RFP-IRQ-ANB-24-001-Consultancy for Perma-Culture Implementation for Food Sufficiency in Anbar – Bzibiz Informal Settlements. At Danish Refugee Council

DRC

Terms of Reference (TOR) For

Consultancy

Consultancy For Perma-Culture Implementation for Food Sufficiency in Anbar – Bzibiz Informal Settlements

1. Who is the Danish Refugee Council?

Founded in 1956, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading international NGO (Non-Government Organizations) and one of the few with a specific expertise in forced displacement. Active in 40 countries with 9,000 employees and supported by 7,500 volunteers, DRC protects, advocates, and builds sustainable futures for refugees and other displacement affected people and communities. DRC works during displacement at all stages: In the acute crisis, in displacement, when settling and integrating in a new place, or upon return. DRC provides protection and life-saving humanitarian assistance; supports displaced persons in becoming self-reliant and included into hosting societies; and works with civil society and responsible authorities to promote protection of rights and peaceful coexistence.

DRC has been operational in Iraq since 2003 serving the needs of populations impacted by displacement, including refugees, IDPs (internally displaced persons), returnees, and host community. Our programming encompasses multiple governorates in Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and includes protection, economic recovery, shelter and settlements, WASH, and humanitarian disarmament and peacebuilding programming.

1. Purpose of the consultancy

The Danish Refugee Council based in Iraq seeks proposals from an official entity with technical capacity and experience to provide the technical assessment, training and guidance to the program staff who lead the implementation of perma-culture project to increase food sufficiency among vulnerable IDP household resident in the Bzibiz informal settlements. The consultant will facilitate delivery of training and awareness raising on the establishment and maintenance of permanent gardens using participatory and interactive approach that includes training sessions, group discussions and implementing activities. The intervention’s purpose is to promote sustainable living conditions, increase resource utilization and enhance community engagement through encouraging participants to implement perm-garden activities around their place of residence.

1. Background

Over seven years have passed since the territorial defeat of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in Iraq, transforming the humanitarian crisis in Iraq from an acute emergency to an expanded effort. Despite the gradual reduction in humanitarian needs, significant lasting challenges remain. These challenges are intensified by ongoing political instability, economic decline and the sudden closure of the IDP camps which have forced many people back into risky living conditions. The impact of climate change is worsening these difficulties, adding further burden on the already limited natural resources.

The Bzibiz informal settlement has been particularly affected by the long-term consequences of displacement and environmental degradation. The area’s natural resources are under significant pressure, leading to worsened living conditions for the IDPs that remain in Bzibiz informal settlement. The purpose of the intervention is to address these issues through restoring the environmental resilience of the area. The project is focused on reducing the environmental impact of the IDPs and promoting sustainable living practices through nature-based solutions and restoration of the ecological system.

The intervention will introduce permaculture techniques to the community, empowering them to establish and maintain permanent gardens that make optimal use of local resources. The project will create a sustainable model for food sufficiency, enabling vulnerable households to cultivate their own food while enhancing the local environment. The restoration of the ecosystem in Bzibiz will contribute to the overall improvement of living conditions, increasing economic stability and resilience among the IDPs in Bzibiz informal settlements.

1. Objective of the consultancy

The specific objective of the consultancy is to build the program staff capacity to have an in depth understanding of the perma-culture and circular bio economy systems/approaches, and be able to engage communities to practice into their day-to-day activities.

Provide training and teaching to communities on principles for design, critical thinking, problem solving skills and feedback integration. Training of households on how to be flexible and adapt to a continuously changing climate to support them to create greater farm ecosystem resilience, which in turn makes their households more resilient to shocks and stresses.

1. Scope of work and Methodology
2. Community engagement: conducting surveys, FGDs, community meetings and interviews with key informant stakeholders to engage the community to understand their needs. To understand local ecological knowledge from the local communities to feed in the design process. Through a collaborative approach, establish training objectives and identify areas of focus based on feedback received and brainstorm ideas for topics and activities by organizing workshops for generating ideas through using interactive methods. Ensure ongoing engagement by implementing continuous feedback mechanisms and inclusivity that all community segments benefit from the training program.
3. Training program development: based on the feedback, ideas generation and surveys of the community engagement initiatives, design training manuals and programs that cover Permagarden techniques such as but not limited to soil preparation, composting, planting and maintenance. Content of the materials may focus on smart permaculture techniques, drought resistant products and ensure the materials are with visual aids with a language suitable for low education households.
4. Allocating the necessary resources: ensure that the program participants have equal access to the main tools, needs, materials and resources to establish their Permagarden.
5. Piloting: support the selected program participants in piloting their own Permagarden and provide guidance, advice and help them in solving the technical problems they may encounter.
6. Support: provide ongoing support and follow up for 3-6 months after the training to ensure the sustainability and success of the established Permagarden projects.
7. Program staff capacity building: build staff capacity in permaculture to equip them to provide technical support and follow up with program participants to increase the sense of ownership and improve the positive impact of the delivered support to the community.
8. Methodology and workplan: Prepare a detailed methodology and work plan indicating how the project’s objectives will be achieved.
9. Deliverables

