Country: Ethiopia
Closing date: 21 Jul 2015
I. Introduction
IGAD provides policy and capacity building support to its member states. The IGAD region stretches over an area of 5.2 million sqkm with a population of over 170 million comprising eight countries in the Horn of Africa. Most of the land mass of IGAD (60 - 70 percent) is Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) that is inhibited by Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Communities. The Region is prone to recurrent hazards such as droughts and floods making it one of the most vulnerable regions on the African continent to climate variability and change. In response to the 2011 Horn of Africa Drought, IGAD member states embarked on the IGAD Drought Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRSI) that is aimed at addressing the effects of drought and related shocks in the region in a sustainable and holistic manner. Accordingly, the Danish Government has provided a grant to IGAD in support of the Initiative (IDDRSI). The Applied Research Component of the grant is designed to strengthen the Research, Knowledge Management and Technology Transfer strategic pillar of IDDRSI.
In Ethiopia, the Arid and Semi-Arid areas (ASALs) comprise the regional states of Afar and Somali, and partially cover the Southern and Eastern lowland areas/ Zone of Oromiya Region (Borena, Guji, Eastern Shewa and Bale), and the South Omo and Bench Maji zones of Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region (SNNPR). These areas make up about 60% of the country’s area and are endowed with 22% of the country’s livestock population. Although not highly commercialized, recent studies showed that the livestock sector that largely originates from the ASAL areas contributes 12-16% to Ethiopia Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 30-35% of the agricultural GDP. However, the pastoral/agropastoral communities living in the ASALs of Ethiopia, face multiple threats and challenges that mainly include demographic changes, resources scarcity, land degradation, overgrazing, deforestation, civil strife, market fluctuations, climate change effects that add pressure to their fragile environment and tend to undermine their ability to survive recurrent cycles of drought.
Rangelands serve a great variety of uses as they are habitats for human, many species of fauna and flora and permitted water for livestock, and wildlife, agricultural, development and other uses. Sound management of the nation’s rangelands, based on ecological, traditional and emerging trends analysis is required to gain the full measure of benefits and values that these resources offer. Rangeland management and conservation requires a sound knowledge of botanical, animal, soil and ecology as well as knowledge of the people who use them.
The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct a study on current practices, policies, emerging cultural trends so as to strengthen rangeland management in the selected woredas of the Somali Afar, Oromiya and SNNP regions that will inform proper rangeland management in the respective areas.
II. Objectives
The specific objectives of this assessment include:
- Review existing studies/documents on rangeland and its management in ASAL areas of Ethiopia and IGAD region
- Review policies, strategies and guidelines that influence rangeland management
- Analyze the current governance and management structures of decision making as well information management and communication strategies and practices in the management of the rangelands.
- Analyze on the current rangeland management (management of invasive species, water development, wildlife conservation and utilization practices, this consultancy shall analyze the traditional practices and knowledge and ways to protect the rangelands so as to identify best practice(s) and recommend issues that can be promoted in the ASALs.
III. Methodology
The individual consultant is expected to specifically focus on the Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral areas of Afar regional state, Borena zone of Oromiya Regional state, Omo Zone of SNNPR and Somali regional state in Ethiopia selecting three districts representing diverse livelihood systems in each region/zone. The individual consultant is expected to use both primary and secondary data in undertaking the assignment. Consultations with Governmental and Non-governmental organizations from National to local levels including the community (clan leaders, religious leaders, elders, men, women, the youth, etc….) constitute an integral part of the data gathering process. In doing so, the consultant is expected to use various PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) tools of data collection.
IV. Deliverables
The following are deliverables expected from the consulting firm:
1) Inception Report that contains the rational, objectives, methodology, work plan, budget, and list of organizations to be visited.
2) Draft Report for comments;
3) Presentation of the Report in a validation workshop
4) Final Report
V. Qualifications
The individual consultant should have adequate experience in conducting assessment, studies, management and development of strategies pertinent to pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of Ethiopia. He/She is expected to have at least post-graduate degree in Range land Management/Livestock production/Natural Resources Management or related fields with at least 10 years of experience. The consultant is expected to have written and spoken fluency in English and Amharic. Knowledge of Afar/Somali/Ormifa language is an advantage.
VI. Duration
The consultancy is expected to be conducted over a period of 50 days.
How to apply:
Interested individual consultant should send separate technical and financial proposals to the address below before or on 2:00pm on July 21, 2015.
Procurement Unit
Intergovernmental Authority on Development,
P. O. Box 2653,
E-mail: procurement@igad.int.
Fax: +253 356994,353520
Djibouti,
Republic of Djibouti
IGAD Secretariat shall only respond to shortlisted candidates.
IGAD is an equal opportunity employer. Female candidates are encouraged to apply
Republic of Djibouti
IGAD is an equal opportunity employer and female candidates are encouraged to apply