TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) TO CONDUCT CASE COLLECTION ON ALTERNATIVES FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE

ActionAid Ethiopia (AAE) is a gender justice, good governance, and poverty eradication international organization. It envisions a country where all enjoys their rights equally and live a dignified life. Its heart lies on gender equality where it designs its frameworks and operations on women’s and girls’ living in poverty and exclusion, young people’s meaningful engagement to fulfil their rights, ensure redistribution of resources and build their resilience. Its interventions are guided by the Human Rights Based Approach, Transformative Feminist Leadership, and Intersectional Feminist Analysis program approaches.

AAE has been implementing programs in Ethiopia under both humanitarian and development contexts for about 33 years. AAE prioritizes to work with Women and Girls and their organizations, networks, civil society organizations, national and local government, and other allies to overcome gender injustice and structural causes of poverty. We engage at national level policy works to influence the agendas of women and girls to tackle gender injustice. And we connect our work from communities to national and international level by leading and actively engaging in policy agenda for greater contribution towards a just, equitable and sustainable life.

1. Introduction and Background

Climate crisis and climate Justice

Climate crisis threatens people with food and water scarcity, increased flooding, extreme heat, more disease, and economic loss and as a result human migration and conflict can emerge through time. Moreover, women and girls are among vulnerable group for the effect of the challenge.

Countries and communities that have done the least to cause the climate problem are the ones facing the worst impacts. It is therefore urgent that the world not only stops future Climate crisis, but also protects the lives and livelihoods of people in the Global South who are already suffering the impacts of Climate crisis.

Climate justice recognizes the climate crisis as a social and political problem, economic, as well as an environmental one and it acknowledges that different communities feel the effects of the climate crisis differently, and that the responsibility for the crisis rests with some countries and companies more than others.

AA Climate justice: “Links human rights and development to achieve a human-centred approach, safeguarding the rights of the most vulnerable people and sharing the burdens and benefits of Climate crisis and its impacts equitably and fairly. Climate justice is informed by science, responds to science, and acknowledges the need for equitable stewardship of the world’s resources.”

Thus, considering climate is the current big international and national challenge, ActionAid is working towards climate justice and equity by supporting vulnerable people and communities around the world to help them to make their livelihoods, food, homes, and safety more resilient to Climate crisis.  At the country level AAE also provided a big attention and put ‘’Strengthening Resilient livelihoods and promote climate justice and working with climate affected young people/especially young women, their organizations and networks through local partners and local rights programs’’ as one of the programs priorities to address the impact of Climate crisis on the life and livelihood of the most vulnerable community.

To increasing the understanding of community and government stakeholders, major interventions that were done in the recent years include: –

§  Capacity building & awareness creation for women, young people, community, civil society and stakeholder on Climate crisis impact and adaptation,

§  Build understanding and collective engagement of communities and CSOs around climate justice,

§  Participation of communities, women, youth, and civil society in the process of national planning,

§  Engage and use regional climate weeks as an opportunity for women farmers, youth, activists, and media to raise alternatives (such as agroecology) as climate solution, contribute to the global climate movement and policy submits,

§  Youth group formation and trained them as a change agent, and establishing young women climate justice champions,

§  Community mobilization and mass awareness creation using different media.

On the other hand, the two complementary strategies for dealing with Climate crisis, Adaptation (Managing the effects of Climate crisis and reducing risks and vulnerabilities) and mitigation, (Reducing the level or rate of greenhouse gas /GHG emissions that cause Climate crisis) intervention through applying agroecological principles were practiced in two of our local right programs (LRPs) in Amhara and Oromia regions. Local seed multiplication, compost preparation and working on soil fertility, ecological friendly seedling preparation and plantation, watershed management, production of energy saving stoves and the likes were the major interventions implemented on the ground.

In relation to this, AAE with the support of AADK’ Global Programme on Climate Justice has planned to collect best Alternative cases that are community youth or women led/owned on Climate crisis response and climate justice initiatives that promote resilience and reduce emission implemented by both ActionAid and other likeminded organization in the country.  Using the collected Alternative cases/ best practices AAE And AADK through SPA II project, will plan for scaling up, scaling deep and scaling out the initiatives and same time works on mobilizing, developing, promoting, and shifting resources towards identified viable local alternatives led by climate affected women and youths.

Therefore, this ToR is developed for the purpose of facilitating the case collection on viable Alternative interventions in Climate crisis response and climate justice in the energy and agriculture sector implemented by both AAE and other likeminded organization in the country.

