Vacancy Details (SP3: 3.1.1.3(v)/2015)
Download PDF
Assignment Reference Number: SP3: 3.1.1.3(v)/2015 :
Title: Consultant to develop gender sensitive guidelines, systems and methodology for mainstreaming climate smart agriculture (CSA) in national agricultural investment plans and programs, the CAADP Results Framework and the Malabo Declaration
A. BACKGROUND
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) has received a grant from NORAD in support of “Sustaining the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) momentum”.
FARA intends to use part of the proceeds to undertake the following consultant services:
Consultant to develop gender sensitive guidelines, systems and methodology for mainstreaming climate smart agriculture (CSA) research and development in national agricultural development plans and programs. FARA is Africa’s apex institution for giving direction to, and, coordinating agricultural research on the continent. The Forum has a pivotal responsibility in the articulation of strategies for the continent’s agricultural transformation. FARA’s mandate is continental. To this end, it leads agricultural research and contributes to the development of the required systems of innovation in the agricultural sector. The Forum is poised to continue to play a visible and significant role, in alignment with the African Union Commission and NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, in the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa’s Agricultural Development Program (CAADP), having served as the lead institution for Pillar IV of CAADP strategy. FARA is thus a strategic continental institution with strong and
enduring relevance in Africa’s agricultural transformation strategy, agenda and programs.
The African Union Commission (AUC) and the AU NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) within the framework of the Sustaining CAADP Momentum, launched the CAADP 10-year Results Framework (CRF) in 2013 to guide and accelerate implementation of CAADP at the country level. The framework underscores the need for tangible parameters to benchmark advancements in agricultural performance and reinforces the need for evidence to promote investment in agriculture. The framework aims to achieve five key results1 by (i) increasing agricultural production and productivity with the aim of doubling agricultural total factor productivity by 2025; (ii) ensuring better functioning national agricultural and food markets and increasing intra-inter-regional trade; (iii) expanding local agro-industry and value addition; and (iv) improving management and governance of natural resources for sustainable agricultural production.
In July 2014 the AU Heads of State and Government adopted the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods. The Declaration agreed on a number of commitments2 to achieve the growth targets including but not limited to ending hunger by 2025 and enhancing resilience in livelihoods and production systems to climate variability and other shocks. These commitments require that by 2025, Africa should double agricultural productivity and reduce by half post-harvest losses. They also require that by 2025 at least 30% of farm/pastoral households are resilient to shocks and that resilience and risk management are mainstreamed in policies, strategies and investment plans. In keeping with the CAADP Results Framework, the Malabo Declaration placed emphasis on implementation, results and impact and therefore directed the AU Commission and AU-NPCA to develop an implementation guide that is linked to the results framework.
The AUC and AU NPCA have requested the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) to lead a series of actions that will contribute to the CRF sub-result (i) on doubling agricultural total factor productivity. FARA’s goal is to contribute to sustainable reduction of food insecurity and poverty in Africa through the promotion of broad-based agricultural productivity, competitiveness and markets. Building on the Framework for African Agricultural Productivity (FAAP) and the CAADP Pillar IV Strategy to enable agricultural research and development to contribute to agricultural productivity, FARA has reoriented it’s strategy for increasing agricultural productivity and competiveness to focus on three strategic priority areas: (i) Visioning Africa’s agricultural transformation –
1 The five result areas are: (i) wealth creation; (ii) economic opportunities and prosperity – jobs and poverty alleviation; (iii) improved food security and nutrition; (iv) resilience; and (v) environmental sustainability.
2 See AU-NPCA. CAADP, Implementation strategy and roadmap to achieve the 2025 vision on CAADP. 2015.
with foresight, strategic analysis and partnerships; (ii) integrating capacities for change – by connecting and learning; and (iii) creating an enabling policy environment for implementation by advocating and communicating. The Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa (S3A), developed by FARA, serves as the overall framework for operationalizing the new strategy.
Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA)3 is one of the areas identified in the S3A for accelerating growth in agricultural productivity while at the same time enhancing adaptation to climate change. In collaboration with AU NPCA, FARA is currently implementing a CSA project funded by the Government of Norway (NORAD) to enhance understanding of local political economy factors and drivers that stimulate or hinder expanded adoption of climate smart agriculture. The project promotes knowledge support for enhanced adoption of CSA and strengthening of the capacity of African research institutions to deliver proven CSA technologies that help to increase agricultural productivity. It generates baseline data and information to support evidence-based CSA policy, program design and performance monitoring in the context of the CRF.
Climate smart agriculture research, national agricultural investment plans and programs and the Malabo Declaration on accelerated African agricultural growth and transformation
Agriculture is undoubtedly the most important sector in most African countries contributing over one third of the GDP, 40% of total export value and providing employment to about 70% of the population. Agricultural production is largely subsistence in nature with a high dependence on rainfall. Climate change is one of the factors constraining agriculture in Africa. Prolonged periods of drought and/or floods have had significant negative impacts on agricultural production and productivity; and have adversely affected the food security, incomes and livelihoods of smallholder farmers/pastoralists in Africa.
