Country: Somalia
Closing date: 10 Feb 2019
1. Background
The Somalia Resilience Programme (SomReP) is a consortium of seven international non-governmental organizations (INGO). SomReP works to enhance the resilience of chronically vulnerable households, communities and systems across Somalia. Droughts in 2006 and 2008, followed by a devastating drought and famine in 2011 and the Recurrent drought in the region have helped highlight the weak human and institutional capacity, lack of effective policies and regulations at the government level geared toward supporting Somalia’s vulnerable populations and the increasing fragmentation and instability in the country.
The Somalia Resilience Program (SomReP) is an ambitious approach to tackle the challenge of recurrent droughts and other shocks —and the chronic vulnerability among pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, and peri-urban households in one of the poorest countries in the world. SomReP is being implemented through a consortium of 7 INGOs (ACF, ADRA, CARE, COOPI, DRC, Oxfam and WVI) with the Technical Unit housed under World Vision Somalia for the coordination and provision of technical support/direction to the program. These seven international organizations have deep experience in Somalia and jointly aim to build resilient households and communities across Somaliland, Puntland and South-Central Somalia using their own potential and abilities other than depending on handouts. Different members to better support the communities adopted this approach to foster synergies on approaches and best practices.
Somalia has a huge potential for the production of honey and other hive products. Though traditionally practiced for centuries, apiculture, like many other sectors in the country has suffered from low knowledge and skills and poor perceptions in regard to modern beekeeping technologies. There is a pervading lack of awareness of the high potential for value-addition in processing of hive products and the real opportunity for income generation and investment that beekeeping provides. Since 2013, FAO has intervened in apiculture in Somalia with the support of UKaid by forming rural beekeeping village groups and further supporting the groups with beekeeping equipment and tools as well as technical knowledge transfer. FAO implemented beekeeping activities with over 750 households currently benefitting since 2013, with a potential to produce 22.5 Mt of honey annually. The lesson learnt during this FAO engagement need to be replicated to other areas within Somalia.
Elbarde community depend on nature for its survival. Recurrent drought, prevalence of pest and diseases with frequent displacement due to conflicts have accelerated the poor performance of livestock and crop as a source of livelihood. This coupled with other socio-economic factors like money economy, a great number of the households lack sufficient income to feed their families adequately. Pastoralism, which is traditionally and culturally their way of livelihood, is facing great challenges in the face of climate change. The few households that are still maintaining the pastoralist lifestyle have had their herd size reduced to quite unreliable size rendering the traditional coping mechanisms ineffective. This calls for alternative livelihoods options that are environmental friendly and help the community to enhance resilience to the effects of climate change. Beekeeping is becoming one of important component of today’s strategies for sustainable agriculture and integrated rural development programmes with a great potential for increasing income to support livelihood. In realization of beekeeping potential in promoting livelihoods of Elbarde communities, Action Against Hunger in Somalia is initiating beekeeping support to generate income for the households. DFAT funded SomRep projects, which requires this consultancy support, are located in Bakool region, South Central Somalia particularly in Elbarde district: (where ACF has Program operations under DFAT – Australian Aid). The goal of supporting bee keeping as resilience interventions is to diversify households’ income and employment opportunities, mainly targeting women and youth capacity of the beekeeping sub-sector. Further, demonstrate the role of women and youth in building sustainable models of rural development, including establishment of appropriate food safety standards for hive products in the context of Somalia to meet customer needs in local and external markets. Gendered value-chain analysis is also required to delineate relative share of benefits, especially to women and youth.
The main objective of this assignment is therefore to do detailed baseline assessment, recommend appropriate action and provide technical support during implementation in order to make the beekeeping initiative a success and provide the expected impact on the community livelihoods in SomRep ACF –DFAT 5 in Elbarde district in Bakool – South Central Somalia.
2. Scope of the consultancy work
In order to provide the expected outputs of the consultancy we shall specifically undertake the following activities;**-**
● Carry out baseline data for benchmarking purposes of each beehive group or individuals.
● Establish a baseline for each group/individuals from the assessment for a clear tracking mechanism on diverse /specific need of the groups based on value chain, technical capacity and resources.
● Follow up on key technical areas identified for support for the ACF staffs, groups and develop a capacity-building matrix with clear benchmarks for graduation of the groups from one level to the next.
● Periodic monitoring of the bee keeping groups with regular assessment of the groups’ status to inform the graduation process.
● Give technical backstopping in all technical trainings for the groups in the different levels and develop training materials/ using pictorials
● With the ACF, staff develop monitoring tools for the different levels of capacity identified above.
● Mentor the groups and work on an exit mechanism for the support offered by ACF for the groups.
● Feed-back and technical advice for the groups to ensure that the groups are managing the bee-hives in a manner that lead to 100% colonization
● Assess the market chains, identify potential markets, and facilitate systems linkages.
● Explore and give technical advice on opportunities for value addition for the groups/individuals with capacity.
● Establishment of appropriate food safety standards for hive products in the context of Somalia to meet customer needs in local and external markets.
● Gendered value-chain analysis is also required to delineate relative share of benefits, especially to women and youth.
● Provide detailed technical report based on deliverables.