The Consultant will submit the following deliverables as mentioned below:

Phase

Expected Deliverables

Indicative description tasks

Timeframe (calendar days)

1

Presentation

Presentation of methodology

7 days (maximum)

2

Inception Meeting

Conducting inception meetings including submitting a comprehensive work plan

7 days (maximum)

2

Training materials

Conduct assessment, FGDs, and KIIs to develop and provide permaculture training materials including manuals, guides, handouts and resource lists.

35 days (maximum)

3

Perma-garden training delivery

Deliver capacity building training to the program staff on Perma-garden techniques as well as delivery of the Perma-garden training to the program participants with having the program staff co facilitating.

90 days (maximum)

4

Training report

Submit a detailed report on each training session delivered for the program staff and the program participants including the attendance list, engagement level, feedback and the impact of the improvement of knowledge happened during the training.

21 days (maximum)

5

Documentation

Document the progress of pilot gardens with success stories.

Entire period duration

6

Final report

Provide a detailed final report showing the outcomes of the intervention, lessons learned and recommendations for future interventions.

20 days (maximum)

The Consultant will provide the documentation by email.

1. Duration, timeline, and payment

The total expected duration to complete the assignment will be no more than 180 calendar days.

The consultant shall be prepared to complete the assignment by the end of February 2025.

1. Proposed Composition of Team

The consultancy firm is expected to list the CVs of staff in the proposal with their tasks and responsibilities to complete the deliveries as per the TOR, however, DRC expects the consultancy team to include the following members (or equivalent there of):

1. Lead permaculture consultant : oversee the overall intervention, make sure the training program matches permaculture principles and provide expert guidance.
2. Training and Development Specialist: design and implement the training sessions, develop training materials and ensure effective delivery of the training contents.
3. Community engagement coordinator: facilitate community meetings, gather inputs from the community members and make sure their active participation throughout the project.
4. Agricultural technician: support program participants in establishing and maintaining their Permagarden, providing practical advice and assistance.
5. Eligibility, qualification, and experience required.

Essential:

A team composed of technical experts with degrees in sustainable agriculture, environmental science, agronomy, social work, community development or related fields.

• Minimum five years of proven experience in permaculture and sustainable agriculture projects.
• Extensive experience in designing and implementing permaculture in the middle east context/western desert climate zones. Strong skills in community engagement and participatory approaches.
• Proven experience in developing and delivering interactive training programs.
• Experience in developing educational materials and resources.
• Ability to engage and work effectively with vulnerable communities, including IDPs.
• Evidence of similar work from past assignments.
• Experience in similar related work.
  • Familiar and knowledgeable about Iraqi context

Desirable:

• Experience in monitoring and evaluating agricultural projects.
• Excellent organizing, facilitating, presentation and communication skills including good report writing in English.
• The consultant has a team of local research assistants in Iraq.
• Eligibility:
  • The consultant has the authorization to work in Federal and Kurdistan Region of Iraq
  • Qualification:
    • At least bachelor’s degree in disciplines mentioned above in ‘Essential’.
  • Language requirements:

Written and spoken fluency in English (s) and Arabic

1. Technical supervision
   • Economic Recovery Project Manager.

The selected consultant will work under the supervision of:

• Area Manager.

Technically work under the supervision of the Economic Recovery Technical Coordinator.

1. Location and support

Anbar Governorate of Federal Iraq,

The Consultant will provide her/his own computer and mobile telephone, data analysis platforms, and other essentials required for accomplishment of the deliverables.

1. Travel

This consultancy assignment will require visiting different locations in Anbar governorate including Fallujah, Bzibiz and Rumadi for data collection, expert interviews, and site observation. Therefore, the consultant is expected to arrange transportation, accommodation, insurance, food, and all other logistics related to these field visits. Selected consultant would be responsible for securing visas to travel to these locations. DRC can only provide advisory and information guide related to these arrangements.

1. Submission process

Refer to the RFP Invitation letter RFP-IRQ-ANB-24-001 for consultancy service

1. Evaluation of bids

Refer to the RFP Invitation letter RFP-IRQ-ANB-24-001 for consultancy service