BRICKS PROJECT BUILDING RESILIENCE THROUGH INNOVATION, COMMUNICATION AND KNOWLEDGE THE WORLD BANK / GEF S SAHEL AND WEST AFRICA PROGRAM (SAWAP) Assessment of the environmental, social and economic impacts of investments in SLWM in the Sahel region: the example of SAWAP TERMS OF REFERENCE [AO/OSS/BRICKS/090318-5] April 2018
1- CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION In Africa, the land and water degradation threatens the long-term survival of the Sahelian populations, reduces soil resilience, increases deforestation, and compromises natural resources services and water cycle regulation. According to estimates by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in 2013, land degradation has affected two-thirds of Africa s productive lands 1. In the sub-saharan region in particular, land degradation has strongly affected the steppes, which reached 40% in 2014, forests and cultivated lands where it reached 26% and 12% respectively 2, and resulted in a loss of food production of about 6% more than the world average 3. Desertification and land degradation lead to the increase of GHG emissions due to the destruction of soil organic matter and have a significant impact on the global climate system. In dry regions, it is estimated that 300 million tons of carbon, or about 4% of total global emissions, are released into the atmosphere each year as a result of desertification (MEA, 2005). This situation could be aggravated in the absence of effective actions to combat land degradation. At the international level, further awareness about the negative consequences of the absence of land restoration or rehabilitation actions need to be established everywhere, and especially in the most affected areas. At this level, the Sustainable Land and Water Management (GDTE) approach is generally promoted and constitutes the land management and governance system the most able to respond in a systematic and integrated way to this crucial development challenge. Sustainable Land and Water Management (SLWM) is an overall approach that has the potential for sustainable transformation in the short and long term. It includes a wide range of land and water management approaches that are simultaneously able to enhance productivity, conserve biodiversity and promote livelihoods and ecosystems resilience. For the last two decades, several projects and efforts in terms of financial or human support have been dedicated to SLWM. For instance, among the major projects, programs and initiatives focusing on SLWM in the Great Green Wall region., we can mention: 1) The Sahel and West Africa Program (SAWAP), main support of the World Bank under IDA and GEF funds ; 2) The FLEUVE project: Front Local Environnemental pour une Union Verte ; 3) Action Against Desertification program ; 4) The Strategic Investment Program : For Sustainable Land and Water Management in Africa (NEPAD TERRAFRICA); 5) Le Programme Régional de Gestion Durable des terres et d adaptation aux changements climatiques au Sahel et en Afrique de l Ouest (PRGDT) and 6) The African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100). Each of these projects and programs comprised a land restoration and rehabilitation component. A good portion of degraded lands have y been rehabilitated under these projects/programs, but the most important question here is: what are the most important results of land restoration and rehabilitation obtained at the global and local level? What are the most important benefits of SLWM actions and policies at the ecological, economic and social levels? These terms of reference are developed to assess the impact of SLWM actions in the Sahel. The work will mainly focus on the actions conducted by the SAWAP in three (3) countries (Burkina Faso, 1 http://www.eld-initiative.org/fileadmin/pdf/eld-unep-report_french_03_screen_72dpi.pdf 2 Le, Q. B., Nkonya, E., & Mirzabaev, A. (2014). Biomass productivity-based mapping of global land degradation hotspots. ZEF-Discussion Papers on Development Policy No. 193. University of Bonn 3 http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/19494/1/sp05vi04.pdf [2]
Ethiopia and Chad) where achievements in terms of SLWM are the most remarkable in the SAWAP entire area (See SAWAP Monitoring and Evaluation Report June 2017). The Sahel and West Africa Program- SAWAP is an investment program aimed at developing sustainable land and water resources management in 12 African countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan and Togo. The main themes addressed by the SAWAP projects include land restoration, biodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. This study is launched as part of the monitoring and evaluation component of the BRICKS project coordinated by OSS. The BRICKS regional project supports the objectives of the 12 SAWAP projects. It aims to improve access to best practices and monitoring information contained in the SAWAP portfolio on integrated natural resources management, climate change and natural disasters. It is implemented by three regional centers of excellence: the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) and The Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS). 2- OBJECTIVES The overall objective of this study is to provide concerned actors (financial and technical partners, decision-makers, populations, beneficiaries) with comparative analyzes on SLWM investments and actions in terms of benefits at the ecological, social and economic plans. In other words, the study should answer the following question: What did SLWM investments bring in terms of environmental, social and economic impacts? More specifically, the consultancy firm will have to: Identify and assess the relevance of the SLWM practices used compared to the various land degradation factors in the twelve (12) SAWAP countries with particular emphasis on the pilot sites Develop a methodology for assessing the impacts taking into account available data Apply the methodology retained for assessing the impacts of the SAWAP with a focus on the pilot sites and produce ecological, social and economic indicators Develop advocacy and awareness-raising tools for a better integration of SLWM into national policies and strategies, action plans, projects and programs as well as for the mobilization of national financial resources for implementing SLWM. 3- EXPECTED RESULTS The study expected results are: A summary on the adequacy of the different types of SLWM practices used with the factors of land degradation in the SAWAP zone A validated methodology of impacts assessment as well as the formulation of relevant impacts monitoring indicators at the ecological, social and economic levels Statistics and analysis on the assessment of the environmental and socio-economic impacts of SLWM investments on ecosystems and populations. This should cover the entire SAWAP region with a particular focus on the three pilot sites. This should also include proposals for institutionalizing SLWM approaches in environmental policies and strategies and the implementation of SLWM best practices. [3]
