Green Belt Movement Consultancy to Conduct Socio-Economic Survey for the Integrated Community-Based Natural Resources Management Project in Chania Watershed of the Aberdares Ecosystem - 2015

Expression of Interest (EOI) to Conduct Socio-Economic Survey for the Integrated Community-Based Natural Resources Management Project in Chania Watershed of the Aberdares Ecosystem
 

Terms of Reference
 

Background: The Green Belt Movement (GBM) in partnership with the local communities has been implementing community-based natural resource management projects to rehabilitate degraded forest resources. 

GBM’s proposed project will address environmental degradation in the Chania watershed (covering Gatundu North, Lari and South Kinangop constituencies), within the Aberdare water tower. The project will enable them to preserve their environment and habitat sites that have irreplaceable ecosystem services, cultural and spiritual significance. 

Moreover, local communities are aware that if these resources are not protected, it could grossly impact and disrupt their livelihoods systems.

 

The aim of the project is to support rural communities to conserve and restore functions of their natural ecosystems, provide alternative sources of income and secure future food production over two years.

GBM will empower communities with relevant skills that will enhance their entrepreneurial capacities leading to better understanding of markets for farm sourced products. 

The project will result in reduced pressure on forest resources and increased food security and climate resilience at the community level.
 

Project aim and objectives
 

The project goal is to restore degraded farm lands and forests through the Green Belt Movement approach to community engagement, improve the quality of life of rural communities by conserving local biodiversity and support livelihoods in Chania watershed. 

The aim of the project is to support rural communities within the Chania watershed to conserve and restore their natural ecosystems, secure their food production and improve their livelihoods so that they consequently become more resilient to the vagaries of climate change.

The project sets out to achieve the following objectives: 

• to strengthen local communities’ capacity through mobilization and sensitization, to protect Chania watershed and restore the function of natural ecosystems in relations to water retention, carbon sequestration, biodiversity protection and rural income generation through food security initiatives.


• to identify alternative livelihood options for local community members, by using a participatory approach, in order to reduce community dependence on forest and increase tree cover along riparian reserves and individual farm in the watershed.


• promote forest extension on farm to increase tree cover for sustained timber, wood, fuel, non-wood forest products and environmental conservation through promotion of farm forestry and protection of catchment and riparian areas outside forest reserves.

The aim of the exercise is to undertake a socio-economic survey in the project area to establish current status on social set up, land use land planning practices, quantify food security assets, agroforestry, and crop and animal husbandry practices to inform intervention activities. 

These will be undertaken by understanding of the key social, cultural, economic and political conditions in Chania watershed with a view of predicting and explaining possible impacts (at household and biodiversity level) and sustainability of the activities undertaken by the project.
 

Objective
 

The general objective of this study is to undertake a socio-economic baseline assessment in the project area to establish current status and enable measurement of project’s impacts.
 

The specific objectives of this study are to:

• understand key social, cultural, economic and political conditions in the targeted Chania watershed areas,


• collect information that will allow project team to measure the project’s impact on the state of natural resources; the changes in capacity, behavior and poverty level. The assessment will also collect gender disaggregated data to analyze the effectiveness of factors specifically impacting women,


• ensure proper monitoring and evaluation of the program as well as to assess impact over time,


• determine the drivers and threats to biodiversity and environment in the project areas,


• provide socio-economic data to predict, explain and substantiate possible impacts and sustainability of the activities and outputs of the project,


• understand the expectations and concerns of a range of stakeholders (e.g. farming community, county government, government authorities, NGOs etc.) directly or indirectly involved in the implementation of GBM project,


• inform the Green Belt Movement of the best approaches during project implementation and recommendations during implementation period to ensure sustainability after project.


• benchmark future socio-economic changes/ impacts, especially at household level, and assess the effectiveness of implementation approaches

Nature and scope of the proposed socio-economic baseline survey

 In consultation with the local community, NGOs, government departments, county government of Kiambu and Nyandarua counties, use of workshop proceedings, evaluation of similar projects and programs by other organisations carry out socio-economic baseline survey for the project.
 

The consultants in consultation with the GBM and other partners will be expected to undertake the following tasks:

• Form a baseline survey steering committee with membership from the local communities, GBM and other relevant stakeholders within the project area.


• Conduct desk review of project documents, reports, survey tools and other relevant documents the range of which shall be agreed upon with the project team.


• Propose an appropriate and acceptable survey methodology and develop data collection tools.


• Develop a sampling and data management plan


• Recruit and train interviewer (supervisors, interviewers, observers/record reviewers) on data collection tools.


• Coordinate and supervise data collection.


