To Facilitate Regional Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Use of Rangelands and Cross-Border Natural Grazing Resources - Lot 2

Lot 2: A Lead Consultant

Background

The African Union’s Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) is a specialized Technical Office of the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission. Its mandate is to support and coordinate the sustainable development and utilization of animal resources (livestock, fisheries and wildlife) to enhance nutrition and food security and contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of the people in the Member States of the African Union (AU). AU-IBAR accomplishes its mandate through supporting and empowering the AU Member States, the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and other stakeholders in the livestock sector.

As part of providing leadership and coordination in the sustainable development of the continent’s Animal Resources, African Union InterAfrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) has implementing a 5-year project on “Sustainable Development of Livestock for Livelihoods in Africa - Live2Africa”, The project pioneers a coherent continental programme approach to build systemic capacity in seven livestock components, that include: Animal Production, Productivity and Ecosystem Management; Investment in Value Chains, Animal Health; Resilience Building; Technology adoption in the Value Chains to inputs, services and markets; and strengthening institutional capacities.

About 60-70% of the terrestrial land surface in IGAD region is arid and semi-arid, and is classified as rangelands. Mainly pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities whose livelihoods mostly depend on extensive livestock production. About 53% of the region’s cattle (51 million), 71% of the goats (58 million), 68% of the region’s sheep (58 million) and 51% of the global camel population (17.5 million) are found in the rangelands. The livestock sector in the region contributes 10% – 50 % of the individual countries’ agricultural GDP since it provides various economic opportunities along the value chain.

Despite enormous social, cultural, ecological and economic importance of rangelands, they face a myriad of challenges, chief of them degradation of the resource base partly linked to land use and land tenure changes, breakdown of traditional institutions of natural resource management, low institutional, organizational and human resource capacity. These challenges are exacerbated by the advent of climate change and weak policy and legal framework for rangeland management.

To help IGAD member states mitigate some of these challenges and promote sustainable utilization of rangelands, IGAD Center for Pastoral Areas and Livestock development (ICPALD) with financial support from the World Bank through the Regional Pastoralist Livelihood Resilience Project (RPLRP) developed a Regional Rangeland Management Strategic Framework (RRMSF). The RRMSF is also aligned with the AU Policy Framework for Pastoralism .The RRMSF was done through comprehensive literature review; direct observations through field visits; consultations with stakeholders in IGAD Member States. The strategic framework was validated by Member states (MS) representatives through a regional stakeholder validation workshop.

IGAD /ICPALD facilitated a number of bilateral and multilateral cross border MOU and signed by the Ministers in charge of livestock. One of the priority collaboration areas in the MOU is assessing and mapping of stock routes, dry seasons and wet season grazing natural resources; including the invasive species. These information and findings will help and contribute to proper livestock movements; minimize community conflicts and facilitate livestock.

In light of the above, AU-IBAR is seeking to engage the services of A Lead Consultant to support Research, Consultative Policy Dialogue and Advocacy activities under the mission titled “To Facilitate Regional Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Use of Rangelands and Cross-Border Natural Grazing Resources”.

Aim of the Consultancy

To assess the status of the cross-border grazing resources management in IGAD and the impact of seasonal animal cross-border movements on ecosystem management (e.g. rangeland degradation and dissemination of cross-border animal diseases); socio economic aspects; cross-border communities conflicts; working by-laws; etc.) and to come up with proposed solutions for sustainable management. A policy Dialogue will be conducted and advocacy materials will be developed to facilitate efforts towards the sustainable use of rangelands and cross-border natural grazing resources in the IGAD region. Three cross-border zones are targeted:

1. Ethiopia-Kenya. 2. Kenya-Uganda. 3. Ethiopia-Kenya-Uganda-S. Sudan (Karamoja Cluster).

Objective of the consultancy mission (Lots 1, 2 and 3)

The process of assessing cross-border natural grazing resources and facilitating Regional Policy Dialogue on Sustainable use of Rangelands will compile the following specific objectives:

