Moderator for National Forum and policy advocacy

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Consultant to conduct regular policy advocacy activities and organize a national forum (Proc. Ref.: C5/2021)

Country:                     Republic of Lebanon

Project Name:            Climate Smart Agriculture: Enhancing Adaptive Capacity of the Rural Communities in Lebanon (AgriCAL)

Loan No./Grant No.: C-AF-1-LB

Assignment Title:       Consultant to conduct regular policy advocacy activities and organize a national forum

Reference No.:           C5/2021 – CQS (Individual Expert)

(as per Procurement Plan)

The Republic of Lebanon represented by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has received a Grant from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) toward the cost of the Climate Smart Agriculture: Enhancing Adaptive Capacity of the Rural Communities in Lebanon (AgriCAL) Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds of this Grant for the recruitment of Consulting Services provided by an Individual Consultant: as part of the Post of Consultant to conduct regular policy advocacy activities and organize a national forum for the Ministry of Environment.

The objectives of this assignment are:

• Organize a national forum on increasing adaptation of the agricultural sector to climate change
• Moderate and facilitate the national forum
• Generate a report with all the outcomes, outputs, and objectives

The Ministry of Agriculture now invites eligible Individual Consultants (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:

• Bachelor in agriculture, environment, climate change or any related field. Masters degree is a plus. (10 points)
• At least 5 years of relevant professional working experience at a senior level related to the agriculture and/or climate change field in Lebanon. (30 points)
• Experience in working with multi stakeholder groups, particularly Government, civil society and private sector; (20 points)
• Knowledge of the challenges of the agriculture sector in Lebanon (20 points)
• Working knowledge in English and Arabic. Excellent writing, and communications skills – verbal and written and facilitation skills; (10 points)
• Proficient computer and internet skills (5 points)
• Ability to work flexibly and independently with limited supervision and deliver quality results against tight deadlines; (5 points)

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to IFAD’s policy on conflict of interest situations that must be avoided as described in IFAD’ Project Procurement Guidelines – September 2010.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant Qualifications Selection (CQS) method set out in IFAD’ Project Procurement Guidelines – September 2010. The top qualified expert will be invited in due course to submit a technical and financial proposal.

Further information can be obtained at the email address [email protected] during office hours 08:00 – 15:00.

Expressions of interest in the form of Curriculum Vitae (CV) must be delivered in a written form to the email address [email protected] with the job title in the subject not later than January 28^th, 2022. The top ranked consultant will be invited to submit a technical and financial proposal.

Terms of Reference

Name of the consultancy services: Consultant to conduct regular policy advocacy activities and organize a national forum

Proc. Ref.: C5/2021

CQS – Individual Expert

1. Background of the Project

The Adaptation Fund Board approved in June 2012 the Full Sized Project Grant entitled “Climate Smart Agriculture: Enhancing Adaptive Capacity of the Rural Communities in Lebanon (AgriCAL)” submitted by IFAD. The project’s goal is to ‘increase community resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change in Lebanon’. The Project Development Objective is to ‘support the implementation of climate change adaptation measures in the agriculture sector in highly vulnerable areas’ through four components: (i) increased water availability and efficient use through water harvesting and irrigation technologies; (ii) roll-out of adaptation techniques and technologies; (iii) increased resilience of shepherds and small ruminants to climate change through sustainable rangeland management; and (iv) influence policy through advocacy activities, and implement a knowledge management system to capture and disseminate lessons learned throughout the project implementation phase.

2. Scope of work and expected outputs/deliverables

Under component 4 of the project, the main task of the consultant is to organize a national forum on climate change and agriculture in Lebanon and produce a policy document to guide some of the policy processes in Lebanon, such as the updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP).

The consultant will work in close collaboration with PMU, in addition to the AgriCAL focal point of the Ministry of Environment and the UNDP climate change projects at this Ministry. 

The consultant will coordinate all preparation and implementation activities to ensure the successful and smooth running of the event and ensure all outputs are delivered.

The main tasks under this consultancy include:

Task #1: Organize a national forum on increasing adaptation of the agricultural sector to climate change

• Prepare clear statement of objectives and guidelines for the forum
• Select topics and themes to be discussed (ex: climate change and food security, climate smart agriculture, adaptation to water scarcity, etc.) in consultation with the PMU and key stakeholders.
• Select the format of the national forum and the ICT requirements (panel discussions, focus group work, interactive exercises, surveys, etc.) and review the session objectives to minimize duplication and ensure complementarities
• Prepare session programmes, speakers, presenters, and identification of session chairperson in accordance with agreed session objectives.
• Ensure that the activities of AgriCAL are presented throughout the sessions
• Prepare invitee lists in consultation with the PMU and the MoE team
• Prepare invitation email, agenda invite, registration link, confirmation modality, and all related logistics for the proper proceeding of the forum  
• Coordinate and liaise with speakers/panelists including collecting of profile pictures, bios, agreeing of objective and duration of session, etc.
• Archive presentations, interventions, chat discussions and recordings.

The Project Coordinator and AgriCAL focal point of the Ministry of Environment and the UNDP climate change projects at this Ministry of Environment shall approve the selection of topics and themes to be discussed.

Task # 2: Moderate and facilitate the national forum

• Facilitate the national forum through giving access to registered participants, setting participation rules, allowing the sharing of screens, providing support in chat box, etc.
• Moderate the sessions through introducing speakers, respecting time allocation and managing the Q&A session.
• The national forum will be held online.
• The consultant is required to create materials using different learning tools (visuals, discussions, group exercises etc.. based on the objectives of the national forum)

Task #3: Generate a report with all the outcomes, outputs, and objectives

• Capture the discussions and proceedings of the National Forum in a report including description of sessions, objectives, summary of Q&A and key interventions.
• Draw main policy and advocacy recommendations to guide policy makers on better integrating climate change adaptation in the agricultural sector.
• Validate results of the report with key stakeholders.

3. Time Frame

The Consultant shall work in close coordination with AgriCAL focal point of the Ministry of Environment. The Consultant shall submit in English the Three (3) deliverables to the Contracting Authority in three (3) hard copies each in color and one digital copy each according to the following time frame:

Deliverable # 1: within One (1) month after the contract signature.

Deliverable # 2: within Two (2) months after the contract signature.

Deliverable # 3: within three (3) months after the contract signature.

4. Expert qualifications and profile

• Bachelor in agriculture, environment, climate change or any related field. Masters degree is a plus. (10 points)
• At least 5 years of relevant professional working experience at a senior level related to the agriculture and/or climate change field in Lebanon. (30 points)
• Experience in working with multi stakeholder groups, particularly Government, civil society and private sector; (20 points)
• Knowledge of the challenges of the agriculture sector in Lebanon (20 points)
• Working knowledge in English and Arabic. Excellent writing, and communications skills – verbal and written and facilitation skills; (10 points)
• Proficient computer and internet skills (5 points)
• Ability to work flexibly and independently with limited supervision and deliver quality results against tight deadlines; (5 points)

The passing score is 70. The Individual Expert that scores the highest based on the above criteria and weights and interview will be invited to submit a technical and financial proposal.