Climate Change-Focused Hazard Mapping & Environmental Impact Assessment of IRC Iraq (Consultancy) At International Rescue Committee

In its Strategic Action Plan 2022-2024, the IRC in Iraq has identified the Climate Crisis as a significant compounding factor exacerbating the socio-economic vulnerabilities faced by IDPs, returnees, and host communities. Additionally, the IRC in Iraq is looking at innovative livelihoods programming, including those working with the private sector, to anticipate foreseen pull-out of donors from humanitarian funding in Iraq and their move towards more durable solutions and development-type funds. In the current Iraqi context of increased droughts that are forcing food prices to skyrocket as Iraq turns to food imports, the latter suffering from global inflation surges following the Russian war on Ukraine, any innovative livelihoods programming that does not integrate climate response will see little impact on the economic wellbeing of IRC’s clients. As climate resilience programming is a first for the Iraq CP, a necessary first step would be to conduct a Climate Impact Assessment to understand the Frequency and Intensity of Shocks and Stressors, coupled with an explorative study on the vulnerable communities’ ability to

1) Adapt

2) Respond and

3) Transform their food and livelihood coping mechanisms to Climate Change.

The Assessment will involve local organizations to

Collect their local knowledge on shocks and stressors and recommend climate resilience programs.
Assess their readiness to respond to climate change and

The Assessment will also examine the local private sector’s role in contributing to climate resilience programming.

The Assessment will be conducted in the three governorates where the IRC operates: Ninewa, Anbar, and Kirkuk in addition to the marshes in Southern Iraq (Amarah, Nasiriyah, Basra, Dhi Qar and Maysan). Despite Iraq’s globally recognized inability to respond to climate shocks, particularly droughts, such an assessment focusing on the above governorates isn’t currently available.

The objectives of the Climate change Impact assessment are;

1) Understand the recurring shocks and stressors

2) Understand the local dynamics at risk of being exacerbated following climate shocks

3) Understand how those shocks are causing small farmers and the local private sector whose services and products depend on a climate-resilient agricultural sector to adopt livelihoods and food coping mechanisms

4) Understand the involvement of the private sector in building resilience to climate change

5) Advocate for climate-resilience funding in relevant fora and donor engagement meetings and

6) Develop relevant climate-resilient programs either as standalone or integrated into current programs.

Purpose of Consultancy

The IRC Iraq is looking to hire a consultant with expertise in resilience programming, climate adaptation, hazard mapping, disaster risk reduction and environmental impact assessments to

1. Conduct a mapping of climate change-focused hazards in mentioned areas. The mapping of the hazards will focus on shocks and stressors and their impact on the population’s economic well-being, specifically their livelihood coping strategies. affect clients across IRC’s program areas (Economic Recovery and Development, Protection Rule of Law, Governance, Education/Early Childhood Development, Women’s Protection and Empowerment) and how they impact on program outcomes across the target locations.

2. Provide recommendations on potentially relevant climate-resilience interventions that could be delivered by IRC in Iraq, considering the context and the scope of IRC’s programming

Tasks

Under each of the main activities, there are specific tasks, as noted below. If the appointed consultant would like to modify these tasks for reasons of technical best practice or time/cost-efficiency, they can discuss this with the IRC and present alternative methodologies in the Inception Report.

Climate Change-Focused Hazard Mapping

Draft inception report to inform the methodology, and stakeholders, and guide the work on the drafting of the final report
Assess the climate change-induced risks (hazard, vulnerability, and exposure) and damages (shocks and stresses) in IRC’s areas of operation and the marshes.
Utilize Geographic Information System (GIS) software to develop hazard maps which display the climate change-induced risks (categorized, i.e., by probability and/or severity) and damages (categorized, i.e. by severity) by geographical location.
Conduct an environmental impact assessment of the climate-related damages.
Conduct a vulnerability and capacity assessment of communities and districts.
Conduct a desk study of the existing, relevant materials to understand and explain the situation within the report, and to recommend evidence-based, feasible, creative interventions to prevent and curb the negative effects of climate change-induced risks and damages. Recommendations should focus on additional activities the IRC’s livelihoods programming should be delivering to climate-impacted populations to ensure that future livelihood programs contribute to strengthening the resilience of clients against climate hazards.
Conduct KIIs and FGDs relevant key stakeholders from the various public institutions and humanitarian and development organizations directly impacting climate-relevant responses, through either policy, regulations or implementation.
Draft recommendations regarding the formation of relevant DRR committees, specifying the role of the committees, their composition, including which stakeholders are recommended to be included, and brief guide on how IRC can establish those.
The recommendations will include programming delivered by the private sector to help further strengthen climate resilience
Validation workshop with the core study team on the preliminary findings
Produce a clear and concise synthesized final report on findings and recommendations.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Quantify the environmental impact in the above-mentioned areas.
Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of different ways of working (current operations and possible future operations).
Recommendations should include no and low-cost improvements that can be acted on immediately as well as more costly or complex improvements that could be considered for the future.
Validation workshop with the core study team on the preliminary findings
Produce a clear and concise synthesized final report on findings and recommendations.