1. To undertake assessment of the current status of cross-border natural grazing/rangeland resources management in the three cross-border zones (Ethiopia-Kenya, Kenya-Uganda and Ethiopia-Kenya-Uganda-South Sudan), and the impact of the seasonal cross-border animals’ and herders’ movements: effects/impact on ecosystem management (e.g. degradation and dissemination of cross-border disease, etc.); socio economic impacts on the cross-border communities particularly those receiving the animals in their rangeland areas; rangeland community conflicts due to animal and herders movements; working bylaws and previous initiatives in this regard; and lessons for sustainable joint management. Assessment will be followed by stakeholder validation.
2. To conduct a Policy Dialogue on Ministerial and Directors levels to support the domestication of the regional rangeland management strategy including the cross border grazing resources management, and therefore to contribute to developing or implementing policy change following the round of evidence-based assessments.
3. To contribute towards a concrete purpose or outcome towards sustainable use of rangelands and cross-border natural grazing resources in the IGAD region, by compiling and documenting the lessons learned and best practice to develop advocacy materials, and fact sheets and dissemination.
4. To influence policy makers and the general public through advocacy materials and the media in the domestication of sustainable joint management of cross-border rangeland resources.

Proposed activities (Lots 1, 2, and 3)

1. To undertake the national and the cross-border zones consultative studies, and synthesis of national and regional reports. The consultative study should cover:

   • To assess the current status of cross-border natural grazing/rangeland resources management in the three cross-border zones (Ethiopia-Kenya, Kenya-Uganda and Ethiopia-Kenya-Uganda-South Sudan) due to the seasonal cross-border movement of the animals and map them
   • Too assess the effects of animal and herders movement on: Ecosystem management (e.g. observations on degradation; any actions on grazing resource improvement; the role and contribution of transhumant while they stay there; what bylaw they follow; how do they enforce it; and how do they control of dissemination of cross-border disease, etc.); Socio economic impacts on the cross-border communities particularly those receiving the animals in their rangeland areas; Community conflicts due to animal and herders movements; Lessons for sustainable joint management; Else, ...; and
   • To identify the gaps and draw the road map for supporting the sustainable joint- management of cross-border rangeland resources to control all negative impacts identified in the study.

2. To organize a stakeholders validation workshop on the findings of the regional report.

3. To organize a Regional Policy Dialogue meeting on sustainable managment and use of rangelands and cross-border rangeland management with Ministers /Permanent secretaries and directors reponsible for management of rangeland resources.

4. To document leassons learned and best management and to develop advocacy materials for promoting the demestication of sustainable joing-managemet of cros-border rangland resources, and to control conflicts.

The national/cross-border zones consultative study will include Desk (literature, official census and database) reviews, individual interviews and group-discussions with stakeholders and strategic actors of the rangeland and cross-border rangeland management; and analysis of quantitative data and qualitative observations in proper approaches to achieve the objectives. Interviews and group-discussion sessions will use the participatory process that allows the ideas of individuals/groups to be tested, argued, amplified and refined through constructive discussions. The consultants will perform the consultation services with the highest standards of professional and ethical competence and integrity. The consultants are strongly encouraged to develop highly interactive and practical outputs for this consultancy.

Required Consultants (Lot 2)

Lot 2: A Lead Consultant

One (1) Lead Consultant for facilitate activities towards a regional policy dialogue.

Activities

1. Work with AU-IBAR and recruited consultants in development of an outline and template for the national assessments;
2. To Facilitate deliberations of the regional stakeholder validation workshop to present the findings of the national/cross-border assessments;
3. Facilitation of the regional stakeholder validation workshop.
4. To facilitate the regional Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Use of Rangelands and Cross-Border Natural Grazing Resources.

Deliverables

1. The development of the “Inception report” covering:

   • Tools, forms and questionnaires to be utilized for harmonized data collection process.
   • Quantitative / qualitative data analysis approaches.
   • List of target groups for interviews/group discussion and key stakeholders/actors.
   • List of content and report outline.

