(Tor) For Consultancy To Conduct A Training Of Trainers (Tot) For Tree Nursery Operators Under The Gum Arabic Value Chain In North Kenya At United Mission for Relief & Development

1. Background

Gums and resins are among commodities from the drylands of Africa, especially the Sahel and Horn of Africa, that have been articles of commerce for millennia and continue to contribute to livelihoods of the communities and broader economy of the countries. Key commodities include gum arabic, gum karaya, myrrh, frankincense and opoponax. They are produced by tree species in the genus, Acacia (now reclassified into sub-genus Senegalia and Vachellia), Sterculia, Boswellia and Commiphora. These tree resources have proved useful as windbreaks and shelter belts against desert encroachment and hence desertification. Their canopies intercept rain drops while the root systems are effective in reducing soil erosion, thereby stabilizing soils. Species in the sub-genus Senegalia and Vachellia improve soil fertility due to their ability to fix nitrogen. The foliage and pods are valuable dry season fodder especially for goats while the stems have wide application in fencing, wood energy and construction. The environmental benefits of these plants are numerous including contributing to climate change adaptation and mitigation of the African dryland ecosystems.

However, the above benefits of the tree resources to the environment and potential of the commodities in the economic development of the producing countries and improvement of rural livelihood have not been exploited to the full. Instead, the drylands of Africa are experiencing severe desertification and associated challenges aggravated by climate change with concomitant results in declining agricultural and rangeland productivity. This is affecting livelihoods of the rural farming and pastoral communities in these areas, which are traditionally centered on dry-land resources and commodities.

1. The Project

United Missions for Relief and Development, Horn of Africa Office is implementing a project aimed at implementing a project on “Bridging Conservation Gaps: Empowering Women and Enhancing Competitiveness of Gum Arabic Enterprises” in collaboration with GIZ, Acacia EPZ and Cherry Blair Foundation. The primary target group of this measure is women and youth from pastoralist communities residing in Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Isiolo, West Pokot, Wajir, Garissa and Kitui counties in Kenya in the first year with the possibility of additional counties in the second and subsequent years of intervention.

Under this project, UMR seeks to train Tree Nursery Operators on tree nursery preparation and management, Rainwater Harvesting and environmental restoration through tree planting especially raising and planting of the Gum Arabic trees (Acacia Senegal).

This consultancy will focus on empowering these Tree Nursery Operators (especially the women and youth) by training selected members of these groups as Trainers of Trainers (ToT) to cascade the training on Tree Nursery management to their peers. This approach will build the women’s capacity and provide a pool of resource persons that will provide continuous capacity building to the community on tree nursery management and environmental conservation. These resource persons will also act as environmental ambassadors to sensitize their communities encouraging them to plant trees in their compounds and public institutions thus contributing to environmental restoration and climate action,

1. OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The overall objective of the consultancy is to design and deliver a comprehensive Training of Trainers (ToT) program on Tree Nursery Management and Rainwater Harvesting for 50 Nursery Operations in selected Counties of operation.

1. Specific objectives include
2. Designing and delivering tailored training programs that are culturally relevant to enhance stakeholders’ understanding of the tree environmental conservation and management including the project’s objectives, methodologies, and anticipated outcomes
3. Facilitating culturally and gender sensitive workshops and capacity-building sessions aimed at equipping communities with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage meaningfully in the project
4. Providing ongoing support and guidance to participants, addressing any questions or concerns they may have regarding the project and their participation.
5. Evaluating in collaboration with UMR HoA team, the effectiveness of training initiatives and identifying areas for improvement to ensure continuous learning and capacity building.
6. SCOPE OF WORK

• Conduct a desk review of the prevailing situation on the selected project areas including initiatives and practices related to small environmental restoration and Nature-based solutions that are being practiced by the local communities
• Provide an inception report with detailed work plan, methodology, challenges expected and mitigation measures on those challenges.
• Conducting a training needs assessment of the nursery operators to identify their training requirements especially with regards to tree nursery management, prosopis harvesting and rainwater harvesting.
• Develop a customized training modules/ materials that is tailored to the needs of Tree Nursery Operators as identified in the training needs assessment.
• Delivering interactive training sessions, workshops, and capacity-building activities both in person and virtually, as required. The consult
• Train and Equip selected groups and ToTs with the skills and tools necessary to cascade the training to their peers and larger community on environmental restoration, tree growing and rainwater harvesting
• Providing one-on-one coaching and support to individual stakeholders and community members, addressing any knowledge gaps or challenges they may encounter.
• Identify Rainwater Harvesting technologies suitable to the project areas and development framework for adoption
• Develop a post-training mentorship and support framework to ensure sustainability and continued growth of peer support networks.
• Maintain close collaboration with other project partners and where necessary participate in other partners organized events for cross learning.
• In close collaboration and support from UMR HoA M&E and program staff, conduct continuous monitoring, and evaluating the impact of training initiatives, soliciting feedback from participants, and making adjustments as necessary to optimize effectiveness.

1. DELIVERABLES

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

• Provide an inception report with detailed work plan, methodology, challenges expected and mitigation measures on those challenges.
• Training needs assessment report outlining the identified training requirements and priorities of stakeholders and Somali communities.
• Customized training modules and materials developed in accordance with the identified needs and priorities.
• Documentation of training sessions, including agendas, presentations, and participant feedback.
• Evaluation report assessing the impact and effectiveness of training initiatives, along with recommendations for future improvements.
• A final comprehensive report summarizing the entire consultancy process, including the training needs assessment, development and delivery of training modules, documentation of training sessions, evaluation findings, and recommendations.
• A lessons learnt and how they can be applied / improved, considering replicability of the training

1. DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Deliverable

Timeline Due Date

Schedule of Payment

Provide an inception report outlining the consultant’s approach, methodology, and timeline for conducting the training needs assessment and developing customized training modules and materials detailed work plan, methodology, challenges expected and mitigation measures on those challenges.