Methodology

The consultant is expected to utilize a mixed methodology approach to implement both activities (the climate change-focused hazard mapping and the environmental impact assessment). The consultant is also expected to integrate the two activities as much as possible to improve the time and cost-efficiency of the consultancy. For both activities the consultant should conduct:

Literature/ desk review – of relevant global and national publications and IRC literature (including proposals, operational policies and guidelines, budgets and expenditure documents, and final reports);
Field work – including hiring local enumerators for data collection.
Consultative meetings – with relevant IRC Iraq staff, stakeholders, private sector companies or institutions focusing on climate-resilient work and clients. Meetings with IRC staff help frame the programming recommendations which will be generated by this assessment.
Focus Group discussions – with community leaders, private sector companies or institutions focusing on climate-resilient work, members, and IRC clients in Iraq.
Debrief/ feedback meetings – with IRC Iraq extended senior management team at the end of the consultancy.
Key Informant Interviews with relevant stakeholders involved in resilience programming and environmental issues.

On execution of the assignment and following discussion with IRC it is up to the consultant to develop the detailed methodology within their inception report. The inception report must include a workplan and schedule, data collection tools, a data analysis plan, and an outline of when and how the work will be conducted for the entire period of the consultancy. The report must also factor in the IRC responsibilities so that the IRC team know when IRC contributions (i.e. review and feedback on draft synthesized reports etc.) are needed.

Deliverables

The consultant will be responsible for delivering the following items.

An inception report including detailed methodology, workplan and schedule, on the execution of the assignment.
A synthesized draft and final report on the climate change-focused hazard mapping which includes:
- The findings from the: assessment of climate change-induced risks and damages; the environmental impact assessment; and the vulnerability and capacity analysis.
- GIS hazard maps;
- Detailed analysis of findings;
- Recommendations.
A synthesized draft and final report on the environmental impact assessment which includes:
- Quantification of the environmental impact of IRC Iraq.
- Cost-benefit analysis of different ways of working.
- Recommendations for feasible and creative interventions to reduce the negative impact/ footprint of IRC operations.

IRC Role

The IRC will be responsible for providing the following:

Briefing the consultant once contracted and providing all necessary IRC literature.
Providing the consultant with a focal point who can support them as they plan and implement the consultancy.
Approving the consultant’s inception report on the execution of the assignment.
Reviewing and providing feedback on the first draft of both synthesized reports.
Bring together the senior management team for a debrief/ feedback meeting at the end of the assignment. In its Strategic Action Plan 2022-2024, the IRC in Iraq has identified the Climate Crisis as a significant compounding factor exacerbating the socio-economic vulnerabilities faced by IDPs, returnees, and host communities. Additionally, the IRC in Iraq is looking at innovative livelihoods programming, including those working with the private sector, to anticipate foreseen pull-out of donors from humanitarian funding in Iraq and their move towards more durable solutions and development-type funds. In the current Iraqi context of increased droughts that are forcing food prices to skyrocket as Iraq turns to food imports, the latter suffering from global inflation surges following the Russian war on Ukraine, any innovative livelihoods programming that does not integrate climate response will see little impact on the economic wellbeing of IRC’s clients. As climate resilience programming is a first for the Iraq CP, a necessary first step would be to conduct a Climate Impact Assessment to understand the Frequency and Intensity of Shocks and Stressors, coupled with an explorative study on the vulnerable communities’ ability to
1) Adapt

2) Respond and

3) Transform their food and livelihood coping mechanisms to Climate Change.

The Assessment will involve local organizations to
Collect their local knowledge on shocks and stressors and recommend climate resilience programs.
Assess their readiness to respond to climate change and
The Assessment will also examine the local private sector’s role in contributing to climate resilience programming.
The Assessment will be conducted in the three governorates where the IRC operates: Ninewa, Anbar, and Kirkuk in addition to the marshes in Southern Iraq (Amarah, Nasiriyah, Basra, Dhi Qar and Maysan). Despite Iraq’s globally recognized inability to respond to climate shocks, particularly droughts, such an assessment focusing on the above governorates isn’t currently available.