2. Synthesized regional technical report arising from the national/cross-border assessments

3. A discussion paper that be presented at the policy dialogue and will help set the scene for discussions during the policy dialogue

4. An Outcomes publications highlighting the recommendations and roadmap from the policy dialogue process

Qualifications and Competencies

The Lead consultant should have the following qualifications:

1. Advanced university degree in rangeland management, pasture management, natural resource management or in any relevant field of expertise.
2. At least five years’ experience in rangeland management, pasture management, natural resource management or in any relevant field of expertise.
3. Proven record of contribution to developing, implementing or assessment of Rangelands /natural resource management policies /strategic frameworks in IGAD region / East Africa.
4. Proven record of contribution to the development/implementation/assessment of cross-border Rangeland-based conflict management policies /strategic frameworks.
5. Proven record of experience in the developing and facilitating stakeholder consultations.
6. Proven record of experience in executing and developing national/regional consultation studies.
7. Record of soft and interpersonal skills and ability to work with people of different cultures and professional backgrounds.
8. Proven record of leading regional / continental consultative studies.
9. Proven records of developing advocacy materials.

Supervision

The consultant will be under the overall mandate of the Director, AU-IBAR, but will be supervised by the Animal Production, NRM and Resilience Expert. The consultants will also engage with AU-IBAR programme staff and stakeholders in the various IGAD countries.

Remuneration and Duration of the Assignments

Activities under Lot 2 should be conducted as follows:
Lead Consultant for a period of 25 working days spread over 65 days.

The consultancy period for the Lead Consultant will commence on Monday 5^th October 2020, and will end by the Sunday 6^th December 2020.

The consultants are expected to provide a roadmap and time-plan in their proposal. The assignment will start immediately after signature of the contract by both parties.

Language Requirements

Native or bilingual level proficiency (verbal and written) in English is essential. Knowledge of a second language (French, Arabic or Portuguese) is desirable.

Instructions for Application

Applicants are required to include both a technical and financial proposal for the lot they will apply to, along with a recent CV, following the standard template published.

A technical proposal indicating the approach to the assignment, including the proposed methodology and work plan, objectives, activities to be carried out, expected outputs, outline of the content and a clear timeframe to carry out the assignment.

A financial proposal for the consultancy should be all inclusive (consultancy fees, and any other cost).

This consultancy assignment does not carry any expectation of employment, extension or conversion to another type of contract with AU-IBAR. The various copywriting services will be commissioned on a per job basis/ knowledge product basis.

Payment

For Lot 1 and 2, payment will be upon delivery of satisfactory report and other deliverables indicated in the TOR.

For Lot 3, the payment will be in two phases. The first payment (30%) will be made upon delivery of an acceptable inception report. The second payment (70%) will be made upon completion of the assignment.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications from qualified individuals and firms will be desk reviewed by the selection panel. Only the best three technical applications will go through the financial assessment process.

Technical Scoring

The evaluation of the Technical Proposal will weigh 70% of the total rating and will be evaluated against the Minimum recruitment qualifications and competencies.

Financial Evaluation

The evaluation of the financial proposal will weigh 30% of the total rating. The financial proposal will be evaluated on the basis of total cost, cost realism and used in combination with the assessment of the technical quality to determine the best value for money.

How to apply:

Submission of Proposals

The entire proposal, including all supporting documentation should not be no longer than 8 A4 pages in length, and should be emailed as a single document to: procurement@au-ibar.org, with a copy to Khalid.seid@au-ibar.org, by no later than 5:00pm East African Time on October 1^st, 2020, with reference to the short consultation: ”To Facilitate Regional Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Use of Rangelands and Cross-Border Natural Grazing Resources”, indicating the Lot being applied for Lot 2. (A Lead Consultant).

Or by post addressed to the following address:
The Procurement Officer
African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources
Kenindia Business Park, Museum Hill, Westlands Road
P.O. Box 30786 00100, Nairobi, Kenya

Specific questions not answered either in this call may be emailed to: procurement@au-ibar.org

Yours faithfully,
Prof. Ahmed El-Sawalhy
Director AU-IBAR