1. Background
CARE Climate change work in Kenya: Climate change is not only a concern for the future. Ongoing and visible changes in temperature and rainfall patterns and increased frequency, severity and unpredictability of extremes in weather and climate are already having devastating impacts on productivity, economies and above all, on the livelihoods of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable.

Added to these, longer term, slow onset impacts from rising temperatures and sea levels threaten development and economic growth at local, national, regional and international levels. In response, efforts to support adaptation to climate change, disaster risk reduction and a focus on resilience have become mainstream features of development assistance.

Demand for and investment in adaptation programmes and policies are increasing across Africa, where some of the worst climate induced impacts are felt. Climate variability and change are bringing new and increasing risks and uncertainty about the future.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the impacts are already being felt and are adding another layer of difficulty for achieving productive, equitable and resilient livelihoods among the most vulnerable people as well as threatening development more broadly.

However, climate change also presents opportunities which are rarely recognized and taken advantage of.

This is because climate change is not just about hazards and risks, but changes can also be positive, for example areas that were too cold for most common crops to be grown now getting warm enough to grow more. It is for people to explore what opportunities the change brings.

The CVCA methodology helps us to understand the implications of climate change for the lives and livelihoods of the people we serve. By combining local knowledge with scientific data, the process builds people’s understanding about climate risks and adaptation strategies.

It provides a framework for dialogue within communities, as well as between communities and other stakeholders. The results provide a solid foundation for the identification of practical strategies to facilitate community-based adaptation to climate change.

The CVCA handbook was recently revised to ensure that the methodology incorporated gender and non-arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) issues more effectively and allows for the inclusion of more marginalised social groups within the community.

Undertaking a CVCA exercise in Kisumu would serve to test the newly revised methodology to ensure its effectiveness and practicality; as well as provide information on the current status of the adaptive capacity of Kisumu County, a key area of focus for CARE Kenya.

The information will also be used to ensure more effective adaptation planning in Kisumu County.

2. Purpose of Consultancy
The CVCA methodology provides a framework for analysing vulnerability and capacity to adapt to climate change at the community level.

Recognizing that local actors must drive their own future, the CVCA prioritises local knowledge on climate risks and adaptation strategies in the data gathering and analysis process.

The main aims of the CVCA are to:
a. Analyse vulnerability to climate change and adaptive capacity at the community level: The CVCA is a methodology for gathering, organizing and analysing information on the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of communities, households and individuals.

It provides guidance and tools for participatory research, analysis and learning. It also takes into account the role of local and national institutions and policies in facilitating adaptation.

b. Combine community knowledge and scientific data to yield greater understanding about local impacts of climate change: One of the challenges of working at the local level on climate change adaptation is the lack of scaled-down information on impacts.

This is coupled with inadequate data and information on weather and climate predictions.

The process of gathering and analysing information with communities serves to build local knowledge on climate issues and appropriate strategies to adapt.

The participatory exercises and associated discussions provide opportunities to link community knowledge to available scientific information on climate change.

This will help local stakeholders to understand the implications of climate change for their livelihoods, so that they are better to analyse risks and plan for adaptation.

Undertaking a CVCA exercise in Kisumu would serve to test the newly revised methodology to ensure its effectiveness and practicality; as well as provide information on the current status of the vulnerability and the adaptive capacity of Kisumu County residents, a key area of focus for CARE Kenya.

The information will also be used to ensure more effective adaptation planning in Kisumu County.

Objectives:
The objectives of the CVCA exercise are to
a. Create an understanding of climate risks and adaptation strategies among the communities
b. Increase its understanding of the implications of climate change in the lives and livelihoods of communities in Kisumu county
c. Provide a solid foundation for identification of practical strategies to facilitate community based adaptation to climate change
d. Provide information on the current status of adaptive capacity of Kisumu county
e. Share and document its learning on the newly revised CVCA model, that has incorporated gender

3. Assessment Methodology
The CVCA will be done though community field visits, key informant interviews and literature review.

