Vacancy Details (SP3: 3.1.1.3(iv)/2015)
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Assignment Reference Number: SP3: 3.1.1.3(iv)/2015
Title: Consultant to compile and synthesize evidence to support policy and programme design on climate smart agriculture in Africa
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 Programme (CAADP) momentum”.
FARA intends to use part of the proceeds to undertake the following consultant services:
Consultant to compile and synthesize evidence to support policy and programme design on climate smart agriculture in Africa
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 Programme (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 programmes.
2 The African Union Commission (AUC) and the AU NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) has, within the framework of the Sustaining CAADP Momentum, launched the CAADP 10-year Results Framework (CRF) 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; 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.
To achieve these results, 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. FARA has developed 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 also reoriented it’s strategy for increasing agricultural productivity and competiveness to focus on three strategic priority areas: (i) Visioning Africa’s agricultural transformation – 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)2 is one of the areas identified in the S3A for accelerating growth in agricultural productivity. 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 on CSA issues and principles that can be used to support evidence-based CSA policy and programme design as well as performance monitoring in the context of the CRF.
Evidence to support climate smart agriculture policy and programme design
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 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).
3 Agriculture is undoubtedly the most important sector in most African countries. It contributes about one third of the GDP, 40% of total export value and provides employment to about 70% of the population. Except for a few large farms, agricultural production is 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 producers 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, help to build resilience and mitigate the effects of climate change as well as reduce the levels of greenhouse gasses (GHG). 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 in Malawi compared to conventional production methods.
In spite of the several CSA technologies that have been developed and the positive gains arising from the technologies, there is no coherent policy that specifically promotes wide scale adoption of CSA practices in Africa. To capitalize on the gains from CSA, African countries require a conducive policy environment. However, the capacity to design CSA friendly policies based on evidence is either limited or lacking. Most senior policy-makers and practitioners, especially in the ministries of agriculture do not have the requisite skills to design evidence-based policies and programmes. The ability to convert policy analysis into policy options is equally limited or lacking; mainly due to inadequate knowledge, understanding and application of the basic concepts and core elements of policy. The limited influence on policy and programme design of reliable evidence also clearly undermines rational and transparent decision-making on CSA. For farmers to take up a particular CSA practice and for public and private sector individuals to invest in a given CSA practice, a conducive policy that is based on evidence of CSA successes is essential. Compiling, sythesizing and availing data and information on CSA to policy makers is critical for CSA policy and programme design.
B. PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The purpose of this assignment is to compile and synthesize evidence to support policy and programme design on climate smart agriculture in Africa.
C. SCOPE OF WORK
The specific tasks required of the individual consultant include, but are not limited to the following:
D. OUTPUTS OR DELIVERABLES
The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:
This is a short-term consultancy with a duration of three months.
F. LOCATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT
FARA Secretariat, 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:
The consultant should have the following qualifications:
Interested Individual Consultants should send (via e-mail) their CVs to FARA’s address (see further below) demonstrating qualifications, technical competence and experience.
Expressions of Interest must be delivered to the address above by 14:00 hours GMT, 30th June, 2015.
Download PDF
Assignment Reference Number: SP3: 3.1.1.3(iv)/2015
Title: Consultant to compile and synthesize evidence to support policy and programme design on climate smart agriculture in Africa
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 Programme (CAADP) momentum”.
FARA intends to use part of the proceeds to undertake the following consultant services:
Consultant to compile and synthesize evidence to support policy and programme design on climate smart agriculture in Africa
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 Programme (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 programmes.
2 The African Union Commission (AUC) and the AU NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) has, within the framework of the Sustaining CAADP Momentum, launched the CAADP 10-year Results Framework (CRF) 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; 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.
To achieve these results, 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. FARA has developed 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 also reoriented it’s strategy for increasing agricultural productivity and competiveness to focus on three strategic priority areas: (i) Visioning Africa’s agricultural transformation – 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)2 is one of the areas identified in the S3A for accelerating growth in agricultural productivity. 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 on CSA issues and principles that can be used to support evidence-based CSA policy and programme design as well as performance monitoring in the context of the CRF.
