Review of Literature on Gender, Climate Change and Crop-Livestock Systems

Incorporation of Gender into Climate-Resilient Crop-Livestock Systems Research to Accelerate Food Security in Africa


REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

REGIONAL CONSULTANTS (1 FOR EAST AFRICA AND SOUTHERN AFRICA, AND 1 FOR WEST AFRICA) TO PREPARE A REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON GENDER, CLIMATE CHANGE AND CROP-LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS


Terms of Reference for Individual Consultants

Position Title: Consultant

Duration: 30 working days

Start Date: 15 February to 30March 2012

Reporting to: Dr Jemimah Njuki, ILRI

Background

ILRI recently received a small grant to conduct research on current and emerging issues on gender and climate change in relation to crop-livestock systems in Africa. The study will have a regional focus. As such, it will include nine countries in the African region including Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

As part of the research, consultants will be contracted to conduct a review of literature on climate change and gender integration in crop-livestock systems. The consultants will be contracted for 30 days to review relevant materials including scientific and academic journals, research reports, policy documents, working papers and other relevant literature on climate change and gender issues in Africa. For ease of harmonization, two consultants will be hired to conduct the review – one to cover east and southern Africa, one to cover west Africa.



Context

In recent years, there have been increasing concerns about climate change and its impacts on food security and on human lives. While much of the earlier discussions on climate change centred on scientific and technical aspects such as greenhouse gas emissions, ozone depletion and environmental impacts of global warming, attention is now increasingly encompassing the economic and social aspects of climate change. While women and the poor are likely to be most affected by climate change, the constraints they face in crop-livestock systems are not being adequately addressed in research programs due to the lack of a systematic approach and low capacities to integrate gender in a meaningful way. On the other hand, as key actors in the agriculture sector, women can play an important role in addressing and leading efforts to adapt to climate change.

Studies on the role of gender in climate change adaptation show climate change affects women and men in different ways. Hence gender perspectives on climate change (i.e. mitigation, adaptation, policy development, decision making) need consideration. Women are powerful agents of change and their leadership is critical. They have a significant role in dealing with issues such as energy consumption, deforestation, burning of vegetation, population growth, and economic growth, developing scientific research and technologies and policy making, amongst others.

While several studies have been conducted on gender issues and food security in various African countries, the little that has been done on the food security and gender differentiated impacts of climate change is currently fragmented. Joint and collaborative action is required to develop effective policies and strategic actions to achieve sustainable food security in the face of climate change. There is a need to understand the current status of climate change and gender research in Africa to determine the future direction for strategic research in the region.

Addressing gender issues effectively in agricultural research is critical to improving productivity and reducing poverty in Africa. Despite the recognized importance of gender considerations to the success of research and development initiatives, there remains a need for effective planning, implementing and monitoring frameworks and capacity development in gender analysis. Developing such a gender responsive framework and applying it in research will provide an opportunity to improve gender equity in agricultural intensification and to meet the converging challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, rising input prices etc.

The aim of the research project is to consolidate and advance current thinking about issues associated with gender and climate change in Africa, and to lay the foundation for research on the development of gender-sensitive regional and local innovation systems in African cropping and livestock systems.

The expected outputs of the research are that:

• Experiences and evidence from selected countries in east, southern and western Africa on gender issues related to crop and livestock intensification are synthesized

• Intervention points for more effectively integrating gender considerations into crop-livestock research in the context of climate risk are identified and documented.

• Key priority areas for further gender research on gender and climate risk in crop-livestock systems are identified

• A framework for better integration of gender considerations in crop livestock research at national and regional level developed

• A plan for further action in mainstreaming gender and climate risk into crop-livestock systems research, conduct gender and climate change research and mobilize resources developed


Purpose and objectives of the review

The purpose of the literature review is to assess the current state of knowledge on gender and climate change in the context of crop-livestock systems research and on integrating gender considerations in crop-livestock systems research in Africa, particularly in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

It will look at various strategies and actions. It is expected that the results of the review will guide the development of a framework to better mainstream gender in crop-livestock research and development in the future. The review will also provide recommendations on areas for future research on gender and climate change in the context of crop-livestock systems and integration of gender considerations in crop-livestock systems research in Africa.

Tasks of the reviewers

• To document how men and women adapt to climate change and shed light on the gender related aspects of adaptation to climate change and how these have been addressed in the selected countries

• To identify what has already been done in terms of integrating gender in climate change and crop-livestock research in these countries.

