South-South and Triangular Cooperation on Climate Change Adaptation and Agri- Food Systems Transformation in Africa [Call for Proposals ]

Terms of Reference for a Short-term Consultancy Assignment

1. Introduction

As countries accelerate their actions in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, a number of developments affecting the sustainability of food systems are emerging, including the impacts of climate change that are expected to have a disproportionately negative impact on production in those countries where food demand is projected to grow most strongly.

Tackling climate change is not attainable without transforming the agrifood sector. A study carried out by FAO in 2021 noted that agrifood systems account for one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, agricultural expansion drives 90 percent of global deforestation, 70 percent of water use globally, the greatest cause for land biodiversity loss, putting pressure on food value chains. The same study also highlighted that  “the food supply chain is on course to overtake farming and land use as the largest contributor to greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the agri-food system in many countries, due to rapid growth driven by food processing, packaging, transport, retail, household consumption, waste disposal and the manufacturing of fertilizers”[1].

Africa faces the greatest impacts from climate change, despite contributing least to the greenhouse gas emissions. The predictions indicate large decreases in precipitation in northern and southwestern South Africa whilst the Ethiopian Highlands are likely to record increases in rainfall and extreme rainfall by the end of the 21st century. Africa remains a net food importer and a 1.5o C climate scenario will lead to a doubling of extreme droughts, more heavy rainfall and intense flooding leading to negative impacts on Africa’s food systems and food security[2].  

While agriculture is a key contributor to climate change, it also offers many solutions to the global climate goals. From restoring degraded lands to eliminating food waste, more climate friendly production and post-production practices – can contribute significantly to mitigation and adaptation to the impacts of climate change. Africa’s Climate Change Strategy highlights that “It is recognized that the continent has an immense mitigation potential in its vast land mass, forests, agricultural systems and oceans. Africa also has unrivalled potential for renewable energy, especially solar for its own development and export. This potential should be quantified and put on the table as the continent’s contribution in return for finance and technology needed to adapt and develop despite climate change”.

• Why South-South and triangulation on climate change is necessary

The FAO Climate Change Strategy 2022-2031 has a strong focus on establishing strategic partnerships with actors interested and engaged across agrifood systems, including government institutions, international, regional and national climate institutions, regional and sub-regional organizations and economic communities, private companies, research and academia and farmers[3]. One of the core actions of the FAO Strategy on Climate Change include supporting the stocktaking of existing good practices and local, traditional and indigenous knowledge and the emergence, exploration and promotion of innovative, proactive, sustainable and context-specific climate resilience, adaptation and mitigation solutions, and strengthening countries’ agrifood innovation capacity and systems[4].

In 2021 FAO’s new South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) Strategy prioritizes strengthening knowledge brokering, partnership and collaborations as two of the four Strategic Focus Areas (SFA’s). In particular, expanding Triangular Partnerships and collaborations is a key area of focus for networking, reviewing regulatory framework, creating enabling environment for the networking itself as well as for joint mobilization of resources.  The main aim of the South-South Triangular Cooperation is to leverage SSTC’s catalytic and complementary role in co-developing of synergies, solutions, and skills to improve food systems through strong networking platforms at regional and global level.

Given the myriad of challenges, a paradigm shift needs to occur among Africa’s Agricultural education, research and extension system.  Within the context of the ongoing discussions between FAO’s South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division (PST) and the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), the two organizations aim to collaborate on the formation of an integrated Network of African University-Industry on climate change mitigation and agrifood systems transformation. Considering the diversity of universities that form the RUFORUM network and the constant research generated through these universities, there is relevance in bringing this science and practice together to shape the course of programming around climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in the continent.

The major objectives of the Network is to coordinate and facilitate networking and collaboration among African Universities, Industry and Policy Makers to collaboratively engage in action-oriented research and knowledge generation on climate adaptation and mitigation practices from Africa. Such transdisciplinary processes aim to stimulate learning, problem-solving and co-production of knowledge through universities and research centers, and other relevant bodies. In terms of coordination, the partnership is imperative for the network’s  sustainability.  The network in the interim has identified the following as possible areas of interest;

1. Regenerative agriculture with its imperatives on agroecology and sustainable intensification, soil health, water, energy and environment, advanced genetics for production, crop improvement: new resilient demand driven crop varieties, livestock improvement: new resilient demand driven crop varieties, and alternative proteins amidst climate change
2. Africa’s Blue Economy: Sustainable Marine and Fresh water exploitation with a focus on aquaculture and alternative marine sources of food and fiber
3. Reducing food losses, evening food supply and creating market opportunities for Africa’s food systems with a focus on;  food processing for Africa’s growing and urbanizing populations,  nutrition challenge (Under nutrition, over nutrition, food safety and health), policies: Taking stock of progress made against key food systems continental supportive policies, and shrinking supply chain gaps using digital and financial solutions (Fintec etc.), block chain enabled traceability, IOT for real time supply chain transparency and traceability
4. Evidence, and actions required as part of delivering conversations on accelerating and scaling-up Africa’s climate change adaptation and mitigation actions focusing on reducing emissions, what are the main sources and how can they be better managed; climate-adaptive agriculture sessions (collection of papers on this subject), and climate change governance: Strengthening disaster risk planning and governance.