• Carry out data analysis


• Prepare the baseline assessment report in a format acceptable to GBM


• Report to GBM on progress


• Submit to GBM the final as well as a complete data set.

The socio economic assessment will generate information on the following:

• Population distribution and demographics


• Administrative structures and governance


• Current livelihood activities/ assets to test their viability (source of livelihoods, entrepreneurship, employment, agriculture, grazing, existing food crops etc)


• Assessment of the prevailing socio-economic status of the local community in relationship with forest utilization


• Existing infrastructure, resources and services (water, health, education, energy, other social services etc)


• Existing cultural aspects in the project area (ethnicity, points of resources conflicts if any, community decision making structures, information sources etc)


• Identify cultural values in natural resources utilization including equity and preference


• Socio-economic impacts of the planned project activities in the area


• Attitude and perceptions of local actors towards expected project outcome, planned project activities etc


• Local priority rating of environmental challenges


• Potential impacts of projects’ impacts on social capital


• Local perception and opinions on ways to ensure project overcomes social and economic challenges and leverages on existing cultural, social and economic opportunities


• Other relevant social and economic conditions that are key for project’s success


• Existing approaches for community participation in forest management and benefits sharing mechanisms


• Existing environmental threats and livelihood related issues in the area


• Assess current livelihood activities/assets to test their viability and location (source of livelihoods, entrepreneurship, employment, agriculture, grazing, existing food crops etc)


• Energy usage, utilization, cook stove and sources in the project area


• Document community groups that could be used to drive development efforts in the project area


• Recommendations and options related to socio-economic activities and cultural aspects in the project area for ensuring project’s success and effectiveness. 


• Assess the level of stakeholders involved in the project area

An indicative list of variables on which information is required for this baseline study is listed below: 

• Engagement of women in local natural resources management and decision making bodies 


• Current agricultural practices 


• Hectares of land cleared for agriculture 


• Charcoal/ firewood use and adoption of alternative energy sources 


• Income generating activities 


• Forest and watershed management practices 


• Land use and land planning practices 


• Non-timber forest product use 


• Water quality and availability 


• Fisheries; harvesting, processing, storage and market practices 


• Rate of forest deforestation/ degradation

Output
 

The following outputs are expected from the consultant:

• An inception report indicating internalization of the ToRs and laying out a methodology to be used,


• An improved survey report that will be presented to the project steering committee for discussion, and circulated to other stakeholders for comments,


• A final report with details on each of the ToRs, incorporating comments from other stakeholders plus any other technical/professional information deemed necessary or that would be expected in a report of this nature under normal circumstances,


• Using the existing development plan as the main source of reference, maps/ graphical representation of areas or activities for intervention,


• Narrative report on forest and farmlands management based on current activities within the project area,


• Production of a priority needs, gaps and opportunities assessment analysis

Duration and timeline: The assignment is expected to be completed in a month time.
 

Reporting: The consultant will report on all administrative issues of this consultancy to the Senior Programme Officer in charge of Tree Planting and Water Harvesting

Qualifications and required skills for the Consultancy: The assignment requires firm and/or team of consultants with the experience in undertaking similar assignments and of similar magnitude, under the supervision of a team leader with at least 7 – 10 years of relevant experiences. 

The prospective candidate is expected to meet the following minimum criteria:

• A Strong bias towards Natural resources management and/ or physical Sciences


• Minimum 7 years relevant experience in carrying out survey design, survey implementation and data analysis, preferably in the development/NGO sector


• Proven extensive experience in working with government agencies, local authorities or other NGOs


• Demonstrated experience and solid track record in similar assignments will be an added advantage


• Demonstrated experience in questionnaire development and administration


• Demonstrated experience in training enumerators


• Experience of survey work with similar purpose, mode and populations strongly preferred


• Familiarity with the economic landscape of Kiambu and Nyandarua County is an added advantage


• Good communication skills i.e. English/ Kiswahili both oral and written

The technical proposal should detail the following:

1. Consultant’s specific experience (please attach CVs of the key personnel to be deployed)


2. Methodology and tool(s) to be used.


3. Work plan 4. A detailed budget indicating fees and costs for logistics.

Submission of technical proposal
 

Interested firm/consultancy are advised to submit their technical proposal to undertake the consultancy that include a concept note of not more than 5 pages on planned approach and methodology with relevant details and documentations. 

Proposals should be submitted electronically or by hard copy to mkarunditu@greenbeltmovement.org and copy to jobs@greenbeltmovement.org latest by 12.00 noon, September 3, 2015.

Acceptable formats include; Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and PDF.

GBM is an equal opportunity employer and canvassing will lead to disqualification.