Terms of Reference for Ecotourism Sites Mapping and Assessment Gishwati-mukura and Nyungwe Buffer Zones

Terms of Reference : Ecotourism Sites Mapping and assessment Gishwati-Mukura and Nyungwe Buffer Zones

Assignment title: Ecotourism Sites Assessment and Trails Mapping for Ecotourism Development around Gishwati-Mukura and Nyungwe National Parks.

Duration: 20 days (July – September 2026)

1. About Cordaid 

Cordaid is an internationally operating value-based emergency relief and development organization, working in and on fragility. We stand with those who are hardest hit by poverty and conflict. We assist them in their struggle to move beyond survival and to fully participate in equitable and resilient societies.

Cordaid’s vision is a world where people live with dignity and peace and enjoy equal access to resources and opportunities that promote sustainable development. 

In Rwanda, Cordaid focuses on strengthening food security, climate resilience, and inclusive economic development by collaborating with government institutions, local communities, and private sector actors. Interventions include supporting smallholder farmers through market system development, facilitating access to finance, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and integrating climate change adaptation strategies for building resilient communities. 

Rwandamarket analysis

2. Background and context 

Cordaid Rwanda, in partnership with the Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA) and other implementing partners, is implementing the project “Building Resilience of Vulnerable Communities to Climate Variability in Rwanda’s Congo Nile Divide Through Forest and Landscape Restoration (CND Project)”. The project is co-financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Environment. It aims to addressing climate variability by strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities in Rwanda’s Congo Nile Divide through sustainable forest and landscape restoration, biodiversity conservation, and improved livelihoods.

The project aims to create community-based ecotourism infrastructure such as campsites, trails and bridges to facilitate the operationalization of community led ecotourism activities outside the protected areas of Gishwati-Mukura National Park and Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda. Three campsites have been identified, located in the Gishwati-Mukura buffer zone (Gatenga, Karumbi and Bitenga campsites) in Rutsiro District. Trails have been partially mapped but are considered inadequate for tourism use. 

The project intend to establish a cooperative of at least 30 freelance youth guides from neighboring communities, trained and equipped to deliver guiding and hospitality services connected to the GMNP.

This study and mapping exercise will produce the evidence base and technical specifications required to plan and cost all subsequent project activities related to the above.

3. Objectives of the assignment

The study will: 

• assess the condition and tourism potential of the three existing Gishwati-Mukura campsites; 
• map all trails including riverside routes linking the campsites neighboring GMNP and remnants forests of Nyungwe NP areas connected to the existing trails established under the project,
• detect and assess new trails around the Nyungwe NP buffer zone to be included in the community tourism attractions; 
• detect bridge crossing points to be constructed, and 
• locate appropriate signpost's location (for description of area, navigation, information and safety, etc....);
• create inventory of new and existing community-managed attraction opportunities (tea plantation experiences, agri-tourism, cultural experiences, nature-based activities, handcraft, etc...); 
• detect rest and safety facilities for visitors such as resting shelters, stone benches, and 
• produce costed development plans for all three campsites, trails/bridges and signage posts.

4. Scope of work and responsibilities

4.1 Campsite assessment around Gishwati-Mukura NP (All existing sites) 

For each site the consultant will assess current physical condition (shelter, water, sanitation, accessibility); tourism carrying capacity and recommended tent configuration (minimum 15 tents per site); required renovation works, utilities, and amenities (water supply, waste management, ablution facilities, solar lighting, cooking area, reception/welcome structure); safety risks and mitigation measures; and estimated rehabilitation cost.

4.2 Trails mapping and infrastructure assessmentto the three campsites and new trails around Nyungwe NP area

Using GPS and topographic data, the consultant will produce geo-referenced trails maps (with GPS coordinates) for all routes linking the three campsites; detect and assess all water crossings requiring bridges or stepping structures; recommend trail grading (easy / moderate / challenging) and estimated walking durations ( distances) ; detect optimal signpost locations (trailheads, junctions, viewpoints, safety points) with GPS coordinates; and flag any environmental or safety risks on routes.

4.3 Community attractions inventory

In consultation with local communities and authorities, the consultant will detect and document community-managed experience opportunities such as tea plantation visits and processing demonstrations; traditional farming, beekeeping and food experiences; cultural and craft experiences; birdwatching and nature interpretation points; and viewpoints and landscape features of tourism value. For each attraction, the assessment will note management of entity, readiness level, investment required, revenue potential, and any other relevant point of attention.

