Firm for Design and Implement Capacity Building in Sustainable and Competitive Climate-Smart Agriculture in Pakistan

SECTION I: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

A. About Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC)

ADPC is an autonomous international organization with a vision to reduce disaster and climate risk impacts on communities and countries in Asia and the Pacific by working with governments, development partners, international organizations, NGOs, civil society, private sector, media, and other key stakeholders. Established in 1986 as a technical capacity building center, ADPC has grown and diversified its expertise across social and physical sciences to support sustainable solutions for risk reduction across a broad range of specialist areas. With over 100 staff from 19 different nationalities and a wide range of professional expertise from atmospheric scientists to social scientists with experiences from all levels of engagement typically required for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience (CR) in an effective manner. ADPC is a competent regional resource center and has seven thematic departments: ADPC Academy, Risk Governance, Climate Resilience, Urban Resilience, Health Risk Management, Preparedness for Response and Recovery, Geospatial Information. These are supported by Finance, Human Resources and Administration, and Strategic Planning departments. In addition to the departments, ADPC works on three cross-cutting themes: Gender and Diversity, Poverty and Livelihoods, and Regional and Transboundary Cooperation through permanent working committees.

For details, please refer to ADPC website at http://www.adpc.net/.

B. About Climate Adaptation and Resilience for South Asia project

The “Climate Adaptation and Resilience for South Asia” or CARE for South Asia project is a five-year (2020-2025) regional project supported by the World Bank and implemented by Asia Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES). The project is supporting the region in building resilience to climate change by improving the availability of regional data and knowledge, developing guidelines, tools and capacities, and promoting climate-resilient decisions, policies and investments across key sectors—Agriculture, Water, Transport, and Policy & Planning and Finance. The development objective is to contribute to an enabling environment for climate resilience policies and investments in select sectors and countries in South Asia. Initially, national-level activities will be carried out in Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan, involving regional and national governments and technical agencies as key stakeholders. The project will use the following key indicators to monitor its progress: Improved access to regional climate information and analytics for climate-informed decision making in select sectors; National-level decision-making and planning tools are better climate-risk-informed in select sectors; Regional climate resilience guidelines for select sectors incorporated into national standards; Sectoral investments supported to include climate risks and resilient design in select sectors; and Institutional capacities within select sectors strengthened to undertake climate informed policies and planning.

C. Background

Agriculture is the backbone of the economy of Pakistan. It contributes approximately 25% of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs approximately 42% of the labor force in Pakistan. The area under agriculture is approximately 47% of the total land area of Pakistan. Punjab in Pakistan is the most productive province in agriculture contributing the largest share in the national agricultural production.

Pakistan is ranked fifth among the top ten most climate change vulnerable countries in the world in the Global Climate Risk. Agriculture in Pakistan is highly affected by short-term climate variability and longer-term climate change. Changes in precipitation and an increase in temperatures will bring considerable challenges to agriculture and a decrease in the production of key crops such as wheat and rice in Pakistan. Therefore, adaptation measures are required to sustain agricultural productivity and enhance the resilience of the agricultural system to climate change in Pakistan.

Inadequate policies, plans and capacities over decades are to a large extent responsible for poor growth and development and resilience to economic and natural disaster in the agriculture sector. Existing policies are not too beneficial for small farmers who are a major part of farming system in the country. The present agriculture is not profitable, competitive, sustainable and inclusive in Pakistan. To address the challenges facing agriculture, there is a need to develop climate-smart agriculture and water management strategies with a greater focus on a set of technologies and practices related to i) adaptation, ii) mitigation, and iii) productivity enhancement. There is growing evidence that investing in Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is the way forward to achieving these triple goals and contribute to sustainable and competitive growth. It is also important to integrate CSA with paradoxical agriculture, which is the combination of conservation agriculture and intensified system and with Sustainable Agriculture Intensification System (SAIS) that promotes green growth (climate resilient agriculture) to enhance income, reduce cost and save water – making agriculture profitable and competitive.

Capacity building can aid the development planning process under different development and climate change scenarios. It will allow the government to mainstream climate risk management in policy, planning and sectoral investments. The National Consultation organized on 9-10 November 2020 by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives (MoPDSI) and participated by stakeholders from public and private sectors also concluded that capacity building program will significantly contribute to achieving overall objectives of climate adaptation and resilience in Pakistan.

