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APPLICATION OF INTEGRATED APPROACH TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS OF GUASSA COMMUNITY CONSERVATION AREA

TERM OF REFERENCE TO CODNCUT FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR DEVELOPING A PROJECT CONCEPT BY IDENTIFYING THE PRE-REQUISTES, OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS

Introduction

Population Heath Environment Ethiopia Consortium (PH EC) and Afromontane Biodiversity Conservation in Ethiopia (ABCE) are planning to initiate a project with financial support from KKS. The project is planned to be implemented in the Guassa highlands located in North Shoa zone of Amhra Regional State. PHE EC being the main host of the project, other relevant government, CSOs and private actors will be engaged in the project implementation process through designing participatory frameworks. The project will is entitled “integrated approach as a means to enhance the role and livelihoods of Guassa community conservation area”. The project has the goal to sustainably enhance the livelihoods of GCCA local communities.

Ethiopian Highland is the largest Afroalpine habitat in the African continent and is part of Conservation International’s Eastern Afro-Montane Biodiversity Hotspots. Water from the Ethiopian highlands feeds the iconic many rivers including the Blue Nile River, which supports the livelihoods of millions of people in the lowland area including those in the Sudan and Egypt. However, the exponential human growth, agricultural expansion, excessive livestock grazing and unsustainable natural use of resources by subsistence poor farmers degrade the larger part of the Ethiopian highland causing a catastrophic loss of biodiversity.

Guassa area is one of the promising landscapes of the Ethiopian highland which is endowed with high value biodiversity. The communities which are engaged in the conservation of the biodiversity through the framework of Guasa Community Conservation are suffering from deep rooted poverty which in turn has in a long-term and short effect on the biodiversity resources. Isolation of the areas from main large cities has hugely affected the economic opportunities of the local communities. Youth unemployment, declining agricultural production, lack of alternative livelihood, high population growths etc. are making the community vulnerable. However, there are many good opportunities to change the life of the community by involving the community to nature friendly activities, better land use management and other capacity building packages.

In the light of initiating the project, PHEEC as a host to the project is planning to contract high calibre and professional consultants to get the feasibility study done. The detail objectives of the project and other requirements are presented in the following subsequent sections.

Objectives of the feasibility study

The purpose of the feasibility study is to provide PHE EC and its partners with a sound basis for developing a project concept.

Specific objectives

  • Identify project prerequisites, opportunities and risks.
  • Identify recommendations for project proposal development
  • As part of the feasibility study, establish also the baseline

Methodology and assessment framework

This assessment has to employ both qualitative and quantitative assessment methodology engaging statistically significant portion of the stakeholders the project foreseen. The standard sampling procedures of the target population has to be followed. The assessment has to capture ideas of the representatives’ of all actors at the different levels.

The assessment has to come up with innovative and practical framework that would help to get relevant results. It has to make analysis of the different scenarios with the current program and project implementations frameworks, the existing multifaceted challenges and the demands of for holistic and integrated interventions.

In the summary, the assessment should follow the following structures.

Purpose, objectives and utilization of the study

  • What is the rationale or the specific reason for conducting the feasibility study, and what are its objectives?
  • Who will use the findings? In what way? For what purpose? This question should be reviewed, in particular, with regard to potential utilization of the study for the development of project application, the project concept and for project implementation.
  • What will be the scope of the study in terms of timing and geographical coverage? What specific (sub) areas or (sub-) sectors will be given special attention?
  • What methodology will the study be based on?
  • What earlier experience from similar projects and programs and from other studies and analyses etc. should be used as a basis for drawing up the feasibility study?
  • What specific recommendations can the study provide for the organization carrying out the  project with a view to planning and implementing the project?

Context and problem analysis

  • What is the (current) situation in the sector/region/country in question? What does the socioeconomic, political and cultural context look like?
  • What problems have been identified? What are their causes and how do they impact on the living conditions of population groups? Which population groups?
  • What needs have been identified based on the problem analysis? How were these needs identified (or how will they be identified)?
  • What is the background of, and what has led to, the planned project and its impact logic?
  • Who proposed the original project idea?
  • Are there any alternatives to the planned project or any of its components?

Project-executing organization in the partner country (local executing organization)

  • Which local organizations are suitable implementing partners and why? How much capacity do these organizations have in institutional, technical, staffing and financial terms?
  • What measures are needed to build the local partner’s organizational and general capacity?
  • To what extent do local implementation partners identify with the project (ownership) and are committed to making it a success?
  • What is the relationship between the local partners and the target group/stakeholders? (Legitimacy)
  • Is there an overlap or conflict of interests? How can interaction and coordination between the partners and the stakeholders be improved?

Target group and stakeholder analysis

Target group

  • What is the target group for the project? What criteria are used in the selection of the target group? Are there possibly several target groups affected in different ways by the problems?
  • How homogeneous or heterogeneous is the target group in terms of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, language, capacity, etc., and how will the project need to respond to this?
  • What are the needs of the target group? How can these needs be addressed?
  • What is the role of the target group(s) in the broader social context? What conflicts of interest could arise between the target group and other, non-target groups as a result of the support provided through the project?
  • What is the target group’s potential especially with regard to ownership/initiative, self-help activities and local problem-solving capacity? How can this potential be strengthened?

