Afghanistan: Consultance for Territorial Diagnosis

Apr 10, 2017 | MADERA and Solidarités International
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The French Agency for Development (AFD) has granted funding to a consortium of three French NGOs to implement a three-year rural development programme in the Central Highlands of Afghanistan. This consortium is led by GERES, in partnership with MADERA and SolidaritésInternational (SI). The overall objective of the Central Highlands Programme (CHP) is to increase living standards and the quality of life of rural mountainous populations by promoting balanced rural development and the preservation of natural resources.

Specific objectives:

1. Support sustainable intensification of agriculture and livestock farming production (Component I: MADERA and SI);
2. Improve energy resilience of households and their living conditions in winter while limiting the depletion of natural capital (Component II: GERES);
3. Improve access to and management of rare natural resources (pastures and water) for the sustainability of the production systems (Component III: MADERA and SI);
4. Produce knowledge and consolidate lessons learnt within the programme to launch political dialogue with local authorities and development stakeholders (Component IV: GERES, MADERA, and SI).

This 4 year rural development program CHP (Central Highland Program) is implemented in the Provinces of Bamyan and Maydan Wardak, in the districts of Saighan, Khamard, Yakawlang, Bamyan and Beshud.

PRESENTATION OF THE CONTEXT

Central Highland Programme PHASE II

The program is currently in its last phase and will be handed-over at the end of 2017. In the last phase of this program, the 3 partners are preparing a second-phase program that is expected to start in 2018. This new CHP II program will build on experiences learnt from the first one and will be implemented in new areas of Bamyan Province; Yakawlang, Waras and Panjab districts. GERES, MADERA and SolidaritésInternational are currently in the design phase of the new CHP II program which should be submitted to AFD in July 2017.

The Central Highlands Programme Phase II intends to contribute to:

• boost rural based economic growth and private sector;
• improve resilience (energy, food security…) and adaptability of rural households and mitigate the natural and economic risks;
• develop the human, technical, infrastructural and institutional resources, foster local governance and service delivery, create an enabling environment for agricultural and rural development;

The specific objectives of the CHP II programme are the following:

1. Improve the performances of the crop and livestock farming systems, and the peripheral services, activities and actors (value chain), while maintaining or improving the adaptability and resilience of the household economy;
2. Improve household’ energy performances and farm productivity through the development and the market based (self-) dissemination of energy efficient technologies.
3. improve the access, management and protection of natural resources for the sustainability of the production systems and the rural livelihoods and their resilience to disasters risks

Every specific objective corresponds to a specific component of the programme. Each component will be under the responsibility and implemented by one partner, on the basis of its expertise and know-how. As a result, the components will be implemented as follows:

• Component I: MADERA
• Component II: GERES
• Component III: SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL

The present territorial diagnostic is related to Component I and III presented in more detail below:

Component I: Improve the performances of the crop and livestock farming systems, and the peripheral services, activities and actors (value chain), while maintaining or improving the adaptability and resilience of the household economy;

The component I of the CHP II run by MADERA in collaboration with the Provincial Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock (PAIL) office and in partnership with the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Area (ICARDA) aims at promoting productive systems that are more resilient, more sustainable and more productive. The approach must be pragmatic and adapted to the territorial specificity, taking into account the local knowledge and practices and economic valorization. The support does not limit itself to the production step at the farm level. It will encompass all the major steps and actors, connected along a chain, allowing the production and delivery of agro-products, through the promotion of farm service provision and inputs suppliers and post-harvest / adding value activities/ business.

Component III: improve the access, management and protection of natural resources for the sustainability of the production systems and the rural livelihoods and their resilience to disasters risks

The NRM intervention aims at improving the access, management and protection of natural resources for the sustainability of the production systems and the rural livelihoods and their resilience to disaster risks. Through the component, SI will build local capacities and practices in natural resources management. The more sustainable and efficient management of water and rangelands will be supported by the implementation of protective and restorative infrastructures: water shed protection work, reseeding of pasture, forestry activities… The collaboration with the DAIL’s NRM department will contribute to strengthen its capacity in managing natural resources at Provincial level and to ensure the sustainability and diffusion of the program best practices.

Areas of intervention

The CHPII program will be implemented across 4 districts in Bamyan Province: Yakawlang, Bamyan, Panjab and Waras, using a watershed approach. The project interventions will be determined by a participatory territorial diagnostic leading to the identification of environmental and technical constraints to a sustainable improvement of the production systems.

The objective is not to cover all 4 districts but instead to focus on smaller well delimited territory across or in each district with a preference of rural, remote and less advantaged areas.

Natural Resources Management (NRM) and agriculture and livestock components will be exclusively implemented in the districts of Waras, Panjab and Yakawlang. The proposed consultancy will therefore be focused in these 3 districts.

Bamyan province context

The Central Highlands is a mountainous region located in the centre of Afghanistan. The climate is a transitional one between cold arid and semi-arid, with cold winters and warm; dry summers, with 125 mm of precipitation annually. The long and cold winter causes problems and challenges for domestic fuel consumption and animals feeding, which affects the biomass / local resources capital. The population is largely rural. Most people are farmers and the local economy mostly relies on the primary sector.

