Lot 3. Advocacy and Dissemination Consultant
Background
The African Union’s Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) is a specialized Technical Office of the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission. Its mandate is to support and coordinate the sustainable development and utilization of animal resources (livestock, fisheries and wildlife) to enhance nutrition and food security and contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of the people in the Member States of the African Union (AU). AU-IBAR accomplishes its mandate through supporting and empowering the AU Member States, the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and other stakeholders in the livestock sector.
As part of providing leadership and coordination in the sustainable development of the continent’s Animal Resources, African Union InterAfrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) has implementing a 5-year project on “Sustainable Development of Livestock for Livelihoods in Africa - Live2Africa”, The project pioneers a coherent continental programme approach to build systemic capacity in seven livestock components, that include: Animal Production, Productivity and Ecosystem Management; Investment in Value Chains, Animal Health; Resilience Building; Technology adoption in the Value Chains to inputs, services and markets; and strengthening institutional capacities.
About 60-70% of the terrestrial land surface in IGAD region is arid and semi-arid, and is classified as rangelands. Mainly pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities whose livelihoods mostly depend on extensive livestock production. About 53% of the region’s cattle (51 million), 71% of the goats (58 million), 68% of the region’s sheep (58 million) and 51% of the global camel population (17.5 million) are found in the rangelands. The livestock sector in the region contributes 10% – 50 % of the individual countries’ agricultural GDP since it provides various economic opportunities along the value chain.
Despite enormous social, cultural, ecological and economic importance of rangelands, they face a myriad of challenges, chief of them degradation of the resource base partly linked to land use and land tenure changes, breakdown of traditional institutions of natural resource management, low institutional, organizational and human resource capacity. These challenges are exacerbated by the advent of climate change and weak policy and legal framework for rangeland management.
To help IGAD member states mitigate some of these challenges and promote sustainable utilization of rangelands, IGAD Center for Pastoral Areas and Livestock development (ICPALD) with financial support from the World Bank through the Regional Pastoralist Livelihood Resilience Project (RPLRP) developed a Regional Rangeland Management Strategic Framework (RRMSF).
The RRMSF is also aligned with the AU Policy Framework for Pastoralism .The RRMSF was done through comprehensive literature review; direct observations through field visits; consultations with stakeholders in IGAD Member States. The strategic framework was validated by Member states (MS) representatives through a regional stakeholder validation workshop.
IGAD /ICPALD facilitated a number of bilateral and multilateral cross border MOU and signed by the Ministers in charge of livestock. One of the priority collaboration areas in the MOU is assessing and mapping of stock routes, dry seasons and wet season grazing natural resources; including the invasive species. These information and findings will help and contribute to proper livestock movements; minimize community conflicts and facilitate livestock.
In light of the above, AU-IBAR is seeking to engage the services of “Advocacy Consultant/Consortium of Consultants / Firm to support Research, Consultative Policy Dialogue and Advocacy activities under the mission titled “To Facilitate Regional Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Use of Rangelands and Cross-Border Natural Grazing Resources”.
Aim of the Consultancy
To assess the status of the cross-border grazing resources management in IGAD and the impact of seasonal animal cross-border movements on ecosystem management (e.g. rangeland degradation and dissemination of cross-border animal diseases); socio economic aspects; cross-border communities conflicts; working bylwas; etc.) and to come up with proposed solutions for sustainable management. A policy Dialogue will be conducted and advocacy materials will be developed to facilitate efforts towards the sustainable use of rangelands and cross-border natural grazing resources in the IGAD region. Three cross-border zones are targeted:
- Ethiopia-Kenya. 2. Kenya-Uganda. 3. Ethiopia-Kenya-Uganda-S. Sudan (Karamoja Cluster).
Objective of the consultancy mission (Lots 1, 2, and 3)
The process of assessing cross-border natural grazing resources and facilitating Regional Policy Dialogue on Sustainable use of Rangelands will compile the following specific objectives:
- To undertake assessment of the current status of cross-border natural grazing/rangeland resources management in the three cross-border zones (Ethiopia-Kenya, Kenya-Uganda and Ethiopia-Kenya-Uganda-South Sudan), and the impact of the seasonal cross-border animals’ and herders’ movements: effects/impact on ecosystem management (e.g. degradation and dissemination of cross-border disease, etc.); socio economic impacts on the cross-border communities particularly those receiving the animals in their rangeland areas; rangeland community conflicts due to animal and herders movements; working bylaws and previous initiatives in this regard; and lessons for sustainable joint management. Assessment will be followed by stakeholder validation.
