Research on Nature-Based Solutions with co-benefits for climate adaptation, health and peace. At Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion

-Terms of Reference –
Nature-Based solutions as an integrated response to multiple
hazards with co-benefits for climate adaptation, health, and peace
Title of the study: Nature-Based solutions as an integrated response to multiple
hazards with co-benefits for climate adaptation, health, and
peace
Objective of the
mission:
Lead the overall process of the study in close collaboration with
the headquarter technical specialists and staff of identified
programs
Duration of the
mission:
Indicative 20 days
Location of the
mission:
Home based with missions (Benin/cross-border areas)
ToR last update: 09/07/2024
Glossary
 Nature-based solutions: “Nature-based solutions are actions to protect, conserve,
restore, sustainably use and manage natural or modified terrestrial, freshwater,
coastal and marine ecosystems which address social, economic and environmental
challenges effectively and adaptively, while simultaneously providing human wellbeing,
ecosystem services, resilience and biodiversity benefits”
 Integrated risk reduction: Integrated risk reduction or the “reduction of multiple risks”
is the ability to identify and reduce, simultaneously, different kinds of risk which
interact with each other, including in cascade (i.e. one risk may lead to another), and
which exacerbate the pre-existing vulnerabilities of individuals, households,
communities, organisations or systems (including education).
 Resilience: The ability of a household, community, organisation or system to resist,
absorb and correct the effects of a hazard, in a timely and effective manner, by
preserving or restoring its basic structures, functions and essential identity, as well as
physical and mental well-being in the case of an individual.
 Risk: Whether we are talking about exposure to a hazard or a threat, we can define
risk as the possible occurrence of an event that may cause damage. A risk of natural
origin will be assessed according to the consequences that the hazard may have on
individuals and systems, according to their vulnerabilities and their ability to cope with
and limit the potential damage of these phenomena. Environmental, societal or
behavioural risks can therefore be managed and reduced, provided that the most
vulnerable people have been identified and the barriers to their participation in riskreduction
strategies have been removed (whether they fall under Disaster Risk
Reduction, Armed Violence Reduction, Protection, WASH etc.).
 Climate Change the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in its Article 1,
defines climate change as: ‘a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to
human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition
to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.’
 Climate Change Adaptation Climate Change Adaptation is defined as the process taken to
adjust to the actual or expected climate hazards and their present or future effects. Climate
change adaptation includes a range of different actions, that can focus on hard mitigation
(infrastructures) or soft mitigation (economic, social measures). Some examples are: building
sea walls to protect people against sea level rise, improving water management and irrigation
systems to combat water scarcity, planting trees to reduce landslides risks, reduce air
pollution and cool urban areas, but also non-physical measures such as protecting livelihoods,
to reduce the impact on climate change on incomes and assets.
 Armed violence reduction HI defines armed violence as “the intentional or unintentional
use of weapons, threatened or actual, to inflict injury, impairment, death or psychological
harm”.
Armed Violence Reduction combines interventions focused on instruments of violence such
as explosive ordnance disposal or small arms and light weapons behavior change, and
community engagement activities to promote safer behavior (risk education) and nonviolent
conflict management or social cohesion (conflict transformation).
 Conflict transformation Conflict transformation addresses asymmetrical power dynamics and
structural inequities that often lie at the root of conflict. Our Conflict Transformation model
is built on key peace levers that are inclusive governance, nonviolent conflict management,
armed violence reduction, and continuous conflict sensitivity.
 Planetary Health: Planetary Health is a solutions-oriented, transdisciplinary field and social
movement focused on analyzing and addressing the impacts of human disruptions to Earth’s
natural systems on human health and all life on Earth. Planetary Health is about finding ways
to ensure health and health equity (including for non-humans) without harming the planet,
because we are our environment. To understand and tackle the complexity of human actions,
Planetary Health promotes system thinking and transdisciplinary collaborations. In HI,
Planetary Health is a transversal approach that tackles the environmental-health nexus,
aiming co-benefits for human activities, for environment, health and prevention.
