Improving the living conditions of the poor in 7 villages in Guassa by harmonizing efforts for food security and environmental sustainability

 Background

The project, entitled “Improved livelihoods of Anaz-Guassa Adjacent community in harmony with Anaz-Guassa Community Conservation Area management” will take place in adjacent Kebeles of the Anaz-Guassa Community Conservation Area (GCCA) in Menz-Gera Woreda of North Shoa Zone, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. The project will be carried out for six consecutive years starting from October 2020. Over 5 years, the project will address some of the key drivers of poverty and illegal natural resource use, in landless, marginalized and other disadvantaged groups who have limited livelihood options and capacity.

The primary target group of this project is the community residing in seven kebeles (Dargegne, Chare, Quangwey, Yedi, Wozxed, Siregedel and Anaz) of the Guassa Community Conservation Area as well as unemployed local youths and students in primary and secondary schools. The project intends to address a total of 6000 households residing in these kebeles. The entire families in the seven kebeles will also receive awareness and education on the role of women empowerment, family planning, harmful traditions and child nutrition for gender equality, food security and household resilience. Stakeholders such as Amhara National Regional State environment Forest and wildlife protection & Development Authority, zonal Health bureau, Zonal & Woreda Rural development and Agriculture, Health, Cooperative offices will work with the project. In addition, Debre Berhan University, Addis Ababa University, Holeta Honey bee research center, Holeta agricultural institute, Jima Agricultural Mechanization Research Center and University of Oslo will collaborate with this project primarily providing a technical support in implementing the projects activities.

This project aims to improve the livelihood of the local community in the Guassa highland in multiple integrated development interventions. Specifically, this project aims to 1) improving the livelihood of the targeted poor households by introducing improved alternative income sources; honey production and marketing, apple & potato production and poultry 2) Training of unemployed young people mainly on selected profitable businesses including, fuel efficient cook stove production and marketing, small scale irrigation installation and maintenance business, and bakery business 3) Water shade development including rehabilitation of the Erica forest and other tree types that provide nectar for bees 4) Awareness rising on reproductive health, child nutrition, and harmful traditions that contribute for gender equality 5) Advocacy, multi-sectoral coordination and networking to harmonize livelihood efforts and environmental sustainability in Guassa

To be more specific on the targeted community:

The first target group are poor HH of small-scale farmers with access to land. They have the lowest incomes among the 7 participating Kebeles. Different number of households are selected for the various interventions. A total of 650 HH are considered for economic empowerment (160 HH in improved honey production, 220 HH in apple and potato production, 150 HH in poultry farming and 120 HH in setting up commercial tree nurseries).

The second target group consists of 60 unemployed and landless young people who are dependent on their families or close relatives. Land is usually transferred within the family. It is almost impossible for landless families to acquire land for agriculture. Even for families who own land, the available land is too small for the average number of children and only the oldest can inherit land. In total, the 60 young people are to receive vocational training, including in the field of installation and maintenance and small irrigation systems, in the production of energy-saving stoves, in the bakery industry and in tourism. Young people who have already received basic technical training at vocational schools are to be selected for the bakery trade and for irrigation. High school graduates are approached for the production of energy saving stoves. Preferably young women should be encouraged and the recommendations of the local government and community representatives should be included in the selection process.

The third targeted intervention is a 4000-ha watershed area for rehabilitation, erosion control and land use planning. For land rehabilitation, it is planned to work in particular with three Kebele. Community from a total of 1,600 households will be directly involved in this measure. With 1,120 households in two kebele, who operate rotary grazing, a common consensus is to be reached on how the land can be used more sustainably. Erosion control measures, such as the creation of drainage ditches requires a lot of manpower and time. At least the above number of communities will take part in erosion control measures.

The fourth target group are 4,000 HHs, married women and men who are to be part of behavioral communication on gender equality improved child nutrition, and reproductive health. Regarding reproductive health, the contraception prevalence rate in the area is one of the lowest in the country. There are also some harmful traditions including early marriage in the community. Moreover, there will be educational work on COVID-19 to prevent infection, all 6,000 HH would be addressed.

