TERMS OF REFERENCE
Title of the ActionRegional Consultation with Pastoralist and livestock breeders CSOs - Towards better policies in support of pastoralism
Area of intervention Eastern and Southern Africa
Length of Project (Months) 18 months
1.Introduction
VSF Germany is an international Non Governmental Organization, providing humanitarian aid and development assistance to pastoralists and vulnerable communities in areas where livestock is of importance. In the region, VSF Germany implements activities in South Sudan, the Sudan, Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. With support in animal health, agriculture, marketing, food safety but also with developing the capacity of communities and governmental institutions, initiating peace building and conflict resolution, and working with women we work towards food security and strengthened livelihoods of pastoralist communities.
VSF Germany is part of a network called VSF International.
VSF International is a network of 11 non-profit organisations working in over 40 countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia to support small-scale livestock keeping and agriculture. The members of the VSF International network coordinate their actions at geographical level, pool their resources and share their experiences and know-how, contributing in such way to reinforce the capacities of each of them as well as their partners. They act collectively to advocate in favour of small-scale family farming, livestock keeping and animal health, serving pastoral and rural populations.
In the framework of this project VSF Germany, VSF Belgium, AVSF, VSF Spain and VSF Italy are working together in a research and advocacy project co-funded by IFAD aiming at organizing regional consultations with pastoralists and livestock breeders CSOs, in order to promote better policies in support of pastoralism.
Five regions have been identified for the scope of the present project, and each partner of the VSF consortium will coordinate one regional consultation: VSF Germany in Eastern and Southern Africa on the basis of a solid presence in the region, with local operational offices and established implementing partnership with local stakeholders.
It is estimated that today nearly 200 million[1] mobile pastoralists around the world generate food and incomes for their communities, and contribute to biodiversity conservation and to climate change mitigation. Pastoral systems are sustainable low-input systems that are extremely adaptable to the particular environment and to the specific socioeconomic conditions. Yet, pastoral communities are often marginalized, lacking political recognition and proper political and institutional support. As a result, they are often confronted with difficult access to natural resources and with insecure land and water tenure rights, which in some cases can cause conflicts. In addition people in pastoral areas often lack proper infrastructure, they have limited access to markets and to basic services generally scant and distant.
Several studies highlight the main contributions of pastoralism and their challenges worldwide. However, the evidence remains scattered, and doesn’t translate into adequate policy support. At the same time, several important pastoralist’ declarations[2] have been drafted and should be seen as important steps forward in gaining recognition for the pastoralist’ way of life. They need therefore to be pushed forward through international and national policy influencing agendas.
Parallel to that, at regional level various initiatives are already in place that aiming at strengthening the pastoralist civil society (in Eastern Africa CELEP is grouping together a large number of pastoralist actors and supporting NGOs among others). Finally, the recently launched FAO-led project Pastoralism Knowledge Hub, aiming at increasing the capacity of pastoralist organisations to participate in decision-making processes, is trying to empower pastoralist civil society.
Despite all these efforts, the gap between policymakers and pastoralists and mobile indigenous communities remains. The present consultation process, therefore, builds on existing initiatives and tries to close the gap by producing practical recommendations for effective policies and programmes, and strengthening the advocacy potential of local CSOs and their networks.
2.Purpose of the assignment
A participatory and inclusive consultative process shall take place between October and January using a set of tools and methodology previously defined in order to reach as many pastoralist groups as possible and in coordination and synergies with ongoing initiatives and projects of VSF Germany and its partners. The consultation process shall culminate in a regional event which will take place by January.
The overall consultation process framework will be developed at global level and it will be up to the regional consultant to adapt the tools in order to tailor them on the regional context.