The objectives of the Climate change Impact assessment are;

1) Understand the recurring shocks and stressors

2) Understand the local dynamics at risk of being exacerbated following climate shocks

3) Understand how those shocks are causing small farmers and the local private sector whose services and products depend on a climate-resilient agricultural sector to adopt livelihoods and food coping mechanisms

4) Understand the involvement of the private sector in building resilience to climate change

5) Advocate for climate-resilience funding in relevant fora and donor engagement meetings and

6) Develop relevant climate-resilient programs either as standalone or integrated into current programs.

Purpose of Consultancy

The IRC Iraq is looking to hire a consultant with expertise in resilience programming, climate adaptation, hazard mapping, disaster risk reduction and environmental impact assessments to

1. Conduct a mapping of climate change-focused hazards in mentioned areas. The mapping of the hazards will focus on shocks and stressors and their impact on the population’s economic well-being, specifically their livelihood coping strategies. affect clients across IRC’s program areas (Economic Recovery and Development, Protection Rule of Law, Governance, Education/Early Childhood Development, Women’s Protection and Empowerment) and how they impact on program outcomes across the target locations.

2. Provide recommendations on potentially relevant climate-resilience interventions that could be delivered by IRC in Iraq, considering the context and the scope of IRC’s programming

Tasks

Under each of the main activities, there are specific tasks, as noted below. If the appointed consultant would like to modify these tasks for reasons of technical best practice or time/cost-efficiency, they can discuss this with the IRC and present alternative methodologies in the Inception Report.
Climate Change-Focused Hazard Mapping
Draft inception report to inform the methodology, and stakeholders, and guide the work on the drafting of the final report
Assess the climate change-induced risks (hazard, vulnerability, and exposure) and damages (shocks and stresses) in IRC’s areas of operation and the marshes.
Utilize Geographic Information System (GIS) software to develop hazard maps which display the climate change-induced risks (categorized, i.e., by probability and/or severity) and damages (categorized, i.e. by severity) by geographical location.
Conduct an environmental impact assessment of the climate-related damages.
Conduct a vulnerability and capacity assessment of communities and districts.
Conduct a desk study of the existing, relevant materials to understand and explain the situation within the report, and to recommend evidence-based, feasible, creative interventions to prevent and curb the negative effects of climate change-induced risks and damages. Recommendations should focus on additional activities the IRC’s livelihoods programming should be delivering to climate-impacted populations to ensure that future livelihood programs contribute to strengthening the resilience of clients against climate hazards.
Conduct KIIs and FGDs relevant key stakeholders from the various public institutions and humanitarian and development organizations directly impacting climate-relevant responses, through either policy, regulations or implementation.
Draft recommendations regarding the formation of relevant DRR committees, specifying the role of the committees, their composition, including which stakeholders are recommended to be included, and brief guide on how IRC can establish those.
The recommendations will include programming delivered by the private sector to help further strengthen climate resilience
Validation workshop with the core study team on the preliminary findings
Produce a clear and concise synthesized final report on findings and recommendations.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Quantify the environmental impact in the above-mentioned areas.
Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of different ways of working (current operations and possible future operations).
Recommendations should include no and low-cost improvements that can be acted on immediately as well as more costly or complex improvements that could be considered for the future.
Validation workshop with the core study team on the preliminary findings
Produce a clear and concise synthesized final report on findings and recommendations.
Methodology
The consultant is expected to utilize a mixed methodology approach to implement both activities (the climate change-focused hazard mapping and the environmental impact assessment). The consultant is also expected to integrate the two activities as much as possible to improve the time and cost-efficiency of the consultancy. For both activities the consultant should conduct:
Literature/ desk review – of relevant global and national publications and IRC literature (including proposals, operational policies and guidelines, budgets and expenditure documents, and final reports);
Field work – including hiring local enumerators for data collection.
Consultative meetings – with relevant IRC Iraq staff, stakeholders, private sector companies or institutions focusing on climate-resilient work and clients. Meetings with IRC staff help frame the programming recommendations which will be generated by this assessment.
Focus Group discussions – with community leaders, private sector companies or institutions focusing on climate-resilient work, members, and IRC clients in Iraq.
Debrief/ feedback meetings – with IRC Iraq extended senior management team at the end of the consultancy.
Key Informant Interviews with relevant stakeholders involved in resilience programming and environmental issues.
On execution of the assignment and following discussion with IRC it is up to the consultant to develop the detailed methodology within their inception report. The inception report must include a workplan and schedule, data collection tools, a data analysis plan, and an outline of when and how the work will be conducted for the entire period of the consultancy. The report must also factor in the IRC responsibilities so that the IRC team know when IRC contributions (i.e. review and feedback on draft synthesized reports etc.) are needed.
Deliverables

The consultant will be responsible for delivering the following items.
An inception report including detailed methodology, workplan and schedule, on the execution of the assignment.
A synthesized draft and final report on the climate change-focused hazard mapping which includes:
- The findings from the: assessment of climate change-induced risks and damages; the environmental impact assessment; and the vulnerability and capacity analysis.
- GIS hazard maps;
- Detailed analysis of findings;
- Recommendations.
A synthesized draft and final report on the environmental impact assessment which includes:
- Quantification of the environmental impact of IRC Iraq.
- Cost-benefit analysis of different ways of working.
- Recommendations for feasible and creative interventions to reduce the negative impact/ footprint of IRC operations.
IRC Role
The IRC will be responsible for providing the following:
Briefing the consultant once contracted and providing all necessary IRC literature.
Providing the consultant with a focal point who can support them as they plan and implement the consultancy.
Approving the consultant’s inception report on the execution of the assignment.
Reviewing and providing feedback on the first draft of both synthesized reports.
Bring together the senior management team for a debrief/ feedback meeting at the end of the assignment. In its Strategic Action Plan 2022-2024, the IRC in Iraq has identified the Climate Crisis as a significant compounding factor exacerbating the socio-economic vulnerabilities faced by IDPs, returnees, and host communities. Additionally, the IRC in Iraq is looking at innovative livelihoods programming, including those working with the private sector, to anticipate foreseen pull-out of donors from humanitarian funding in Iraq and their move towards more durable solutions and development-type funds. In the current Iraqi context of increased droughts that are forcing food prices to skyrocket as Iraq turns to food imports, the latter suffering from global inflation surges following the Russian war on Ukraine, any innovative livelihoods programming that does not integrate climate response will see little impact on the economic wellbeing of IRC’s clients. As climate resilience programming is a first for the Iraq CP, a necessary first step would be to conduct a Climate Impact Assessment to understand the Frequency and Intensity of Shocks and Stressors, coupled with an explorative study on the vulnerable communities’ ability to
1) Adapt

2) Respond and

3) Transform their food and livelihood coping mechanisms to Climate Change.

The Assessment will involve local organizations to
Collect their local knowledge on shocks and stressors and recommend climate resilience programs.
Assess their readiness to respond to climate change and
The Assessment will also examine the local private sector’s role in contributing to climate resilience programming.
The Assessment will be conducted in the three governorates where the IRC operates: Ninewa, Anbar, and Kirkuk in addition to the marshes in Southern Iraq (Amarah, Nasiriyah, Basra, Dhi Qar and Maysan). Despite Iraq’s globally recognized inability to respond to climate shocks, particularly droughts, such an assessment focusing on the above governorates isn’t currently available.

The objectives of the Climate change Impact assessment are;

1) Understand the recurring shocks and stressors

2) Understand the local dynamics at risk of being exacerbated following climate shocks

3) Understand how those shocks are causing small farmers and the local private sector whose services and products depend on a climate-resilient agricultural sector to adopt livelihoods and food coping mechanisms

4) Understand the involvement of the private sector in building resilience to climate change

5) Advocate for climate-resilience funding in relevant fora and donor engagement meetings and

6) Develop relevant climate-resilient programs either as standalone or integrated into current programs.

Purpose of Consultancy

The IRC Iraq is looking to hire a consultant with expertise in resilience programming, climate adaptation, hazard mapping, disaster risk reduction and environmental impact assessments to

1. Conduct a mapping of climate change-focused hazards in mentioned areas. The mapping of the hazards will focus on shocks and stressors and their impact on the population’s economic well-being, specifically their livelihood coping strategies. affect clients across IRC’s program areas (Economic Recovery and Development, Protection Rule of Law, Governance, Education/Early Childhood Development, Women’s Protection and Empowerment) and how they impact on program outcomes across the target locations.

