Study on natural Resources Management in Badakhshan, Afghanistan

Background Land, water and vegetation of upper catchments have been vital livelihood resources for local upland dwellers and nomadic pastoral communities for generations. It now appears that rangeland as well as forest vegetation cover has become depleted; leaving soil unprotected during the spring season rains, and has become insufficiently productive to sustain grazing pressure and to meet fuel wood demand. More than two decades of arm conflict and civil unrest have adversely impacted on social cohesion and any traditional management systems that may have been in place. Individuals, particularly powerful ones, are competing to establish ownership like rights and denying access to others what have been common resources. This has complicated both de jure and de facto tenure systems and conflict over rights to access and use resources is probably on rise and fueling preexisting ethnic tensions that have been the root of armed conflict. Slope cultivation (rain-fed agriculture) with no consideration of conservation measures has been rampant which has been the prime cause of soil fertility loss at uplands and flood damage and siltation on valleys. Similarly, the productivity of irrigated agriculture on valleys has been low because of inefficient use of irrigation water; it is over irrigated at the head end and insufficiently irrigated at tail end. The Participatory Watershed Management (PWM) project of Afghanaid in Badakhshan province works in four sub-catchments namely Nimdasta (272 Km2) in Tagab, Yawarzan (86 Km2) in Keshem, Dara-e-Rast (167 Km2) in Darayem, and Dehustan (105 Km2) in Teshkan districts of Badakhshan province. It operates under the broader framework of Panj Amu River Basin Program (P-ARBP) funded by European Commission (EC). The specific objective of the project states that “water and land resources in selected sub-catchments of Keshem, Teshkan and Daryam watersheds are better managed to increase reliability of resources’ distribution and efficient use, are sustainably protected with precipitation run-off reduced”. It is crucial to first understand precisely the present and historical use practices of the watershed resources if any management system has to be introduced in systematic manner for ensuring their sustainable protection and efficient uses. The Upper Catchment Rehabilitation and Management (UCRAM) II project of Afghanaid in Badakhshan province works in four sub-catchments (Shuhada, Furghamunj, Dehpora and Dehdehi) of the Kokcha Sub-basin. It operates under the broader framework of Amu River Basin Program (ARBP) funded by European Commission (EC). The project has a specific objective of promoting sustainable availability of natural resources (soil, water, vegetation) in selected upper catchments i.e. Shuhada, Furghamunj, Dehpora and Dehdehi of the Kokcha Sub-basin in a manner that will have long term downstream benefits. Afghanaid intends to commission a team of consultants –specialized in natural resource management, rangeland / pastureland management, anthropology, and sociology - to conduct the study. The study report is expected to illustrate human dynamics that are responsible for current productivity of forest ecosystem, rangeland ecosystem, rain-fed

agriculture ecosystem, and irrigated agriculture ecosystem; and its implications on demand and supply scenario of products thereby on livelihood of people. The findings of the study will be utilized for developing awareness materials as well as for developing and refining present project proposed intervention strategies. 2. Objectives of the Study The objective of the study is to assess: a) Status of upper catchment natural resources (forests; rangelands; rain-fed agriculture; and irrigated agriculture) including change trend and drivers emphasizing use practices by local and seasonal transhumant pastoralist and to suggest appropriate interventions b) The socio-economic status of the sub-catchment households c) The present practices of rural energy technologies and its effect on natural resources d) An overall baseline against the proposed output and outcome level indicators included in the logframe of the project. 3. Scope of the Study The main scope of the study has been summarized below: • Stakeholder mapping: Who are important stakeholders and what are their roles vis-à-vis natural resources that control the decisions and actions regarding natural resources management and entitlement in the project areas? What are power games and who are the power holders? • Land use practices at present and the past: Conversion of land from one type of its usage to another such as from forest or rangeland to rain fed agriculture. How have land use, land cover, and land productivity changed over the past 50 years? What have been the primary drivers of this change over time? What are the land use practices and soil erosion trends in the sub-catchment? • Land tenure system: What have been the practices to establish land entitlement and rights? Who are the people successful in establishing land rights? What are the local dynamics that affect land entitlements in the project areas? Does state have clear legislation regarding this and is this enforced? • Use rights of common resources: What have been the practices to access and use of common resources at different timeline (trends analysis of at least last 50 years till present times)? Have the poor people access in common land? • History of natural resource management: Abuse and mismanagement of common property resources such as land, water and vegetation. What are the specific drivers that trigger this abuse, mismanagement and over exploitation? Have they remain constant or changed over time? • Institutions regulating natural resource management and use: What have been the formal and informal institutions at local, sub-national and national level regulating and influencing natural resource management? What level of perceptions of peoples regarding natural resources management and use? • Forest resources: Where are the important forest resources and what is their status? How each of them has been managed and what are typical issues? What are the important forest products and how are they used and traded? What are the key changes that forests have seen over the last 50 years and the primary drivers of this change? • Rangeland resource: Where are the important rangeland and what is their status? Have there been significant changes in their profile over the last 50 years and what have the primary drivers of this change? How each of them has been managed and what are the typical issues? What are the present grazing patterns and practices?

