INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANCY TO CONDUCT FEASIBILITY STUDY AND PROGRAMME DESIGN FOR SCALING IDENTIFIED RESILIENCE-ENHANCING TECHNOLOGIES AND INNOVATIONS IN IGAD CLUSTER 3

BACKGROUND:

Following the severe drought of 2010/11, the Heads of State of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region and Governments of the Horn of Africa region convened a special Summit in Nairobi on 9th September 2011 in which they made a collective decision that called for a strategy to end drought emergencies while emphasizing the need to do things differently. In 2012, their decision was translated into a Regional Strategy called, the IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRSI).  IDDRSI was translated by the Member States into their respective Country Programming Papers for activities at the national level; and into the Regional Programming Paper for activities at cross-border or regional levels.

Now in its second phase, IDDRSI has markedly changed design elements of the development programmes and projects by harmonizing short and medium-term humanitarian interventions with long-term development programmes to build the resilience of livelihoods over time. The other fundamental change introduced by IDDRSI is a holistic approach to development), which has been adopted by a range of IGAD and other bilateral and multilateral resilience-enhancing projects, focusing on Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), with particular application in cross-border areas.

Among the cross-border areas, in which the implementation of IDDRSI has attracted considerable attention and investment is the cross-border area between Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, commonly known as the Mandera Cluster (IGAD Cluster #3). It comprises the Gedo Region in Somalia, Mandera County in Kenya and Doolow in Ethiopia and has a combined human population of about 1,464,889 people with Mandera having the highest numbers. Communities living in the area share socio-political and economic ties going back centuries and hence have strong cross-border interactions, with the main source of livelihoods being from pastoralism, agro-pastoralism, trading, employment and dependence on relief food. Livestock grazing and trade in livestock and livestock products is a main cross-border activity. The communities move across the borders to share natural resources, health services, market infrastructure and education facilities. However, the area is characterized by high levels of endemic poverty and high insecurity, resource-based conflicts, and violence from extremists that undermine peace and development efforts. To address these complex challenges IGAD, respective governments and development partners have continued to invest in diverse ways to enhance livelihoods and build the resilience of the local communities through good practices, technologies and innovations.

In September 2019, IGAD secured funds from the Government of Sweden to support the identification and scale up of the most feasible technologies and practices that could enhance the resilience of communities in the IGAD Cluster 3 and serve as model that could be adopted for scale up of other technologies and replicated for implementation in other cross-border areas in the IGAD region.

A participatory rapid assessment process was conducted using qualitative methods that included a desk review, consultations with the IGAD technical staff to validate key aspects of the study; and field work to collect stakeholder views. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KII) were conducted using a simple questionnaire. Fifteen (15) FGDs and forty-two (42) KIIs were conducted with respondents being members of the community (beneficiaries), community leaders, NGOs and government officials. Field data collection was carried out between 25th December 2020 and 12th January 2021. A list of technologies and good practices were identified from all eight IDDRSI Strategy priority intervention areas (PIAs), namely: (1) natural resources and environment management; (2) market access, trade and financial services; (3) enhanced production and livelihood diversification; (4) disaster risk management, preparedness and effective response, research, (5) knowledge management and technology transfer; (6) conflict prevention, resolution and peace building; (7) coordination, institutional strengthening and partnerships; (8) human capital, gender and social development.

Following this rapid assessment and the identification of technologies and good practices, IGAD now seeks the services of an individual consultant to undertake a feasibility study of the identified technologies and practices; in order to produce information on the technical, financial, policy and market aspects of each technology and practice, as well as the associated stakeholders and beneficiaries affected by its application. The studies will also identify pathways for scaling up and market opportunities for private sector and NGOs involvement. 

OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY:

The main objective of this consultancy is to design and conduct a feasibility study on an integrated package of interventions that will inform the development of a full programme document for scaling up resilience-enhancing technologies and practices in IGAD Cluster 3.

SPECIFIC TASKS

The consultant will be expected to:

1. Develop an inception report and present it to a technical team for evaluation and endorsement, at an inception workshop
2. Develop a programme concept and theory of change, based on the technologies and good practices identified in the rapid assessment report
3. To undertake the feasibility study, for each identified technology or good practice:

• Describe primary and secondary value chains
• Define the landscape characteristics of the study area (a) physiography, climatic/agro-ecological zones, drainage basins (b) Agro-economic /farming system zones
• Make an inventory of existing plans for its application
• Undertake an analysis of existing and potential stakeholders including private sector partners
• Identify potential socio-economic, environmental, and gender impact of the proposed technology or good practice
• Identify any examples of application of the proposed technology or good practice anywhere else outside the Mandera Cluster

4. Develop a financial model and economic analysis
5. Identify and outline governance modalities and capacity requirements critical for implementation and sustainability
6. Draft a feasibility study report, with identified deliverables and clear work plan
7. Draft a programme document

DELIVERABLES

• A programme concept and theory of change
• An inception report detailing the methodology, work plan, roles and responsibilities, and operational arrangements.
• Feasibility study report
• Programme document

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Minimum requirements:

• Post-graduate degree, from a recognized institution, in natural resource management, economics, development studies, agricultural extension, business administration, or any other field in the respective thematic areas of IDDRSI.
• Over 10 years working experience with demonstrable experience in undertaking feasibility studies, value chain analyses, economic, social, financial and gender analyses for project viability and budget formulations.
• Experience in the formulation and management of projects including project design, management, M&E and reporting.
• Familiarity with technical issues related to resilience.
• Experience working in the IGAD Cluster 3 will be an added advantage.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Experience working with interdisciplinary teams across multiple countries and institutions.
• Previous work experience at IGAD will be an advantage.

TENURE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

This task will be home-based, with scheduled travels to the IGAD Secretariat in Djibouti, and selected IGAD Member States as agreed during the inception phase. The consultancy is fixed at a maximum of 40 person-days spread over a period of two months including validation workshop.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS

Applicants should send via email

• A cover letter specifying their professional qualifications in relation to this Expression of interest
• A detailed CV highlighting how the candidate’s previous experience matches the consultancy objectives as well as their interest for the Consultancy
• At least One sample of a report of a similar assignment

IGAD Secretariat now invites eligible Individual Consultants with the requisite experience to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested Consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services.

Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance IGAD procurement regulations

Interested Individual Consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours from Sunday to Thursday 7:30am to 2:30pm local time, or by email to procurement@igad.int  with copies to Christine.bukania@igad.int

The consultants should submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) to: procurement@igad.int with Copies to Christine.bukania@igad.int not later than 15^th April, 2021 at 23:59 Hrs. EAT (GMT+3).

Women are encouraged to apply.

Procurement Unit

Administration and Finance

IGAD Secretariat

Avenue Georges Clemenceau

E-mail: procurement@igad.int

P.O. Box 2653,

Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti