TERMS OF REFERENCE
CONSULTANCY TO CONDUCT CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT, PROPOSE RELEVANT CLIMATE RESILIENCE OPTIONS, ADAPTATION PLANS AND EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS IN THE SELECTED COMMUNITIES IN MUHEZA
1. Background of consultancy assignment/ project
The Water Towers is new landscape in WWF Tanzania conservation priority areas with an
estimated total area of 158,000 Km2 and covers Eastern Arc Mountain and Eastern Africa coastal
forests. It is recognized by IUCN to host high biodiversity hotspots with high species endemism
and harbours the globally known high biodiversity hotspots. Other important high biodiversity
components of this landscape include the Kilombero Valley Ramsar Site and other wetlands.
The Water Towers landscape is among three WWF Tanzania priority terrestrial landscapes
forming the second Conservation Strategic Plan (2021-2025). There are a number of major rivers
originating from this landscape providing water for hydropower production, wildlife and
agriculture. Despite the ecological, social and economic importance of the Water Tower
landscape, deforestation and forest degradation are among major environmental problems
affecting forest and people.
Despite of its local, national and global importance, WTL ecosystem health is facing a number of
direct threats. The loss of these natural resources will also severely impact the communities who
depend on them for their survival and reduce their opportunities to seek benefits from them now
and in the future. The WTL is potential for agriculture and food production, however, pests and
diseases are environmental problems facing the landscape. This is due to increased
anthropogenic activities, climate variability and overexploitation of natural resources.
2. Overall Objective and need for consultancy
The Resilience for People and Biodiversity Project (2022 – 2025) on Forest Landscape Restoration
is implemented in Muheza district located in East Usambara within the Water Towers Landscape.
Thus the overall goal for the Water Tower Ecosystem is that it is resilient to climate change and
sustainably managed with enhanced biodiversity health and ecosystem services for equitably
benefiting people and nature. This goal is aligned to the MFA partnership program goal
emphasizing that “Healthy, biodiverse and climate resilient landscapes are sustainably managed
and protected providing safe habitats for species and livelihood benefits for people”.
Therefore, this consultancy assignment is a deliberate effort to:
i. Conduct community vulnerability capacity assessment to determine community
understanding on climate change threats, their vulnerabilities and exposures and existing
climate response capacities.
ii. Identify and recommend relevant climate adaptation plans and climate smart
options/community actions including climate smart agriculture practices
iii. Develop community preparedness and response plan
iv. Propose an integrated early warning system which will help communities to prepare for
hazardous climate-related events such as:
• Geological hazards like tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic activity, and landslides
• Hydro meteorological hazards including severe weather in land and at sea, floods,
droughts, hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones, tornados, cold and heat waves, etc.
• Forest fires
• Biological hazards including insect plagues like locust outbreaks and harmful algae
blooms
• Health hazards including vector-borne diseases, viruses and other types of
diseases
• For pests and diseases on crops and livestock
v. Develop tools and knowledge on early warning systems based on the systematic
collection of data and disaster risk assessments to generate accurate and timely warnings.
vi. Develop a mechanism to clearly communicate & disseminate risk warnings information
to all the members of the affected communities
vii. Organise and facilitate one day workshop to share consultancy findings. However, the
costs for this workshop will be met directly by WWF.
3. Scope of the assignment.
The geographical area of focus will be the East Usambara-Coastal Forest, particularly in Muheza
district.
4. Methodology
This consultancy should employ acceptable data collection and analysis tools. The selected tools
for data collection should respond to the main and specific objectives of the study.
5. Expected output.
• Data on climate change impact, vulnerability and capacity needs for the selected
communities in Muheza
• Recommendations on relevant climate change adaptation plans in the project area
• Recommendations on relevant and sustainable climate smart agriculture practices
• Data on relevant and available early warning systems in the project area
• Early warning system and tools
• Community preparedness and response plans
Key deliverables.
Upon signing the contract, the consultant is expected to deliver the following: –
• Inception report: defining approaches and tools, timeline and work plan to be used in
conducting the assessment. It should be produced explaining the Consultant’s
understanding of the TOR, the general approach to the assignment, the methodology to
be used (approach, teams, personnel, coordination as well as a tentative work plan and
financial details. The inception report must be approved by the WWF-TCO following a
presentation by the consultant before the next steps of contract and agreement signing.
The report is due one week after signing the contract;
• Draft assessment report: The report should respond to the needs spelled out in this
ToR.
• Final assessment report should take on board suggestions, recommendations and
comments raised during stakeholder engagement process and other involved
stakeholders.
6. Expected Work plan, Working days and Time frame
The assignment must be completed within 45 days after signing the contract.
7. Payment terms/schedule
The rate per day will be subject to the consultant’s qualifications and experience. The costs for
travelling, accommodation and per Diem will be covered by WWF when the consultant delivers
the work. The consultant will be paid in two instalments as follows: 1st instalment 50% paid after
presentation and approval of the Inception/Work plan; 2nd instalment 50% paid upon
submission of the final report.
8. Qualifications and application procedure
i. Higher University degree MSc and/or PhD in disaster risk management, forestry, climate
change, natural resource management, socioeconomics or rural development,
Monitoring and Evaluation.
ii. Please send a 1-page application letter outlining your expertise and relevant experience
in this consultancy and a 2 – 3 pages CV of the Lead Consultant.
iii. A concise –maximum of 5-10 pages technical proposal, highlighting the proposed
approach, methodologies, brief work schedule, team composition and timings of the
process.
iv. A brief financial proposal, clearly specifying the time, professional fees and proposed
implementation costs.
v. Other information and requirements will be provided by the WWF Procurement
Committee.
vi. The consultant must collect relevant literature and reference materials for this
assignment. WWF will provide information such as the Project document and the initial
list of stakeholders and location
9. Project Management
• WWF will be responsible for technical oversight of this project including consolidation
of applications, evaluation, execution of the assessment and collation of the
stakeholders’ views. WWF will provide technical backstopping throughout the
assignment process.
• WWF provide the funds for this assessment and will be responsible for financial
oversight. The consultant will enter into a contract for this assignment with WWF-
Tanzania who will manage the contract.
Applications should include a brief, complete, combined technical and financial proposal that is
fully signed and includes the consultant profile, specific evidences of experience with similar
work, the proposed approach and methods, and the work plan and schedule for the process.
The consultant’s CV should also be included. In addition to the one-page cover letter, the
financial proposal should also include clear details of direct and reimbursable time and other
costs; this includes unit costs for professional fees and reimbursable taxes.