2.      Objective of the study

The aim of the case collection /assessment is to collect and analyse case related to alternative interventions towards addressing the impact of Climate crisis both around energy and food system and alternatives works towards power shifting to young people, particularly young women, to respond to climate crises and reduce vulnerabilities. Specifically, ActionAid Ethiopia is looking for:

1.      Systems for renewable energy production and consumption that lower greenhouse gas emissions, improve resilience, and benefits the victims of climate change. This could be:

i.  Sources of energy that can replace current fossil fuel consumption,

ii. Practices and models for decentralization and democratization of processes of production and management of utilities,

iii. Community practices and ownership models or

iv. New technologies benefitting the communities we work for directly.

2.      Sustainable models that are owned and/or led by local communities (women and youth) and are in line with the principles for a just transition and Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture (CRSA). These alternative models can be for producing, processing, distributing food that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance (bio)diversity, respect traditions, and improves equity and/or working practices for re-claiming and managing natural resources.

3.      Scope of the Alternative case collection

AAE has planned to collect cases and /or best practices identified as viable local alternatives /solutions for Climate crisis on the lives and livelihood of the vulnerable community group and climate justice practices so far practiced in  Ethiopia through ActionAid and other Governmental or different non-governmental organizations, the private sector SMEs, CSOs and local communities. Alternatives for climate crisis include issues related with harmful industrial agriculture and pollutions in the energy sector; hence, the alternatives cases that are going to be collected should focus on sustainable models that are owned and/or led by local communities, and systems for renewable energy production and consumption that lower greenhouse gas emissions, improves resilience and benefits of the victim of climate crisis.

The consultant will have discussion sessions with responsible national level organizations, community organisations eg. SACCOs, cooperatives, SMEs led or owned by youth and women and ministerial offices to collect practical experiences on the specific cases using the already developed case collection tool. Alternatives on Energy and food system will be explored with credible evidence, pictures, videos communities’ testimony, online links and other sources of supporting evidence.

The consultant is expected to conduct the assessment in the country where best experience in the area is found. Using the already developed case collection tool, the assessment will collect and analyse data covering the following areas:

1.      Alternatives/best practices around energy / solar energy, energy saving technologies and etc……/ and develop cases that can qualify and exemplify work on climate justice,

2.      Alternatives in the area of food system, agroecology work and the likes that help  to adapt and mitigate the impact of the Climate crisis on the life and livelihood of vulnerable community group.

3.      The alternatives ecosystem (donor/funders/development agencies supporting or funding alternatives in agriculture and energy sectors), funding available, what the barriers faced by the alternative cases implemented, existing gaps (financial, technical assistance or capacity building), opportunities and what key lessons have been learned.

4.      Experience related to power shift that supporting a just transition towards social justice and sustainability by promoting local initiatives and capacity.

A. Desk Review

a)   Review relevant research publications (2018 to date), reports, websites e.g. For incubators, mentorship programmes and accelerators, and other literature that have a bearing on alternatives to identify 10 – 15 alternative cases implemented and or planned in Ethiopia and fill the developed alternative case collection tool for each of the identified alternative cases.

b)   Review the literature to identify the ecosystem (donor/funders/development agencies supporting or funding alternatives in agriculture and energy sectors), funding available, barriers faced by the alternative cases implemented, existing gaps (financial, technical assistance or capacity building), opportunities and what key lessons have been learned that ActionAid Nigeria can consider.

c)    Review of literature on international best practices alternatives and sustainable business models and the degree to which they can be adapted to the Ethiopian environment.

B.      Conduct Key Informant Interviews

a)   Identify 10 -15 alternatives key informants (with local communities, CSOs, private sector, accelerators, incubators, mentorship programmes, government, development agencies, and industry associations) that are implementing or planning and or supporting implementation of alternative cases) to be interviewed. Informants are expected to be from a range of institutions in CSOs including ActionAid, the private sector, public sectors, donor/development partners’ community, incubators, accelerators, mentorship programme as well as the NGOs etc.

b)   Undertake in-depth key informant interviews (either physically or using telephone calls or online platform calls) to establish good alternative cases in agriculture and energy sectors or supplement the desk research and verify existence of the identified alternative cases as well as identify what the barriers, donors or funders, gaps, opportunities, and key lessons are.

During the alternatives case collection task, the consultant/s should adhere with the principles of no false solutions for the climate crisis, analyse shifting power with the alternatives, ensure alternatives work and spread across boundaries by having transformative natures.

