Impact Of Climate Change Response Interventions In Contributing To Increased Community ResilienceImpact Of Climate Change Response Interventions In Contributing To Increased Community Resilience

1. BackgroundAct Change Transform (Act!) is a leading Kenyan Non-Governmental Organization implementing an Environment and Natural Resources Management Programme in Kenya that has been previously supported by the Governments of Sweden and the UK Department of International Development. Act!’s mission is to support, partner with and develop local organisations to be effective agents of a lasting positive change. Act! focus areas are: Environment and Natural Resource Management (ENRM), Democracy and Human Rights, and Peace Building and Conflict Transformation.The full Terms of Reference can be accessed on the Act! website: www.act.or.ke
Project DescriptionThe present project is a follow up of the CRM Facility Phase I. It seeks to focus more on enhancing climate change governance through consolidating earlier efforts made on policy development and implementation, institution building and strengthening, while supporting actions that enhance community resilience. These interventions aim at a renewed momentum on influencing climate change policy, better coordination of climate change initiatives by both state and non-state actors and mainstreaming of climate change in various strategies and plans by the national and county governments.This consultancy assignment is commissioned by Act Change Transform (Act!), seeking to engage services of a consultant to filter out the contribution of the previous climate change interventions to community resilience in Kenya. The study will take the form of an impact study and will work with grassroots’ projects previously implemented under the STARK plus program.1. Objectives of the StudyThe study seeks to explore impacts of capacity building; policy influence and livelihood strengthening activities previously implemented by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) supported through DFID and Act!. This will include assessing impacts of activities to institutions (NGOs and Networks, National, Counties) and the community in general.
The specific objectives are:i. To identify areas and extent to which StARCK+ programme exploited available opportunities in climate change and resilience building to community.ii. To identify the impact of capacity building offered to various types of partners at National, County and Community levels and extent they have supported further programming on climate change.iii. To assess the level of success of initiated institutional strengthening aspects and their impacts on communities.iv. To identify livelihood interventions and their level of success towards creating resilience to various categories of communities (women, youth, people living with disabilities and the elderly).v. To identify technological and market initiatives and innovations established to community and their level of adoption, and socio economic impact at the community level.2. Scope and MethodologyThe study report should provide description of the, institutional, economic and social and environmental impacts arising from the implementation of various activities by the supported CSOs, private entities and networks under StARCK+ programme.i. On Institutional study, the analysis should bring out the impact of the capacity building interventions at institutional level. It shall give types and extent the established or strengthened institutions mandated to handle climate related matters in the country have contributed towards improvement of livelihood, food security, land use, access to water and other natural resources.ii. On finance and economic aspects, the study will find out the extent to which established or strengthened climate financing structures have supported communities and impacts of the same. The study will analyze the extent to which communities have had improvement of livelihood, food security, access to water and other natural resources and their sustainability. This will include incentives and subsidies the communities have got/are getting to improve their livelihoods base.iii. On environmental aspects, the study will establish direct or indirect impacts in the conservation and utilization of natural resources related to land use, agricultural practices, renewable energy and water supply system and how their management has improved wellbeing of communities.iv. Social aspects should cover impacts with respect to community economic activities, land tenure, land use, agricultural production, markets and water access and use. The study will also look at the impacts on women, youths and other vulnerable groups.
3. Activitiesi. Develop and submit a detailed and time framed work plan for the study activities complete with organization and methodology(ies), this should entail a detailed conceptual framework of what of resilience with clear indicators that the consultant will use to measure aspects of resilience.ii. Gather preliminary data and information related to StARCK+ programme focusing on support to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) by Act!. This should cover sectoral aspects of climate change activities and extent they have been integrated in Energy and Environment, Agriculture, Land and Water sectors.iii. Prepare an inception report detailing desk and field study in relation of scope of work, methodology (ies) to be used including sampling, fieldwork, data analysis approaches e.t.c.iv. Conduct the study according to the scope of works and within the standard and acceptable professional standards and document the study report.4. Outputs/Deliverablesi. Work Plan for the study to carry out the Impact Study on contribution of StARCK+ interventions to Community Resilience in Kenya.ii. An inception report detailing desk reviews in relation to scope of work, methodology (ies) to be used including sampling, fieldwork, data analysis approaches etciii. First Draft report for Impact Study on StARCK+ interventions to Community Resilience in Kenyaiv. Final Impact Study report for StARCK+ interventions to Community Resilience in Kenya.The final study report should include recommendations on Capacity building, Policy influencing, Livelihood diversification/substitution/strengthening, conservation/rehabilitation of natural resources, Reducing specific climate risksThe analytical report should not be more than 50 pages excluding annexes. All other materials should be submitted as annexes to the main report.The main report should be structured as follows:a) The title of the report;b) Executive Summary;c) Background of Impact Study;d) The objectives of the Impact study;e) The relationship of the StARCK+ programme with other relevant government and donor strategies, plans and programmes and how the related policies, legislations, guidelines, rules and regulations governing climate change aspects in Kenya;f) Desk reviews, methodologies used, field work approaches and accomplishments, data and information analysis methods,g) Impacts of StARCK+ interventions to Community Resilience in Kenya arising from interventions by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) supported by Act!;h) Recommendations with justifications highlighting governance, finance, economic, environmental, social and technological aspects on community resilience building;5. Duration:The consultancy is expected to take a maximum of 20 person days commencing 15th August, 2017. These include the preparatory phase, data collection and report writing. The final deliverables should reach Act! by 20thSeptember, 2017.
6. Qualifications:The Consultancy firm team should have Advanced degrees in the Environment and Natural Resources Management (ENRM) related fields with strong understanding of climate change aspects, including not less than 5 years’ experience in conducting ENRM related impact studies in Kenya, with a focus on climate change related studies.
HOW TO APPLY:8. Selection Procedure:Qualified consultant or consultancy firms are required to submit;• A five-page proposal to Act!, interpreting the terms of reference and elaborating the consultancy methodology and design, level of effort required to fully deliver the assignment, and with a work plan and budget for undertaking the assignment with separate Itemized costs under:(a) Professional fee per day, (b) logistical Costs e.g. vehicle hire, research assistants, accommodation costs etc. per day (the consultant must budget all costs including meetings and travels in their budget).• Brief overview of consultant/consultancy firm and the skills and experience they would bring to assignment.• CV of consultant or CVs of team members– maximum 3 pages or a Company/firm profile.• Contact details of three referees from organizations that have recently contracted the consultant/s to perform similar or related work for the last 2-3 years.• Sample report of the consultancy work.• All proposals should be submitted electronically (in PDF format) to hr.admin@act.or.ke quoting the reference number ACT-RIS-19-2017 on the subject line not later than 5 PM Wednesday 2nd August 2017.