A partnership with RUFORUM will provide the  Network with an opportunity to  form a platform for researchers and practitioners to address the pressing issues of the food system transformation in Africa. It will build on RUFORUM’s vast University Networks, interventions and experiences in the implementation of action-oriented research^[5], and graduate research as well as  promotion of collaboration between academia, policy makers and practitioners to identify, document and share on-the-ground innovations, knowledge, and good practices on climate change mitigation. .

• Purpose and tasks of the assignment  

RUFORUM and FAO have agreed on two practical objectives/outputs under the current task; (1) Conceptualization and Design for the Collaborative Action Research Network (CARN) on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Africa; and (2) Collaborative Action Research Network (CARN) for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Africa operationalized. In order to operationalize these two objectives and outputs, RUFORUM seeks the services of a consultant to undertake a short-term consultancy assignment for a period of one month. The specific tasks to be undertaken by the consultant include:

1. Compile a list of potential researchers and institutions, including list of key research projects on climate change adaptation and mitigation conducted by them to identify potential network partners from Africa.
2. Conduct a synthesis of climate change adaptation and mitigation related research implemented by RUFORUM to build a body of evidence and experience for engaging with prospective Network Members and Resource Partners
3. Through a participatory process with identified network partners collaboratively organise at least three virtual discussions/webinars and outreach meetings with identified Network partners to identify and analyze their knowledge needs, collaboration goals, priority areas for research, engagement incentives and preferences. 
4. Identify and prioritize possible collaborative research initiatives on mitigation and adaptation for CARN to be presented to resource partners (including FAO) for potential seed-funding; providing a short- 1-2 page(s) concept ideas note for each.
5. Develop a Programme Concept Note (CN) (integrating the Knowledge Management and Operational Strategy) to consolidate and scale up the operations of CARN

• Consultancy approach

This assignment is set to be undertaken as a desk review task with a virtual collaborative engagement. The consultant will where possible be availed with reports and other relevant documents to support the consultant’s assignment delivery process. It is also within the consultant’s ability and capacity to proposed innovative approach that will enable effective task delivery.

• Expected deliverables

The consultant/team is expected to provide:

1. An inception report: the inception report will provide details of the Consultant’s understanding of the task and interpretation of the defined activities. It will provide the detailed methodology to deliver this task.

2. A draft review report: the consultant will prepare a draft report taking into consideration the agreed upon format. The draft report, will be submitted to the RUFORUM Secretariat and will be reviewed by the consortium partners to ensure that the review process and outcomes meet the required quality criteria.

3. A final report

The final report will be submitted after input and validation workshop.  The content and the structure of the report shall include an executive summary, a contextual background, a methodology section, a findings section, a robust analysis section, and three annex documents; 2 short 1-2 pager concept ideas notes (refer task No. 4); and a program concept note for not more than 5 pages (refer Task No. 5). 

• Required expertise and qualification

RUFORUM recognizes that the scope of the task will demand multiple skill sets and knowledge and therefore, the Secretariat will hire the consultant based on expertise in particular qualification and experience in climatic sciences, disaster risk reduction, experience in conducting synthesis analyses and performing collaborative designs of initiatives/mind mapping exercises and affordability of the proposed cost of the assignment within the available budget as provided below.

• Evaluation criteria

The following shall constitute the key evaluation items;

No.	Evaluation item	Points
1	PhD in climatic sciences, agricultural sciences, disaster risk reduction	10
2	Experience of at least 5 years in research post PhD qualification period	5
3	Evidence of having conducted synthesis and analytical work based on meta-data and/or other reports published and/or not published that should be attached as evidence	10
4	Clearly structured methodology and approach to delivering the work	20
5	Feasibility of the proposed time frame for assignment delivery	5

• Proposal submission

Applicants are encouraged to submit both technical and financial proposal.

• Management Arrangements

The selected consultants will report to the RUFORUM Secretariat designate(s) who will provide technical guidance for the review and ensure that the review process is independently conducted and the agreed processes are followed. The Consultant shall also have meeting sessions with all RUFORUM and FAO.

1. Time-Frame for the Evaluation Process

This assignment will be delivered over a period of 30 days spread over a period 45 days between 1^st May, 2024 and 17^th June, 2024.

1. Payment

The payment for this task will be made by RUFORUM Secretariat.  

1. Administrative considerations

RUFORUM shall be responsible for all the other operational issues relating to coordination of the assignment.

1. Available Amount: US$5,000 (equivalent in US Dollars)

1. How to apply
2. All applications with all the necessary and relevant supporting documents (CV, evidence of previous analysis work delivered and report developed) should be sent to secretariat@ruforum.org with copy to a.egeru@ruforum.org
3. All applications should be submitted not later than 25^th April, 2024 at 17:00 Hrs East African time.

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[1] FAO, 2021. Supply chain joins deforestation and farming practices as main source of emissions in agri-food sector.  https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/supply-chain-is-growing-source-of-agri-food-GHG-emissions/en

[2] African Union. Africa Climate Strategy 2020-2030. https://archive.uneca.org/sites/default/files/uploaded-documents/ACPC/2020/africa_climate_change_strategy_-_revised_draft_16.10.2020.pdf

[3] https://www.fao.org/3/cc2274en/cc2274en.pdf

[4] https://www.fao.org/3/cc2274en/cc2274en.pdf

[5] RUFORUM has implemented at least 17 action research projects within a value chains approach. These are impacting the agri-food systems. The CARPs have been implemented previously in Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania and currently; in Uganda, Benin, Ghana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Uganda, Botswana, Kenya, and Sudan. Eight projects have specifically focused on greenhouse gas emissions assessment.  

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