Daphine Gitonga

BACKGROUND

The vulnerability of rural households to climate change in Africa is caused, not only, by exposure to climate variability and extreme weather events, but also, by a combination of social, economic and environmental factors that interact with climate change. There is growing evidence that climate change is affecting forests resources in Africa, and therefore the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities. The effect on the forest resource is exacerbated by increased dependance of vulnerable communities on forestry goods and services which are often over exploited . Since the Kyoto Protocol and several Conferences of Parties of the UNFCCC and their associated Agreements, the role of forestry and trees in addressing climate change through mitigation and adaptation has gathered pace and, consequently, the sector is being targeted by many funding institutions  and related  mechanisms.

The forest and tree-based projects on integration of mitigation and adaptation that are being developed and implemented in Africa range from reducing deforestation and forest degradation, increasing reforestation and afforestation, improving forest management and agroforestry/trees on farm or outside forests, as well as enhancing  conservation, and establishment of woodlots, among others. Despite most countries in Africa being the most vulnerable to climate change and variability, taking forest-based adaptation and mitigation to reasonable scale is challenged by the lack of sound evidence on best practices  that are specific to different ecosystems . There is therefore a need for identifying and documenting best practices that integrate  both adaptation and mitigation options, which address impacts of climate change and variability, with an aim to improve their uptake by stakeholders in forestry .

The African Forest Forum initiated, in 2019, studies that involved  undertaking  in-depth analysis projects and programmes on the integration of forest and tree-based adaptation and mitigation in selected Anglophone (Mozambique, Zambia, South Africa, Uganda, Ghana and Sierra Leone) and Francophone African countries (Senegal, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Togo, and Burkina Faso) .  More specifically, the key outputs from these studies are the following : a)  key stakeholders implementing promising forest based adaptation and mitigation policies, strategies and actions identified and evaluated, as well as those  implementing related activities on farm in areas around the chosen forest type through Agroforestry and other Farm-based Management of Natural resources (FMNR) approaches; b) best practices on the integration of forest and tree based mitigation and adaptation  options in response to climate change documented as well as factors determining their successes. The results were used to develop a framework for integrating forest and tree-based adaptation and mitigation options in the selected forest/agroforest types. The framework could help African forestry stakeholders in integration of adaptation and mitigation options, that  address climate change challenges and opportunities, in different forest types and other tree-based  biophysical  and social systems.

These findings were shared and validated during a regional workshop held on 04th to 08th November 2019, in Mombasa, Kenya, and the following knowledge products were developed :

Two technical reports:

  1. Strengthening capacity of forestry stakeholders to integrate and uptake climate change adaptation and mitigation options in Francophone African countries.
  2. Strengthening capacity of African stakeholders to integrate and uptake forest and farm tree-based adaptation and mitigation options in response to climate change in Anglophone and Lusophone Africa: Context, challenges and opportunities.

Two draft manuscripts of journal articles,

  1. What are the drivers of successful implementation of forest and farm-based adaptation and mitigation activities, projects and or programmes in Anglophone and Lusophone countries of Africa?
  2. Enhancing the uptake of integrated mitigation and adaptation approaches in forest and on farm tree-based interventions: case of francophone African countries.

Two factsheets,

  1. Where to with forest and tree-based mitigation and adaptation in Africa?
  2. Forest and on farm tree-based mitigation and adaptation interventions in francophone Africa: Determinants, successes and enabling conditions.

Two policy briefs

  1. Integrated mitigation and adaptation options in African forestry: Enhancing their uptake in climate change and forestry policies and programs.
  2. Forest and farm-based adaptation and mitigation options in response to climate change: Mitigation and adaptation to climate change using forest and farm tree-based interventions.

For its 2021 annual plan of work, AFF is recruiting one expert to undertake a review of the above knowledge products to improve their quality prior to the dissemination to forestry stakeholders in Africa and beyond. Furthermore, the review shall also include production of a regional synthesis/overview for each type of knowledge products mentioned above.

PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

Review and  edit the above mentioned knowledge products and develop regional synthesis including technical report, journal paper, policy brief and fact sheet that will contribute to strengthening capacity of African forestry stakeholders to integrate and uptake forest and tree-based adaptation and mitigation options in response to climate change.

TASKS ON THE CONSULTANCY

The specific tasks for the assignment include:

  • Reviewing, editing and strengthening of 2 technical reports, 2 journal articles, 2 policy briefs and 2 fact sheets following guidelines developed by AFF to produce final versions ready for dissemination/publication.
  • Develop a regional synthesis highlighting the key issues to be considered at African-wide level   for the technical report, journal article, factsheet, and policy brief.

DURATION

The tasks in this TOR are one person-month workload commencing on 1st July 2021 and spread over a period of two months. The consultant shall work from own location but in close consultation with relevant staff at the AFF Secretariat.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

  • Have at least a PhD degree in natural resources management, forestry, environment management or any related area.
  • Be an expert with proven knowledge and at least five years regional experience in the broad areas of forestry and including issues related to climate change, sustainable development and natural resources management.
  • Have good scientific writing skills with an extended list of publications in high impact factor journals.
  • Experience as an editor or being in an editorial board of a relevant journal will be an added advantage.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and/or French.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

  • Reviewed and clean revised technical reports (2), journal articles (2), policy briefs (2) and fact sheets (2).
  • One regional synthesis, based on the two technical reports.

HOW TO APPLY

Please email, and attach your application containing:

  • Cover letter stating how you meet the above qualifications and experience requirements.
  • Curriculum vitae

With the subject line: “Consultancy no 2.1.1.1.Expert to review knowledge products on forest and tree based integration of adaptation and mitigation options in response to climate change” to: Professor Marie Louise Avana-Tientcheu through m.avana@cgiar.org, and Dr Daud Jones Kachamba through D.Kachamba@cgiar.org with a copy to Professor Godwin Kowero at   g.kowero@cgiar.org and exec.sec@afforum.org

Application deadline is 20th June 2021

To download the Terms of Reference, click here.