2 weeks after the signing of contract

5%

At inception, training need assessment: A comprehensive report outlining the identified training requirements and priorities of tree nursery operators

6 weeks from start date

10%

Customized Training Modules and Materials: Development of tailored training modules and materials addressing the identified needs and priorities of stakeholders and communities.

7 Weeks from start date

20%

Documentation of Training Sessions: Comprehensive documentation of training sessions, including agendas, presentations, participant feedback, and any other relevant materials.

Throughout the program and finalized one month before end of consultancy

35%

Evaluation report assessing the impact and effectiveness of training initiatives, along with recommendations for future improvements.

One month before end of

consultancy

10%

A final comprehensive report summarizing the entire consultancy process, including the training needs assessment, development and delivery of training modules, documentation of training sessions, evaluation findings, and recommendations

End of Consultancy

10%

Lesson learnt and how they can be applied / improved, considering replicability of the training

End of Consultancy

10%

1. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The consultant(s) should meet the following qualifications:

1. A degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management of Forestry
2. At least 5 years of experience conducting training programs, particularly in conflict-affected settings, marginalized groups, or women-led or youth-led groups.
3. Demonstrated experience in developing and delivering environmental training programs. Experience with ecological restoration programs will be an added advantage
4. Strong facilitation and communication skills with a focus on participatory and community-based approaches.
5. Knowledge of pastoralist areas’ cultural and social dynamics in Northern Kenya and other marginalized regions.
6. Fluency in English and Swahili, with knowledge of local dialects being an added advantage.
7. TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA (70 POINTS)
   1. Technical Evaluation Criteria

S/N

Area of Score

Max obtainable Points

1

Overall Response

Total 10

1.1

Completeness of Response: Assessment of the comprehensiveness of the proposal in addressing the requirements outlined in the TOR for developing a consultation framework.

5

1.2

Concordance with TOR: Evaluation of the alignment between the proposal and the objectives, scope, and needs specified in the TOR for developing a consultation framework

5

2

Technical Experience

30

2.1

Demonstrated Experience: Evaluation of the consultant’s past

experience in designing and delivering training programs,

workshops, and capacity-building initiatives, particularly in

humanitarian assistance and social development contexts.

8

2.2

Previous Involvement: Assessment of the consultant’s involvement in similar projects and evidence of successful outcomes.

8

2.3

Adequacy of Proposed Team: Evaluation of the expertise and

qualifications of the proposed team members.

7

2.4

Experience in community level training or working with marginalized communities especially in Northern and Northeastern Kenya.

7

3

Proposed Methodology and Approach

30

3.1

Clarity and coherence of the proposed methodology, including

data collection tools and quality assurance measures.

8

3.2

Feasibility of the proposed approach within the given timeframe

and budget.

8

3.3

Description of logistical arrangements for data collection

activities.

7

3.4

Detailed project management and monitoring plan to ensure the

quality and timeliness of deliverables.

7

TOTAL POINTS

70

N/B:

Minimum pass mark =70% or 49 points

Maximum technical score= 70 points

1. Financial Evaluation (30 Points)

Only those financial proposals for bidders that have been technically accepted according to the above criteria will be opened. The Financial proposal will be weighted based on clarity and appropriateness.

Financial proposals must consider the below:

1. A clear breakdown of costs for each component of the proposed work.
2. All-inclusive pricing that covers all anticipated expenses related to the assignment.
3. Transparency in pricing, with no hidden costs or ambiguities.
4. Compliance with travel cost specifications, including economy class travel and adherence to daily subsistence allowance rates.
5. Competitiveness of the overall price proposal compared to the market rates for similar services.

The Contract shall be awarded to a bidder obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores. Proposals not complying with the terms and conditions contained in this ToR, including the provision of all required information, may result in the Proposal being deemed non-responsive and therefore not considered further. The price should be broken down for each component of the proposed work. The total amount of points allocated for the price component is 100%. The maximum number of points will be allotted to the lowest price proposal that is opened and compared among those bids that obtain the threshold points in the evaluation of the technical component. All other price proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price, e.g.:

Score for price proposal X = Max. Score for price proposal * Price of lowest-priced

Price of proposal X

1. TOTAL SCORE

Score Area

Maximum Score

Bidder’s Score

Total Techincal score

70 Points

Total Financial Score

30 Points

Summary of Technical and Financial Score

100

1. APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should submit the following:

• A technical proposal detailing their approach to the assignment and the methodology they intend to use.
• A financial proposal outlining the consultancy fees and any other related costs.
• A CV or resume highlighting relevant experience and at least two references from similar assignments.

1. REPORTING

The consultant will report to the Program Manager, UMR HoA Office and will work closely with the project consortium members in delivering the project in difference Counties of operation. Regular updates and a final report are expected after the consultancy.

Submission Deadline

Applications should be submitted by 28 February 2025 to aismail@umrelief.org and couma@umrelief.org

with the subject line: “Consultant for ToT Training for Tree Nursery Operators under the Gum Arabic Value chain in Northern Kenya.”