Agroforestry for Sustainable Livelihoods and Biodiversity (ASILI-B) Programme: Water Situation Analysis – Terms of Reference At Vi Agroforestry

ntroduction & Background

Vi Agroforestry is a non-profit organization operating in Sweden, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The organization works with smallholder farmers and their organisations to fight climate change and poverty. During the strategy period 2023-2027, Vi Agroforestry has an implementation framework designed to guide the realisation of the five-year strategy ambition: the ASILI-B programme (Agroforestry for Sustainable Livelihoods and Biodiversity). ASILI-B programme is a five-year programme being implemented in partnership with local partners in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa. The overall objective of this programme is to ‘improve smallholder farmer family’s food and nutrition security, sustainable livelihoods, gender equality, and resilience while enhancing biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation’. This objective will be realised through focus on the below key result areas and outcomes:

Result areas – Stronger Farmer Organisations

Outcome 1.1: Strengthened capacity of member-based farmer organisations to deliver rights-based services for the benefit of their members and wider community.

Outcome 1.2: Increased participation of women, youth and other underrepresented groups in leadership and management of functional democratic farmer organisations

Outcome 1.3: Enhanced capacity of farmers organisation to address attitudes, norms and practices that advance gender equality and women’s empowerment

Result areas – Sustainable Agriculture and Resilient Livelihoods

Outcome 2.1: Improved incomes and diversified livelihoods of smallholder farmer families.

Outcome 2.2: Increased and equitable access to business development services including financial services and technologies for investment in sustainable agricultural enterprises.

Result areas – Resilience building through Climate Change mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity conservation

Outcome 3.1: Increased smallholder farmers resilience to climate change

Outcome 3.2: Enhanced agroecosystems functioning, climate change mitigation, biodiversity, and environmental resilience.

Outcome 3.3: Increased adoption of water conservation technologies

Result areas – Food and Nutrition Security

Outcome 4.1: Enhanced capacity of farmer organisations to address food and Nutrition issues.

Outcome 4.2: Increased availability and access to diversified nutritious food

Result areas – Advocacy

Outcome 5.1: Enhanced political will to drive meaningful evidence-based policy change at the local, national, regional, and international level to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmer families.

Outcome 5.2: Enhanced promotion, funding and implementation of agroforestry policies and strategies by governments.

Outcome 5.3: Citizens collectively engaging to hold the states accountable at local, national, regional, and international levels on matters regarding agroforestry; food security; climate change adaptation, mitigation and resilience; conservation of biodiversity

At the centre of implementation of the programme are local partners. These are drawn from memberbased farmer organisations (Core partners), technical expert organisations (Technical partners that provide support to core partners), and strategic alliances and collaborations relevant to the working areas. The core and technical partners have developed their contextualised interventions, contributing to the results areas of the programme with each partner bringing in their unique strengths. The design of the programme places strengthening of the farmer organisations as the means through which most of the results areas will be realised. During this programme period, we have lifted water conservation and management as a key outcome area. We recognize the effects of environmental changes, water scarcity and the enormous uncertainty in precipitation patterns due to climate change that in turn affects the adequate provision of clean water for domestic use and water availability for agricultural production. This means that we must rethink on how water is utilised and managed for sustainable food production. Vi Agroforestry is seeking to procure a qualified consultancy firm to conduct a water situation analysis for the ASILI-B programme working areas to gather solid understanding, (data evidence) of the current water situation and identify the challenges and opportunities.

2. Overall water situation analysis Objective

The overall objective of the study is to establish the actual water situation: understand the full scope of the issue and how it is affecting food and livestock production in the ASILI-B programme area (East Africa). The specific objectives of the water situation analysis study are to: 1. Understand the actual scope of the issue- vulnerability, opportunities, challenges. 2. Assess the contextualised water needs and priorities of the smallholder farmers, communities, and stakeholders participating in ASILIB programme. 3. Identify and map key stakeholders in water resource management in the programme areas. 4. Document existing water resources, infrastructure, and institutional capacities in ASILI-B programme areas. 5. Identify appropriate strategies to respond to water vulnerabilities in ASILI-B programme areas. 6. Develop a water handbook for Vi Agroforestry work in ASILI-B programme areas.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant is expected to: i. Conduct a comprehensive water situation analysis in all the ASILI-B areas (i.e., farm level water situation analysis) and highlight challenges and opportunities. ii. Identify gaps in availability and utilisation of water resources. iii. Identify and recommend variable and appropriate strategies for water conservation and management for the programme consideration. iv. Establish current situation of water resources in relation to food and livestock production systems, highlight key setbacks and provide alternative production system or technology to enhance water management. v. Conduct a comprehensive stakeholder analysis in water resource management in the ASILI-B working areas. vi. Design a monitoring plan on water issues that can be incorporated into ASILI-B programme. vii. Analyse collected data and present to stakeholder’s forum for validation. viii. Compile final report. ix. Produce a water handbook/ guide for Vi Agroforestry’s work in the region. The water situation analysis will be conducted in current and potential programme areas in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania

4. Methodology

The water situation analysis will be conducted by an external consultant who will lead the study team and work under the supervision and support of Regional Advisor ECCR. The consultant is expected to come up with a detailed methodology for conducting the study, taking into consideration the local context. The consultant will develop appropriate tools and propose an appropriate sampling methodology and size that is statistically valid and cost effective. The sample size and proposed tools will be discussed and approved by the Vi Agroforestry team before the commencement of the survey. The study should employ both quantitative and qualitative methods. The following conditions should be given due consideration while designing the research methodology. 1. The programme continuously onboards partners throughout the programme period, hence expanding the geographical coverage. 2. The programme is implemented through partner organisations’ projects. 3. The programme is spread ecologically both in drylands and medium to high potential areas with every intention of expanding more into the drylands hence planning should take that into consideration. 4. Interactive and participatory approaches are recommended for data collection.

4.1 Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver the following: 1. At the commencement of the assignment, deliver an inception report detailing how the assignment will be carried out including the sampling methodology, the field plan, the considerations to be factored in the assignment etc. This will be discussed with Vi Agroforestry before commencement of the field surveys. 2. A clear and concise well written water situation analysis report 3. A Water Handbook recommending and guiding on how Vi Agroforestry and partners can work with water issues, water management and conservation techniques. 4. A database of all compiled quantitative data for future comparative analysis. 5. Power point presentation of not more than 20 slides summarising the water situation report. 6. Final workshop presentation with Vi Agroforestry and partners on the findings of the water situation analysis exercise. 7. The final report will be submitted to Vi Agroforestry in English, including: • Scanned copies of the survey data collection questionnaires used (if any) • Digital files of the survey data used in the analysis.

4.2 Outline of the study report

The report should respond to the objective and specific objectives of this study and will contain among others:

• Cover page

• Table of contents

• An executive summary that can be used as an independent document. It should include the methodology, major findings of the analysis and summarise conclusions and recommendations.

• The objectives of the water situation analysis • The main questions or central survey question and derived sub-questions.

• A justification of the methods and techniques used (including relevant underlying values and assumptions, theories) with a justification of the selections made (of persons interviewed).

• Eventual limitations of the study.

• A presentation of the findings and the analysis thereof (including unexpected, relevant findings). All key priority areas above (as defined in the objectives and scope of work) should be addressed, paying attention to gender issues.

• Conclusions derived from findings and analysis thereof.

• Recommendations clearly related to conclusions but presented separately. Recommendations should be practical and if necessary, divided up for various actors or stakeholders.

• Potential risks identified and recommended mitigation actions.

A separate document ‘water handbook/guide’ Report appendices that include:

• The Terms of Reference.

• The techniques used for data collection (including the people interviewed).

• The list of questions used or ‘interview guide’ or topic list (also for possible group discussions).

• Concepts and list of abbreviations.

• List of documents and bibliography.

• Composition of the study team.

• Relevant photos from the field.

5. Study Duration and Reporting

A total of 30 working days will constitute the water situation analysis period; an estimated five days to prepare relevant tools and review documentation, 15 days for data collection, 15 days for compiling the information gathered, analyse, draft and complete the water situation report and water handbook/guide. The consultant will arrange for a feedback meeting to share a draft report with the programme staff. A final report will then be provided after including the comments.

6. Profile of Consultant(s)

The consultant(s) should have the following qualifications/expertise: The consultancy team should comprise of (i) A Natural Resources Management Specialist (ii) A Natural resources Economist and (iii) A social Scientist/Sociologist. The minimum requirements for the team leader are –

• At least a master’s degree in Natural Resources Management, eco-hydrology, Rural/community development, agriculture/agronomy, or related field.

• Minimum 10 years of working experience in agriculture, water, natural resource management, rural development.

• Experience of working with local communities, non-governmental organisations, and government in relevant thematic areas

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in conducting natural resources, agroecological level water vulnerability assessments, socio-economic analysis/surveys/studies, monitoring, and evaluation of agriculture development projects, through participatory approaches within rural communities.

• Must be gender sensitive, understand human right based approach, conflict sensitivity and display a high standard of ethical conduct and integrity.

• Excellent writing, editing, attention to detail and organisational skills.

• Fluency in English and Kiswahili is required.

• Previous research experience in hydrology, water resource management or agricultural water use in Eastern Africa is desirable.

• Experience in remote sensing/GIS is desirable.