TERMS OF REFERENCE: Agricultural Advisory Facilitator in South West State, Somalia Full Time

A. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

*A_1: About C**ARE Somalia***

Since 1981, CARE has been providing emergency relief and lifesaving assistance to the Somali people. Some of CARE’s main program activities since then have included projects in water and sanitation, sustainable pastoralist activities, civil society and media development, small-scale enterprise development, primary school education, teacher training, adult literacy and vocational training. CARE works in partnership with Somali and international aid agencies, civil society leaders and local authorities. CARE has most recently broadened its work to include economic empowerment, food and nutrition security, humanitarian response and sexual and reproductive health. This consultancy call is hence a first of many efforts to impact food security and secure incomes from agricultural production for Small holder households. CARE Somalia is currently operational in the northern regions of Puntland and Somaliland. For more information, visit https://care.org/our-work/where-we-work/somalia/

A_2: Introduction Agricultural advisory

SomReP aims to equip agricultural producers with the real-time climatic information to allow them to make risk informed decision regarding their livelihood with the aim of enhancing food security and promoting economic growth. Towards this aim, SomReP is implementing an innovative Agricultural Advisory approach approach in Somalia that had already been field-tested in Ethiopia and Kenya (the Agricultural Advisory), that agricultural producers receive real time weather and climate information and services Just before the start of the agricultural season, a simple two-page document- highlighting project weather conditions for the next productive season and recommendations to best exploit these conditions will be develop, shared with farmer and pastoralist groups and promoted by key persons in government, prominent producers and others involved in the value-chain. Apart from providing farmers and pastoralists with information to help them prepare for the next growing season, the information provided is meant to catalyze the entire value chain, helping all value actors to prepare for the next season’s projected output. SomReP proposed to pilot this action for the upcoming Gu Rainy season that have been started on October 2018. **

The main aim of the advisory being to equip producers with real-time climatic information to facilitate risk-informed decision making regarding their livelihood with the goal of enhancing food security and promoting economic growth. Apart from providing farmers and pastoralists with information to help them prepare for the next growing season, the information provided would essentially catalyse the entire value chain, helping all actors to prepare for the next season’s projected output.

Therefore, the advisory information should be made available in September 2020 to allow actors to prepare for the projected seasonal performance.

B. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS ASSIGNMENT

B_1: Objectives

CARE/SomReP aims to partner with Regional and national Climate & weather producers , to produce and provide real-time climatic information useful all actors in the Agriculture value chains in forms which are most relevant to the target groups (farmers, pastoralists, middle-value chain actors, etc (Crops/Livestock).

Primary Data Collection Methodologies

Extensive primary data collection will be required using Rapid rural appraisal (RRA) of information & current situation and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) of the key informants in the target areas.

Rapid rural appraisal (RRA) of information & current situation

As gleaned from the pilot, teams developing the Deyr advisory ran a rapid rural appraisal (RRA) which took a two-pronged approach including both demand and provider sides. The advisory engaged both farmers and pastoralists (the demand side) as well as service providers’ i.e line ministries, SomRep, agro-dealers representatives and NGOs. The RRA was undertaken with a view to understanding any important developments post the pilot advisory, prevailing climate information conditions and any potential facilitators and or inhibitors of agricultural advisory going forward.

The RRA took the form of Focus group discussions (FGDs) and Key informant interviews (KII) conducted using developed guides and checklists (Annex 5). Given the veracity of information that was required from the respondents and the envisaged high-level engagement with top government officials, the FGDs and the KIIs were moderated by lead consultants from Savana Consulting with assistance from two note takers.

The RRAs were conducted in the villages of Awadinle, Bula keero and Lewile of Baidoa district in SWS. Each village had one FGD. An additional FGD was conducted with SomRep consortium representatives and Agro-dealers. The FGDs deliberations were augmented by information from KII sessions with ministry of agriculture and livestock officials as well as agro-dealers. FGDs and KII Participants were recruited purposively.

For village FGDs, participants included representatives of the committees formed by SomRep for farmers and pastoralists to share or for the transfer of knowledge. Others included; Members of Disaster management committees, Oxen plough, farmer groups, apiculture, store keeping groups and agro-dealers. The Agro-dealers were members of traders of agricultural inputs, products and agrochemicals (vet chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides) who were closely working with SomRep NGOs. Finally, the SomRep FGD was composed of technical implementers of SomRep program activities.

