Terms of Reference for Capacity building needs assessments for stakeholders at local, district,
provincial and national levels
1. Introduction
The project on Climate change and Development has been developed as a result of a number of
discussions and preliminary work with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Finland. The
development goal of the project is to “ensure that national policies in project’s target countries and
Finland’s development interventions reduce vulnerability and enhance adaptive capacity to climate
variability and climate change, consistent with Government of Finland’s Development Policy, Bonn
Commitments, and IUCN’s 2005-2008 and 2009-2012 programmes”.
A pilot phase of the project was implemented between January-September 2007 in collaboration
with the IUCN Regional Offices for Southern Africa (ROSA) and Eastern Africa (EARO) and the
Forest Conservation Programme (FCP). The pilot phase in Zambia included a number of
consultations on various climate change relates issues in the country, community-based climate
change risk assessments in seven field sites, stakeholder consultations (informal meetings and a
stakeholder workshop), and information dissemination (meeting with parliamentarians). During the
implementation of the pilot phase, two additional countries: Tanzania and Mozambique were
identified as additional countries to be included in the full-size project proposal. Background
studies on the current status of climate change and stakeholder consultations were conducted as
part of the pilot phase. Governmental representatives from both countries also attended the
stakeholder workshop in Zambia.
Local communities dependent on natural resources,
day-to-day living are the most vulnerable group to
this project is to improve the adaptive capacity
governance framework recognizes the importance
people’s livelihoods and associate farming systems.
such as forests and water resources, for their
climate change and its effects. The purpose of
of these beneficiaries by ensuring that the
of forests and water resources in supporting
Community-level projects, mainly those dealing with ecosystem or natural resource management,
can either improve adaptive capacity of communities or constrain it. However, a lack of climate
change awareness and understanding amongst decision makers and development project
planners, and a low capacity to assess and address vulnerability, hinders the inclusion of climate
change adaptation in decision making, project development and national policies.
2.
Objectives of the Exercise
The objective of the consultancy is to identify the national capacity needs in undertaking
vulnerability assessments and implementing adaptation measures. The assessment will be
undertaken for stakeholders, implementing partners and beneficiaries of this project in climate
change adaptation at individual, institutional and systemic levels.
It is expected that the consultations will be undertaken in a highly participatory manner with
detailed consultations at national, provincial levels, district and local levels.
Based on the capacity building needs assessment for vulnerability assessment, capacity building
activities (such as training, sending people to workshops, information dissemination), for different
stakeholder group will be designed and implemented.
3.Background of the Exercise
Climate change vulnerability is defined as “the extent to which climate change may damage or
harm a system; it is a function of both sensitivity to climate and the ability to adapt to new
conditions”1. Vulnerability varies in time and in place but it is widely agreed that the poorest
people are the most vulnerable to climate change related changes since they have the least means
to cope with climatic stress and are the most reliant on natural resources for their livelihoods.
Understanding of how local livelihoods are conducted and sustained is a key step in assessing
vulnerability. Further, understanding the dynamics of these livelihoods is a key component in
comprehending the effects of climate change on them and the type of adaptation interventions or
strategies, which will be the most useful.
There is therefore, a clear need to undertake capacity building for undertaking vulnerability
assessments of CC as was expressed by stakeholders during the Pilot Phase. This is done by first
assessing capacity needs for undertaking vulnerability assessments among stakeholders.
4.Tasks to be undertaken
The consultant will undertake the following specific tasks using consultative and participatory
approaches and methods:
:
 Undertake a Situational analysis in order to establish baseline capacity in undertaking
vulnerability assessments and implementing adaptation measures
 Undertake a Stakeholder analysis (Would this come from the consultancy for institutional
arrangements?) to identify all stakeholders and actors in climate change adaptation at
national, provincial, district and local levels
 Assess the capacity-building needs for undertaking vulnerability assessments and
implementing adaptation activities for each stakeholder and partner at individual, institutional
and systemic levels
 Identify required training and modes of training for identified stakeholder needs (who,
what training, how and when)
 Present the findings at a stakeholder workshops
5.
Plan of Work
As part of the inception report, provide a detailed mode of work, methodology, key information
sources to be used, and institutions / organizations to be consulted in undertaking the task.
6.
Required Expertise
The following personnel qualifications are required to successfully carry out the exercise:
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7.
1
A Masters Degree in Environment, Education and Development studies
Familiar with the UNFCCC capacity needs and practical experience in the
application of vulnerability assessment methods and tools
Experience in undertaking vulnerability assessments; and development and
implementation of climate change adaptation measures
Proven experience in undertaking capacity needs assessments and in developing
tailored made-training programmes and modules
Timetable and Reporting
IPCC (1997). The Regional Impacts of Climate Change: An Assessment of Vulnerability
The duration of the consultancy shall not exceed 2 months.
The consultant is expected to produce 2 hard copies and an electronic copy of a draft report
written in understandable English for review, 5 weeks from commencement of the work.
IUCN will provide the consultant with comments to the draft report within a week and the
consultant will be expected to submit a final report a week later.
8.
Mandate
The consultant will be responsible to and report to the National Project Coordinator at IUCN
Zambia Offices for all correspondence related to this work.
IUCN will provide logistical support exclusively for this work in the form of transport costs and per
diems at IUCN rates, with prior authorization by the National Project Coordinator.
9.
Mode application
Submit a brief proposal describing how the assignment will be done with the budget addressing
the national Coordinator for the climate change and development at iucndar@iucn.or.tz