interests
• To provide a list of recommendations to inform future WWF engagement with both government of Cameroon and the Chinese authorities on Chinese investments in Cameroon

Key Tasks:

The consultant will be responsible for:

• Provide lists of current and planned projects supported with Chinese investments including contact details of involved Chinese companies.
• Provide a map showing the location of actual and planned China-related projects.
• Identify key stakeholders and contact persons in the China-Cameroon trade and economic cooperation.
• Review relevant reports/literature as well as conduct interviews with identified key stakeholders. 
• Consolidate findings into a final report. 

IV. Deliverables:

The consultant is required to provide;

• A methodological note that specifies the data collection method and sources of information.
• A draft report reflecting objectives and key tasks of the mission for discussion and feedback by an internal reference group to be put together by WWF.
• A revised and final report.

V. Profile, skills, knowledge and experience required:

The Consultant must meet the following requirements:

• At least a Master’s degree in the social sciences or any related discipline.  
• At least 3 years’ experience working on environmental related and natural resources issues.  
• Proven experience working at the intersection of research/policy and social and environmental justice.
• Have a good knowledge on the legal, policy and institutional framework relating to extractive, environment, conservation and community development. 
• Previous work related to Chinese presence in Cameroon will be an added advantage. 
• Perfect mastering of either French or English and capacity to work in both languages.

VI. Composition and submission of candidatures 

Candidates are required to submit the following;

• A curriculum vitae of consultant that highlights experiences with similar assignments
• A note that details:

1. Understanding of the assignment
2. How you intend to work on this project
3. A financial offer
4. A proposed timeline for the study.

How to apply?

Candidates complete application files need to be submitted to recruitccpo@wwfcarpo.org  with copy to DHalleson@wwfcarpo.org.

The subject should read 038STCI.

Only those who meet the requirements will be contacted. 

Deadline for applications: February 25th, 2014

Female applicants are encouraged.

WWF is an equal opportunity employer and committed to having a diverse workforce.