The field visits will be done in Kisumu County and will involve discussions with communities through selected representatives, community level leaders and county representatives.

This task aims to present communities’ vulnerabilities and capacities and the differences between community groups and different communities within the County.

The consultant shall ensure that the information is presented to capture the non-traditional audience.

Consultant Tasks / Responsibilities:
a. Develop an effective inception report clearly demonstrating a full understanding of the TOR, with proposed methodology, data collection plan and relevant instruments to achieve the objectives of the assignment
b. Obtain the required information from CARE Kenya and other sources; review available documents, clarify the task and outputs with the Project manager
c. Prepare a timeline for completing the assignment in consultation with the CARE Kenya team
d. Agree with the CARE Team on the communities/locations where the CVCA exercise will be conducted within Kisumu County
e. Outline the tools to be used in data collection and analysis in line with the revised CVCA handbook
f. Develop the CVCA report outline in line with the purpose and objective of the assignment
g. Carry out the CVCA through holding community level and county level interviews/discussions
h. Prepare a draft CVCA report and share with the CARE Kenya team for comments
i. Discuss any gaps with the CARE Kenya team and agree if they can be addressed for this consultancy
j. Finalize and share the final version of the report

Responsibilities of CARE Kenya
a. Overall responsibility and supervision of the task
b. Provide update as needed on CARE’s Climate change including CVCA, CBA work and provide relevant documents to support the task
c. Review draft and provide comments, approve final report
d. Document design, publication, prepare dissemination plan and dissemination
e. Logistical support including field travel, accommodation and per diem will be provided as per CARE Kenya’s policy to facilitate field work processes. Therefore, these should not be included in the consultant’s quote

4. Deliverable Outputs
An Inception report: Upon selection, the consultants shall have an inception meeting with CARE within which he/she shall be briefed on the assignment and provided an opportunity to prepare the inception report, within three days of the assignment.

This report will consist of a realistic work plan that will operationalize and direct the exercise.

The inception report will articulate how the consultant understands the TOR, a concept on how they propose to undertake the assignment and articulate their methodology.

The inception report will address the following elements:
a. Relevant documentation which will be reviewed
b. Methodology
c. Work schedule with deliverables by date

Preliminary Findings and a Draft Report: The appointed consultants will be expected to provide a report of preliminary findings, likely recommendations and conclusions which will be presented to program team for comments.

Subsequently, a draft report will be submitted to CARE that addresses all issues identified in the Terms of Reference and work plan.

The draft report will be informed by feedback processes at all levels.

The Final Report: The Consultants will submit a complete final report after incorporating comments and feedback from the draft report.

5. Proposed Schedule / Timeframe
The consultancy will be done in 20 days between 20th April and 30th June, 2015.

The consultant will draw an activity plan and share with the CARE Kenya team for inputs and adoption.

6. Consultant’s Skills and Qualifications
• A university degree in social sciences or other relevant field
• Experience in working on climate change adaptation and undertaking climate vulnerability and capacity assessments in the Kenyan context
• Excellent written and oral communication skills (good people skills an added advantage)
• Understanding of concepts, approaches and current debates in community-based adaptation, with experiences in Kenya
• Knowledge and understanding of CARE’s CVCA methodology – including gender considerations

Call for expression of Interest

Interested independent consultants or firms are invited to send their technical and financial applications inclusive of the following:
1. Cover letter presenting the consultant(s) and their capacity based on relevant past consultancy assignments. Where a team is presented, please give a short resume of each member and describe how the team will work together;
2. Updated curriculum vitae of the consultant (s) who will undertake the work that clearly spells out qualifications and experience, with other responsible persons indicated and contacts of at least two organizations worked for previously.
3. A brief write-up on the understanding and interpretation of the TOR and how the assignment would be executed including a work plan with clear timelines and a proposed methodology
4. Financial proposal inclusive of expected number of consultant(s) working days and consultancy fee rates all inclusive in Kenya Shillings.
The EOIs should be received no later than 22nd April, 2015 at the email address bids@care.or.ke with subject line “PPA CVCA Kisumu”.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.