Background
Forests and trees provide goods and services that are key assets for reducing vulnerability to the effects of climate change and variability. For instance, at the global level, the role of forest and tree resources in climate change mitigation is appreciated and recognized through carbon sequestration. This has resulted in the development of forest and tree-based programmes at national level that aim at enhancing carbon sinks in response to their set Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Some of these programmes include designing and implementing activities that seek to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), promote clean development mechanisms (CDM) and other forest and tree-based adaptation and mitigation options. The integration of mitigation and adaptation options in response to climate change generate multiple benefits to different ecosystems.
For example, the implementation of REDD+ has been documented not only to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, but also to enhance conservation of biodiversity, sustainable management of forests and carbon stocks that contribute to adaptation goals. It is in this context that AFF in 2019 commissioned studies targeting the strengthening of the capacity of African forestry stakeholders to integrate and uptake adaptation and mitigation options in response to climate change in Anglophone, Lusophone and Francophone Africa.
The studies revealed that in Anglophone and Lusophone Africa, afforestation, reforestation, agroforestry/tree on farm or trees outside forests, conservation, establishment of wood lots, natural and assisted regeneration and general tree planting were among the successful activities that integrated mitigation and adaptation options. In Francophone Africa, large scale forestry practices like conservation, afforestation, reforestation and sustainable forest management as well as on farm tree-based practices were the activities that successfully demonstrated mitigation and adaptation benefits. There were various conditions that enabled successful implementation of forest and tree-based mitigation and adaptation options. These were: cross-sectoral collaboration; economic incentives; provision of livelihoods; capacity building addressing climate change; sound governance and institutional framework; monitoring and assessment; and finance and investment. Based on this assessment, AFF developed a framework for integrating forest and tree-based mitigation and adaptation (M+A) options in different landscapes.
The framework comprises of key measures and criteria that need to be considered at each critical point/stage/Level in the policy process and in the course of developing and implementing programs and projects. For example, at the policy and institutional level, the focus should be on: promotion of inter- and intra-organizational collaboration and coordination; institutionalization of integrated M+A interventions and their promotion in current and future programs; enhancement of regulatory frameworks; development of financial and stakeholder’s awareness; and strengthening technical capacities on integrated M+A interventions. At the landscape level, the following measures need to be considered: maintaining or enhancing the health of forests ecosystems; developing and monitoring robust carbon and adaptation indicators; and demonstrating the need to plan for forestry and tree-based interventions in mitigation and adaptation options.
In view of this, AFF aims to assess the extent to which various measures and criteria are implemented in forest and tree-based programmes, projects and activities integrating mitigation and adaptation with an intention of strengthening capacity of stakeholders to undertake and report on M+A.
Rationale and purpose of the work
The African Forest Forum in its annual work plan 2020 on the “African Forests, People and Climate Change” project, is recruiting five (5) national experts one each from Zambia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo to undertake, in line with the developed framework, field appraisal of activities on the implementation of forest and tree-based adaptation and mitigation options in different landscapes and forest types (rain forest, mountains, mangroves, woodland and savanna, and parklands of the Sahel). This field appraisal is expected to generate knowledge that could guide stakeholders in African forestry to successfully implement activities that integrate mitigation and adaptation options using the developed framework for effective reporting in their NDCs and other national plans and programmes.
Specific tasks
Within the context of existing forest types (rain forest, mangroves, woodland and savanna, parklands of the Sahel) in selected countries, the experts will;
(i) Identify national, sub national and local programmes and projects that are implementing integrated forest-based adaptation and mitigation policies, strategies and actions;
(ii) Identify national, sub national and local programmes and projects that are implementing integrated on farm tree-based adaptation and mitigation activities in areas around the chosen forest type through Agroforestry and other Farm-based Management of Natural resources (FMNR) approaches;
Appraise the programmes and projects activities in line with the framework developed by AFF on the implementation of integrated forest and tree-based adaptation and mitigation options in different landscapes and forest types;
Analyse challenges that stakeholders who are implementing integrated forest and tree-based adaptation and mitigation options in different landscapes and forest types might face in reporting using the developed framework;
(v) Identify suitable strategies that can be employed to support effective implementation of the developed framework for integrating forest and tree-based adaptation and mitigation options in different landscapes; and
Review/contextualise/adapt the framework developed by AFF and based on the outcomes from (iv-vi) above in order to facilitate its use for effective reporting on integration of forest and tree-based mitigation and adaptation options in the chosen forest/agroforest types.
Deliverables
The experts will be expected to deliver the following at the end of the consultancy period:
(i) About 20-30-page report on the task;
(ii) At least one journal article to be published together with staff at Secretariat who will get involved in this work;
(iii) A draft policy brief to be finalized together with the staff at Secretariat who will get involved in this work;
(iv) A draft fact sheet to be finalised together with the staff at Secretariat who will get involved in this work; and
(v) A reviewed framework for integration of adaptation and mitigation options in response to climate change adapted, and based on selected country context as well as on existing forest and agroforests types
Minimum qualifications and skills
The interested applicant should meet the following minimum qualifications and skills:
(i) Be a research scientist with proven knowledge and at least 5 years’ experience in forestry and climate change in Africa;
(ii) Be knowledgeable on current and emerging issues in forestry, more specifically climate change;
Have good and demonstrated experience in forest policy and management in Africa;
Have good scientific writing skills and have at least written a book chapter and published peer reviewed journal papers;
(v) Have a master’s degree in any of the following areas: forestry, natural resources management, environmental issues, rural development, climate change, or any related area;
A PhD will be an added advantage; and
Have an excellent written and oral communication skills in English for Anglophone and French for francophone Africa.
Application requirements
The applicant shall submit the following:
(i) Cover letter stating how the above qualifications and experience requirements are met.
(ii) A brief proposal/concept note containing:
key results area and corresponding activities;
draft work plan (clear deliverables plotted against work weeks for each key results); and
(iii) Curriculum vitae.
Duration
The work will take 1-person month spread over a period of two calendar months.
Deadlines
- Applications must be received by the AFF Secretariat on or before 20th August 2020.
- Successful applicants will be informed by 2 September 2020.
- Based on the situation in selected countries, the consultancy activities are expected to begin no later than 15th September 2020. The selected consultants are expected to develop outlines of their assignments and discuss them at a Skype meeting that will be held on 10-11th September 2020 to harmonize the methodologies.
How to apply
All applications must be submitted by e-mail with the subject line: “Consultancy No: 02-1112 “Strengthening capacity of African forestry stakeholders on the implementation of forest and tree-based adaptation and mitigation options in different landscapes” to Dr. Marie Louise A. T. Avana-Tientcheu and Dr. Doris Mutta of the AFF Secretariat through the following e-mail addresses: m.avana@cgiar.org and d.mutta@cgiar.org and copied to Prof. Godwin Kowero (g.kowero@cgiar.org) and to exec.sec@afforum.org.
To download the Terms of Reference, click on the following links: