Consultancy services for Agroecology assessment and permaculture design courses and Training …..in South Sudan 83 views0 applications

TOR AGROECOLOGY CONSULTANT
SOUTH SUDAN // 2019 Job title Consultancy services for Agroecology assessment and permaculture design courses and Training for natural resource management and landscape restauration. Duty station Juba, Bentiu and Jamgjang Project title DANIDA Framework 2019 Period of services 15 days in Country Languages required Fluent in spoken and written English, Arabic is a bonus

1. INTRODUCTION
   At the outset of 2019, South Sudan continues to experience unprecedented displacement and extremely high levels of humanitarian needs. According to the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) for 2019, over 4.5 million people have been displaced, including 2 million IDPs, and a staggering 7.2 million are in need of immediate assistance. Despite the signing of the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in September 2018, conflict and communal clashes continue to be the main drivers of displacement across the country, leading to frequent and sudden waves of displacement and increasing need as the crisis continues. The increased population in areas that are already underserviced and have many needs of their own, causes an exacerbation of the need already in place. For example, Greater Magwi in Eastern Equatoria has seen many returnees over the project period, as well as a protracted IDP situation from those fleeing conflict to a safe location where they can easily cross to relative security in Uganda refugee camps. In Nassir County, Upper Nile area, the communities face the constant threat of violent conflict through the ongoing crisis, as well as intermittent unpredictable community violence. The fluidity of the population movements and the consistent threat of inter-communal or national conflict breaking out makes these already hard to reach locations increasingly difficult to provide services.
   01.1 SSD Food Security and Livelihoods overview:
   Conflict-affected and displaced households are facing high food consumption gaps, asset depletion and acute malnutrition rates, and according to the 2019 HNO, of the 7.1 million currently in need of assistance, 6.1 million people are in need of emergency food security and livelihoods support. Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis for 2019 shows record numbers of people in Crisis, Emergency and Catastrophe conditions (IPC Phase 3, 4, and 5), and projects a steady increase in the number of severely food insecure households throughout 2019. According to findings from the IPC for January 2019, an anticipated earlier than normal start of the lean season will result in an estimated 6.87 million (60% of the total population) people in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse acute food insecurity, with 50,000 projected to be in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) including in Unity State. Compared with the same period last year, the January 2019 levels of food insecurity reflect a 13% increase of the population facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3), acute food insecurity or worse during the post-harvest season.
   Page 2 // DRC ToR Consultant // 2019
   As a result of conflict, multiple conflict-driven rounds of displacement have emerged across the country exacerbating population’s food security and livelihoods needs, making conflict the key driver of food insecurity in SSD. Therefore, unfortunately, even though this has been the worst IPC predictions in recent times, this level of food insecurity is not new to South Sudan.
   Other key drivers of food insecurity in South Sudan are:
    Low crop production: there is an overall deficit in crop production due to:
    limited crop diversity,
    unavailability of quality seeds,
    inadequate knowledge on good agricultural practices including pest and disease management,
    limited knowledge and tools available on pre/post-harvest management techniques.
    recurrent weather shocks such as flooding and dry spells at critical stages of crop growth;
   National cereal production has never met the needs of the country. It is estimated that from the 2018 cropping season the country’s cereal harvests cover 52% of the national cereal needs, with the remaining 48% expected to be covered by cereal imports and humanitarian assistance;
    Economic crisis: disrupted markets and eroded household purchasing power even as food prices rise due to devaluation of the local currency as well as asset depletion due to food scarcity and lack of purchasing power, leaving the most vulnerable households more susceptible to shocks;
    Displacement: internal and external displacement disrupts people’s access to traditional livelihoods, reducing for example access to wild foods, fish and livestock products which compromises their resilience and self-reliance and takes away potential workforce. Currently there are:
    194,916 = IDP in PoC sites
    1.87= IDPs in SSD
    291,842 = refugees in SSD
    Access: there are multiple humanitarian access challenges which limits assistance in hard to reach areas.
   The disruption of agricultural production and traditional livelihoods due to conflict is the primary cause of food insecurity across South Sudan, and the convergence of multiple shocks has resulted in high levels of vulnerability and chronic poverty.
2. PROJECT RATIONALE: BACKGROUND OF AREA AND PROJECT
   02.1 Ajuong Thok/Jamjamg
   Since 2016 the government has put pressure on UNHCR to stop the refugee response in Yida, border town with Sudan. UNHCR being the biggest donor in the area and having a strong stance on the cutting of services in Yida under a contested “do-no-harm approach” has led humanitarian agencies to move most of their programming away, leaving only lifesaving interventions. The rest of the services and agencies have been moved mostly to Pamir, Ajoung Thok and Jamjang refugee camps.
   In Pamir, Ajoung Thok and Jamjang the relationship between host community and refugees seem to be more unbalanced.
    Buses of refugees arrive to Pamir and AT twice a week, ranging from 6,000 to 500 individuals/ month depending on the season. Main pull factors to SSD are said to be the lack of basic services such as health care in Sudan, the increase in school fees and bad harvests due to drought.
    The continual extension of the refugee camps of Pamir and AT will continue with the destruction of natural resources potentially creating more stress in the already depleted environment, which could lead to fighting.
    Weather in the area is extreme, with strong winds and a short rainy season. Which leads to people only being able to farm during rainy season leaving them vulnerable to droughts, pests and diseases. Therefore, there is a need to demonstrate and teach more climate smart agricultural technologies such as agroforestry and show more sustainable and innovative agricultural solutions that will allow people to farm year round, increase diversity and become more resilient to pests and diseases.
   Page 3 // DRC ToR Consultant // 2019
    Current agencies support activities such as crop production, cooking demonstration, kitchen gardening.
   From 2015 till 2018, the Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) project in Ajuong Thok supported the establishment of seed multiplication and kitchen gardens, Natural Resources Management (NRM) programme (Energy Efficient Stoves training and production, tree protection (marking), tree nurseries, fruit tree Orchard and Agro-forestry plots (landscape restauration) and woodlots establishment) in Ajuong Thok and Pamir refugee camps, Jamjang and Yida host communities. Income Generating Activities-IGAs (blacksmiths, leather-craft, bee keeping and poultry keeping), Village Savings and Lending Associations (VSLAs) and vocational training in building construction (Masonry, Carpentry, Plumbing), furniture production, solar installation, Tailoring, and metal work (welding & fabrication), plus short courses in screen printing, signboard writing both for refugee and host communities were also implemented.
   02.2 Current DRC assets
   Ajoung Thok programming counts with excellent assets that can provide DRC with a space for multiple livelihood activities. DRC currently counts with: Tree nursery, wood lots and VTC centers in Pamir, Ajoung Thok, Wood lot and nursery in Yida. It is worth mentioning that DRC manages the only two VTC centres in Rwgeng state: Pamir and Ajoung Thok. During the year of 2018, the following was achieved:
    26,250 total planted 4,053 died = 85% average total,
    All woodlots were rain fed, manually weeded x3 times during the height of the rainy season and the species planted where neem trees and acacia (specie).
   Ajoung Thok
   VTC:
    Some of the key trainings: metal work, furniture making, welding, tailoring, leather crafting, construction, carpentry and plumbing.
    Counts with 10 classrooms and store area,
    Solar panels broken for 2 lights broken
   Nursery:
    Water: Borehole is outside the centre and works with a solar pump (has a generator in case of emergency). Water is shared between the hospital and the centre. Currently we only count with one 5,000 lt tank.
    Main sapling production: guava, neem, passion fruit, papaya, moringa, kei apple and acacia spp.
    There is a beekeeping area with approximately 8 beehives that are not being used.
   Woodlot:
    Planted 5,567 saplings out of which 696 died = 88% survival rate
   Ajoung Thok, VTC centre, nursery and woodlot are in the same location.
   Pamir
   VTC:
    VTC centre still under construction since 2017 but being used.
    Total of 6 classrooms
   Nursery:
    Water: is supplied by a close by borehole and is stored in one 5,000 Lt tank. The nursery and VTC centre share this water resource,
    Main sapling production: papaya, kai apple, acacia, lemon, guava and teak
    The nursery has been expanded due to the challenges at Yida nursery
   Woodlot:
    Planted 2,315 out of which died 78 died = 97% survival rate
   Yida
   Nursery and Orchard:
    Nursery is to be moved to AT and Jamgjang due to difficulty in supervision and hard climatic conditions
    Orchard is mainly comprised of guavas, mangos.