5.  Methodology

a) Preparatory works

Prior to actual assessment data collection, the selected consultant/s (in collaboration with AAE and organized young peoples) must undertake preparatory works, including but not limited to:  Signing of contract between AAE and the consultant(s), including a mutually agreed assessment methodology and budget. 

b) Data Collection

c) Tools for data collection

Various data collection instruments may be used, including secondary-data checklists, key informant interviews, case studies, photographs, and recordings. Use of online data collection system or application is essential. Based on this TOR and specific recommendations of the consultants at the design stage/inception report, ActionAid Ethiopia will approve the agreed tools and methodologies prior to the commencement of the assessment.

d) Use of data collection teams (enumerators/ young peoples)

The consultant engages the young peoples as data collection team. The methodology should clearly describe how the consultant will ensure high quality, reliable data collection through local data collection teams. This should include a training plan, quality control measures and data collection and transcription processes that minimize the risk of data loss and error.

Ethically, the consultant/s should be compelled to AAE principles and polices to protect the rights of people and adhere to the below mentioned safeguarding and other guidelines.

6. Standards and Safeguarding

ActionAid expects this assessment to be carried out in line with ActionAid’s Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) and Evaluation Standards.

7.      Deliverables

I.  The case collection/Assessment report will provide AAE and AADK with the opportunity to verify that they share the same understanding about the case collection objectives. The inception report needs to demonstrate the consultant’ understanding of what is being studied and why, showing how each study question will be answered by way of an assessment based on proposed methods; proposed sources of data; and data collection procedures.

·       The 10 – 15 filled alternatives case collection tools.

·  Recommendation of 3-4 alternative cases that the consultant thinks are the best. The consultant must look at scalability and replicability, and if there is a way to amplify the projects.

·  The consultant should also look at what the projects need to succeed/ public funding, private funding, extension services, regulatory change,

· The criteria he or she used to choose them.

· The summary on the ecosystem, the best practices and Experience related to power shift that supporting a just transition towards social justice and sustainability by promoting local initiatives and capacity (that you included under the scope of work)

The assignment requires a highly qualified team of consultants who exhibit tremendous experiences in conducting the assessment, project/programme evaluation and assessments including dedication to work under pressure for positive results. The consultant/s is expected to fulfil the following key requirements:

 Essential Qualification and Experience:

·  PhD/MSc Degree in the field of Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Agroforestry/NRM rural development, Agricultural economics, and other relevant development related fields of studies.

·  Good knowledge of the global climate crisis effects and practical experiences related with agroecology and renewable works at regional and national levels.

· Previous experience of similar tasks and familiar with the national policy, laws, strategy, and guidelines related with climate crises adaptation and mitigation.

·  Familiar with the government, CSOs and private sectors who are working on environment protection, climate crises prevention and energy sector.

·  Ability to apply a range of primary and secondary research methods including participatory quantitative and qualitative methods.

·  Ability to analyse complex data and communicate findings using engaging, clear language and visual representations and proven relevant report-writing experience.

· Experience of using qualitative and quantitative data analysis packages

·  Experience in study design (both quantitative and qualitative methodologies) and managing field teams.

·  Academic specialization & technical expertise in livelihood, forestry agriculture and rural development and economics.

· Excellent communication skills with the ability to tailor communications to a range of audiences.

·  Bidders should attach their renewed trade license, VAT registration and TIN Number registration certificate.

·  The winner is required to comply with ActionAid’s SHEA and Safeguarding Polices which will be delivered to them together with the contract agreement and must be filled and returned to AAE. If the winner fails to do this, the award will be cancelled automatically.

·  The date for submission of tender document is on August 17, 2023, on or before 2:00 PM (bid closing time).

·  The full TOR can be acceded on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/actionaidethiopia

·  Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

·   ActionAid Ethiopia reserves the right to cancel all or any part of the bid.

Desirable

·  Understanding of Climate crisis impact on the nations and climate justice concept,

·  Experience of working with gender focused organizations and familiarity with Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA)and intersectional feminist analysis tools.

·  Experiences of Amhara, Oromia and AA is an advantage.

·  Experience of strong accountability mechanisms used with project stakeholders/research participants to actively share results and learning.

· Extensive experience in working with both government and non-governmental organizations and the private sector.

6.      Evaluation Criteria – Candidate selection will be based on the following criteria:

1.      The ability to respond to and meet the essential and desirable specifications outlined in these terms of reference.

2.      Demonstrated capacity to undertake the type of services sought.

3.      Relevant academic and professional qualifications and experience

4.      Proposed budget and schedule.

5.      Technical proposal: 70%, and if the consultant firm scored less than 70% and will not be opened the financial proposal.

6.      Financial proposal: 30%,

7.      Before contracting the consultant, the consultant will also be vetted with the donor criteria.