4- METHODOLOGY AND CONCEPTION The consultancy firm will have to propose a detailed approach for the implementation of the mission. The approach will be discussed and validated with the experts in charge of the BRICKS project. This methodological approach will have to be operational and adapted to existing data, including mapping data. The study on the assessment of the impacts of SLWM investments will be based on an iterative process involving a number of actors. The study will be developed based on a methodology to be proposed by the consultancy firm on its technical offer and validated in agreement with the BRICKS project coordination team. At each fundamental stage of the study development, the consultancy firm will have to provide the project team with an idea about the work progress status so that to make the necessary observations and changes. The study elaboration will follow the three (3) following steps: 1 st Step: Inventory and data collection and methodology proposal. This step will aim at understanding the required work, collecting existing data and proposing the most efficient methodology. 2 nd Step: Elaboration of the study Based on the methodology adopted and the mapping and socio-economic data (baselines, evaluation criteria) and other available tools at OSS and other sites, the consultancy firm will have to produce statistics on the impacts of SLWM investments in the Sahel region in general and in the study pilot sites in particular. OSS will provide the consultancy firm with the existing earth observation data and will collaborate in the production of land degradation maps at the scale of 1: 1 000 000 at the regional level. The consultancy firm will develop a methodology and will elaborate the necessary mapping products with the support of the OSS experts. 3 rd Step: Statistics and analyses. The statistics generated will have to be analysed in a holistic way for the SAWAP zone and in a detailed manner for the three pilot sites. Some available or on-going studies: Status of land degradation and restoration effects in Africa NEPAD/UNEP-SIP Collection of good SLWM practices in the SAWAP zone -BRICKS 2016 Economic valuation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the SAWAP countries IUCN. 5- DUTIES Under the supervision of the BRICKS project coordinator and in close collaboration with the monitoring-evaluation expert, the consultancy firm will be in charge of the following duties: Review in an exhaustive way the types of SLWM practices and land degradation factors in the Sahel, as well as existing approaches and methodologies for assessing development projects impacts Propose a reliable methodology for achieving the expected results on the assessment of the impacts of SLWM actions in the study sites in agreement with the project team [4]
Generate statistics on the economic, social and environmental profitability of SLWM projects in the study sites; costs and benefits of degraded lands rehabilitation, and modeling or simulation of the cost and benefits of the action in the study areas by 2030 and 2050 Analyze and document the land degradation maps of the entire SAWAP area (diachronic maps of land degradation in the study areas between 2013 and 2017). 6- DELIVERABLES At the end of this mission, the consultancy firm will have to deliver a report of 50 pages (annexes not included) elaborated both in French and English. The report must include the following sections/chapters: Summary of the study (6 pages) Study document delivered in both hard (paper) and soft (electronic) format A PPT presentation in English and French presenting the work results. A proposal of the report structure and outline must be provided by the consultancy firm for validation. The preliminary/provisional version of the study report must be provided based on a predefined calendar (specified in the contract). The report must be delivered in an electronic format both in French and English. All the annexes must be provided in electronic format, and if possible, in hard copy together with the report. 7- DURATION AND PLANNING This mission is estimated at one hundred and twenty days (120) distributed over five (5) months from April to August 2018. The working days will be distributed as follows: Organization of a scoping meeting and review of the bibliography and any other available documentation on the theme of interest: 10 days Development and validation of data collection tools, meetings with resource persons and data collection in concerned countries: actors, including government, local NGO projects, national and regional experts, researchers, impact assessment methodology; etc.: 60 days Data processing, synthesis and analysis: 25 days Elaboration of the first version of the report: 15 days Delivery of the final report (after integration of all comments and observations): 10 days. The consultancy firm must provide in its offer a detailed plan of the work to be validated during the scoping meeting. 8- REQUESTED QUALIFICATIONS The work will be conducted by a consultancy firm with expertise in the monitoring and evaluation of the impacts of development projects. The consultants of the consultancy firm must have the following qualifications: A doctorate and / or Master s degree in sciences and / or environmental or economic management or social sciences or similar field Excellent knowledge and command of remote sensing tools and spatially referenced information systems [5]
Excellent knowledge in the fields of sustainable land management / environment in the Sahel and West African countries; Good knowledge of Sustainable Land and Water Management (SLWM) and environmental issues in the Great Green Wall region, SAWAP zone in particular Demonstrated understanding of issues related to economic valuation of ecosystem services and biodiversity A good knowledge of the methods and approaches for evaluating the costs and benefits of land degradation rehabilitation and that of inaction in the Sahel Knowledge of economic issues and policies related to sustainable land management and degradation Experience in conducting similar studies (consultancy firm must provide references) Experience in researching and writing high quality reports 9- TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL PROPOSALS Application files must include the following: 1- A concept and methodological note for the study elaboration 2- A financial offer; 3- Detailed curriculum vitae of the consultants (based on the OSS model downloadable on the following link: [OSS CV Template] 4- Any other useful references/documents. 10- PAYMENT PROCEDURE The payment will be carried out as follows: 10 % of the global amount upon validation of the methodology 30 % of the global amount upon delivery of the first draft of the report 60 % of the global amount upon validation of the final report. 11- DEADLINE AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES The technical offers could be sent by email no later than Monday 30 th April 2018. With the mention of: Call for application for the recruitment of a consultancy firm for the evaluation of the environmental, social and economic impacts of SLWM investments in the Sahel [AO/OSS/BRICKS/090318-5] including both files one for the financial offer and the other for the technical offer. Address : procurement@oss.org.tn [6]