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June 15, 2024, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

1.Background
The Horn Economic and Social Policy Institute (HESPI) is an independent, non-profit think tank and consultancy firm established in 2006 to support the member countries of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in particular and African Countries at large on policy research and institutional capacity building. HESPI provides high quality economic and social policy analysis and research on issues of top interest to the sub-region. It undertakes commissioned studies, policy analysis and research for the public and private sectors in areas of regional or national concern, and provides institutional and human capacity building.

The pertinence and impactfullness of HESPI’s interventions have been witnessed by partners, change agents, beneficiaries and some prestigious international organizations including The Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) of the University of Pennsylvania which conducts research on the role that policy institutes play in governments and civil societies around the world.

The Global Go to think Index is the result of an international survey of scholars, public and private donors, policy makers, and journalists who helped rank more than 6,500 think tanks using a set of 18 criteria developed by the TTCSP. Based on these criteria, HESPI was selected as one of “2020
think Tanks with Outstanding Policy Oriented Research Programs in the world”.

Based on the high-quality research evidence and its institutional capacity needs assessment, HESPI has been assisting the IGAD countries with the formulation and implementation of sound economic and social policies, and provides advisory services to facilitate inclusive and sustainable economic governance and environmental management for over 15 years.

Some of the core research and thematic engagements of the Institute are, inter alia, Environmental Sustainability, Climate Change (CC) Adaptation and Resilience Building for vulnerable communities. HESPI also engages in Public Finance Management (PFM), Financial Transparency, Accountability and Integrity as well as sectoral public budget tracking to reduce corruption; Regional Economic Integration, Trade development and macroeconomic fundamentals management.

Recently, combined with the challenges of insecurity and turbulent political transitions, the impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic, the soaring inflation and economic crisis, adverse CC is seriously affecting the lives and livelihoods in the Horn of Africa (HoA) countries. HESPI therefore recognizes the fact that Environmental Sustainability and CC Adaptation require concerted efforts, innovative approaches for addressing these challenges at national and regional levels. Thus, it has the institutional commitment to pursue needs-based empirical studies and make policy influence on matters and ways of enhancing CC adaptation, resilience building, environmental sustainability & redressing climate injustice. HESPI also recognizes that CC programs can contribute to
enhancing/building resilience of the IGAD communities through adaptation and mitigation to CC at local level and simultaneously mainstreaming these two aspects into national and sectoral policies.

In response to the threatening and worrisome CC impacts and adaptation and resilience building challenges, HESPI has been taking the approach of

• Generating and disseminating knowledge to create new level of understanding in the areas of adaption and resilience building to improve the customary practices and reduce vulnerability
• Advising in setting up functional institutional systems and regulatory frameworks for climate governance and Disaster Risk Management
• Advising the access to climate financing for adaption
• advising to develop sustainable and gender-inclusive, participatory adaptation and resilience building national programs
• Promoting regionally harmonized and sound CC strategies.
• Building the capacities at different levels including communities, technical agencies and governments.
• Addressing the impacts on renewable energies, water management, food security, health, agriculture, forestry
• Promote climate information systems and eco-tourism.

In the last 5 years and in the new 5 Year Strategic Plan (2024-28), CC Adaptation and Environmental Sustainability, have been and the main focus of HESPI. The programs are well aligned with the SALCA program (see about SALCA in next paragraph) and are defined in coordination with the IGAD governments to respond to the priorities identified in their National Adaptation Plans (NAPAs), National Communications or their National Sustainable Development Strategies.

However, recent organizational capacity needs assessment conducted under the Strengthening African Leadership for Climate Adaptation (SALCA) program coordinated by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) disclosed that HESPI has capacity gaps in climate adaptation research,
dissemination and advocacy expertise. This TOR is therefore developed to procure adaptation research expertise from a senior CC professional to augment and enhance HESPI’s CC adaptation research skills and knowledge. The TOR outlines the objective, scope of work, methodology, deliverables and engagement terms and conditions of the consultancy service.

