Regional Land and Forest Sector Action Plan for SWEPR State

Location:  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Grade: Individual Consultant 5

Job Description

IC: Regional Land and Forest Sector Action Plan for SWEPR State

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.

The land and natural resources, particularly forests in the Southwest Ethiopia Peoples’ Regional States are identified as hotspot areas in terms of biodiversity resources and recognized as key ecosystems in the country. The forest and water resource of the region plays a significant role in terms of poverty eradication through supplying basic needs and acting as a safety-net for the rural poor, enabling job creation and income diversification. The SWEPR forests and wetlands provide habitat for a rich and endemic floral and faunal biodiversity. Due to the diversity of its terrain and ecosystems, rich forest resources, high amounts of rainfall and fertile soils, the region is considered as one of the most food secure/ high potential regions in the country. The forests also contribute to Ethiopia’s GDP, earning significant foreign currency through product export (for example Coffee and Honey) and import substitutions (furniture). The water resources of the Region contribute to the key southwest watershed providing critical water source for the Gelgel-Gibe hydroelectric dam network, as well as international cross broad water resources for Kenya and South Sudan.

However, despite these significant values and the significant efforts being made to establish sustainable natural resource forest management systems to maintain the SWEPR Forest resources, forest resource mining, deforestation and forest degradation are putting the biodiversity rich natural forest and water ecosystems of the area at risk, which in turn endangers the livelihoods of forest dependent communities and the resilience of the people and the natural ecosystems. A complex mix of poor land management policy and practices, and the lack of regional, zonal and woreda land use plans combined with expanding socio-economic pressures, current ‘under-development’ status and legal and institutional issues are all major factors that contribute to land, forest and water resource degradation, deforestation and land use change in the region. As a result, the SWEPR’s biodiversity and natural resources are under sever threat.

There have been some efforts by the regional government to address these challenges of sustainable forest and water development in the area, where different forest development strategies, actions and initiatives have been implemented by multiple GO and NGO actors. However, as deforestation and land degradation and resource depletion persist, the efforts are not able to fully address the forest development challenges. It is clear that more comprehensive and coordinated efforts are needed.

GGGI and its partners recognize the efforts and commitment of the regional government to conserve and develop the natural resources of the area, and their willingness to contribute to the conservation and sustainable management of the forest resources in the region. In this regard, GGGI and its partners secured financial support from SIDA in 2022 and have been implementing the ‘Conservation and Sustainable Management of Forested Landscapes in Southwestern Ethiopia’ (CSMFL). Project in the Southwestern (SW) Ethiopia since December 2022. The purpose of the project is to contribute to the sustainable management of biodiversity-rich natural forests in SW Ethiopia, to improve ecosystem services and the livelihoods of communities living in and around forest landscapes in Southwestern Ethiopia. The project is implemented in partnership with the Environment and Coffee Forest Forum (ECFF), and the International Development Enterprise (iDE) and with a close collaboration of key national and regional government institutions, mainly with forest sector actors in the Southwestern Ethiopia. The Project is underway in Oromia and in Southwest Ethiopia Peoples’ Regional (SWEPR) States with in six zones: three in  Oromia (Jima, Buno Bedele and Mattu Zones) and in zones of SWEPR (Keffa, Dawro and Konta Zones) In each Zone, the project operates in two specific woredas with in two kebele that have been identified jointly by the government and the project.

Since its inception, the project is working on output deliverables that contribute to the attainment of the overall project goal and objectives ‘to contribute to the sustainable management and conservation of forested landscapes in SW Ethiopia for their climate, biodiversity, ecosystem services and economic benefits through gender transformative and socially inclusive approaches.

The project has conducted baseline studies of the intervention area, conflict sensitivity analysis, capacity need assessments. The project has also mapped key biodiversity areas in the region. All these studies have highlighted the need to have a holistic land use and forest action plan that considers the conservation and sustainable management of the natural resources along side the sustainable economic development of all sectors  within the region.

The baseline study[1] for the project is a starting point for this new study.  The study presents key socioeconomic data and analysis in terms of profiles of the area, assets ownership status, livelihoods status and income sources with a focus on forest resources. The baseline study also presents land use land cover change analysis results that showed the different land use types that exist in project intervention areas, the vegetation cover and deforestation status.