In this context, the services of a consulting firm will be required to build institutional and individual capacities in the agriculture sector, particularly related to CSA, to strengthen climate-resilient policy actions in Punjab Province (Pakistan) under CARE for South Asia project. It will require working closely with MOPDSI, the Ministry of Climate Change (MOCC), the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR), and the Department of Agriculture (DOA), Government of Punjab. This term of reference (ToR) aims to guide a reputable institution to design, organize, coordinate, conduct, and manage a comprehensive capacity building program for public and private officials and farmers under the CARE for South Asia Project.

SECTION II: OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF THE SERVICES

A. Objective

The overall objective of the assignment is to build the institutional capacity of public and private sector stakeholders to pilot, validate and scale up CSA technologies and practices. This will help develop competitive and resilient agriculture production system through the promotion of CSA, paradoxical agriculture, and SAIS. Specific objectives are as follows:

· Formation of a CSA Resource Group to steer, guide and monitor the core team of the assigned task, and to ensure compliance and policy advocacy;

· Sensitization at federal and provincial levels on CSA for productivity enhancement, adaptation, mitigation, and climate resilience, along with climate financing through a series of trainings and workshops;

· Capacity building of relevant stakeholders including farmers, extension workers, and service providers as an agent of change through Master Trainers;

· Piloting and action research of innovative CSA technologies and practices in 10 selected locations covering various ecological zones for awareness creation, technology evaluation, local level validation, and upgradation; and

· Policy reform to promote CSA, paradoxical agriculture and SAIS in order to make agriculture profitable, competitive, and resilient.

B. Scope of Work

The scope of work is as follows:

1. Formation of CSA Resource Group

A CSA Resource Group will be formulated for backstopping, monitoring, compliance and policy advocacy. The group will comprise 25 well-qualified experts from key public and private sector development agencies: Food security and Climate Change, Planning Commission of Pakistan (Head); agriculture and other relevant universities; NGOs; National Agriculture Research Council; and Provincial Agriculture Departments. CSA Resource Group will hold quarterly meeting to review and analyze field activities. The activities to be performed by the CSA Resource Group are outlined below.

· Development of TORs of CSA group by engaging representatives from public and private development agencies;

· Formation of CSA Resource Group and notification to all members;

· Training of CSA Resource Group members (5 days for 25 members);

· Coordination with selected organizations and nomination /representation;

· Conducting quarterly review meetings (6 meetings) – planning, coordination, agenda setting, logistics management, and taking meeting minutes; and

· Ensuring two field visits for group members per year – planning, coordination, scheduling, arrangements, logistics and reporting.

2. Development of Training Material on CSA

In order to ensure the implementation of comprehensive training /capacity building programme, a pool of Master Trainers and trained farmers will be developed. It is important to develop and design detailed training materials covering all required aspects of the project making sure the materials are tailored to farmers’ needs. The following major activities will be performed under this component:

· Meeting with stakeholders to assess the training needs and associated requirements;

· Review of successful CSA production and management systems and developing an outline of training manuals with input from CSA resource group;

· Development of following training manuals: Training Module for CSA Resource Group Training; Training Manual for Master Trainers; Training Manual for Farmer Field School; Training manual for practitioners, planners, and policy makers (private and public sector) on CSA and water management; Audio Visual and IEC Training Material for Master Trainers; and Audio Visual and IEC Training Material for Farmer Field Schools (more manuals may be included depending on the results of needs assessment); and

· Design, production and printing of training materials.

3. Capacity Building and Training

Institutional capacity building of public, private and farming community-based institutions in climate smart technologies and practices can improve the adoption of CSA and enhance productivity of agriculture sector. The following activities will be performed under this component:

· A total of 25 members of CSA resource group will receive a 5-day training with a mix of class room and field visits in Islamabad;

· A total of 200 Master Trainers to be trained from public and private sectors covering all provinces (Punjab 100, Sindh 50, KPK 25, and Balochistan 25) through a 5-day (2-day class room and 3-day field) training conducted in batches in the light of ecological zones and other aspects such as cropping systems (e.g., vegetable, crops, fruit-based);

· A total of 750 farmers from various ecological zones to be trained under Rabi and 750 under Kharif seasons using Farmers’ Field School through 200 master trainers; and

· In order to create awareness, education and sensitization on CSAS technologies, production and management system, a National Workshop will be conducted inviting participants from relevant public and private sector organizations from all ecological zones and provinces.

4. Piloting, Demonstrations and Action Research – Technology and Practice

A total of 10 pilots and demonstrations of CSA technologies, production and management will be implemented for which progressive farmers will be selected from 1500 trained farmers and service providers. The project will provide technical support on CSA technology piloting and demonstration, along with machinery/equipment, tools and other associated materials. Pilot locations will be selected in consultation with CSA Resource Group members and concerned provincial departments.