 Stakeholders

  • Who are the main governmental and non-governmental stakeholders in the sector and beyond – at the project location, in the project region and the project country?
  • How does the planned project fit in with the government development strategy?
  • What are the interestsof the stakeholders? Are there any visible conflicts of interest? What interdependencies are to be expected between the project and other interventions/projects supported by the stakeholders? How will this be taken into account in the project concept?
  • Do the stakeholders share a common understandingof the problem(s) and of the project objectives derived thereof?
  • How strong is the various stakeholders’ supportfor the project? How much influence could they exert on the project? Have the stakeholders already entered into any agreements?

Assessment of the planned project based on OECD/DAC criteria  

Relevance: Are the planned project activities appropriate for addressing the problem?

  • Does the project approach address a key development problem or constraint in the partner country or region?
  • Is the approach in line with the needs of the target groups?
  • What changes are planned to have been accomplished by the project after it has been completed?

Effectiveness: What is the most suitable project approach to achieving the objectives?

  • Are the measures and the chosen methodology suitable for reaching the project objective? Should activities be planned at the meso and/or macro level (multi-level approach) in order to make the project more sustainable?
  • Will use be made of synergies with interventions supported by other donors or programs?
  • What measures does the study recommend with a view to achieving objectives?
  • What impact logic/impact hypothesis should the project be based on? What could a meaningful logical framework look like, including suitable and informative indicators (presentation of a first rough draft of indicators and baseline data)?
  • Who will monitor impacts? When? At what intervals? (Impact monitoring)

Significance / overarching development impact: Will the project help achieve broader development impacts?

  • Which objectives and impacts derivedfrom the problem/needs analysis are to be achieved, and for what target groups?
  • To what extent will the project have a structural impact, to what extent can it serve as a model, and to what extent will it have a broad-based impact?
  • Would it be advisable to pursue a multi-level approach(micro, meso and macro levels) in order to increase significance and effectiveness?
  • To what extent have aspects relating to gender sensitivity, inclusion of persons with disabilities, cultural sensitivity, conflict sensitivity and human rightsbeen incorporated in the project’s objectives?

Sustainability: Will the positive impact last after the project has been completed (without further external support)?

  • How can sustainability of results and impacts be ensured and reinforced (in institutional, economic, social and environmental terms)?
  • What are the roles and responsibilities of governmental and/or civil society institutions? To what extent will the project be able to build on local potential, institutions and procedures? What measures and instruments are best suited to harness and strengthen local ownership and initiative, participation, and capacity?
  • Which socio-cultural barriers may impede the planned approach, and how can they be overcome?
  • What negative consequences and impacts might result from project implementation? To what extent will it be possible to consider and address these risks in the project/project concept (e.g., Do No Harm approach, conflict-sensitive impact monitoring, etc.)?
  • What risks are involved in project implementation (personal risk for those implementing the project, institutional and reputational risk, contextual risk)? How can they be minimized?

Scope of the feasibility study

The scope of the study is limited to assessing on the feasibility of project concept implementation by using different criteria mainly the OECD/DAC criteria and also by engaging all the stakeholders. It has been with the necessary depth and with consideration of linking the project with other similar initiatives implemented by different actors. The geographic scope will be Guasa Area of the North Shoa in Amhara Regional State by showing the link with the national level poletical, economic and cultural contexts.  The study should analyse the situation, the problem(s) resulting thereof and the target group and stakeholders. It should include a baseline study (for instance as an annex), and critically review the planned project in terms of the OECD/DAC criteria of relevanceeffectivenessefficiencyimpact and sustainability. 

Expected Deliverables

The consultant will deliver the following outputs:

  • Inception report including methodology, data collection tools, budget breakdown and detailed work plan to be discussed and agreed in advance.
  • Draft assessment report including key results different scenario analysis, strengths and limitations and recommendation. The draft report will be shared with relevant stakeholders for inputs.
  • Final feasibility report of about 15 pages with baseline data as annex

Time frame

The entire period of this consultancy work will take a total of 30 days that will include preparation, development of the assessment tools, actual data collection at desk and field level, data analysis, preparation of draft and final reports. The time frame will not be extended unless otherwise proven evidences presented.

Table 1: Timeline of assessment

No.ActivityNo. of days
1Inception report, discussion and agreement in Addis Ababa5 days
2Data collection (data collection, interview, field visits)15 days
3Data analysis, report writing, and submission of the 1st draft report5 days
4Submission of report by incorporating comments5 days
5Validation and submission of Final report, multi-sector taskforce guide and toolkits5 days

Job Requirements

Qualifications and Required Competencies

Assessment team should have a licensed consultancy firm with a combined team of qualified professionals in the following areas:

  • The lead consultant should have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in leading feasibility study, project development, baseline establishment, impact evaluations and demonstrate knowledge in the areas of conservation, environmental governance and livelihood. A team of experts with demonstrated knowledge in of policy, natural resources management, environment and project evaluation.
  • Demonstrated academic and practical experience in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, data collection, analysis and evaluation.
  • Strong analytical, facilitation and communication skills.
  • Excellent reporting skills
  • Fluent in professional English
  • Commitment to meet the deadlines, with available resources and human power to make necessary logistical arrangements

How to Apply

All documents must be submitted by email to [email protected] within 10 workings until – January 24, 2020  

Population Health Environment Ethiopia Consortium

Tel. 011 6634121

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