Daphine Gitonga

Call for Consultancy Services: 

Review and analysis of past and ongoing initiatives to enhance the interest of youth and young professionals on forest and wildlife profession and education

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 initiatives to enhance interest of youth and young professionals on forest and wildlife profession and education, with particular emphasis on lessons learnt; (ii) Identify and propose key actionable areas on this thematic priority (forest and wildlife profession and education) for consideration in the next session of AFWC.

BACKGROUND

Africa has an estimated 624 million ha of forest, 98.8 percent of which are natural forests[1] hosting a large number of wildlife population. Forests and wildlife are the lifeblood of Africa, particularly for over 60 percent of the population residing in rural areas but in recent years, the effects of climate change, deforestation, and poaching have devastated its rich biodiversity and the livelihoods of millions of vulnerable people[2][3]. Additionally, the illegal trade in Africa’s natural resources deprives African States of revenues, hindering economic growth (AUC Wildlife Strategy).  These factors call for stakeholders to step up efforts to combat climate change, restore Africa’s forests of all types, including in its fragile drylands and islands, and safeguard its diverse biodiversity.

For sustainable natural resources management, engagement of all gender groups is a prerequisite. Particularly, the active engagement of youth in sustainable development efforts is central to achieving sustainable, inclusive and stable societies by the target date, and to averting the worst threats and challenges to sustainable development, including the impacts of climate change, unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, conflict, and migration[4]. Africa has the youngest population in the world with more than 400 million young people aged between the ages of 15 to 35 years[5]. This young population is an asset in addressing environmental issues; however, there is need of adequate education, and raised in interest in related professions.

In this context, and within the framework of the AFF-FAO collaboration, AFF is recruiting an expert to carry out a desk-review on past and ongoing initiatives to enhance interest of youth and young professionals on forest and wildlife profession and education in the region.

PURPOSE OF THE WORK

The purpose of this assignment is to conduct a review and analysis of past and ongoing initiatives to enhance interest of youth and young professionals on forest and wildlife profession and education and identify lessons learnt and good approaches. This should allow to identify and propose key actionable areas on the thematic of forest and wildlife profession and education for consideration in the next session of the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission (AFWC).

SPECIFIC TASKS

The expert will collate, review and analyze past and ongoing interventions which addressed (or are addressing) the issue of climate change as it pertains to the field of forestry and wildlife.

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) related to youth and young professionals on forest and wildlife profession and education; and build a database of those documents.
  • Reviewing and analysing the documents gathered to extract information on objectives of the interventions, 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, wildlife science / management, 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 / wildlife 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 management, climate change or any related field;
  • Demonstrable knowledge / network with forestry and wildlife management institutions in Africa;
  • Have proven skills and experience in writing technical reports and the like, on topics related to sustainable forest and wildlife management, or related areas.
  • 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 “Call for consultancy services on review and analysis of past and ongoing initiatives to enhance the interest of youth and young professionals on forest and wildlife profession and education” 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] FAO. 2022. The State of the World’s Forests 2022. Forest pathways for green recovery and building inclusive, resilient and sustainable economies. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb9360en

[2] https://www.fao.org/africa/news/detail-news/en/c/1265434/

[3] https://www.iucn.org/story/202211/wildlife-changing-climate

[4] UN 2018. World Youth Report: Youth and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, UN, New York

[5] https://au.int/en/youth-development