Background

Save the Children (SC) is the world’s leading independent organization for children. We save children’s lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfil their potential. We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

Save the Children is working with the government and communities in Ethiopia through its multi-thematic approach. Food Security, Livelihoods and Resilience is one of the thematic sectors with different sub-thematic components. Climate change is one of the core focus of the organization. This includes projects and programmes with explicit objectives to reduce climate related risks and improve disaster risk management.

Save the Children has approached the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to jointly develop a climate change project with the government of Ethiopia. As a result, Save the Children is looking for a climate change consultant with high calibre technical and policy expertise to provide technical support in preparing a climate change concept note focusing on enhancing food security and livelihoods of vulnerable communities in climate risk prone areas. The consultancy is composed of two levels; one, generating targeted data on climate change in select regions in Ethiopia; and two, support the actual writing of the concept note.

The consultant will work collaboratively with Save the Children’s country office senior management/technical team; and Save the Children’s member advisors in UK and Australia. The consultant will work closely with the Government of Ethiopia to ensure the concept note is aligned with government climate change priorities, policies and current climate related programmes.; The consultant will work closely work with staff from the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission and other relevant line Ministries at all stages of the assignment to ensure the proposed project is fully owned by the government. In addition, the consultant will work with Save the Children to ensure the concept note meets all relevant GCF funding requirements.

Objective

The main objective of this consultancy is to generate information on climate change in selected regions of Ethiopia (tentatively Amhara, Oromia and Afar regions) and use this information to facilitate development of a concept note to be submitted to the GCF. The consultant will use his/her climate change expertise, understanding of Ethiopian policy environment, knowledge and experience of the Ethiopian context, relationship management skills and demonstrated experience leading complex program development processes to generate the required climate change information and support concept formulation..

 Working with Save the Children and the government of Ethiopia, the consultant will be expected to undertake the following:

Generate climate change information in selected regions of Ethiopia.

• Generate data that strengthens the identified climate rationale (concrete climate problems with measurable solutions). Through desk reviews and consultations with key stakeholders (through individual interviews and workshops), the consultant is expected to generate climate change data related rainfall variability and extreme weather events in the targeted regions and use this information to strengthen the climate rationale for the proposed project. Using this information, the consultant is expected to demonstrate/provide evidence on how climate change impacts critical development areas, including crop and livestock production, natural resources, livelihoods diversification capacity among other impacts that lead to livelihoods and nutrition insecurity. The consultant will provide evidence of other critical gaps such as climate change knowledge and adaptation capacity at community and government levels, including the role of the private sector.

Support development of a climate change concept note

• Hold a concept note design workshop with relevant stakeholders to present outputs of A above and jointly develop climate change solutions for the identified problems.
• The consultant is expected to hold further consultations with the government besides the concept design workshop, noting that the project is being developed for the government and implemented by Save the Children on behalf of the government.
• In coordination with Save the children and the Government (particularly the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission) the consultant will develop the project concept note.
• Facilitating necessary Government endorsements and inputs from bodies like the NDA housed at Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission

Draft activities, deliverables and timeframe: Task Activities Days Indicative timing

PART I – Concept Note (CN) Preparation Sub-total 44 Jan/21 – March/21

• Review the entity work plan and associated documents and discuss proposed project direction with key government and SCI stakeholders: 4
• Stakeholder engagement: 10
• Conduct literature review/key informant interview to inform the CN development, this includes but not limited to: 15

1. Strengthening the climate rationale, root causes and barriers; and paradigm shift potential and exit strategy.
2. Climate data and alignment to other investments and national investments.
3. Project description and theory of change – supporting role of the CO team
4. Expected project results aligned with the GCF investment criteria
5. Previous/ current/ planned relevant activities in SI
6. Key relevant policies
7. Revise CN in line with agreed direction (including one round of SC feedback)

• Organize and run a CN validation workshop with key stakeholders and collate feedback : 5
•  Finalise CN (including final round of SC feedback) 5

 Total days (Note: the proposed dates are the maximum days and may be less than expected) : 44 days