 Health risk: the health risk factor is a qualitative variable expressing the potential for an
external element to harm the population’s health. The external elements that are (or are likely
to be) hazardous to human health or could contribute to a disease or an infectious condition
in humans,
Introduction & context
The cross-border area between North Benin, North Togo and Burkina Faso have been
affected by armed violence caused by growing contingents of non-state armed groups
including jihadist militants and entrepreneurs of violence with diverse motivations. The
Sahel-Saharan strip has been fragilized by non-state actors trying to wrest control of areas
from sovereign states. Illegal trafficking of all kinds (arms, drugs, human beings) takes place
in these areas.
One of the strategies of non-state armed groups (NSAGs) is to take advantage of sources of
conflict and potential sources of tension in different countries in order to infiltrate them. The
coastal countries bordering Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, in particular Benin, Togo, Côte
d’Ivoire and Ghana, are increasingly threatened by the growing presence of these non-state
armed groups on their territory. The Northern parts of each of these countries are
experiencing a sudden rise in tensions linked to structural problems, in particular access to
and control of land, the phenomenon of transhumance with its corollary of recurring conflicts
between herders and farmers in a context of great ethnic diversity. These countries, and the
cross-border area in particular, periodically experience conflicts over land tenure and access
to and control of grazing land, which, combined with the increasing impacts of climate change
and widespread poverty, provide fertile ground for violence and even more important
disruption of the development and resilience gains in this area.
Humanity and Inclusion (HI) – previously known as Handicap International – is an independent
and impartial aid organization working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and
disaster. We work alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, taking action
and bearing witness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living
conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights. HI is working in more
than 60 countries over the World.
International organizations, such as Humanity & Inclusion, aim to support vulnerable
individuals and communities to strengthen their resilience in the face of those types of events.
However, they often fail to assess and build on existing resilience capacities in the face of
climate shocks, conflict and other stressors, as well as to meaningfully involve them in
identifying local solutions. Moreover, the impacts of crises are intensified for women and
persons with disabilities as they encounter several additional barriers to access services and
are often excluded. These factors should be considered to ensure participation and adaptation
of those solutions to these marginalized populations.
HI would like to conduct a study which would support the organization to improve its
resilience building practice by having a better understanding of Nature Based Solutions used
locally and their potential to contribute to climate change adaptation, conflict transformation
and environmental health. The Study would allow HI to build on existing practices and
strategies adopted by different stakeholders and communities affected by climate change and
conflict.
Presentation of the study
Study objectives
The study aims at identifying and documenting local practice, knowledge and knowhow on
Nature Based Solutions adopted locally by HI, partners, communities, authorities and how
they contribute to climate change adaptation and/or conflict transformation and/or planetary
health. The goal is to leverage existing local natural solutions and to inform HI programming.
Specific objectives:
1. To map, analyze potential impact, and evaluate scalability (considering drivers,
barriers, and unintended consequences) of Nature Based Solutions (NbS) adopted
by communities and local stakeholders that contribute to adapt to and mitigate the
assessed interrelated hazards and threats (to climate resilience, to conflict
transformation, to health and their linkages from a systemic perspective) in Benin
(Atakora Department) northern Districts and cross-border areas. Looking closer into
solutions that have the potential to produce mutual benefits to climate change
adaptation, conflict transformation and health gains, for the most vulnerable groups.
2. To Identify local or international stakeholders with specific expertise in ecosystems,
natural resource management, Planetary Health/One Health, or similar fields
of expertise, for potential partnerships for NBS interventions in Benin.
Example of research questions to orient the study (to be discussed during the briefing) might
be:
a) To which extent are NbS identified as such, accepted, and implemented by local
communities in the target area?
b) How the NbS assessed in the area contribute to (or have the potential to) produce
mutual benefits to climate change adaptation, conflict transformation, and health
gains, for the most vulnerable groups?
c) What are the drivers for NbS scaling deep and scaling up, and what are the barriers
among actors in charge of their implementation?