2. Objectives
The primary objective of the assignment is to improve the CC adaptation research skill and knowledge of HESPI research and program team through:

• Researchers’ capacity strengthening through hands-on training on climate adaptation research tools and methodology and the science of CC.
• Climate Context Analysis (risks and opportunities) & Mapping of existing adaptation knowledge in the IGAD region to pursue evidence-based climate adaptation agenda and recommend appropriate climate actions
• Initiating and developing 3-4 high-quality Climate Adaptation research project proposals and approaching various funding agencies such as Green Climate Fund (GCF), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), USAID and other funding agencies (climate finance mobilization)
• Develop CC adaptation research program strategy for HESPI (which covers context analysis/scoping of the IGAD region, adaptation research, dissemination and advocacy messaging)
• Training or capacity building on ways of building and scaling up of appropriate adaptation technologies and adoption of climate smart agriculture among the IGAD communities/farmers for its triple benefit- increasing production, building resilience and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions; and reduce climate related risks and improve disaster risk management.
• Create wide range of networking and work with external stakeholders like the IGAD member governments’ climate agencies, private sector, NGOs, Regional and International capacity building and funding agencies on CC.

3. Scope of Work
This will be a dynamic and challenging role. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing her/his support to the HESPI research team in four fronts

• Technical Capacity Building
• strategizing the Institute’s climate adaptation research portfolio, and
• Climate Finance Mobilization, and
• Networking and partnership building.

Under the Technical Capacity Building, the consultant will:

• Provide hands-on training for HESPI’s relevant research and program team on climate adaptation research (sciences, tools and methodologies)
• Designing and conducting action-oriented Climate Adaptation Research, and familiarize the team on successful ways of disseminating policy recommendations, and conducting effective advocacy

Under strategizing the Institute’s climate adaptation research portfolio in alignment of HESPI’s 5 year strategic plan (2024-28) and the SALCA program expectations, she/he will:

• Lead conducting of the CC context analysis of the IGAD region and produce report.
• Asses HESPI’s internal set up & institutional capacity (strengths & opportunities) to run full-cycle of climate adaptation research programs/projects
• Develop a short and medium term climate change adaptation policy research strategy/guideline for HESPI

Under Climate Financing, the consultant will:

• Conduct mapping of the Climate Adaptation Research financiers
• Assess HESPI’s capacity to tap available opportunities and indicate ways of best approaching Climate financing agencies
• Develop 3-4 competent (bankable) climate adaptation project and approach 6-8 funding agencies to solicit funding for HESPI

Under Networking and partnership building, the consultant will:

• Map appropriate capacity building, researching and funding partners on climate adaptation research and knowledge dissemination for policy influence
• Establish an enduring partnership with clear common areas of engagement

4. Deliverables and delivery dates
Key deliverables of the consultancy service are:

• Inception report detailing the approach/methodology and work plan that the consultant will follow in building research capacity, soliciting finance and strategizing adaptation research portfolio of the institute; and details of timeline and logistics requirements
• Training needs and adaptation research skill/knowledge gap assessment report of the HESPI research & program management team
• Tailor-made training curriculum on current and widely used climate adaptation research standard tools and methodologies
• Train HESPI staff on climate adaptation research tools & methodologies
• Design and conduct action-oriented Climate Adaptation Research, and familiarize the team on successful ways of disseminating policy recommendations, and conducting effective advocacy
• CC context analysis summary report of the IGAD region
• Assessment report on institutional and the research team capacity to run full-cycle of climate adaptation research programs/projects, and produce a report
• Climate change adaptation strategy/guideline for HESPI that aligns with its five year strategy and SALCA expectations
• Climate adaptation donor mapping report for policy research and dissemination organizations.
• Assessment report on HESPI’s internal capacity to tap available funding opportunities and produce a report.
• 3-4 competent (bankable) climate adaptation project and approach 6-8 funding agencies to solicit funding for HESPI.
• A report on mapping climate adaptation agencies, liaise with and establish 4-5 active and functioning partnerships with the HESPI.

