Organization: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Embassy of Switzerland in Kenya

Duration: Between March – June 2021

Number of days: 30 days

Contract Type: Consultancy

Closing date: 30 March 2021

1. Background

The Horn of Africa faces challenges regarding scarce natural resources. The region is heavily reliant on agriculture to provide livelihoods, yet climate change places enormous pressure, as temperature raises, migration increases, and the strain on water resources builds. Arid and semi-arid areas are extremely vulnerable to climatic trends. Where agriculture (crops or livestock) is predominantly creating livelihood, food systems entirely depend on rainfall. Climate-related risks are high in the region as a result of numerous hazards, the severity of multiple stressors and the existing adaptation deficit (IPCC 2014 Fifth Assessment Report Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability). Further temperature increases, droughts and extreme precipitation changes are likely in the region and will negatively affect human and natural systems.

Climate change refers to significant changes in the measures of climate, such as global temperature, precipitation, or wind, that occur for an extended period of time, decades or longer. Human activities are significantly contributing to climate change through the emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This is resulting in increased temperatures, drought, increased rainfall, flooding, rising sea levels and other effects.

In SDC’s new global Strategy for International Cooperation 2021-2024, one of the four goals is to combat climate change and its effects as well as to sustainably manage natural resources. This priority needs to transcend and be translated into action: from the level of the overall strategy to the cooperation programmes, down to the operational level, where climate considerations also need to find their way into entry and credit proposals. Climate mainstreaming is needed, to systematically integrate climate, environment and disaster risk reduction (DRR) considerations into the activities of development cooperation and where possible humanitarian aid. The Swiss Strategy for International Cooperation 2021-2024 with its goal to combat climate change and its effects and manage natural resources sustainably is to be used as a base for the development of the next regional cooperation programme for the Horn of Africa.

The geographic focus of SDC’s HoA regional programme is Somalia and the culturally and socio-economically interlinked marginalised (semi-)arid lowlands in south and south-eastern Ethiopia and north-eastern Kenya. SDC has provided significant humanitarian, development and peacebuilding assistance in the region since 2013. SDC aims to continue using a regional approach to address shared challenges and opportunities in the areas of intervention across the three countries.

The current HoA regional programme (2018-2021) has the following overall objective: *“**to respond to humanitarian needs, while contributing to poverty reduction, conflict transformation and inclusive statebuilding in support of participatory and sustainable socio-economic development. Switzerland – by helping to ensure that basic needs are covered (i.e. food, health, protection), supporting the emergence of legitimate and accountable state institutions, and promoting more inclusive socio-economic and political processes for improved power and resource sharing – will help reduce the drivers of fragility and the root causes of poverty and forced displacement”.*

The programme is active in four thematic domains:

· Governance: Legitimate and accountable state institutions provide framework conditions and public services conducive to inclusive socio-economic development in an effective and transparent manner. (Implemented in Somalia and as a transversal theme)

· Food Security: Dryland communities are more resilient to shocks triggering food insecurity and violence. (Implemented in Somalia, and in the adjacent drylands in Kenya and Ethiopia)

· Health: The most vulnerable population has improved access to affordable, good-quality health care. (Active in Somalia and in the drylands of Ethiopia and Kenya)

· Migration/Protection: Displacement Affected Communities (IDPs, migrants, refugees, host communities) are better protected and benefit from durable solutions. (Implemented in the regional context and with projects in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia)

Gender equality, good governance and Conflict-Sensitive Programme Management (CSPM) are transversal themes.

A first overview regarding how climate change is already incorporated into the Horn of Africa Food Security Portfolio has been done in 2020 by SDC. Reflections include that most of the projects in the Food Security Domain aim at adaptation to climate change, but mitigation is rarely part of the projects. Climate change and its risks are mentioned in the context, but rarely addressed in the intervention strategies or the results framework. Analysis of unintended potential negative impacts of project activities are rarely part of the credit proposals.

2. Objective

These Terms of Reference (TORs) provide the framework for the regional assessment on climate change of the SDC Cooperation Programme in the Horn of Africa, which aims to identify entry points for climate adaptation and mitigation opportunities.

The purpose of this assessment is twofold:

Firstly, it is to analyse the current Swiss Portfolio in the Horn of Africa and how far domains have managed to integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in the ongoing projects. It will also examine if the current projects are having unintended negative impacts on the climate or the environment.

Secondly, the assessment will identify entry points for climate change adaptation and mitigation measures on two levels:

• for the existing portfolio at project level
• for the next regional HoA cooperation programme at the strategic level. This is to ensure that the new HoA cooperation programme takes into account any climate-related risks and opportunities, adaptation needs and mitigation options.

This assessment is expected to draw lessons and concrete recommendations on how the portfolio and the domains can integrate climate adaptation and mitigation measures in the future.

The consultants should take into consideration and build on existing data, experiences, strategies and previous/existing projects supported by the HoA teams in Nairobi and Addis Abeba.

3. Guiding questions

In line with the above-mentioned objective, the assessment should address the following non-exhaustive questions. The questions can be further refined during the inception phase in consultation with SDC.