B_2: Scope of Work

The consultant will be required to coordinate a field based primary and secondary data collection in selected at Baidoa and Afgoye districts of the southwest state, analyses the data and produce and provide real-time climatic information useful all actors in the Agriculture value chains in forms which are most relevant to the target groups (farmers, pastoralists, middle-value chain actors, etc (Crops/Livestock).

1. Leveraging traditional weather prediction techniques embedded in target settings could bolster advisory efforts given that producers already identified and easily appreciated the predictive probabilities of such techniques.
2. assessment/monitoring of information reception, uptake and utilization will be key to formulating the advisory and selecting appropriate/preferred media outlets ad placement timelines.
3. Replicating the experiences gained from the pilot, SomRep and the partners implemented in a more robust current wave of the advisory during the Gu season of 2021.
4. There is merit in public private partnership for success of the advisory.
5. Replicating the experiences gained from the pilot, SomRep and the partners implemented in a more robust current wave of the advisory during the Gu season of 2021.

C-1: DELIVERABLES **

The Consultant/firm is expected to produce and deliver:

1. An inception report that includes workplan, methodology and deliverable highlights
2. Minutes of consultation meetings with relevant stakeholders – Government, UN, Early Warning Committees
3. Advisory bulletins in relevant Somali language
4. Advisory Launch meetings conducted
5. Evidence of Media dissemination produced
6. Final Report submitted
7. Gather and document relevant climatic information from FSNU/FEWs Net, National Climate information and alerts center, Early Warning Committees to guide the development the advisory bulletin.
8. Ensure primary data collection using Rapid rural appraisal (RRA) of information & current situation and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) of the key informants in the target areas.
9. Consult and Coordination with Ministry of Agriculture at Federal and Southwest State levels to Plan an event and organize media to promulgate advisory.
10. Coordinate with the SomReP Regional Management Unit (RMU), headed by Southern Operations focal point, for the printing of materials, cost associated with media event and organizing of small training on how to message the Advisory.
11. Translation of Advisory into relevant Somali language (May dialect);
12. Print the advisory in relevant languages for dissemination to target audiences
13. Prepare mini-training for SomReP and Ministry of Agriculture members on how to communicate
    advisory to producers and other value-chain actors, implement training with SomReP members.
14. Organize a media official launch of the Agriculture Advisory in South West State with MOA & other stakeholders.
15. Facilitating government, media, and other actors to help in dissemination of vital information through various mediums.
16. Invite the media houses/platforms to cover the official launching or press release of the
    Agricultural advisory.
17. The advisory will be provided/completed before onset of MAM2021 – technically well before the Gu raining season.

C_2: Key-Experts’ qualification and competence

The consultancy assignment will take about 20 days and consists (Field based data collection coordination), secondary data collection, training and dissemination.

This consultancy assignment requires a multi-disciplinary approach of experienced consultant with:

a) Master degree or above on Natural resource management, agriculture or relevant industries.

b) Degree on climate and/or meteorological field**

c) A minimum Bachelor’s degree in communication, information management, marketing, climate change, education and related field;

d) A minimum of 5 years’ experience in undertaking related assignment;

e) Strategy development and implementation including climate information and related services;

f) Research/surveys / user needs assessments / feasibility studies

g) Stakeholder mapping, engagement and outreach

h) Facilitation of workshops and training

i) experience and familiarity with participatory methodologies;

j) experience of working with international and non-government organizations;

k) Ability to network and engage with stakeholders in post-conflict settings.

D. SPECIFIC TERMS & CONDITIONS /CRITERIA**

D_1: Confidentiality Statement

All data and information received from CARE for this assignment are to be treated confidentially and are only to be used in the execution of these Terms of Reference. All intellectual property rights arising from the execution of these Terms of Reference are assigned to CARE. The contents of the written materials obtained and used in this assignment may not be disclosed to any third parties except with express and advance written authorization from CARE.

D_2: Ownership of Materials

Any deliverables under this assignment in any form will be the property of CARE including intellectual property developed under this assignment. All Project outputs including reports and other creative work called for by these Terms of Reference in written, graphic, audio, visual, electronic or other forms shall acknowledge the support of CARE. Such acknowledgment shall contain the CARE logo.

F-1: Application process

The consultant is expected to submit:

1. Technical proposals, including up to date CVs
2. Financial proposal
3. Application should be submitted by 23^st February 2021