5. Required Qualification, Experience and Competencies
5.1 Qualification:

• At least Master’s degree in a filed related to Climate Change, Meteorology, Geography, Environmental Sciences/studies, Development Economics, Energy, Environmental Law or other closely-related fields of study.
• A certified and verifiable on-the job training in climate adaptation research, climate research resources mobilization, climate adaptation research capacity building, climate research strategy developing, leading advocacy or related topics

5.2 Experience:

• At least 5 years of relevant experience preferably in the area of Climate Change and natural resources management, Climate Change analysis, vulnerability mapping, governance, community-based development programs, or closely related fields
• Experience in research, policy and strategy development, management and programming-related work
• Familiarity with Global Environment Facility (GEF) and other international pioneer organizations in Climate Adaptation project implementation modalities, regulations/ rules
• Experience in the policy development and strategy formulation processes associated with Climate Change.
• Work experience in an international or regional organization is an advantage, preferably in the IGAD region or the Sub Saharan Africa (SSA)
• Previous experience with GEF or other climate funding mechanisms and facilities will be an asset.
• Experience of working with a range of stakeholders, preferably in the IGAD region

5.3 Competencies

• An understanding of the science of Climate Change and its implications
• Ability to work with minimal supervision or demonstrable ability to work in an independent manner;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Demonstrable interpersonal and professional skills in interacting with diverse stakeholders including government, CSOs and wider development partners
• Commitment to team work and to working across disciplines;
• Skills in facilitation and coordination of stakeholder engagement/workshops
• Strong analytical, writing, communication and advocacy skills;
• IT literacy, familiarity with e-presentation techniques and ability to operate with on-line web-based applications;
• Excellent drafting ability and presentation skills and ability to explain complex regional climatic issues to HESPI and external partners;
• Must be result-oriented, exhibiting high level of enthusiasm, tact, diplomacy and integrity

6. Duration of the Assignment
The start date of the assignment is 1 September 2024 and will continue for 2 years.

7. Content, schedule and submission
All outputs of this assignment must match high quality standard. The text of the assessment reports and strategies should be illustrative, as appropriate, with maps, graphs, graphics and tables. The consultant will be in charge of editing and proof-reading and is expected to work with HESPI ICT team and the ACBF graphic designer on the lay out of the written outputs. The final
deliverable of the reports is expected to be submitted by 31st December 2026.

8. Location and working arrangement

• The consultant will fully join HESPI for the consultancy period and will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks outlined under this assignment. She/he will be given a working space by HESPI (i.e., laptop, phone, scanner/printer, etc.,) and will have access to reliable internet connection. This assignment may include some travel within the IGAD region (like Nairobi, Kenya) where travel costs will be covered by HESPI. HESPI and ACBF will review draft reports and training materials for quality assurance and provide feedback on the standards
  of all the deliverables. Approvals of all deliverables (reports, training materials, proposals, etc) will be a prerequisite before any payments are made to the consultant. Payments for this assignment will be made on delivery basis along the critical milestones. No additional benefits or per diems will be paid whilst working from the base in Addis Ababa. The
  consultant is responsible for her/his own health insurance and accommodation costs.
• The focal point for all communications will be the HESPI Program Implementation Committee (PIC). The consultations will mostly be in-person and sometimes virtually and therefore availability during the working hours of HESPI Regional Headquarters in Addis Ababa Ethiopia (0830 – 1700 GMT) is important. The consultant will seek inputs from and regularly liaise with the PIC for all important matters related to the assignment. HESPI and the ACBF will critically review draft reports for quality assurance and provide feedback on the deliverables within a maximum of ten working days.

9. Language
All reports should be written in English, single spacing font size 11, Times New Roman and submitted as both word and pdf versions.

10. How to Apply
Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV, their technical and financial proposals to daniel.fantaye@hespi.org, fredu.nega@hespi.org in 15 days from the day of advertisement

HESPI is an equal opportunity organization; Female Candidates and People with Disabilities

Download full TOR