The assignment is thus articulated in the following phases:
- Regional contribution to the global Mapping of stakeholders (pastoralists CSO, policy makers, ongoing initiatives at regional & global levels)
- Implementation of surveys at community level in compliance with the framework given at international level (through written, oral or online questionnaires, direct or phone interviews, community workshops…)
- Organisation of a regional gathering with a participation of at least 20 pastoralists CSOs representatives
- Documentation of the regional consultation process through overall reporting and case studies in compliance with the framework provided at international level
3.Objectives of the assignment
This assignment is a key component of the global project implemented by VSF Germany, VSF Belgium, AVSF, VSF Spain and VSF Italy under the coordination of VSF International. This global initiative co-funded by IFAD is a research and advocacy project aiming at organizing regional consultations with pastoralists and livestock breeders CSOs, in order to promote better policies in support of pastoralism. In particular operational messages that would feed the Special Session on Pastoralism and the Farmer Forum in Rome in February 2016.
Five regions have been identified for the scope of the present project, and each partner of the VSF consortium will coordinate one regional consultation.
VSF Germany is responsible for the consultation process in Eastern and Southern Africa.
4.Deliverables
The consultant will write and produce a precise final report (maximum 25 pages) written in simple and understandable English. The draft report is to be shared and discussed with the VSFG during debriefing time. Comments and inputs from the VSFG will be included in the final report.
The following report format to include:
- Cover page: (Title of the evaluation with the title of the action, names and logos of the donor and implementing partner, Consultants’/firms name and address, dates of the evaluation and the report)
- Table of contents, executive summary (a maximum of 4 pages), main report including the findings, conclusions, lessons learnt and recommendations.
- Annexes
- Terms of Reference;
- List of persons / organizations consulted;
- List of literature and documents consulted;
- List of sites visited;
- Examples of case studies
- List of abbreviations
More specific information on the documentation requirement will be clarified at contract level.
Further works or revisions of the report may be required if it does not meet the requirements of the TOR, if there are factual errors, including incomplete reports, or if the report is not of acceptable standards. The final report must be drawn up in 4 hard copies and 4soft copies.
5.Consultation methodology
The regional consultation methodology will be as much participatory as possible. It will follow guidelines with criteria and standards developed at international level that will be used in the various consultation processes in order to fit into a common and harmonised framework which will provide comparable results in every region? region by region The information gathered through the consultation process has to be organized around 5 main clusters: access to natural resources and secure land-use rights, availability of infrastructure, climate change adaptation and mitigation, nutrition and food security, livestock-based livelihoods/market opportunities for animal products (meat, milk, wool and fibres, leather, manure, etc.). A gender perspective will be mainstreamed in all the clusters by assuring the different roles played by gender and age groups at household and community level are well understood (on decision making, economic and political power, influence over assets and resources, etc.) and the interest of the different gender and age groups are well represented in the consultation process.
6.Consultant’s profile
The proposed activities require an outstanding expert, able to spearhead this process in a vast area (Eastern and Southern Africa) in a relatively short time. We will assign the task to a person of widely recognized experience in the field of pastoralism. The coordination between this expert and other stakeholders many others (including VSFs’ staff and advisors present in the area among others) will contribute to reinforce the outputs. Inputs will arrive from the field teams involved, as well as the local partners and many other CSOs, CBOs, professional organisation, etc. The competencies of the advisor must include:
· Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel (or similar software)
· Fluency in English
· Strong established networks and experience in the pastoralist setting in Eastern and Southern Africa
· Excellent oral and written communication skills
· Ability to overcome obstacles and work under time pressure
[1] The figure refers to nomadic and transhumant pastoralists. If extensive agro-pastoralists are included, the number rises very sharply. World Initiative for Sustainable Pastoralism, WISP:http://www.iucn.org/wisp/pastoralist_portal/pastoralism/
[2] N’Djamena and Nouakchott pastoralist declaration (2013); Kiserian pastoralist declaration (2013); Mera Pastoralist Women Declaration (2010); Segovia pastoralist declaration (2007).
HOW TO APPLY:
Expression of Interest
Any person/firm interested in undertaking this assignment should send an expression of interest comprising:
a) Technical proposal; (maximum 3 pages) including the regional methodology and work plan to comply with the requirements of the assignment
b) Financial proposal:
c) CV of the person(s) to carry out the actual work/evaluation
d) Applications to be submitted to VSF-Germany admin_hr@vsfg.org not later than 1st of September 2015 COB.
