Daphine Gitonga

Call for Consultancy Services:

Review and analysis of past and ongoing interventions addressing climate change in the African forestry and wildlife sectors

INTRODUCTION

The African Forest Forum (AFF) is a pan-African non-governmental organization with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The purpose of AFF is to provide a platform and create an enabling environment for independent and objective analysis, advocacy and advice on relevant policy and technical issues pertaining to achieving sustainable management, use and conservation of Africa’s forest and tree resources as part of efforts to eradicate poverty, promote gender equality, economic and social development and stability of the environment.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. The goal of FAO is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 members – 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

The African Forestry and Wildlife Commission (AFWC) is one of the six regional forestry commissions of FAO. Its purpose is to advise on the formulation of forest and wildlife management policy and to review and coordinate its implementation at the regional level; to exchange information and, generally through special Subsidiary Bodies, advise on suitable practices and action in regard to technical problems; and to make appropriate recommendations in relation to the foregoing.

At the 24th Session of the AFWC which took place in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania from 30 October to 3 November 2023, the Commission requested FAO to advance the work on the AFWC thematic areas by working with experts and other partners in Africa, mobilize resources and develop national, subregional and regional projects/programme.

It is in this context that FAO has signed a Letter of Agreement with AFF to provide support to the AFWC 2024 programme of work with respect to the thematic areas on “Climate change” and “Promoting forest and wildlife education and profession in Africa”.

This collaboration between FAO and AFF with regard to the AFWC work in these thematic areas has several objectives, including: (i) Carry out desk review of past and ongoing interventions addressing climate change in the African forestry and wildlife sectors, with particular emphasis on lessons learnt; (ii) Identify and propose key actionable areas on this thematic priority (climate change) for consideration in the next session of AFWC and (iii) Develop a regional framework for implementation of FAO climate change strategy while taking into account support to the African Union Commission (AUC) to develop framework for implementation of the Nairobi Declaration.

BACKGROUND

Climate change is severely affecting agrifood systems[1] and related ecosystems and these combine to affect livelihoods, as demonstrated by the negative impacts on poverty, food security and nutrition. In addition, the agrifood systems also adversely affect climate change through unsustainable food production practices (FAO, 2022)[2]. In this context, climate change therefore presents unprecedented challenges to the survival of humans, animals, plant life and ecosystems (AUC, 2022)[3]. The continent requires considerable support to build the necessary climate resilience, adaptation and mitigation so that it can sustainably manage the agrifood systems that are key for meeting the growing demand for nutritious and safe food, and other agricultural products and services. Fortunately, several institutions, including AFF and FAO, have recognized this need and are developing initiatives to address climate change challenges in Africa.

In this regard, FAO developed a Strategy on Climate Change for the period 2022-2031[4] whose vision is “Agrifood systems are sustainable, inclusive, resilient and adaptive to climate change and its impacts and contribute to low-emission economies while providing sufficient, safe and nutritious foods for healthy diets, as well as other agricultural products and services, for present and future generations, leaving no one behind”. Under this strategy, the FAO’s support targets: (1) capacity development; (2) strategic partnerships; (3) inclusive approaches; (4) new policies, practices, and technologies and (5) improved access to financing. This strategy is structured around three pillars focusing on action at (i) global and regional, (ii) country and (iii) local levels. To guide the implementation of this strategy FAO developed for the period 2022-2025, the “FAO Action Plan for the Climate Change Strategy”[5] that defines, the action areas to be undertaken at global, regional, national and local levels to ensure agricultural and food related climate actions are effectively implemented and scaled up.

Coincidentally, the axes of the Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan of the African Union (2022-2032)[6] for the whole of Africa also focus on governance and policy reforms as well as pathways and means for transformative climate resilient development with the overall objective to “Build the resilience of African communities, ecosystems and economies, and supporting regional adaptation”.

Moreover, the African Leaders Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action”[7] adopted at the latest Africa Climate Summit also include urgent collective actions relevant to food systems, natural resources, and environment.

The above global and regional strategies are frameworks for guiding actions to contain climate change globally and on the continent. They also call for stocktaking on the past and ongoing interventions to capitalize on lessons learnt and best practices.

In this context, and within the framework of the AFF-FAO collaboration, AFF is recruiting an expert to carry out a desk-review capturing and analyzing lessons learnt, good approaches, and information on past and ongoing programmes and initiatives on climate change in the African forestry and wildlife sectors.