Another important and relevant assessment study done by the project is mapping[2] of key biodiversity areas within the project intervention area. The primary purpose of this assessment was to produce a detailed maps of the critical biodiversity zones within selected areas of Oromia and Southwest Ethiopia People’s Region (SWEPR) and to enhance the understanding of landscape and land use dynamics. The key biodiversity areas study allows the identification, prioritization, and strategization of conservation efforts for various ecosystems and habitat types within the project intervention area. The assessment included mapping ecosystems considering protection and threats, evaluating ecosystem degradation, and ground verification of identified habitats. The study showed that there is high degradation level within the project intervention area that need urgent and coordinated management support.  The study recommended an intervention to address the confounding challenges of natural resource conservation and livelihood development in the rural setup under the low capacity local context, as of critical importance.

Conflict sensitivity analysis[3] that worked to understand the sensitivity of the potential conflicts over the Participatory Forest Management (PFM) and anticipate implications for the ongoing project was another important study conducted by the project. The assessment employed key informant interviews, focus group discussions, case studies and desk reviews as an instrument to collect data, whereas thematic, interpretive and narrative methods were used for analysis. The assessment showed that there are conflicts among the forest users and the PFM practitioners that hamper the effectiveness of the approach. The study found out that in most degraded woredas, conflicts have emerged between local communities and recent settlers (like Manja, Anuak and Kaffa) as well as adjacent kebeles. In highly urbanizing woredas, disputes have occurred between local dwellers, furniture enterprises, private logging companies and forest coffee processing PLCs. The assessment indicated that shortage of fertile farm land, unemployment, rising demands of forest products and institutional gaps, resulting in poor participation, exclusions and disruption of customary laws, are the main causes for conflicts in the area. The conflict sensitivity study suggests that awareness raising, training and developing livelihood diversification strategies as key solutions to address conflicts.

Capacity Gap and Needs Assessment for Government Partners[4] of the Project is another study that was produced by the project with a consultancy service. The main objective of this capacity gap and need assessment was to conduct an objective and participatory assessment of existing technical and functional capacity needs among identified government partners to ensure effective implementation of conservation and sustainable management of forested landscape interventions and sustain its desired outcomes. In addition, the study assessed existing structures and coordination mechanisms in relation to the CSMFL project. The study employed the UNDP Capacity Assessment Framework as an analytical framework to comprehensive and systematic capacity need assessment. The assessment found out that project government partners face a serious limitation of capacity at individual, institutional and systems levels spanning technical and functional capacity areas.

The results of all the project studies have clearly indicated that there should be a robust Land use and forest management action plan that outlines strategic actions for the effective conservation, sustainable development and economic utilization of all natural resources, with the full and active engagement of the all relevant stakeholders. In line with this, one of the project outputs aims to strengthen the capacity of government partners to promote sustainable forest resource management. This output is based on the conception that enhancing the capacity of the public sector in sustainable forest management actions will contribute to the regional forest sector development in general and also to the achievement of the project objectives. In this regard, the project intends to support the development of an Integrated Sector Development, Land Use and Forest Management Action plan of the Southwest Ethiopia Peoples’ Regional State.

The intended Integrated Sector Development, Land Use and Forest Management Action plan will guide and direct how to conserve and sustainably manage the biodiversity of rich forest ecosystems, agricultural land, forest land and wetlands across the SWEPR. Critical to this work is addressing the key challenge of integration of natural resources, forest, farmlands, and wetlands into the ambitious socio-economic development plans of the Region. The Integrated Sector Development, Land Use and Forest management Action plan will design the integration of multiple development sectors with the aim of balanced environmental, social and economic outcomes to policy makers in the region.

PURPOSE, SCOPE AND ACTIVITIES OF THE ASSIGNEMENT

The objective of this assignment is to develop an Integrated Sector Development, Land Use and Forest Sector Action Plan that acts as a strategic tool for the effective governance and sustainable management of natural resource sector alongside and in balance other economic developmental sector growth in the SWEPR State.

