Call for Consultancy Services: Assessing traditional and indigenous knowledge on forest and tree-based food species in biodiversity hotspots in Africa
BACKGROUND
This consultancy study aims to better understand traditional and indigenous knowledge on forest and tree-based food species’, their conservation status, utilisation and sustainable management practices in biodiversity hotspots, with the view to assist in designing measures and approaches for sustaining their supply and enhancing their access for forest adjacent communities and beyond. The study will involve ethnobotanical surveys of communities living in and adjacent to biodiversity hotspots across different forest types on food species exploited from forest and tree-based systems including an assessment of traditional and indigenous knowledge associated with their uses, and management practices. Documenting traditional knowledge is essential for biodiversity conservation, helps preserve cultural heritage, provides critical information for improving management of biodiversity that could secure wild species of foods for further domestication, and for future agricultural development.
RATIONALE
For its plan of work for 2024, AFF plans to conduct studies to document traditional and indigenous knowledge on forest and tree-based food species in forest biodiversity hotspots with the view to inform the designing of measures and approaches for sustaining their supply and enhancing their access for the people living in and adjacent to forest biodiversity hotspots. For this, AFF is recruiting five national experts one per country to undertake country studies in five forest biodiversity hotspots in Africa. There will be one study per biodiversity hotspot to be selected from the following; Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands; Guinean Forests of West Africa; Eastern Afromontane; Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa; Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany and Horn of Africa. Each of the five national experts will cover one biodiversity hotspot.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
Undertake studies to document traditional and indigenous knowledge on forest and tree-based food species in selected biodiversity hotspots covering different forest types, their conservation status, uses, management and sustainable supply practices.
SPECIFIC TASKS
1. Document forest and tree-based food species and associated traditional and indigenous knowledge on their conservation status and uses across different forest types in the selected biodiversity hotspot.
2. Assess the supply and/or production trends of the forest and tree-based food products in the biodiversity hotspot and existing mechanisms for such supply.
3. Analyse traditional management practices for sustaining forest and tree-based food species across different forest types in the biodiversity hotspot.
4. evaluate existing measures and approaches including national policies for promoting the use and sustaining the access and supply of forest and tree-based food products in the biodiversity hotspots.
5. Identify opportunities for integrating traditional knowledge and practices into modern conservation and sustainable development strategies for the forest and tree-based food species.
6. Based on the above tasks recommend intervention measures including strategies to enhance the access and sustainable supply of forest and tree-based food products for the selected biodiversity hotspot.
EXPECTED DELIVERABLES
a) A detailed report comprising about forty (40) pages, which comprehensively addresses the assigned tasks and key result areas, excluding references, and annexes;
b) A policy brief, and a fact sheet to be finalised in collaboration with relevant staff at the AFF Secretariat.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
• Have at least a master’s degree in forestry, ethnobotany, agriculture, environmental management, or any related area; a PhD will be an added advantage.
• Be a regional expert with broad knowledge and at least five years’ post MSc experience in forestry, natural resources management or social anthropology in Africa;
• Have good writing skills and have published peer reviewed journal papers; and at least written a book chapter, and
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English or French.
DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT
The tasks in this ToRs are for one and a half person‐months of workload, commencing on 02 December 2024 and spread over a period of six months. The consultant shall work from their location but be in close consultation with relevant staff at the AFF Secretariat while keeping to agreed delivery schedule.
HOW TO APPLY
Please email, quoting the title and number of this consultancy on the subject line and attach a proposal containing:
• Cover letter stating how you meet the above qualifications and experience requirements.
• A methodological note (of 4 pages max) indicating for each key result area, corresponding specific activities and methodology for executing them;
• A data matrix listing information needs plotted against data sources;
• A draft work plan (clear deliverables plotted against work weeks for each key result);
• A tentative table of contents for the technical report with corresponding number of pages; and
• An updated CV.
Please apply, with the subject line: “CONSULTANCY SERVICES NO 05-1.1.6 AFF – “ASSESSING TRADITIONAL AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE ON FOREST AND TREE-BASED FOOD SPECIES IN BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS IN AFRICA: CONSERVATION STATUS, UTILISATION AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES” and indicating for which biodiversity hotspot and country you are applying for, to Dr Doris Mutta at d.mutta@cifor-icraf.org and Dr Djibril Dayamba at d.dayamba@cifor-icraf.org with a copy to exec.sec@afforum.org
Application deadline is 17 November 2024. Only successful applicants will be contacted.
For more information, download the Terms of Reference, HERE.