Terms of Reference (ToR) for the recruitment of National Short-term Consultant to support Land Health Initiatives within SUSTAIN Pro/IKEA Programme At International Union for Conservation of Nature

Terms of Reference (ToR) for the recruitment of National Short-term Consultant to support Land Health Initiatives within SUSTAIN Pro/IKEA Programme at IUCN Tanzania.

Project Background Information:

IUCN is implementing projects “accelerating the global transition to sustainable agriculture” and SUSTAIN Pro. These projects are being implemented in the Kilombero landscape. These projects, funded by IKEA Foundation and NORAD are aligned to IUCN’s Agriculture and Land Health initiative, launched by the IUCN Director General in 2021. The goal of the initiative was to “accelerate actions for mainstreaming land health in sustainable agriculture, as a Nature based Solution to food and water insecurity, climate change and other societal challenges”.

The projects are built on the fact that farming relies on nature, and that sustainable farming is that which protects natural resources, including land health, water supply, pollinators, and genetic diversity. The initiative will contribute to 3 outcomes:

Outcome 1: Commitments to sustainable agriculture are put forward and monitored through dialogue between conservation and agriculture actors.

Outcome 2: Scientific evidence of the multiple benefits of sustainable agriculture is communicated widely.

Outcome 3: Land health restored through landscape partnerships.

In connection to the above, IUCN is currently looking to hire an experienced Tanzanian based land health and Water Management Specialist/Scientist responsible for providing technical guidance and input on establishing a baseline on selected land health indicators and prioritising relevant land health monitoring tools as well as capacity building of landscape stakeholders.

Scope of services, Responsibilities, and expected deliverables:

This assignment will target farmers across 2 landscapes of Kilombero (Ifakara, Kilosa, Malinyi and Mlimba districts) and Ihemi (Kilolo and Iringa districts).

The specialist will actively work with SUSTAIN/IKEA programme staff. He/She will be responsible to perform the following tasks and duties.

1. Review existing cropping patterns, agronomic practices, crop management practices, soil nutrient management practices, applications of chemicals, productivity levels, etc., in rice, sugarcane and sunflower as well as other land uses in the landscape.
2. Applying land health guidance by IUCN – advise/develop project specific land health monitoring index composed of specific indicators for monitoring land health in SUSTAIN landscapes (including Mozambique)
3. The consultant will conduct soil sample collection and testing to understand the current soil physical, chemical, micro-biological health status of at least representative samples in Kilombero and Ihemi landscapes (or rely on available most recent secondary data from TARI or SUA).
4. Determine vegetation cover and vegetation connectivity from one ecosystem to another through GIS technology.
5. Identify species abundance and composition of locally threatened species of plants and animals of biological and ecological importance in the landscapes.
6. Set benchmark for soil erosion in the most fragile areas in the landscape.
7. Review the government’s policy, plans and commitments on land health and ensure alignment between index and these as well as possible avenues for linking to sub-national and national data and policy processes.
8. Develop a highly summarised land health management guidance/brochure for awareness creation and training (relevant for smallholder farmers and other stakeholders in the landscapes).
9. Build technical capacity through training sessions for project staff, extension officers, irrigation technicians, farmers organizations, water users associations on land health indicators.
10. Identify the key stakeholders active in water and land health management and perform a detailed assessment of the processes, opportunities and challenges envisaged in land health management.
11. Lead the validation workshop to present, discuss and validate priorities for land heath management at landscape level.
12. Contribute to facilitation of landscape level land health compact in collaboration with other stakeholders i.e., SAGCOT/Government/Private sector (farmer organisations, CSOs and NGOs).

Deliverables:

Deliverable

Details

Deadline

Detailed work plan to conduct the assignment based on roles and responsibilities.

The final detailed plan for collecting data and information and analysing data/information based on consultation and alignment with IUCN.

1 week after appointment

Draft report

The draft report (EN), both in word and power point presentation format, including the following content:

• Context overview
• Methodology
• Findings on the current land health situation (selected indicators)
• Recommendations for improvement and monitoring tools based on the findings.
• Other relevant details based on the details of scope of work above.

4 weeks after agreement on detailed work plan

Final report and annexes (including landscape health compact, land/soil health management guides/brochure, etc.)

Final report (EN), both in word and power

point presentation format, in alignment with IUCN

2 weeks after submission of draft report

Technical Competencies and Experience Requirements:

• Postgraduate qualification in soil science, natural resources management, environmental science, agriculture, or related field.
• Experience and Knowledge of agriculture and nature conservation practices in productive

landscapes

• Proven experience in sustainable land, water management and soil management
• Experience in GIS and mapping would be an asset.
• Strong analytical skills, including ability to synthesise academic literature and desk review.
• Proven skills in drafting high quality reports.
• Experience in the target regions and familiarity with the key stakeholders is a strong asset.
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili languages.
• Experience in facilitating training and technical dialogues on soil, crop, and water management.

Kindly note that, no promise explicit or implicit is made to any individual/ institutions/ organizations/ firms sending a proposal to IUCN on making any funds available (including reimbursement of proposal preparation costs).