2. Provide recommendations on potentially relevant climate-resilience interventions that could be delivered by IRC in Iraq, considering the context and the scope of IRC’s programming

Tasks

Under each of the main activities, there are specific tasks, as noted below. If the appointed consultant would like to modify these tasks for reasons of technical best practice or time/cost-efficiency, they can discuss this with the IRC and present alternative methodologies in the Inception Report.
Climate Change-Focused Hazard Mapping
Draft inception report to inform the methodology, and stakeholders, and guide the work on the drafting of the final report
Assess the climate change-induced risks (hazard, vulnerability, and exposure) and damages (shocks and stresses) in IRC’s areas of operation and the marshes.
Utilize Geographic Information System (GIS) software to develop hazard maps which display the climate change-induced risks (categorized, i.e., by probability and/or severity) and damages (categorized, i.e. by severity) by geographical location.
Conduct an environmental impact assessment of the climate-related damages.
Conduct a vulnerability and capacity assessment of communities and districts.
Conduct a desk study of the existing, relevant materials to understand and explain the situation within the report, and to recommend evidence-based, feasible, creative interventions to prevent and curb the negative effects of climate change-induced risks and damages. Recommendations should focus on additional activities the IRC’s livelihoods programming should be delivering to climate-impacted populations to ensure that future livelihood programs contribute to strengthening the resilience of clients against climate hazards.
Conduct KIIs and FGDs relevant key stakeholders from the various public institutions and humanitarian and development organizations directly impacting climate-relevant responses, through either policy, regulations or implementation.
Draft recommendations regarding the formation of relevant DRR committees, specifying the role of the committees, their composition, including which stakeholders are recommended to be included, and brief guide on how IRC can establish those.
The recommendations will include programming delivered by the private sector to help further strengthen climate resilience
Validation workshop with the core study team on the preliminary findings
Produce a clear and concise synthesized final report on findings and recommendations.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Quantify the environmental impact in the above-mentioned areas.
Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of different ways of working (current operations and possible future operations).
Recommendations should include no and low-cost improvements that can be acted on immediately as well as more costly or complex improvements that could be considered for the future.
Validation workshop with the core study team on the preliminary findings
Produce a clear and concise synthesized final report on findings and recommendations.
Methodology
The consultant is expected to utilize a mixed methodology approach to implement both activities (the climate change-focused hazard mapping and the environmental impact assessment). The consultant is also expected to integrate the two activities as much as possible to improve the time and cost-efficiency of the consultancy. For both activities the consultant should conduct:
Literature/ desk review – of relevant global and national publications and IRC literature (including proposals, operational policies and guidelines, budgets and expenditure documents, and final reports);
Field work – including hiring local enumerators for data collection.
Consultative meetings – with relevant IRC Iraq staff, stakeholders, private sector companies or institutions focusing on climate-resilient work and clients. Meetings with IRC staff help frame the programming recommendations which will be generated by this assessment.
Focus Group discussions – with community leaders, private sector companies or institutions focusing on climate-resilient work, members, and IRC clients in Iraq.
Debrief/ feedback meetings – with IRC Iraq extended senior management team at the end of the consultancy.
Key Informant Interviews with relevant stakeholders involved in resilience programming and environmental issues.
On execution of the assignment and following discussion with IRC it is up to the consultant to develop the detailed methodology within their inception report. The inception report must include a workplan and schedule, data collection tools, a data analysis plan, and an outline of when and how the work will be conducted for the entire period of the consultancy. The report must also factor in the IRC responsibilities so that the IRC team know when IRC contributions (i.e. review and feedback on draft synthesized reports etc.) are needed.
Deliverables

The consultant will be responsible for delivering the following items.
An inception report including detailed methodology, workplan and schedule, on the execution of the assignment.
A synthesized draft and final report on the climate change-focused hazard mapping which includes:
- The findings from the: assessment of climate change-induced risks and damages; the environmental impact assessment; and the vulnerability and capacity analysis.
- GIS hazard maps;
- Detailed analysis of findings;
- Recommendations.
A synthesized draft and final report on the environmental impact assessment which includes:
- Quantification of the environmental impact of IRC Iraq.
- Cost-benefit analysis of different ways of working.
- Recommendations for feasible and creative interventions to reduce the negative impact/ footprint of IRC operations.
IRC Role
The IRC will be responsible for providing the following:
Briefing the consultant once contracted and providing all necessary IRC literature.
Providing the consultant with a focal point who can support them as they plan and implement the consultancy.
Approving the consultant’s inception report on the execution of the assignment.
Reviewing and providing feedback on the first draft of both synthesized reports.
Bring together the senior management team for a debrief/ feedback meeting at the end of the assignment.