• Climate change situation and scale of the problem in HoA: What will be the key issues in the future regarding climate change, environment and disaster risk in the Horn of Africa? What are the most pressing needs and gaps / overlooked issues in term of climate change, environmental degradation and disaster risk in the HoA?
• What are the key actors in terms of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, including governments, donors, international and national organizations? What are the roles and capacities of government actors, civil society, private sector and NGOs in climate actions? What are the relevant policy frameworks in the three countries? To what extent are regulations implemented? What are key actors doing in the region, what are the most promising approaches?
• Funding landscape: Who are the major donors funding climate change interventions in the HoA? What are their priorities? What are the gaps in interventions?
• How do the projects already integrate climate considerations, where are adaptation and mitigation measures included in the projects? (The overview already conducted by SDC regarding the Food Security Domain is to be deepened. A sample of projects from each domain is to be reviewed).
• Unintended negative impacts: Does the current programme increase the vulnerability of beneficiaries / of natural systems and resources? Does the programme contribute to maladaptation, increasing dependency on resources threatened by climate change or contributing to development trajectories that might be unsustainable under future climatic conditions?
• Climate change adaptation and mitigation: What are opportunities for promoting climate resilience and adaptation in SDC’s HoA projects? What are opportunities for mitigation measures and promoting low-carbon development in SDC’s HoA projects? How can climate change considerations be mainstreamed into all four domains (Health, Migration/Protection, Governance, Food Security)? For example: How are climate change, conflict and forced displacement interlinked? How will climate change affect the approach to Durable Solutions? How can the One-Health approach contribute further to climate change adaptation and mitigation? What are entry points in the HoA for mitigation measures in the livestock sector?
• How can the next regional HoA cooperation programme integrate climate change considerations at a strategic level? Given the existing interventions on climate change by other stakeholders as well as existing needs and goals, what are specific entry points for adaptation and mitigation measures and niches for Swiss engagement, at the policy/advocacy, coordination and programmatic level? How can these climate change measures be incorporated into the new results framework?

These questions relate to all four domains (Health, Migration/Protection, Governance, Food Security). A special focus is to be given to the Food Security Domain.

4. Suggested Methodology

The assessment methodology will be guided by the objective while exhaustively addressing the key questions. Most of the assessment will be done virtually. The assessment is expected to provide qualitative data through:

• Desk study/review of the programme, including cooperation strategy (results framework), annual reports, portfolio reviews, entry and credit proposals of the projects and other relevant documentation.

• Interviews to gather primary data from key stakeholders (project implementing partners, government partners, donors, communities) using a structured methodology where necessary.

• Interviews with regional SDC staff members from Addis Abeba and Nairobi and with selected informants from within the Swiss federal administration in Berne.

• Field visits if necessary and possible due to current Covid-19 situation.

The method of assessment should be outlined in the inception report. The method of evaluation should be accompanied by a comprehensive Covid-19 mitigation strategy.

5. Deliverables

The following products are expected from the assessment:

1. A work plan (inception report) to be developed by the consultant, approved by SDC.
2. A report (max. 25 pages, excl. the executive summary and annexes) with an analytical review and a recommendation part that refers both to strategic as well as project level. The report should answer the guiding questions and formulate concrete recommendations.
3. Presentation of the results of the assessment.
4. A validation and outlook debriefing session co-organized by SDC and the consultant.
5. Participation in a workshop on Climate, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction Integration (CEDRIG) as expert on climate change in the HoA, facilitated by SDC.

6. Consultant Profile

The entire exercise shall be conducted either by a single consultant or a by a team of consultants (maximum 2) fulfilling the following requirements:

· Master’s degree, or equivalent in relevant field

· Proven knowledge of the climate change situation as well as the social and political context of the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia)

· Seven years of experience in climate change and development work, especially in identifying adaptation and mitigation entry points and climate change integration/mainstreaming at both project and strategic levels.

· Experience in developing and implementing qualitative research protocols

· The consultant is expected to have robust skills in assessment methodologies and professional experience in conducting evaluations

· Strong analytical capacity combined with ability to synthesize/communicate findings and recommendations and report-writing skills are required.

· Excellent command of oral and written English

7. Time Frame and Logistics

The maximum time frame for this assessment by the consultant is 30 working days. The allocation of working days to inception, desk review, interviews, field visits, report writing will be agreed on the basis of the inception report.

The assessment is scheduled to take place between March and June 2021 along the following deliverables:

Timeframe (2021)

Deliverables

March

• Announcement (with the deadline submission 30 March 2021)

Until April 20

• Recruitment of consultant and contractual process

Until April 27

• Submit inception report with detailed work-plan with timeframe outlining the activities/steps to be undertaken during the consultancy
• Exchange and briefing session with SDC

Until May 14

• Carry out assignment (desk review, interviews, field visit)

Until May 23

• Elaboration and delivery of draft assessment report in English to SDC for review and feedback

Until June 4

• Presentation to share the results of the assessment
• Participation in workshop on Climate, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction Integration (CEDRIG), facilitated by SDC
• SDC to provide feedback on the draft report

Until June 18

• Consultant to deliver the final assessment report to SDC integrating all comments and feedback

NB:

• The consultant(s) must have laptop, USB key and tape recorder to facilitate the work.
• The consultant(s) will have mobile telephones with sim card. Credit will be paid and filled by the consultant(s).
• Accommodations and Transport in Nairobi/ Addis will be covered by the consultant(s).
• Visa and authorizations procedures will be facilitated by the consultant(s).

8. Award criteria

Of the valid offers submitted, the contract will be awarded to the most highly rated bid. Offers, together with the planned interviews, will be assessed according to the following award criteria and weighting:

Award criteria

Weighting

• Academic qualification – a minimum of Master’s Degree in the relevant field with 7 years of experience. Proven knowledge and experience regarding climate change, adaptation and mitigation measures in the Horn of Africa. 30%
• Experience in analyzing programmes and projects, identifying entry points, developing recommendations, particularly in Horn of Africa context. 30%
• Financial offer/Cost of consultancy service offered. 20%
• Proven knowledge of the social and political context of the Horn of Africa, sensitivity for political economy. 20%