Use of findings/ finding’s target audience
HI is committed to investing in evidence-based programming. This research will provide an
opportunity to identify concrete actions to be implemented by HI, communities, authorities,
to adopt effective Nature Based Solutions benefitting climate change adaptation and/or
conflict transformation and/or planetary health. The results will be presented and used as a
basis for reflection on this topic, as part of HI strategic planning.
Location
The study will focus on communities in the targeted areas (e.g. districts level) where HI has
on-going activities or recently concluded , in particular in the Atakora Department in Benin.
Methodology
The consultants are responsible for the methodology design, implementation and follow-up.
However, consultants are expected to propose an approach that necessarily includes the
following aspects:
þ Initial assessment of the level of risk incurred by the different vulnerable groups,
considering: exposure to main hazards related to climate change, armed violence,
prevalence frequency and intensity, specific vulnerabilities (such as disability, gender,
age) and the capacity of groups and the health system to cope and adapt (i.e. overall
level of information, awareness, presence of coping strategies, etc.).
þ Methodologies:
 Literature review to produce an overview of the existing knowledge on the
subject of NbS in the target geographical area and the region in response to
current and foreseen impacts as well as risk reduction and management
strategies.
 Primary data collection, based on qualitative approaches (face to face
interview, key informant interview, focus group discussion, or field
observations) to make visible local and traditional knowledge and know-how
of communities in understanding, accepting, and implementing NbS.
 Collaboration with HI representatives and partners to identify key criteria to
define if NbS benefitting climate change adaptation or/and social cohesion
or/and planetary health are effective and which would be conditions needed
to scale them up in similar contexts. The consultancy will involve working
closely with several HI departments and programs: the Armed Violence
Reduction Department (Conflict Transformation Specialist) ; the Protection
and Risk Reduction Department (Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change
Adaptation – Unit Manager); the Inclusive Global Health Department
(Planetary Health Specialist); the Innovation, Impact & Information Division
(research specialist) and teams in countries (project managers and field
specialists, MEAL manager, other persons of interest).
þ Cross-cutting approaches:
 The methodological proposal is expected to be conflict, gender and disability
sensitive, both in the ways in which information is collected (sampling, tools
adaptation…) and in the outcomes observed. Women and persons with
disabilities are often unequally affected by conflict and the impacts of climate
change, particularly on their health, and often disregarded and excluded in
identifying and participating to solutions of their communities.
þ The selection and analysis of NbS will be based on the UICN[1] definition and on
following general criteria of its framework:
 NbS respond effectively to societal challenge(s) identified and prioritized by
those who are or will be directly affected, and must deliver tangible and
substantive benefits to human well-being.
 The design of NbS is informed by scale and by what stakeholders know
about the interactions between different aspects in a given area.
 NbS result in biodiversity gains and improve ecosystem integrity.
 NbS are economically viable.
 NBS are based on inclusive, transparent and accountable governance
processes.
 NbS equitably balance trade-offs between the achievement of their primary
objective(s) and the continued provision of multiple benefits (with this study,
HI wants to particularly look into benefits for Climate Change Adaptation,
Social Cohesion and Planetary Health in the target areas).
 They are managed adaptively, based on evidence.
 NbS are sustainable and align with sectoral, national and other policy
frameworks.
Presentation of the assignment
Expected results
The expected results are:
(1) A methodology that is sensitive to conflict, disability and gender is developed to
address the specific objective ;
(2) An assessment of multiple risks related to climate change, conflict and health, faced
by vulnerable communities in the target area, is produced;
(3) A mapping and analysis of the NbS adopted by different actors (local communities,
national and/or international stakeholders, authorities, etc.) and benefit to Climate
Change Adaptation, Conflict Transformation and Health in the selected area, is
produced;
(4) A set of recommendations is delivered in collaboration with HI as promising for
replication in future resilience (addressing multiple aspects of risks including Climate
Health, Conflict related ones) projects is carried out, including a list of potential
partners.