The final target group are institutions, mainly including representative offices at Kebele, Woreda, the Zonal level and GCCA. Capacity building will be carried out on inter-sector coordination, an integrated approach and the means to establish it. In order to ensure the support of these relevant stakeholders and to coordinate and network the measures with the officials and decision-makers, multi-sectoral platforms are being set up.

To tangibly verify all these contributions, PHE EC wish to hire a consultant with proven experience to conduct a baseline survey in order to set a bench mark for future progress assessment and evaluation of the project.  

Objectives of the consultancy

The general objective of the baseline survey is to assess the health and food security situation of the 6000 HH in the 7 Kebeles adjacent to GCCA as well as the status of degradation of the natural environment in the area. More specifically;

• The prevalence of food insecurity of the targeted 650 HHs using food insecurity experience scale (FIES).
• To assess the degradation status of two targeted watersheds in two kebeles
• To determine the extent of awareness and knowledge of the community on child nutrition, gender equality and reproductive health (Family planning) 

Tasks

• Develop a detailed work plan, indicating the time in which the study results will be produced and delivered;
• Review relevant literature and publications and consult relevant institutions to discus and learn about the subject matter, to over view the national policy strategy context.
• Develop relevant community engagement tools (Questionnaires) for community and government stakeholder’s study ensuring comparability of data
• Facilitate and coordinate data collection in the targeted 7 Kebeles in Guassa, and consolidate results
• Conduct series of interviews with relevant key government stakeholders at Kebele and woreda level  
• Conduct data analysis and provide result segregated by HHs, youth groups, women, and government stakeholders.
• Develop and submit draft baseline report for review
• Receive feedback, comment and suggestions; both from PHE EC and the international partner, KKS/BMZ; incorporate the same and submit final baseline report

Expected deliverables

• Detailed inception report/work plan which explain the process to follow, methodology to be used and time frame. Feedback provision, incorporation and approval will be followed to the report
• Submission of community engagement tools to be used for the base line study. Feedback provision, incorporation and approval will be followed
• Draft baseline report which specifies the above specific objectives
• Final baseline report with feedback and comment incorporation 

Timescale

The total time required for this assignment is two months maximum (November 20, 2021 – December 20, 2021). But the consultant will not be working throughout all this time and this should be clearly given in the detailed technical proposal.

Terms of Payment

• 60% upon signing of the contract.
• 30% upon satisfactory completion of the draft baseline report
• 10 % upon satisfactory completion of all the deliverables
• The payments will be made in A/C payee cheques in the name of the consultant /firm. PHE EC will deduct income tax. Besides, no other benefits shall be admissible beyond what is stipulated in the contract. 

Submission of Proposals

Interested and qualified professionals/firms may send/submit their proposals, along with the following information:

•  Profile, giving background and experience of the individual/organization  
• Technical Proposal consisting of:
•  Proposed detail plan to undertake the assignment.
• Time period needed for completion of the contract.
• Financial proposal: Indicate the total price with detailed breakdown.
• Copy of renewed Registration Certificate, License or Work Permit.
• Other relevant supporting documents.

Job Requirements

Consultant qualification

Consultant should:

• Be a consulting individual/firm with a team of expertise from social, economic and environment background
• Have team member with an appropriate post-graduate qualifications and appropriate experience in baseline survey, food security, conservation, and health with at least five years relevant experience
• Be a consultant under the set of legal provisions or under any valid legal cover
• A commitment to meet the deadlines
• Have a basic communication skill in local language, Amharic

How to Apply

Criteria for selecting the best offer

Upon the advertisement of the Procurement Notice, Applicants will be evaluated based on Cumulative Analysis as per the following scenario:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. In this regard, the respective weight of the proposals are: Technical Criteria weight is 60% and Financial Criteria weight is 40%

Qualified consultant/ consulting firm is expected to submit both the Technical and Financial Proposals through: vacancy@phe-ethiopia.org or hand delivery at Population Health and Environment – Ethiopia Consortium Head Office, located in front of Brass Hospital, at ABCO building 3rd floor until November 18, 2021.