- To conduct a Policy Dialogue on Ministerial and Directors levels to support the domestication of the regional rangeland management strategy including the cross border grazing resources management, and therefore to contribute to developing or implementing policy change following the round of evidence-based assessments.
- To contribute towards a concrete purpose or outcome towards sustainable use of rangelands and cross-border natural grazing resources in the IGAD region, by compiling and documenting the lessons learned and best practice to develop advocacy materials, and fact sheets and dissemination.
- To influence policy makers and the general public through advocacy materials and the media in the domestication of sustainable joint management of cross-border rangeland resources.
Proposed activities (Lots 1, 2, and 3)
To undertake the national and the cross-border zones consultative studies, and synthesis of national and regional reports. The consultative study should cover:
- To assess the current status of cross-border natural grazing/rangeland resources management in the three cross-border zones (Ethiopia-Kenya, Kenya-Uganda and Ethiopia-Kenya-Uganda-South Sudan) due to the seasonal cross-border movement of the animals and map them
- To assess the effects of animal and herders movement on: Ecosystem management (e.g. observations on degradation; any actions on grazing resource improvement; the role and contribution of transhumant while they stay there; what bylaw they follow; how do they enforce it; and how do they control of dissemination of cross-border disease, etc.); Socio economic impacts on the cross-border communities particularly those receiving the animals in their rangeland areas; Community conflicts due to animal and herders movements; Lessons for sustainable joint management; Else, ...; and
- To identify the gaps and draw the road map for supporting the sustainable joint- management of cross-border rangeland resources to control all negative impacts identified in the study.
To organize a stakeholders validation workshop on the findings of the regional report.
To organize a Regional Policy Dialogue meeting on sustainable managment and use of rangelands and cross-border rangeland management with Ministers /Permanent secretaries and directors reponsible for management of rangeland resources.
To document leassons learned and best management and to develop advocacy materials for promoting the demestication of sustainable joing-managemet of cros-border rangland resources, and to control conflicts.
The national/cross-border zones consultative study will include Desk (literature, official census and database) reviews, individual interviews and group-discussions with stakeholders and strategic actors of the rangeland and cross-border rangeland management; and analysis of quantitative data and qualitative observations in proper approaches to achieve the objectives. Interviews and group-discussion sessions will use the participatory process that allows the ideas of individuals/groups to be tested, argued, amplified and refined through constructive discussions. The consultants will perform the consultation services with the highest standards of professional and ethical competence and integrity. The consultants are strongly encouraged to develop highly interactive and practical outputs for this consultancy.
Required Consultant (Lot 3)
Lot 3: Advocacy and Dissemination Firm / Consortium
To work closely with the lead consultant (see Lot 2 of sought consultancies) and AU-IBAR in the documenting aspects of the policy dialogue and national/cross-border assessments through structured research outputs and advocacy materials. This will involve the following:
Activities
- Translating the national assessments into easily digestible public materials by compiling National factsheets (for each of the IGAD countries)
- Producing and disseminating a newsletter/ or booklet that captures lessons learned from various stakeholder groupings across the IGAD region on Sustainable Use of Rangelands and Cross-Border Natural Grazing Resources – IGAD’’
- To facilitate the production of a three-part podcast on ‘Sustainable Use of Rangelands and Cross-Border Natural Grazing Resources – IGAD’’
- To assist in the moderation of the policy dialogue
Deliverables
- A well laid-out advocacy and dissemination plan that will take into account the agreed outputs
- Fact Sheets for IGAD countries
- A policy brief outlying the key policy recommendations
- Newsletter/ or Best Practice Booklet
- Podcast Series
Qualifications and Competencies
Qualifications
A mix of qualifications in one or combination of the following at Master’s Degree level: Science Communications, Public Relations, Audio-Visual Production, Development Studies, Agriculture, Animal Resources Management, or Policy Studies.
