Consultancy services

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1 Consultancy services On Development, in pedagogical manner, of appropriate contextualized teaching materials on international processes and mechanisms on climate change for professional and technical training in African forestry March

2 1.0 Introduction The African Forest Forum (AFF) is a pan-african non-governmental organization with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. It is an association of individuals who share the quest for and commitment to the sustainable management, use and conservation of the forest and tree resources of Africa for the socio-economic wellbeing of its peoples and for the stability and improvement of its environment. The purpose of AFF is to provide a platform and create an enabling environment for independent and objective analysis, advocacy and advice on relevant policy and technical issues pertaining to achieving sustainable management, use and conservation of Africa s forest and tree resources as part of efforts to reduce poverty, promote gender equality, and economic and social development. AFF is engaged in the development and implementation of a number of projects and activities, and in close collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders. One area of concern has been the link between forests, climate change and the people who depend on forest resources. A better understanding, strengthening as well as further developing of the forest/climate nexus could be very important to Africa s future development. Forest ecosystems also provide goods and services during extreme events (like droughts and floods) and are key assets for reducing vulnerability to the effects of climate change. Even better known is the role forests have in climate change mitigation. In this regard, AFF is implementing a project on African forests, people and climate change that is in its second phase and contributing to the development of a Climate Change Program (AFF-CCP) in the institution. The overall objective of the AFF-CCP is to enhance the role of African forests in making people adapt to the effects of climate change in various landscapes in ways that will improve livelihoods, sustain biodiversity and secure the quality of the environment, as well as to strengthen the capacity of Africa s forests to adapt to climate change and to contribute to mitigation efforts. The purpose of the AFF s program is to better understand how forests and trees, and the people who depend on them in the various African landscapes, respond to climate change and variability. The project is guided by two specific objectives that are to: improve knowledge and capacity of African stakeholders in managing forests and landscapes in the context of climate change. inform and contribute to the shaping of policies and initiatives relevant to forests and climate change. 1.1 Background to current project In the period AFF implemented the first phase of its project on African forests, people and climate change which was guided by three specific objectives that were to: 2

3 foster awareness on forests and climate change issues and promote appropriate changes in policies and practices; build and improve capacity to address forest related climate change issues; and ensure that production, adaptation, mitigation and policy processes involving forests and trees are backed by sound information. In the implementation of the second objective, AFF recognizes that the establishment and operationalization of human capacities are essential for an effective approach to various issues related to climate change, as well as to improve the quality of knowledge transfer. For example, civil society organizations, extensions agents and local communities are stakeholders in the implementation of adaptation and mitigation activities implicit in many climate change strategies. As part of the efforts to undertake this capacity building work during the first phase of the project, AFF conducted a needs assessment involving key stakeholders dealing with these issues. On the basis of the needs assessment, AFF developed four training modules for professional, technical and informal groups (i.e. extension agents, civil society and local communities) in Sub-Saharan African countries. The training modules developed in the English language were translated into French to serve African francophone countries. The four modules developed were, namely: basic science of climate change, forests and climate change adaptation, forests and climate change mitigation, and carbon market and trading. Also four themes were developed with the same module names for training informal groups. After developing the modules, AFF conducted four sub-regional training workshops to better orient and re-tool academicians and researchers, as well as staff from extension and civil society organizations in key areas of science and practice of climate change in relation to forests; and basing such training on these modules. The trainings were offered to two groups, namely training and education and research institutions, on one hand, and extension and civil society organizations, on the other. Extension agents and civil society organizations work with local communities. Through the training of their staff, AFF indirectly reached the local communities with such knowledge. These workshops were held in Cameroon and Burkina Faso for Francophone countries and in Ghana and Tanzania for Anglophone and Lusophone countries. The workshops were organized in collaboration with selected national institutions; and a total of 157 participants from universities, technical and research institutions and civil society organizations attended. 1.2 Rationale and purpose of the work The African Forest Forum has continued the distribution and sharing of these modules in the African continent where its current uptake is very promising. However, some issues have emerged on the need to have the content, for each module, better developed and in a pedagogical manner in order to improve the delivery of the information in relevant education and training establishments. 3

4 In this context AFF is, as per its annual work plan of 2016, recruiting one expert to develop appropriate contextualized teaching materials, in a pedagogical manner, of module 1 on basic science of climate change with specific focus on International dialogues, processes and mechanisms on climate change for professional and technical groups in forestry. The expert has to undertake the following specific tasks: (iv) develop training content for each of the outlined chapters of module 1 on basic science of climate change covering International dialogues, processes and mechanisms on climate change for professional and technical groups in forestry (click this link for the training module: produce a training manual with illustrations as appropriate; convene a meeting with experts to validate the draft training manual produced; and produce a report on this task. The criteria and format for developing the teaching manual shall be agreed on in a meeting between selected experts, the pedagogical expert and relevant AFF staff. At this meeting the pedagogical expert will present pedagogical outline on how to develop the training manual. 1.3 Deliverables The expert will be expected to deliver the following at end of the consultancy period: a training manual for professional groups; and a report on the task 2.0 Minimum qualifications and skills The interested applicant should meet the following minimum qualifications and skills: (iv) (v) (vi) a minimum of 5 years teaching experience in tertiary education in an African forestry training/education institution, or a related institution; be knowledgeable on current and emerging issues in forestry and especially on climate change; international dialogues, processes and mechanisms on climate change; have a master s degree in any of the following areas: forestry, climate change, natural resources management, rural development, environmental studies or any related area; a PhD degree will be an added advantage; evidence on pedagogical training; and excellent written and oral communication skills in English or French. 4

5 3.0 Application requirements The applicant shall submit the following: cover letter stating how the above qualifications and experience requirements are met; a brief proposal/concept note containing: a. key results area and corresponding specific activities; b. data matrix listing the information needs plotted against data source; c. draft work plan (clear deliverables plotted against work weeks for each key results); d. annexed tentative table of contents with corresponding number of pages; and updated professional resume. 4.0 Duration The work is expected to be carried out in duration of one month spread over a period of two calendar months. 5.0 Deadlines Applications must be received by the AFF Secretariat on or before April 7, 2016; Results of the Selection Panel will be announced to successful applicants by April 15, How to apply? All applications must be submitted by with the subject line: Consultancy No: b. Development of appropriate contextualized teaching materials, in a pedagogical manner, on basic science of climate change with International dialogues, processes and mechanisms on climate change for professional and technical training in African forestry to Prof. Larwanou Mahamane and Dr. Vincent O. Oeba of the AFF Secretariat through the following addresses: M.Larwanou@cgiar.org and v.oeba@cgiar.org and copied to exec.sec@afforum.org. 5