   Page 4 // DRC ToR Consultant // 2019
   Woodlot:
    Planted 15,368 out of which 3,211 died = 79% survival rate
   Jamgjang
   Woodlot:
    planted 3,000 sapling out of which 68 saplings died = 98% survival rate
3. SUMMARY OF KEY FUNCTIONS
   The consultant will be supported by the livelihoods teams including Technical Coordinator, Programme Managers and Assistants. The main role of the consultant is to advice DRC livelihoods teams on best agroecological practices for landscape restauration (LR) and NRM for the areas of Ajoung Thok and Bentiu Unity state in order to increase the quality and technical implementation of programmes. It is expected that the final assessment gives a detailed overview and provides DRC with relevant guidelines in order to increase the technical knowhow of livelihoods programmes, and supports DRC taking the lead on resilience, NRM and LR programming for future funding. In summary some of the key functions are:
    Support evidence based programming
    Keep DRC SSD at the top of innovative and resilient programming
    Suggest a road map and way forward for LR and NRM programming
    Share technical knowhow through training
    Provide support and technical knowledge on best practices for LR and NRM to DRC staff
    Provide introduction to permaculture course to key livelihood staff
    The consultant/consultancy firms will be required to provide updates fortnightly on progress and challenges encountered or when requested by the aforementioned’
4. KEY RESULTS
    Landscape assessment: ID of key species with its uses (existing and potential)
    Recommended species list for NRM and landscape restauration
    Propose plating plan for LR of maram pits to 3-5 years
    Landscape Restauration Guidelines: growing, planting and caring…
    Delivery of PDC training and basic tree care to relevant staff
    Consultants overall outcomes will be reported to Technical Coordinator
    The consultant will be required to provide updates fortnightly on progress and challenges encountered or when requested by the aforementioned’
5. TIMELINE
   Contract duration: 15 days in country, 3 days for report writing and 4 travel days to and from country.
   Timeline
   Suggested timetable
   Friday 26 July
   Leave from country
   Saturday 27 July
   Arrive Juba – meet country staff/rest
   Sunday 28 July
   Orientation and briefing
   Monday 29 July
   Juba – Bentiu
   Page 5 // DRC ToR Consultant // 2019
   Tuesday 30 July
   Bentiu with 1/2 day training
   Wednesday 31July
   Bentiu – Juba
   Thursday 1 August
   Juba
   Friday 2 August
   Juba – Ajoung Thoc
   Saturday 3 August
   Ajoung Thoc with 1/2 day training
   Sunday 4 August
   Ajoung Thoc
   Monday 5 August
   Ajoung Thoc
   Tuesday 6 August
   Ajoung Thoc
   Wednesday 7 August
   Ajoung Thoc – Juba
   Thursday 8 August
   Juba – Training intro to PDC
   Friday 9 August
   Juba – Training intro to PDC
   Saturday 10 August
   Juba – Training intro to PDC
   Sunday 11 August
   South Sudan – Wales
   Country of origin
   3 days report generation
6. COMPETENCIES
   Core Competencies
    Striving for excellence: focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process
    Collaborating: involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
    Taking the lead: take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
    Communicating: listen and speak effectively and honestly.
    Demonstrating integrity: act in line with our vision and values
   Functional Competencies
   Knowledge Management and Learning
    Promote knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office
    Ability to advocate and provide policy advice
    Actively work towards continuing personal learning and development
    Commitment to gender equality and interest in learning gender mainstreaming
   Management and Leadership
    Work effectively as a team, and demonstrate strong coordination skills in promoting gender as a cross-cutting theme.
    Consistently approach work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
    Remain calm, in control even under pressure
    Demonstrate openness to change and ability to manage complexities
7. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
    Minimum a MSc degree in Ecology, Agriculture, Soil science or other relevant topic,
    Proven competency in comprehending agroecological principals,
    Proven experience in teaching permaculture design course (PDC),
    Proven competency in understanding and designing land scape restauration and natural resource management projects.
8. TECHNICAL CRITERIA
   As mentioned in the tender document.
   Page 6 // DRC ToR Consultant // 2019
9. OTHER
    DRC will take care of ticket to and back from SSD (international travel), to field bases
    DRC will provide accommodation, communication as well as security and logistical support for consultant.
    DRC will take care of visas and all requirements for entering the country and travelling within country,
    In case of emergency (health or security) DRC will facilitate evacuation from field locations where feasible. However, the costs incurred will be recovered from the consultant by DRC-DDG.
    Consultants overall outcomes will be reported to Technical Coordinator.
    DRC will cover the DKK31.21 per day- BUPA insurance daily rate for the 15 days the consultant will be in country.
    Consultancy fee should include all costs for other than mentioned above.
10. ATTACHMENTS
    As mentioned in the tender document.