Evidence to support climate smart agriculture policy and programme design
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 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).
3 Agriculture is undoubtedly the most important sector in most African countries. It contributes about one third of the GDP, 40% of total export value and provides employment to about 70% of the population. Except for a few large farms, agricultural production is 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 producers 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, help to build resilience and mitigate the effects of climate change as well as reduce the levels of greenhouse gasses (GHG). 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 in Malawi compared to conventional production methods.
In spite of the several CSA technologies that have been developed and the positive gains arising from the technologies, there is no coherent policy that specifically promotes wide scale adoption of CSA practices in Africa. To capitalize on the gains from CSA, African countries require a conducive policy environment. However, the capacity to design CSA friendly policies based on evidence is either limited or lacking. Most senior policy-makers and practitioners, especially in the ministries of agriculture do not have the requisite skills to design evidence-based policies and programmes. The ability to convert policy analysis into policy options is equally limited or lacking; mainly due to inadequate knowledge, understanding and application of the basic concepts and core elements of policy. The limited influence on policy and programme design of reliable evidence also clearly undermines rational and transparent decision-making on CSA. For farmers to take up a particular CSA practice and for public and private sector individuals to invest in a given CSA practice, a conducive policy that is based on evidence of CSA successes is essential. Compiling, sythesizing and availing data and information on CSA to policy makers is critical for CSA policy and programme design.
B. PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The purpose of this assignment is to compile and synthesize evidence to support policy and programme design on climate smart agriculture in Africa.
C. SCOPE OF WORK
The specific tasks required of the individual consultant include, but are not limited to the following:
- review best practices and technologies being used to make agriculture climate smart
- review latest knowledge of impacts of climate change on agriculture
- identify gaps in solutions available and prioritize research and development needed to fill gap
- Develop a conceptual framework for evidence-based development of CSA policies and programmes.
- Review publications on CSA best practices and technologies, latest knowledge of impacts climate change on agriculture, and compile the evidence in a document that can be used by policy makers.
- Review documentation on CSA best practices, identify the key drivers of success, identify gaps in solutions available and propose research and development solutions to fill the gaps.
- Review and edit the FARA-NORAD project baseline survey report and other project documents and:
- Prepare an abridged form of the survey report capturing all the salient elements of the report including baseline data on the key socio-economic and political variables.
- Prepare a policy brief giving the key messages and recommendations
- Prepare a power point presentation of the abridged report
- Review and edit workshop and consultancy reports produced by the FARA-NORAD project into a printable form.
- Develop concept notes, ToRs and programmes for meetings, workshops and conferences and prepare reports of these meetings.
- Perform other functions that may be assigned by FARA management.
D. OUTPUTS OR DELIVERABLES
The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:
- A conceptual framework for evidence-based development of CSA policies and programmes.
- Report showing a compilation of evidence of the impact of successful CSA practices in Africa
- Report outlining the key drivers of success of CSA, gaps in solutions and research priorities for addressing them.
- An abridged form of the FARA-NORAD baseline survey report
- Policy brief giving the key messages and recommendations of the baseline survey report
- Power point presentation of the abridged report
- Printable forms of workshop and consultancy reports of the FARA-NORAD project.
- Concept notes, ToRs and meeting reports
- Final report of the assignments performed during the consultancy.
This is a short-term consultancy with a duration of three months.
F. LOCATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT
FARA Secretariat, 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
The consultant should have the following qualifications:
- M.Sc degree in agriculture/social sciences or related disciplines; Ph.D. will be an advantage.
- 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 3 years of professional experience in agricultural development and climate change policy research, particularly in Africa.
- Consultants should also present evidence of their use of statistical tools in the analysis and interpretation of field data, as well as proficiency in the articulation of impact assessment and evaluation reports.
- Consultants should have experience working in climate change and climate smart agriculture projects.
- Fluency in English. Working knowledge of French will be an advantage
Interested Individual Consultants should send (via e-mail) their CVs to FARA’s address (see further below) demonstrating qualifications, technical competence and experience.
Expressions of Interest must be delivered to the address above by 14:00 hours GMT, 30th June, 2015.
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