4.4 Youth Freelance guides labour market assessment

The consultant will estimate the pool of eligible youth in target communities (age 18–35, proximity to sites); detect any existing guiding experience or relevant skills; assess literacy ( at least secondary level with relevant background, language (English / French) and digital literacy levels); and recommend a selection methodology for the 30+ cooperative members to be trained.

5. Deliverables and timeline

The duration of the assignment is 20 working days between July 2026 to mid-September 2026.

Upon contract signature, the service provider is expected to deliver the following:

The final report will include: 

• geo-referenced maps in shapefile (.shp), GPX formats (for export to navigation platform) and PDF format of campsites, trails/bridges; and signposts locations with their respective GPS organize's locations and description.
• photographic documentation of all sites; 
• a bill of quantities and cost estimates for each campsite, trails/bridges; and signposts locations; 
• geo-referenced community attractions catalogue with descriptions; 
• Youth guide labor market assessment; and 
• a prioritized costed implementation schedule.

6. Required qualifications

In additional to the requirement of the consultancy firm, the team shall demonstrate the following expertise as a minimum: 

The guide consultant or team leader should demonstrate the following : 

The guide Consultant is tasked with the overall quality, coherence, and timeliness of the assignment. S/he is the primary point of contact with Cordaid Rwanda and Rutsiro District authorities, and must be capable of presenting findings to mixed audiences including community members, local government, and conservation managers. S/he sets the methodology, supervises all team members, and personally authors or reviews all major deliverables. 

Rwandamarket analysis

Given the multi-disciplinary nature of the assignment, the ideal guide Consultant holds a primary qualification in ecotourism, conservation management, or geography or equivalent, with sufficient cross-functional literacy to direct civil/Construction and GIS specialists effectively.

Must be willing to use community youth cooperative members as field guides during GPS survey work, and to document knowledge contributed by cooperative members.

Field team members must be able to perform field consultations, community interviews, and site walkthroughs in Kinyarwanda and to assist the experts team. Declared in CV and confirmed at interview. English proficiency for all technical reporting work is required.

The technical proposal must include a specific paragraph describing how the team will partner with the existing youth guide cooperative members during field work. Cordaid is the first point of contact to the cooperative upon onboarding.

Team members qualification is presented as:

7. Submission details

Interested consultancy firms are invited to submit the following documents:

• Administrative documents: Copies of registration certificates and tax clearances.
• Technical proposal: The proposed structure of the technical proposal, along with a clear table of contents, is as follows:
• Profile of the consulting firm: deliver an overview that highlights your expertise and experience relevant to the task. 
• Background of the assignment: demonstrate the understanding of the assignment, the context, background, and relevance of the assignment.
• Objectives and scope: Clear statement of the assignment-specific objectives, scope of work, and deliverables.
• Methodology/approach: A detailed explanation of the methods, techniques, and processes to be used in carrying out this assignment. This section should describe how the service provider intends to achieve the key expected results and deliverables of the assignment, using a well-justified approach and methods.
• Work Plan/Timeline: Outline of key activities and deliverables, along with a timeline -showing the estimated completion time.
• Previous completed assignment: at least three verifiable recent completed work relevant to the assignment (Certificates of good completion, or any other relevant document)
• Financial Proposal: the financial proposal shall deliver a detailed and itemized budget for the assignment, including professional fees by team member, fieldwork and travel costs, accommodation and subsistence, data collection and mapping expenses, stakeholder consultation and validation workshop costs, applicable taxes, and any other costs necessary for the successful completion of the assignment. The proposal should clearly indicate the total cost in Rwandan Francs (RWF) tax inclusive and present a budget breakdown aligned with the proposed work plan and deliverables.

8. Selection criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

9. Ethical Considerations

The consultant must comply with Cordaid’s safeguarding, code of perform, integrity, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, child protection, environmental responsibility, and data protection policies throughout the assignment. 

10. Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights

All deliverables, including the developed solutions, will become the property of Cordaid and its partners. The service provider must keep strict confidentiality regarding any proprietary or sensitive information obtained during the assignment. 

11. Right to Cease Advertisement

Cordaid reserves the right to withdraw or cease the advertisement for this consultancy at any time prior to the signing of a contract. This decision may be made at Cordaid's discretion and without obligation to deliver reasons for such withdrawal. All interested parties will be promptly notified if the advertisement is cancelled. 

Applications should be submitted via email to rwanda.procurement@cordaid.org, by 8thJuly 2026. Please use the subject line: “Ecotourism Sites Mapping and assessment Gishwati-Mukura and Nyungwe Buffer Zones”

12. Additional information

For further information regarding the opportunity, please contact at rwanda.procurement@cordaid.org

Done in Kigali, on 26th /June/2026

Approved by: 

Patrick BIRASA

Country Manager