Climate Change Effects on Agricultural Value Chains (National Consultant)

Organizational Settings

The Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Eswatini have partnered since the country joined the Organization in 1971. FAO assistance has covered the formulation and implementation of food security and nutrition policies, including risk reduction and management strategies, and activities to increase agricultural productivity. More recently, cooperation has included a focus on market access and agricultural competiveness, with support to smallholders’ transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture. Emphasis is also given to the sustainable management of natural resources.

FAO Eswatini is implementing a number of Technical Cooperation Programmes (TCP) projects and Emergency programmes. The TCP provides assistance in all areas pertaining to FAO’s mandate and competence that are covered by the Strategic Framework to respond to governments’ priority needs. These short-term, catalytic and sustainable projects are driven by the demands and priorities of member countries, addressing critical gaps in hunger and malnutrition eradication, sustainable production, rural poverty reduction more efficient and inclusive food chains and building resilience to crisis. TCP projects catalyze change, foster capacity development and assist countries in mobilizing resources, in line with the Country Programming Frameworks agreed to with governments. Currently FAO Eswatini is supporting a number of TCPs with the Ministry of Agriculture and jointly collaborating with other Ministries as related to projects.

Eswatini is a Lower-Middle Income Country very vulnerable to the effects of climate change (CC), and particularly to droughts that are more frequent. Around 79% of households live on National Land depending on agriculture as primary livelihood strategy. Staple crops, especially maize, beans and sorghum, and livestock productivity declined by more than 30% since 2014 due to CC and the shrinkage of cultivated areas, due to the reduced investment in farming for the frequent droughts. Projections based on the RCP 8.5 scenario foresee a decrease of 4.19% in maize productivity and of 17.84% in managed grass productivity by 2050 assuming 1995 as year of reference. It should be noted that 79% of Eswatini’s rural population depends upon agriculture for their livelihood and subsistence is particularly vulnerable to such disasters. Notably, the Kingdom of Eswatini submitted her revised and enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change on 12 October 2021 towards maintaining global temperature to below 1.5 degrees and building resilience to climate impacts. This includes supporting small-scale food producers to adopt inclusive commercial value chain approaches in agriculture and allied sectors. Through the GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme which has an objective to support country-driven initiatives by developing countries to strengthen their institutional capacities, governance mechanisms, and planning and programming frameworks towards a transformational long-term climate action agenda. This consultancy is aligned with the GCF area of support to strengthen the National Designated Authority (NDA) and enhance coordination mechanisms, and other capacity building support process. Given this context, in compliance with the overarching objective of the NDC the National Consultant (CC and NRM) will strengthen Eswatini’s commitment towards climate action in the Agriculture Value Chain which is a priority sector in the revised NDC. The GCF Readiness activities are being implemented by FAO as delivery partner in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment as NDA. As delivery partner, FAO is managing the funds received from the GCF, and will prepare the technical and financial reports that will be submitted to the GCF Secretariat which is a direct responsibility of the National Consultant (CC & NRM).

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Eswatini, (FAOR), the guidance of the Assistant FAOR and the technical supervision of the National Programme Officer, The Climate Change Effects on Agricultural Value Chains National Consultant will work in close collaboration with FAO officers that will form a project management team task force consisting of the Lead Technical Officer (FAO Sub Regional Office for Southern Africa), the Climate Finance Officer in the GCF Coordination Unit (FAO Rome), and the Budget Holder (FAO Representative for Eswatini). The Climate Change Effects on Agricultural Value Chains National Consultant

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The Climate Change Effects on Agricultural Value Chains National Consultant will perform the following specific tasks;

• Develop a work plan and associated expenditure plan for two components, covering the full duration of the assignment; • Design the profiling framework which meets the minimum requirements for climate funds (GCF, AF, GEF) in collaboration with MoA and other key stakeholders. • Profiling value chain concrete adaptation assets and infrastructure: • Conduct a situational analysis to inform development, codification and validation of concrete climate change adaptation infrastructure and assets along agricultural value chains; o Identify existing adaptation infrastructures and assets and options. o Review and incorporate ecosystem accounting principles in natural resources assets o Assess the climate vulnerability and capacity issues within value chains. o Determine the extent of carbon and ecosystem accounting in Agriculture Value Chains. • Determine the integration of adaptation assets and infrastructures; o Conduct the social, environmental and gender impact assessments relevant to the adaptation infrastructure and assets; o Conduct an integrated residual risk assessment; • Profiling value chain climate adaptive technologies and practices: • Conduct a situational analysis of climate adaptive interventions relevant for Eswatini’s key agricultural value chains; o Conduct an appraisal of adaptation options. o Analyse the climate vulnerability and capacity issue. o Evaluate the integration of carbon and ecosystem accounting. • Access and identify extent of integration of adaptation measures; o Conduct the social, environmental and gender impact assessments relevant to the adaptation technologies and practices. o Conduct an integrated residual risk assessment. • Design and development, codification of climate adaptive interventions relevant; o Develop the good practice options menu. • Conduct stakeholder validation workshop for the inventory of concrete climate change adaptation infrastructure, assets and interventions along the agricultural value chains with their relevant social, environmental and gender impact assessments; • Perform other duties, as required, assigned by the FAOR.

OBJECTIVE

The National Consultant shall be primarily responsible for delivering two major deliverables; a) documenting an inventory of concrete climate change adaptation infrastructure and assets; and b) documenting an inventory of concrete climate change adaptation interventions relevant for Eswatini’s key agricultural value chains with the relevant social , environmental and gender impact assessments developed, codified and validated.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum requirements

 An advanced degree (Master’s) in Agriculture, Forestry, Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management, Climate Change or related fields;  At least 5-years’ experience in project management and implementation. Minimum of 5 years’ professional experience in project management  Knowledge of the Agriculture sector and use of natural resources as it relates to the effects of climate change in regard to adaptation /resilience and mitigation in agricultural value chains;  Demonstrated knowledge of international climate finance, specifically the green climate fund architecture and adaptation and mitigation agendas of the UNFCCC (understanding of the Eswatini NDC activities);  Full working capability in English and SiSwati;  Nationality of Eswatini or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building Effective Relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills • Ability to review existing data systems, protocols and agreements and provide recommendations; • Demonstrate knowledge of climate change adaptation infrastructure and assets along agricultural value chains; • Ability to apply ecosystem accounting principles in natural resources assets; • Relevant work experience on social, environmental and gender impact assessments; • Team player with good interpersonal skills, and facilitation/motivational skills; • Ability to work under pressure to tight timelines and without direct supervision; • Demonstrated use of initiative and ability to make appropriate linkages in work requirements and anticipate next steps.

Selection criteria • Extent and relevance of experience of Climate Change effects on Agricultural Value Chains; • Experience in Environmental Safeguards assessments; • Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information and present ideas and recommendations in a clear and understandable manner. • Excellent communication (both written and oral) and presentation skills in English.