5. Generating Evidence and Sharing in National Lesson Learned Workshop

The impact of piloted CSAs on food security, climate change adaptation and mitigation will be assessed through action research by engaging a university. It will evaluate and document the evidence of climate-smart practices and approaches. The research findings will guide future adaptation and mitigation actions for sustainably improving and increasing agricultural productivity and building resilience of agricultural system. CSA Resource Group will approve the study TORs or protocol of action research. The following activities will be performed under this component:

· Identification of potential locations for piloting, demonstrations and action research and get that approved by the CSA Resource Group;

· List of potential locations will be shared with CSA Resource Group for approval;

· Identification and consultations of potential farmers and service providers from each location (preferably have tractor and farm machinery, and best performers in farmers training); and

· Upon completion of action research, research findings will be shared in a national level lessons-learned workshop, where all relevant stakeholders will be invited.

6. Knowledge Management and Dissemination

Most of the farmers are using mobile phones nowadays with internet and social media applications in them. Farmers are using social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp and websites for learning innovative practices, sharing information, weather forecasting, etc. The project intends to capitalize on social media to provide information, updates, technology, production techniques and other associated information. The following activities will be performed under this component:

· Designing and development of website and Facebook pages on CSA production and management system;

· Management of website and Facebook pages and posting relevant information and material on a regular basis;

· Orientation to staff, CSA Resource Group and Masters Trainers on website surfing, maintenance and content updating; and

· Purchasing of domain and hosting plan for 3 years and establishing online forecast-messaging system.

SECTION III: DELIVERABLES

The consulting firm will submit the following deliverables adhering to the ToR:

· Inception Report explaining the activities, methodology, plan, timing, and resource allocation;

· List of CSA Resource Group Members;

· Copy of all training modules developed under this assignment as listed in the scope of work and key performance indicators;

· List of 1725 officials, master trainers, service providers and farmers participated in associated training programme /activity;

· List of experts from private and public sector sensitized on workshops conducted on CSA and SAIS at national and international levels;

· List of pilot locations and farmers selected for action research on CSA activities along with one brief report on results/lesson learned;

· Report of Action Research along with the list of participants attended, and lessons-learned workshop proceedings;

· Detailed final closure report covering the results and achievements including knowledge products prepared, analysis, findings, lessons learned, and conclusion and recommendations;

· Monthly and quarterly progress reports on the progress of activities and monitoring of deliverables; and

· Project Completion Report.

SECTION IV: SELECTION METHOD, REPORTING AND OTHERS

A. Selection Method

The firm will be selected in accordance with ADPC’s procurement process and in compliance with the World Bank Procurement Regulations. Consulting Firm will be selected based on Quality and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS).

B. Reporting Relationships

The firm will report to Project Director, CARE for South Asia Project, Bangkok (Thailand) and work in close coordination with Country Project Lead based in Islamabad (Pakistan). The firm will provide regular updates to and seek advice and guidance from the Food Security & Climate Change Section of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives.

C. Contract Duration

· The contract duration will be Twenty-Four (24) months. It is important to note that the firm will be expected to produce a few priority deliverables in the shortest possible time.

SECTION V: BUDGET, PROPOSAL SUBMISSION, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CAPABILITY AND DUE DILIGENCE

A. Budget

Maximum budget available for this assignment is USD 500,000/-. However, the budget will be finalized in line with the final list of activities and the review of the proposed methodology.

B. Technical and Financial Proposal

The proposal must be organized to follow the requirements of this ToR. Each Bidder must respond to every stated request or requirement and indicate that the Bidder confirms acceptance of and understands ADPC’s stated requirements.

1. Submission of Technical Evaluation Documents **

· Organization’s profile

· Proposed methodology and activity plan

· Members of the team and their responsibilities. Please attach CVs of the team members, highlighting experience in areas required for this work. Each CV should be signed by the owner stating that the person is willing and available to carry out the task in the proposed time

· Experience in carrying out similar studies. Please include previous relevant project reports and outputs.

· 3 reference letters from previous clients evidencing the firm’s capability in technical selection criteria

2. Submission of Financial Evaluation Documents

· Remuneration costs (Human Resources)

· Reimbursable costs (Travel, Workshops, Meetings, KII, FGD, Communication and printing)

· Technical and Financial Proposal must be organized to follow the requirements of the ToR. Each Bidder must respond to every stated request or requirement and indicate that the Bidder confirms acceptance of and understands ADPC’s stated requirements. The Bidders should identify any substantive assumptions made in preparing its proposal.