Specifically, the assignment is to develop an Integrated Sector Development, Land Use and Forest Management Action Plan that;

• Ensures the biodiversity and critical natural resource bases of the SW region are sustainably managed as a mosaic of interrelated and interdependent land uses.
• Introduces professional and practicable planning and management standards, under the sustainable management themes of;
  • Sustainable Natural Resource Development.
  • Sustainable Natural Resource Protection.
  • Sustainable Natural Resource Utilization.
  • Sustainable Natural Resource Monitoring;
  • Ensures that sustainable developmental sector expansion is co-managed and balanced, so as to establish complementarity and compatibility between the Region’s demands and needs for Social (human and social capital), Economic (physical and financial capital) and Environmental (natural capital) sectors are met and benefits are optimized.
  • ensure conservation of the unique biodiversity resources and enhanced biodiversity within forest and wet land ecosystems,
  • ensure engagement of all relevant governance stakeholders, working in collaboration and coordination of various sectors / communities and interest groups actors/stakeholders with clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
  • ensure policy alignment of the Integrated Land Use and Forest Actions Plan with federal and regional policy, strategy and regulations,
  • explore opportunities on promoting the economic value of forests through sustainable forestry practices, ecotourism, and non-timber forest products including carbon,
  • Outline a mechanism for Forest resource valuation and monitoring (MRV) aligned with Forest Carbon trading national strategies
  • Investigate PES strategies that recognize and value the water resource values associated with the sustainably managed forest areas.

Methodology

The following key activities should be part of the methodology that have to be considered in the preparation of the Integrated Sector Development, Land Use and Forestry action plan. The work is divided into two Phases of work, as set out below;

Phase 1, Integrated Sector Development, Land Use and Forest Sector Action Plan

Document review and analysis: Secondary Data Analysis.

• • Assessing the current state of the developmental sectors. A thorough analysis of the existing developmental sectors and the overall management practices in place and potential to the regional socioeconomic development. This includes analyzing land use patterns, forest cover and sectoral development levels.
  • Review of relevant national/regional policies, strategies, for land use planning and sustainable development planning and institutional arrangements and capacities that influence land and forest management.
  • Review of the Government and Non-Government Developmental Sector policy and project studies and project documents, compiled over the last 25-years period
  • Other relevant grey Literature review

Stakeholders’ consultation and engagement

• • • Identifying and work with key stakeholders, including government agencies and sectors, Universities, local communities, private sector actors and NGOs, to understand their perspectives, gather input for the action plan and identify roles and responsibilities in the joint implementation of the action plan.

Developing sustainable developmental sector plans and sector management strategies and actions:

• • Identify key Issues: Focus on critical issues such as land administration, investment land allocation, protected areas, agricultural and forest land interfaces, deforestation and forest degradation, water resource polluntion, climate change, biodiversity conservation, and community livelihoods.
  • Identify specific strategies and actions to achieve the goals and objectives set in the action plan. This will include sustainable developmental sector plans, land use planning and zoning capacity building programs and community engagement.

Phase 2: Integrated Sector Development, Land Use and Forest Management Action Plan

• Land and resource allocation: determine the financial, human, and technical resources required to implement the proposed Action plan strategies.
• Action Plan – work plans development
  • Action Items: break strategies down into actionable items, specifying tasks, responsibilities, timelines, and required resources.
  • Integration: ensure alignment with related sectors such as agriculture, livestock, investment
  • Risk Management: identify potential risks and develop mitigation plans.

Developing a monitoring mechanism

• • • Sector based monitoring systems
    • Performance Indicators: Establish metrics to measure progress toward objectives and the effectiveness of strategies
    • Develop systems to track progress, measure outcomes, and make adjustments as needed to ensure the effectiveness of the action plan.

Stakeholders’ consultation and validating workshop

• • • Workshops should be organized at different levels to gain input on the draft forest sector action plan and validate the final action plan with relevant stakeholders
  • Plan Development and Reporting: Compile a comprehensive report that describes the Forest Sector Action Plan process, the activities and the results of the assignment, detailing participants and the producers.

DELIVERABLES AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

A comprehensive report must be written in English, formatted according to GGGI guidelines, and submitted in hard copy and electronic form, along with complete sets of raw data, research materials, and interview notes and approved by GGGI. The consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables under the overall supervision of the Project leader.

• Master’s degree or above in forestry, natural resource management, biodiversity, rural development or related field of study
• Minimum of ten years of experience in the area of sustainable forest management and sustainable land management in research and development,
• Proven track record of publication of articles in natural resource management
• Firsthand experience in preparing high level strategies and  action plans
• Knowledge and experience in forest and agriculture related policies of the country and the southeastern Ethiopia
• Demonstrated experience of working with Government and local communities
• Good experience in preparing comprehensive reports and presentations
• Excellent command of spoken and written English.

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