At least ten years’ experience in programme development for radio, television and/or online broadcast/ Public Relations and undertaking similar assignments with positive results.
Technical/Functional competencies
- At least 10 years progressively responsible experience in Development and/or Science Communications or Public Relations, including work with international organizations, rural development, and government services, in the relevant mainstreaming areas for the assignment.
- At least 8 years’ experience in digital animation production;
- Ability to brainstorm creative angles and hooks that can enable campaigns to stand out from the crowd and reach target audiences;
- Ability to build relationships/ partnerships for online coverage, and non-broadcast Public Relations with sister companies and partners;
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with people from other countries, culture, tailoring language, tone, style and format to match audience;
- Ability to work well in a team and to engage positively with other team members;
- Capacity to deliver high quality ready for publication documents and communication products in a timely manner.
Given the innovative nature of the assignments, AU-IBAR is looking for individual consultants, as well as consortium of consultants or consultancy firm that host varying ability of staff / members above the minimum threshold stated.
In case of consultancy firms, the following competences will be also consider:
- Registered firms with referenced past work in similar field of interest.
- Proved history for production of scientific communications.
Supervision
The consultants will be under the overall mandate of the Director, AU-IBAR, but will be supervised by the Animal Production, NRM and Resilience Expert. The consultants will also engage with AU-IBAR programme staff and stakeholders in the various IGAD countries.
Remuneration and Duration of the Assignment
Activities under Lot 3. should be conducted as follows:
Lot 3: Advocacy and Dissemination for a period of 20 days over 75 days.
The consultancy period for the Advocacy and Dissemination Consultant will commence on Monday 5th October 2020, and will end by the Sunday 20th December 2020.
All the proposed activities listed in this TOR should be completed by Sunday 20th December 2020.
The consultants are expected to provide a roadmap and time-plan in their proposal. The assignment will start immediately after signature of the contract by both parties.
Language Requirements
Native or bilingual level proficiency (verbal and written) in English is essential. Knowledge of a second language (French, Arabic or Portuguese) is desirable.
Instructions for Application
Applicants are required to include both a technical and financial proposal for the lot they will apply to, along with a recent CV, following the standard template published.
A technical proposal indicating the approach to the assignment, including the proposed methodology and work plan, objectives, activities to be carried out, expected outputs, outline of the content and a clear timeframe to carry out the assignment.
A financial proposal for the consultancy should be all inclusive (consultancy fees, and any other cost).
This consultancy assignment does not carry any expectation of employment, extension or conversion to another type of contract with AU-IBAR. The various copywriting services will be commissioned on a per job basis/ knowledge product basis.
Payment
The payment will be in two phases. The first payment (30%) will be made upon delivery of an acceptable inception report. The second payment (70%) will be made upon completion of the assignment.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications from qualified individuals and firms will be desk reviewed by the selection panel. Only the best three technical applications will go through the financial assessment process.
Technical Scoring
The evaluation of the Technical Proposal will weigh 70% of the total rating and will be evaluated against the Minimum recruitment qualifications and competencies.
Financial Evaluation
The evaluation of the financial proposal will weigh 30% of the total rating. The financial proposal will be evaluated on the basis of total cost, cost realism and used in combination with the assessment of the technical quality to determine the best value for money.
How to apply:
Submission of Proposals
The entire proposal, including all supporting documentation should not be no longer than 8 A4 pages in length, and should be emailed as a single document to: procurement@au-ibar.org, with a copy to Khalid.seid@au-ibar.org, hro@au-ibar.org, ahmed.elbeltagy@au-ibar.org, by no later than 5.00pm East African Time on the 1st October, 2020, with reference to the short consultation: ”To Facilitate Regional Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Use of Rangelands and Cross-Border Natural Grazing Resources”, indicating the Lot being applied for (Lot 3. Advocacy and Dissemination Consultant).
Or by post addressed to the following address:
The Procurement Officer
African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources
Kenindia Business Park, Museum Hill, Westlands Road
P.O. Box 30786 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Specific questions not answered either in this call may be emailed to: procurement@au-ibar.org
Yours faithfully,
Prof. Ahmed El-Sawalhy
Director AU-IBAR