• Rain fed agriculture: What land types have been brought under rain fed agriculture and what is their productivity status? What are the present rainfed agriculture practices? • Irrigated agriculture: What is the current productivity status and what has been the trend over period of time? • Rural energies technologies: what are the main sources and technologies of rural energies used in the catchment areas of the project? What is the effect of the rural energies technologies commonly used by the households in the project area on the natural resources available in their environment? Are there alternatives or potential to develop alternative rural energy technologies? • Socio-economic profile: the general socio-economic status of the households inhabiting the catchment areas covered under this project. How this influences the choices and decisions taken at household level regarding multiple uses of natural resources they have either entitlement of or use rights over them? What are the present livelihood patterns/options? Dependency of livelihood on natural resources? • Baseline Indicators: what were the baseline indicators at the start of the project in July 2011 against the output and outcome level indicators included in the project LFA? 4. Methodology Among the guiding principles of this consultancy assignment will be inclusiveness, listening and respecting views and opinions of all stakeholders at all levels, including Afghan women in project areas. This study will be carried out using suitable technical, anthropological and sociological tools. Both secondary and primary data will be used for analysis. Important steps have been summarized below. • Literature review: The consultant(s) shall review relevant documents including reports, maps, images, research papers, case studies etc. both published and un-published relevant to the scope of this study. Consultations with key knowledge holders and organizations at national and sub-national level are highly recommended before commencing field work in the project sites. • Filed survey: It will include bio-physical and socio economic aspects of the study, so will other tools such as participatory social and resource mapping, wealth ranking, resource flow chart, venn diagram, transect walk, key informant interviews, focus group discussion, vegetation survey, and photos. • Report writing: Report incorporating an executive summary, data and its analysis, a set of recommendations and conclusion will be drafted and finalized after incorporating feedback from Afghanaid and other relevant stakeholders. Report will have annexes of people met, methodology used, and this ToRs of the study. The consultant/s will be required to submit a full methodology they plan to use together with their expression of interest which will determine their selection. 5. Deliverables The consultants will deliver two separate with following outputs 1. Inception report detailing methodology, timeline and required resources, separate for each of the two projects 2. Presentation of major findings analyzing secondary and primary data, separate for each of the two projects 3. Two separate reports, one for PWM and one for UCRAM II project; each project report with have chapters for each of the sub-catchment area covered under the project,

covering the scope and the specific objectives of this study given under section 2 and 3 above, i.e.: a) Socio-economic assessment b) Catchment resources assessment and its use c) Rural energy technologies and current practices d) Baseline indicators at the start of project (using recall methods) against each project output and outcome level indicators as given in their respective LFAs 6. Timeframe and Duration The total duration of the study will be agreed between Afghanaid and the consultants upon receiving their Expression of Interest containing detailed proposed methodology, work plan specifying inputs of each expert, and professional fee. Afghanaid will provide necessary logistics support including translators, transport, lodging and boarding. Cost of these must not be included in the proposed fee of the consultants. The consultants will need to be available immediately to start the study in the month of June and complete it before end of July 2012. 7. Commissioning Manager / Reporting Line The consultants will report directly to the Projects Team Leader and in his absence to the acting Projects Manager.

  1. Consultants Expertise and Skills Essential: • Designing and conducting primary research in NRM sector • Understanding of and experience using qualitative and quantitative technical and social research methodologies • Excellent analysis and writing skills, including GIS data and statistical analysis • Experience of producing academic and broader communications products • Excellent English language • Planning and good time management • Able to work independently with minimal supervision Desirable: • Previous work experience in Afghanistan, or other conflict affected countries - particularly in remote areas, living and working in a very basic environment
How to apply:

Submission of Expression of Interest (EoI) Please send: i) A covering letter explicitly referring to previous similar experiences, preferably in Afghanistan ii) CVs of experts (preferably one woman and one man) iii) Detailed methodology iv) Work plan indicating dates and number of days for each task v) Professional fee (in USD – either lump sum or daily rate) vi) Availability (date) Your EoI must reach by COB on Friday 15th June, clearly marked NRM Projects Study, Badakhshan, Afghanistan; mailed at: rali@afghanaid.org.uk with copy to nkarim@afghanaid.org.uk.

Study on natural Resources Management in Badakhshan, Afghanistan Study on natural Resources Management in Badakhshan, Afghanistan Reviewed by Unknown on 2:21:00 AM Rating: 5

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