3. Methodology of implementing the consultancy
The consultants is expected to undertake or guide field visits to all groups/Individuals earmarked by ACF for the beekeeping initiative in the Elbarde districts. A comprehensive review of existing data/information on the beekeeping program will be undertaken for familiarization with the program status and identify areas of improvement based on situation analysis. A visit to the apiaries will be undertaken to observe and ascertain that the groups correctly sited the apiaries and that the beehives are set well. A detailed discussion with ACF Somalia and the beekeeping groups will be undertaken to gather information on the challenges faced and successes among other information. During the discussions, technical guidance or advisory will be given to the groups and ACF staffs on the program management for achieving success. Utilizing other previous relevant schemes and after needs assessments of the groups, Capacity building matrix and further technical support for the groups will be developed.
Through participatory approach involving the beekeeping groups, ACF staff and other relevant stakeholders jointly, consultant will develop monitoring tools jointly based on agreed targets and timelines of use in the project Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E). The consultants will utilize their good and broad network to advice on potential marketing opportunities for honey and other by-products both locally and externally. The consultants will work with the Head of department Food Security and livelihoods, Deputy Head of department Food Security and Livelihoods and FSL Program Manager Elbarde advisor to explore marketing system for the honey and other by products from the groups**.**
4. Responsibilities for the TechnicalAssistant
In line with the objectives of the task under scope of work for consultancy and under the overall guidance of the ACF FSL department, the following deliverables are expected from the consultant:
● Develop bee keeping assessment tools and carry out baseline assessment.
● Ensure field data is collected, analyzed and document key findings for developing a detailed implementation report.
● c) Follow up on key technical areas identified for support for the groups and develop a capacity-building matrix with clear benchmarks for graduation of the groups from one level to the next.
● Periodic monitoring of the bee keeping groups with regular assessment of the groups’ status to inform the graduation Process.
● Give technical backstopping in all technical trainings for the bee keeping ToT and develop training materials/ using pictorials for groups.
● With the ACF, staff develop monitoring tools for the different levels of capacity identified above.
● Mentor the groups/ToT and work on an exit mechanism for the support offered by ACF for the groups.
● Feed-back and technical advice for the groups to ensure that the groups are managing the beehives in a manner that lead to 100% colonization
● Assess the market chains, identify potential markets, and facilitate systems linkages.
● Establishment of appropriate food safety standards for hive products in the context of Somalia to meet customer needs in local and external markets.
● Gendered value-chain analysis is also required to delineate relative share of benefits,
● Explore and give technical advice on opportunities for value addition for the groups/individual or ToT with capacity.
● Provide detailed technical report based on deliverables
5. Responsibilities for ACF
a) Overall responsibility and supervision of the task
b) Provide existing assessments/ project documents, updates and provide relevant documents to support the task
c) Review draft and provide comments, approve final report
In addition to the above technical responsibilities, below administrative responsibilities shall apply to:
5a. The Consultant:
· Health Insurance for him/herself
· Equipment for use (Laptop etc.)
· Food/per diem
5b. ACF:
· Airfare to and from Mission
· Entry visa to country of mission
· Domestic transportation
· Domestic Accommodation
6. Deliverables
● Plan of action during the engagement for 30days.
● Assessment tool and detailed assessment report.
● A capacity-building matrix with clear bench marks for graduation of the groups from one level to the next through ToT or ACF staffs.
● Reports on Periodic monitoring of the bee keeping groups indicating the groups status to inform the graduation process
● Reports on technical backstopping and technical trainings for the groups in the different levels.
● A monitoring tools for the different levels of the different groups.
● Monitoring reports from the visits to the groups
● Proposed exit in an ongoing manner for the groups based on the level for the support offered by ACF for the groups.
● Proposals and meeting with ACF FSL technical team to explore potential markets
● Market systems and linkages, and market systems information.
● Final consultancy report at the end of the consultancy.
7. Management Arrangements
The Food Security and Livelihoods department of ACF shall be responsible for the overall management of the during engagement of this consultancy.
8. Assessment Assistant Profile
A technical expert with sufficient knowledge and experience in insect studies, Botany or zoology. The technical expert should have competencies in facilitating, developing and revising participatory tools, coaching and mentoring community facilitators, ensuring gender sensitivity/inclusion and conducting thorough desk reviews, integrating literature with research findings and writing high quality and analytical reports. He/she should have:
● Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of insect studies in arid and semi-arid areas in horn of Africa countries.
● Familiarity with the Risk and Vulnerability analytical skills using quantitative and qualitative information with Climate Change being a benefit for the systems mapping.
● Experience in humanitarian and development contexts.
● First-hand knowledge of socio-cultural, economic, political situation in Somalia or in a similar conflict-ridden country with high vulnerability to droughts is advantage.
● Advanced degree in Agricultural entomology/zoology/botany or a related field.
● Strong analytical and writing skills and the ability to clearly present findings and drawing practical conclusions and recommendations.
● Prior work experience in a similar technical exercise is a priority in this engagement.
How to apply:
The Consultant is required to provide the
a) Technical proposal on how the assignment will be conducted.
b) Appropriate timelines to perform the assignment (work plan).
c) Financial Proposal –The financial proposal shall show clearly the breakdown of costs (professional fees, applicable taxes and others). It must also indicate terms of payment.)
d) CVs of the lead Consultant clearly demonstrating the profile detailed in 8 above.
e) Proven field technical and field experience of Consultant.
f) Consultancies performed to support bee-keeping initiatives as alternative livelihoods activities.
g) Availability to perform the assignment at the earliest possible time.
Applications must be received on or before 10th February 2019 to E-Mail: procurement@so-actionagainsthunger.org
Shortlisting will be done throughout the period of advertisement. Applicants are therefore encouraged to submit applications early.