• To evaluate the effectiveness of programs, key processes, strategies and practices that will facilitate the integration of gender into crop-livestock research in Africa

• To evaluate lessons learned from implementation of strategies to integrate gender in climate change and crop-livestock research in Africa

• To identify good practices and lessons learned in promoting gender mainstreaming into crop-livestock systems in the context of Africa

• To identify gaps and opportunities for policies, strategies and institutional mechanisms to incorporate gender into climate-resilient crop-livestock systems research in these countries.

The review should provide recommendations on (i) how knowledge and capacity for integrating gender in climate change in the context of crop-livestock systems can be strengthened (ii) strategies and best practices for incorporation of gender issues in dealing with climate change at national and regional level. These will lead to better
mainstreaming of gender equality concerns in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of climate change and crop-livestock systems research and development programs in the region.

Scope and focus

The project targets 9 countries in Africa: Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. The literature review will include both published and unpublished materials, scientific and academic papers, case studies, reports and other grey literature on food security, gender and climate change with a specific focus on these 9 countries but also linking to evidence from other countries in the Africa region. The project is seeking 2 consultants: one to cover east and southern Africa and one to cover West Africa. The West Africa consultant should be bilingual (French and English).

The consultancy service will be in three parts: (i) an inception phase for outlining a plan to review the literature (ii) a review of literature phase, where consultants will gather, critically review related literature and prepare the first draft of the review of literature; and (iii) a consultation and finalization phase for consulting on the draft review of literature and finalizing the comprehensive review of literature document.

Inception phase

The consultant will prepare a 1-2 page annotated outline of the topics to be covered in the review of literature. They will present a strategy as to how the comprehensive review would be carried out; including the working hypotheses to be examined, literature to be used etc. The annotated outline should be submitted to the Project Leader and key partners for feedback by the due date outlined in Table 1.

Review of literature phase

The consultant will then collect, read, synthesize and critically review relevant literature covering published and previously unpublished material on gender and climate change in the context of crop-livestock systems. A draft literature review will be submitted to the Project Leader and key partners for comments.

Finalization phase

Based on the comments received, the review of literature report will be finalized, incorporating the feedback of the project leader and key partners.

The final review of literature should have no more than 30 pages in English. It should include an executive summary, the background, objectives of the review, synthesis, key findings, good practices and lessons learned, gaps and recommendations.

The estimated duration of the consultancy, from inception to submission of the final comprehensive review of literature is 30 person days to take place from 15 February to 30 March. The timing and conduct of work is outlined below:

• Regional consultants appointed – by 15 February 2012
• Annotated outline of review of literature – by 18 February 2012
• Draft review of literature – by 15 March 2012

• Final review of literature – by 30March 2012



Deliverables

The deliverables are as follows (Table 1):

Table 1. Deliverables to be provided

Deliverable Due date

Outline for review of literature showing key topics 18 February 2012

Draft literature review 15 March 2012

Final literature review 30March 2012



All deliverables should be presented in the English language.



Desired background and experience

The regional consultants should have the following qualifications:

• An Msc /MA or PhD in one of the following areas: gender studies, social science, agriculture, economics, rural development, farming systems or related field;

• Demonstrated excellent analytical, synthesis and written communication skills with knowledge in gender mainstreaming. Excellent writing skills and language proficiency in English is essential; and for West Africa, English and French language skills are required;

• More than 10 years of work experience in farming systems, gender analysis, rural development, agriculture and development-related research;

• Demonstrated ability for independent and critical scientific thought, and for challenging accepted scientific knowledge and approaches;

• Good record of publications including in international peer reviewed journals;

• Sound understanding of the context prevailing in Africa in terms of farming systems and trends

• Excellent understanding of gender issues and climate change issues in crop-livestock systems in Africa;

• Regional experience in Africa (East, Southern and West Africa) is highly desirable, particularly, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso)

• High-level gender expertise and experience in new approaches to incorporate gender equality into programs and projects and in developing strategies to effectively incorporate gender equality in the programs and projects.



Remuneration and payment schedule

The contract will cover all the deliverables for a fixed fee of USD 9000. There will be two payments as follows:

• 40% upon submission of the first full draft of the review of literature.

• 60% upon submission of the final version of the review of literature.



Application

ILRI invites eligible individual consultants to express their interest in providing the consultancy service. Interested consultants should provide information to demonstrate that they are qualified to perform the service through detailed CVs showing their academic background and clearly demonstrating the experience in similar assignments. A sample of a substantive piece of work demonstrating writing ability should also be submitted.

Expressions of interest and supporting documents must be addressed to the Project Leader, Dr Jemimah Njuki and delivered via email attachment as a Microsoft Word document or PDF file on or before 7 February 2012 to the following address: J.Njuki@cgiar.org with a copy to Joyce Wanderi on J.Wanderi@cgiar.org