Terms of Reference (ToR) For Baseline Study for Regreening Africa – Phase II (Somali Focus)

Job description

Terms of Reference (ToR)-Baseline Study for Regreening Africa – Phase II (Somali Focus)

1. Background and Context

Somalia is confronted with a multitude of interconnected challenges that threaten the well-being of its rural communities and the sustainability of its natural resources. These include severe climate change impacts, widespread land degradation, advancing desertification, and persistent food insecurity. The fragile socio-ecological systems in Somalia are increasingly vulnerable to these stresses, which undermine biodiversity, reduce agricultural productivity, and exacerbate poverty among smallholder farmers and pastoralists.

In response to these urgent challenges, Regreening Africa – Phase II is designed as a comprehensive initiative aimed at promoting community-led restoration efforts. This project emphasizes sustainable land management and ecosystem-based approaches to restore degraded landscapes, improve land health, and strengthen the adaptive capacity of vulnerable populations. By empowering local communities with knowledge, resources, and supportive policies, the program seeks to build resilience against climate shocks and contribute to sustainable livelihoods.

This initiative is closely aligned with the European Union’s Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) for Sub-Saharan Africa 2021-2027, which prioritizes a green transition to foster climate resilience and sustainable agricultural development. Regreening Africa supports the EU’s strategic objectives by advancing climate-smart practices and ecosystem restoration that address both environmental and socio-economic dimensions in Somalia.

2. Project Overview

The Regreening Africa – Phase II project focuses on Somalia, among other countries, where the need for restoration and sustainable land management is critical. The project operates under the EU’s Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe) framework and targets fragile and conflict-affected regions within the country. It supports local governance mechanisms, strengthens rural enterprises, promotes gender equality and youth empowerment, and enhances knowledge sharing across various stakeholders. The project’s intervention logic is guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 13 (Climate Action), while also addressing poverty reduction (SDG 1), zero hunger (SDG 2), gender equality (SDG 5), responsible consumption (SDG 12), and life on land (SDG 15).

3. Objectives of the Baseline Study

The baseline study is a foundational step in establishing a robust understanding of the initial conditions prior to the implementation of project activities. Its primary objective is to generate comprehensive, disaggregated data that accurately reflects the current state of environmental health, livelihood conditions, policy frameworks, and socio-economic factors in the project’s targeted regions. By capturing these baseline metrics, the study will enable effective tracking of progress and impact over the course of the program. It will provide critical insights to inform adaptive management strategies and enhance the relevance and effectiveness of interventions. Special attention will be given to gender, disability, and social inclusion dimensions to ensure equitable benefits across all vulnerable groups. Furthermore, the baseline will serve as a valuable reference point for stakeholders, including local communities, government authorities, development partners, and the private sector, fostering evidence-based decision-making and collaborative learning.

4. Results Framework

The project is structured around a clearly defined results framework comprising impact, outcomes, and outputs.

Impact: The ultimate aim is to strengthen the resilience of Somali communities facing the adverse effects of climate change and land degradation. This includes enhancing adaptive capacity, restoring land productivity, diversifying production systems, and improving household livelihoods.

Key indicators for impact include the number of communities adopting resilience-enhancing knowledge and practices, measurable reductions in degraded land, and improvements in living conditions for families receiving livelihood support.

Outcomes: These are focused on the adoption of sustainable regreening practices by smallholder farmers and pastoralists; enhanced use of restoration evidence by multiple stakeholders for improved decision-making; and the upscaling of green rural enterprises that generate employment opportunities, particularly for women and youth.

Outputs: Specific activities and deliverables include awareness campaigns, capacity-building programs, development of quality planting materials and nurseries, community engagement in sustainable land management, policy advocacy to remove institutional bottlenecks, and the establishment of knowledge-sharing platforms.

5. Scope of Work and Deliverables

The consultancy firm will be responsible for conducting a thorough baseline assessment across 2 targeted intervention  in Districts in Somalia. This will involve:

• Conducting a detailed desk review of all relevant project documentation, regional policies, and previous assessments to understand the context and existing data gaps.
• Designing a comprehensive mixed-methods research approach, incorporating both quantitative surveys and qualitative focus group discussions with key stakeholders such as smallholder farmers, pastoralists, local authorities, civil society organizations, and private sector representatives.
• Implementing data collection with strict adherence to ethical standards and inclusivity principles, ensuring participation across gender, age groups, and disability status.
• Employing robust analytical methods to generate disaggregated baseline data, highlighting key challenges and opportunities related to land health, climate vulnerability, livelihood diversification, and institutional frameworks.
• Preparing an inception report that outlines methodology, tools, and detailed work plans.
• Delivering a draft baseline report with preliminary findings for review and feedback.
• Finalizing the baseline report, incorporating stakeholder feedback and recommendations.

6. Duration and Timeline

The consultancy is expected to span a period of six to eight weeks. The timeline is as follows:

• Weeks 1–2: Inception phase, including literature review, methodology design, and submission of the inception report.
• Weeks 3–4: Field data collection, engaging with communities and stakeholders.
• Week 6: Submission of the draft baseline report for stakeholder review.
• Week 7: Finalization and submission of the comprehensive baseline report.

Skills and qualifications

7. Consultant Qualifications

To successfully undertake this assignment, the consulting team must possess a strong combination of technical expertise, contextual knowledge, and field experience. The team should have demonstrated experience in conducting baseline studies or evaluations within fragile and climate-vulnerable settings, ideally in East Africa or Somalia specifically.

Key qualifications include:

• Expertise in climate change adaptation, natural resource management, and restoration ecology.
• Deep understanding of gender equality, disability inclusion, and social inclusion frameworks and their application in rural development programs.
• Proven ability to employ participatory and mixed-methods research techniques.
• Strong analytical, reporting, and communication skills capable of producing high-quality, evidence-based documents.
• Experience working with local communities and stakeholders in Somalia, including fluency in Somali or access to competent local focal persons.

 8. Team Composition

The consultancy team should be composed of multidisciplinary professionals whose combined expertise covers the following domains:

• Team Leader: Experienced in managing complex assessments, coordinating teams, and liaising with multiple stakeholders.
• Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist: Skilled in inclusive data collection and analysis, with an understanding of local social norms and gender dynamics.
• Climate and Natural Resource Management Specialist: With technical knowledge in ecosystem restoration, land degradation assessment, and climate resilience.
• Data Analyst: Capable of processing and interpreting both quantitative and qualitative data, ensuring accuracy and disaggregation

9. Reporting and Coordination

The lead consultant will report directly to the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Manager under the supervision of the Project Manager. The consultancy will require regular communication and coordination with the World Vision Somali field teams to facilitate access, logistics, and stakeholder engagement. Further, the consultant will collaborate with the Land Degradation Dynamics (LDD) Team through the World Agroforestry Centre, leveraging their technical expertise on restoration indicators to support work on land degradation indicators.