Climate smart agriculture has been shown to address some of the adverse effects of climate change and transform agriculture into a more sustainable and profitable sector. A wide range of CSA innovations have been developed and are being applied in different parts of Africa with varying degrees of success. Some of the innovative CSA practices have been shown to increase agricultural productivity, helped to build resilience and mitigate the effects of climate change as well as reduce the levels of
3 According to FAO (2010), CSA involves agriculture that sustainably increases productivity and resilience (adaptation), reduces/removes GHGs (mitigation) and enhances achievement of national food security and development goals. From the perspective of the Africa CSA Alliance, CSA offers triple wins, which include: significant potential to enhance food and nutrition security for all people at all times, taking account of the need for adaptation in response to current and near term effects of climate change and, where in the interests of smallholder farmers, mitigation to reduce the future threats to global food security (ACSA, FAQs, 2014).
greenhouse gasses (GHG). In Malawi for example, conservation agriculture involving minimum soil disturbance, good soil cover maintenance, rotation and intercropping has delivered higher and more stable maize yields and incomes and enhanced resilience to climate change compared to conventional production methods.
Considering the gains of CSA4 over conventional agricultural production methods, wide-scale promotion of innovative CSA practices will contribute towards result (i) of the CRF and help achieve the Malabo Declaration commitment to double productivity and enhance resilience to climate variability and other shocks. Making African agriculture smart is no doubt the way to go in achieving the Malabo Declaration. However, the key issue that remains is – how to mainstream CSA in national agricultural investment plans and programs so that they can contribute to the Malabo Declaration commitments. Therefore, there is need to develop appropriate guidelines, systems and methodology for mainstreaming CSA in national agricultural investment plans and programs that respond to the Malabo commitments.
B. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this assignment is to develop gender sensitive guidelines, systems and methodology for mainstreaming CSA in national agricultural investment plans and programs in order to contribute to the Malabo commitments. In view of this, this REOI is aimed at soliciting for proposals from individual consultants who are interested in developing the guidelines, systems and methodology.
C. SCOPE OF WORK
The specific actions required of the individual consultant include, but are not limited to the following:
i. Articulate the relationship between CSA, agricultural productivity, national agricultural investment plans, the CAADP results framework and the Malabo Declaration and demonstrate how CSA can contribute to the commitments of the declaration.
ii. Develop practical guidelines, systems and methodology for mainstreaming CSA in national agricultural investment plans, CAADP results framework and the Malabo Declaration commitments.
iii. Propose measures on how to apply the guidelines, systems and methodology
4 The additional benefits of CSA include the opportunities offered to farm households to increase their incomes and livelihoods through enhanced agricultural practices as well as providing better market access. Such benefits have flow-on effects to all forms of sustainable development, including enhanced health, further economic development, and even better access to education for families.
iv. Prepare a policy brief highlighting the key messages and recommendations of the study.
In addition, the consultant will be expected to work closely with the FARA/NORAD Team supervised by the FARA Divisional Manager and Strategic Priority Leader, Policy and Advocacy in consultation with the FARA M&E Specialist and the Gender Specialist.
D. OUTPUTS OR DELIVERABLES
The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:
- A draft inception report.
- A report that addresses items (i), (ii) and (iii) of the Scope of Work
- A power point presentation of the report and research proposal in a stakeholder validation workshop organized at the FARA Secretariat
- A detailed final report and research proposal that incorporates comments/inputs from stakeholders to FARA Secretariat
- A policy brief that summarizes the key outcomes and recommendations of the study.
The duration of this assignment will be twenty (20) working days spread over a period of six weeks. The stakeholder validation workshop shall take place at the FARA Secretariat.
F. LOCATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The consultant will operate from his/her home base but will be required to travel to the FARA Secretariat in Accra, Ghana.
G. PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
The Consultant is expected to undertake the services with the highest standards of professional and ethical competence and integrity.
H. REPORTING
The Consultant shall report to the Executive Director of FARA through the Divisional Manager and Strategic Priority Leader, Policy and Advocacy.
I. FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED BY FARA
FARA will provide the following facilities to the consultant:
- Relevant FARA related information and reference documents
- Power point presentation equipment and materials
- Economy class air ticket and DSA for the mission to the FARA Secretariat.
The consultant should have the following qualifications:
- A Ph.D. degree in agriculture/social sciences or related disciplines
- Good understanding of the CAADP framework and experience working on CAADP issues.
- A good understanding of climate change issues in the political, social and economic context of climate adaptation / mitigation in Africa. Good knowledge of the concepts and application of CSA in the context of Africa.
- A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in agricultural development and climate change policy research, particularly in Africa.
- A demonstration of high expertise in research, particularly in the development of research proposals and results framework
- Evidence of use of statistical tools in the analysis and interpretation of field data.
- Demonstrated attributes of teamwork ,
- Fluency in English. Working knowledge of French will be an advantage
Interested Individual Consultants should send (via e-mail) to FARA’s address (see further below) the following documents:
(i) Technical proposal detailing their understanding of the assignment and how they would go about conducting the assignment.
(ii) Financial proposal providing details of the cost of each of the proposed activities, materials and fees for the consultant; and
(iii) CV of the consultant demonstrating his/her qualifications, technical competence and experience.
Expressions of Interest must be delivered to the address above by 14:00 hours GMT, 30th June, 2015.
No comments:
Post a Comment