Location: Madagascar

Department: Global Programmes

Report to: Project Manager, South Asia Regional Office, INBAR

Duration: 60 days (Home-based and field visits)

Fee: USD 12,000

About INBAR

The International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) is an inter-governmental development organization committed to reducing poverty and protecting the environment through the use of bamboo and rattan. With headquarters in Beijing, China and offices in India, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Ghana and Ecuador, INBAR works with 52 member countries worldwide.

Bamboo, the fast-growing grass plant, and rattan, the spiky climbing palm, can be important nature-based solutions to a number of pressing global challenges, for poverty alleviation, green trade, climate change mitigation, resilient construction and environmental protection. INBAR’s mission is to improve the well-being of producers and users of bamboo and rattan within the context of a sustainable bamboo and rattan resource base, by consolidating, coordinating and supporting strategic and adaptive research and development.

Overview of the assignment

Madagascar is a member country of INBAR since 2004. INBAR intend to support the government of Madagascar to carry out a study on suitable bamboo species for local planting conditions and product development in Madagascar.

Currently, INBAR is implementing a project to support the promotion of bamboo industry development to achieve green growth and poverty reduction in Madagascar under the Global Development and South-South Fund through the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) of the People’s Republic of China.

The project’s main objective is to address the current challenges faced by Madagascar’s bamboo industry through strategic development efforts, supporting enterprises in upgrading their technologies and enhancing job creation. The project is expected to achieve the following outcomes:

• Improve the scientific, efficient and sustainable management of bamboo resources to restore degraded land, protect the environment and strengthen the sustainable supply of industrial raw materials;
• Enhance the production and processing skills of local community to increase employment and income;
• Demonstrate and introduce advanced bamboo processing technologies to improve processing levels and production efficiency;
• Enhance the capabilities of standards-setting departments, bamboo processing enterprises and policymakers in formulating and implementing strategic development and standardization in the bamboo industry; and
• Train bamboo enterprises in market analysis, business investment and financing to enhance their market and business value.

Objective of the assignment

The objective of the assignment is to develop a comprehensive, practical, and context-specific Standard Operating Manual (SOP) for the bamboo seedling propagation technologies and sustainable management of bamboo forests in Madagascar

Description of the task

To develop the standard operating manual (SOP) for bamboo seedling propagation technology and sustainable management of bamboo forests in Madagascar. The consultant/team will undertake the following tasks:

• Review existing literature, policies, and technical guidelines on bamboo in Madagascar and comparable in East Africa Regions and stakeholder’s consultation (online /hybrid/physical);
• Assess current propagation practices, nursery systems, and forest management approaches including bamboo in Madagascar;
• Standardize propagation methods including: Seed-based propagation; vegetative propagation, macro-proliferation, and tissue culture techniques;
• Develop protocols for selection of mother clumps, nursery site, media preparation, watering, shading, fertilization, pest and disease management, and hardening Centre for tissue culture plant-lets;
• Nursery establishment models include micro- nursery, mother nursery, community-led decentralized nursery and hi-tech nursery including cost considerations (model business plan for nursery and plantation), quality control criteria and certification;
• Nursery and plantation record-keeping and monitoring mechanisms;
• Site selection for plantation establishment on degraded lands for restoration, smallholder’s plantation, integration of agroforestry and commercial plantation;
• Silvicultural practices and sustainable harvesting and management techniques, assisted natural regeneration(ANR) and restoration approaches;
• Environmental and social safeguards include biodiversity conservation considerations including fire management and protection measures;
• Linking propagation and plantation with markets; and
• Recommendations.

The consultant/firm/organization will be provided ground support in Madagascar by the INBAR Project team and partners during the field mission.

Deliverables

• An inception report encompassing methodology, detailed work plan and schedule; data collection tools and templates; and outline of final report;
• A satisfactory interim technical report (including proof of deliverables); and
• A final report in publishable format covering the following aspects: findings and gap analysis; detailed technical protocols and guidelines; stakeholder feedback and recommendations; and professionally formatted, illustrated, and ready-for-publication guidelines.

Methodology

The consultant will propose and discuss with the INBAR project implementation team and INBAR focal person in Madagascar, on the specific work plan regarding the duration of the consultancy, based on the key deliverables presented below and overall goal of the consultancy. The work should include consultations with INBAR staff and designated Agencies by the government of Madagascar, and with external stakeholders. A regular check-in call will be organized by INBAR to track progress and align on the tasks.

Required experience and qualifications

The work will be conducted by an international/national agency/ consultant with the following qualification and experience:

• Master’s degree (or PhD) in forestry or botany, agricultural sciences, or environmental sciences;
• At least 10–15 years of working experience in scientific research in the forestry sector, including bamboo, knowledge and skills on bamboo species identification, and establishing a bamboo nursery;
• Working experience and knowledge in Madagascar or East African Countries will be required;
• Working experience in the bamboo sector will be an advantage;
• Prior experience of successful completion of similar consultancy work in the bamboo sector;
• Fluent written and spoken English is mandatory for this position, and French or Malagasy will be an asset; and
• Good communication and presentation skills.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications will be accepted until 17 May 2026. All applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Please send a cover letter demonstrating relevant experience as described in the above job description and a recent CV by email to: . Please use “CIDCA-Bamboo Nursery and Plantation SOP- Madagascar: NAME” as the subject of the e-mail.

To learn more about INBAR, please visit our website at: www.inbar.int