Job Requirements

Location 

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Save the Children CO

Key skills and experience

• Degree in agriculture, food security, Environment Studies or a relevant discipline
• At least 10 years’ relevant experience in climate change sector planning, project delivery or management
• Experience in undertaking climate change analysis in Ethiopia or similar contexts.
• Experience and understanding of climate change and associated impacts on food security and livelihoods of vulnerable communities in climate risk prone areas of Ethiopia
• Proven experience in program development, including climate change focused projects.
• Strong understanding of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) funding procedures/requirements and Ethiopia climate change context
• Strong facilitation skills for participatory consultations
• Excellent written and oral skills
• Ability to produce high quality written work to tight deadlines

Payment Structure:

Payments will be made on successful and timely submission of milestones according to the following structure laid out in the table above. (Inception report, Concept note, review feedback on the CN from GCF)

The Consultant must adhere to Save the Children’s child safeguarding and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Harassment (PSEAH) policy at all times during the mission.

The Team:

The Consultant will report directly to the PDQ director or the FSL/WAH thematic director for Save the Children Ethiopia and receive technical supervision from the regional and members Climate Change Advisers.  

Evaluation Criteria

The technical proposal weighs 60 %. Technical proposal that scored 50% and above out of 60% will be qualified for financial evaluation. Each criterion has its description as well as value as follows:

 This criterion will cover the consultant’s understanding and reflection on the terms of reference. It considers how deep the consultant understood the work including the scope. How such understanding is explained and linked with the subsequent criteria. How consistent is the understanding of the ToR reflected in the various sections of the technical proposal.

1. Clear presentation of the tasks indicated in the TOR with in the technical proposal (4%)         
2. How consistent is the understanding of the ToR reflected in the various sections of the technical proposal (4%)

Experience of the consultant in related work (15)

This captures the experiences of the consultant in terms of having specific and a minimum of 7 years of experience in preparation of similar concept note/proposal particularly with GCF funding opportunities. Experience working for international non-profit organizations or multilateral agencies in business development. (2 points for 1-3 years, 6 points for 3-5 years; 11 points for 5-7 years, 15 points for ≥ 7years).

Consultant’s qualifications (15)

The consultant should acquire the above explained professions.

Methodology (18)

The consultant should clearly describe its choice of approach for the various procedures of the work. It should cover the activities and procedures listed in drafts activity section 

Time frame/Work plan (4)

The assumption is to come up with feasible and cost effective approach as per the time frame suggested in this ToR.. The consultant is encouraged to follow on the proposed timeframe.

Understanding of the ToR (8)

This criterion will cover the consultant’s understanding and reflection on the terms of reference. It considers how deep the consultant understood the work including the scope. How such understanding is explained and linked with the subsequent criteria. How consistent is the understanding of the ToR reflected in the various sections of the technical proposal.

• Clear presentation of the tasks indicated in the TOR with in the technical proposal (4%)         
• How consistent is the understanding of the ToR reflected in the various sections of the technical proposal (4%)

Experience of the consultant in related work (15)

This captures the experiences of the consultant in terms of having specific and a minimum of 7 years of experience in preparation of similar concept note/proposal particularly with GCF funding opportunities. Experience working for international non-profit organizations or multilateral agencies in business development. (2 points for 1-3 years, 6 points for 3-5 years; 11 points for 5-7 years, 15 points for ≥ 7years).

Consultant’s qualifications (15)

The consultant should acquire the above explained professions.

Methodology (18)

The consultant should clearly describe its choice of approach for the various procedures of the work. It should cover the activities and procedures listed in drafts activity section 

Time frame/Work plan (4)

The assumption is to come up with feasible and cost effective approach as per the time frame suggested in this ToR.. The consultant is encouraged to follow on the proposed timeframe.

How to Apply

Application Process

To have a proven technical expertise with efficient value of money, a head hunting of consultant will be considered as a first option with the following requirements.

• The detailed technical proposal clearly demonstrating a thorough understanding of this ToR and including the following: Propose steps to be taken for the Concept Note preparations  &  A proposed timeframe detailing activities and a schedule/work plan (including a Gantt chart) and
• A financial proposal with detailed breakdown
• Curriculum Vitae(s) outlining relevant experience.
• Names and contact information of three references who can be contacted regarding relevant experience.
• A copy of a previous document of a similar nature undertaken

NB. Submitted electronically in English to the following address:  Ethiopia Bid Submission <Ethiopia.bidsubmission@savethechildren.org>  

Closing date for submission of the application package is end of business day on: January 22, 2020