Deliverables
All deliverables must be produced in English and the draft should be shared 2 weeks in
advance with HI referent to receive feedback before the final version.
Deliverables Delivery deadlines
1 Research protocol validated Beginning of
mission
2 Data collection tools (interview
guide, questionnaire,
observation grid…)
Beginning of
mission
3 1 catalogue of Nature Based
Solutions selected according to
the criteria of UICN definition
Mid-term
4 Technical report with an
analysis of NbS impact on
climate change adaptation,
social cohesion and health gains
for the most vulnerable groups
(disaggregated analysis per
gender, age, and disabilities)
End of mission
5 Analysis of drivers, barriers, and
unintended consequences with
recommendations for scaling
deep and scaling up NbS
End of mission
6 List of stakeholders with short
description of their specific
expertise and contacts
Mid-term
7 1 Workshop to present and
discuss findings and
recommendations for
programming potential for
scale up
End of mission
Timeline
The consultant(s) can start at the earliest opportunity. Findings should be available for
November 2024 the latest as the workshop to discuss the findings will take place during the
last quarter of 2024.
The consultant(s) can be based anywhere, but availability to travel is essential.
Requested availability: indicatively 20 days over the period from September to November
2024, with at least 1 mission on the field in the areas of Atakora Department in Benin and
cross-boarder area.
Budget
The financial proposal must include all costs for expertise (consultancy fees), travels and
related costs (travels, accommodation…), and fields research related costs (investigator per
diems, translator pay, software, etc.).
Requested profile and expertise
This tender is open to individuals or team of consultants.
Required:
• Proficiency in written and oral institutional communication in French and English
• Demonstrated technical expertise on nature-based solutions, climate & biodiversity ,
climate adaptation, ecosystem management, biodiversity monitoring, natural resource
management, Nature based solutions for peace & security ;
• Demonstrated understanding of disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation,
social cohesion, conflict transformation, planetary health, one health ;
• Demonstrated understanding of conflict analysis, armed violence and operating in
fragile contexts ;
• Proven and recognized experience in methods of data collection, processing and
analysis (quantitative and/or qualitative and/or secondary data),
• Skills and experiences in designing and engaging in disability and gender sensitive
qualitative data collection research and analyzing qualitative data;
• Used to produce evidence to support scaling up initiatives at national level,
• Excellent knowledge of ethical standards,
• Ability to work within a transdisciplinary approach
• Previous experience working (directly or collaborating with project teams) in armed
violence and fragile contexts
Desired:
• Experience in conducting studies that include people with disabilities (e.g., adapting
communication tools or materials);
• Experience in public health or conflict transformation, is an added value.
• Having institutional partnership with local research institutes
• Experience with Humanity & Inclusion is an added value
Application process
Applications must include:
• In relation to the consultant/ the firm:
□ A curriculum vitae (training, experience in the areas mentioned above)
□ A list of key publications related to the topic of this consultancy with links to
documents (when possible)
• In relation to the technical proposal:
□ A methodological proposal to conduct this research, including, a minima:
Understanding of the study’s issues and of the terms of reference; background;
presentation of the objectives; presentation of the methodological framework: study
design, data collection methods, selection of participants, data processing, data
analysis, quality monitoring mechanisms; ethical considerations
□ A timeline, including research planning, implementation and reporting activities
□ A financial proposal including, a minima, details of the /research’s consultancy fees,
travels and related costs (travels, accommodation…), and fields research related costs
(investigator per diems, translator pay, software, etc.).
Please, send all required documents before 30/08/2024 to Davide Ziveri Planetary Health
Specialist and Fanny Hattery, Conflict Transformation Specialist at the following address:
d.ziveri@hi.org and f.hattery@hi.org.
[1] IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions
https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2020-020-En.pdf