PURPOSE OF THE WORK

The purpose of this assignment is to conduct a review and analysis of past and ongoing programmes / initiatives on climate change in forestry and wildlife sectors in the Africa region that could support / inform the implementation of FAO Climate change strategy, the African Union Climate Change Strategy, as well as the African Leaders Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action. This should allow to (i) identify and propose key actionable areas on the thematic area of climate change for consideration in the next session of the AFWC and (ii) develop a regional framework for implementation of FAO Climate Change Strategy while providing inputs to support AUC to develop a framework for implementation of the Nairobi Declaration.

SPECIFIC TASKS

The expert will collate, review, and analyze past and ongoing interventions addressing climate change in the African forestry and wildlife sectors.

Specifically, the tasks will consist in:

  • Mapping major institutions / organisations working on forestry and wildlife in African countries and sub-regions
  • Gathering from the above institutions / organisations, through direct contacts and searches on websites, all documentation related to programmes and initiatives they have (or had) on climate change in forestry and wildlife; and build a database of those documents.
  • Reviewing and analysing the documents gathered to extract information on objectives of the interventions (climate issues being addressed), approaches, achievements and lessons learnt, challenges faced and solutions to address them (or possible solutions), and key actionable areas for consideration in the next session of AFWC.
  • Preparing a report synthesising the above findings.

DELIVERABLES

The expert will be expected to deliver the following at the end of the consultancy period:

  • A technical report of about 40-pages, synthesising the above findings particularly the lessons learnt from the past and ongoing interventions reviewed and the key actionable areas for consideration in the next session of AFWC; the outline of the report will be agreed upon with AFF.
  • A policy brief.
  • A fact sheet.
  • A data base of all documents related to programmes / initiatives reviewed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

This consultancy is meant for experts demonstrating the following qualifications and skills:

  • At least a master’s degree in forestry, natural resource management or any related area, with experience in climate change, a PhD will be an added advantage.
  • At least five years’ working experience in sustainable forest management in the context of climate change;
  • Demonstrable experiences in conducting reviews and analysing scientific, technical and policy documents as well as associated tools in the field of forestry, wildlife and climate change or any related field;
  • Demonstrable knowledge / network with forestry, wildlife and climate change institutions in Africa;
  • Have proven skills and experience in writing technical reports and the like, on topics related to sustainable forest / wildlife management, climate change adaptation and mitigation.
  • Excellent communication skills in English. Knowledge of French is an added advantage.

 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

The applicant shall submit the following:

  • A brief and concise technical proposal (not more than 3 pages) highlighting the methodological approach for undertaking the assignment, containing:
    • An initial list of major institutions / organisations whose interventions will be reviewed; the list will be further developed during the assignment;
    • The methodology for reviewing and analysing the programmes / initiatives
  • Cover letter stating how the above qualifications and experience requirements are met.
  • Curriculum vitae, of not more than 6 pages, focusing on the most relevant trainings, skills and experiences to the current assignment.

 DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT

The workload of this assignment is one (1) man-month, commencing on April 15, 2024, and could spread over a maximum of two (2) months; the deliverables should be submitted no later than June 15, 2024. The expert will work from his/her own location but be in close consultation with relevant staff at the AFF Secretariat while keeping to an agreed delivery schedule.

DEADLINES

Applications must be received by the AFF Secretariat on or before 29 March 2024.

Consultancy activities must begin no later than April 15, 2024.

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be submitted by e-mail with the subject line: “Consultancy on “Review of past and on-going interventions addressing climate change in the African forestry and wildlife sectors” to Dr Djibril S. Dayamba through the following e-mail addresses: d.dayamba@cifor-icraf and copied to Dr. Daud Kachamba at d.kachamba@cifor-icraf and exec.sec@afforum.org.

To download the Terms of Reference, CLICK HERE.

[1] includes crops and livestock, forests and land use, fisheries and aquaculture.

[2] FAO. 2022. FAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022–2031. Rome.

[3] African Union climate change and resilient development strategy and action plan (2022-2032).

[4] https://www.fao.org/3/cc2274en/cc2274en.pdf

[5] https://www.fao.org/3/cc7014en/cc7014en.pdf

[6] 41959-doc-CC_Strategy_and_Action_Plan_2022-2032_08_02_23_Single_Print_Ready.pdf (au.int)

[7] https://au.int/sites/default/files/decisions/43124-Nairobi_Declaration_06092023.pdf