Agro-climatic conditions prevailing in Central Highlands are globally diversified and favourable, and allow a large range of valuable crops for self-consumption and market. Farmers still have to cope with a short growing season, as well as irrigation water scarcity in some places, keeping the range of species likely to be grown quite limited. The development gap between areas and districts of central highlands is high due to the diversity of agro-climatic conditions and the access disparity to market and services. The main focus of infrastructural and rural development programmes has been on the more accessible and populous river valleys and lower catchments while outlying areas and districts have benefited less from external aid.

Crop farming and livestock are regarded as the two main pillars of the provincial economy.

Agricultural products of Bamyan have considerable economic potential (i.e. potatoes holding a share of over 50 % of the domestic economy, high quality dried apricots exported to international markets…). Yet, the agricultural system is not efficient enough to cover household needs and there is a non-negligible risk on food security especially for the majority of small scale farm households, having very limited coping strategy or external incomes. 50% of the households are not covering their needs of wheat through their own production according to the March 2014 CVRA.

Livestock can perform a range of different functions within farming systems and livelihoods, depending upon farmers’ choices, available resources and production conditions. With 93 % of farmers raising domestic ruminants, livestock plays in Central Highlands an important role as source of income and nutrients but also becomes a means of survival for farmers in case of emergencies when cash is needed. Livestock management practices are considered as poor, leading to low productivity and profitability.

The economy is highly agricultural based and non-monetized. The financial off-farm incomes are limited due to low economy diversification and activation. Livelihoods depend mainly on natural resource availability and management: land for pastures and agriculture; water for irrigation; biomass (wood and bushes) for cooking, heating, and construction purposes. Harsh climate conditions combined with high population increase since 2001 have drastically raised pressure on already scarce natural resources.

Water deficiency is raised as one of the constraints for agricultural production even if water resources are abundant in most areas, since rivers and springs are not or little utilized due to underdevelopment or deterioration of water management structures / facilities. In the same manner agricultural production and rural livelihoods are severely affected in springtime due to rainfall and snowmelt in critical watershed areas.

Regarding transport infrastructure, inter-provincial routes that connect Central Highlands with the Kabul Road network are nowadays good. Road network connecting Bamyan centre with other district centres is accessible for any kind of vehicles but road conditions significantly vary by route. Accessibility from village /production sites to district centre is poor, especially for remote areas.

Security wise, the CHP area of intervention is one of the safest in Afghanistan.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

In the frame of the CHP II, MADERA and Solidarités International aims at better understanding agricultural and natural resources transformations and specificities that characterize the territories where the CHP II will be implemented.

Therefore the objective of the assignment is to identify the local knowledge and practices and their positive and negative incidences on the natural environment, in order to determine what should be the program interventions for the component I (sustainable production systems intensification) and III (improved access management and protection of natural resources).

The support for Component I will aim to improve soil fertility, flux between agriculture and animal production, to promote production diversification, according to farmers’ vision and economic opportunities, as well as to improve the sustainability of market access, secure the exchanges among actors and strengthen agriculture services. For component III, the action will focus on improving community based natural resources management (water and rangelands), improving best practices and building knowledge, supporting water use planning and pasture restoration and protection. The component III will fully involve the PAIL in its implementation. This should be taken into account during the mission when analyzing links between local communities and governmental agencies.

The survey will consist in undertaking a territorial diagnostic and agrarian system analysis, including both agro-ecological and socio-economic dimensions, in the watersheds preselected by the NGOs, aiming to understand the dynamics of farming activity at a regional scale, including social and community-based management of natural resources (water, pasture). It will also take into account all social, economic and political aspects, which leads to an understanding of the agricultural evolution of the region. The territorial diagnostic should cover the following themes:

• Local knowledge, competencies and know-how in links with production and natural resources
• Evolution dynamic of natural resources and landscape
• Production systems
• Agriculture and husbandry existing interactions
• Environmental, economic and social vulnerabilities (agro-pedo-climatic conditions, improved seeds access conditions, input needs, links with market, etc.)

The specific objectives of the assignment are:

• Perform a production system analysis and present main farm typologies and their relative importance, including but not limited to: production means, ownership of the irrigated and rain fed lands; production context, interaction between agriculture and animal productions, cultural management/crop rotation, seasonality management, product transformation, animal and vegetal genetic diversity, fertility management, water management, plant disease management, animal disease management evolution of agrarian and social systems and factors that determined their evolution
• From the production systems analysis, identify the knowledge and know-how how that are environmental and social sound, and should be built-on for intensification (ex: cultural association) and the one that are bad practices and should be refrained
• Identify the knowledge and know-how transmission systems: existing framework, transmission means, etc.
• Analyze the use, accessibility and management of natural resources(ex: water sources, rivers and streams, woods): localization of resources access points; resources access conditions, traditional management of natural resources, including existing rules and regulations for the use and repartition of natural resources (land tenure rights, customary rights, use rights, resources access rights)
• Get information regarding the evolution of natural resources availability (water, soil fertility, wood, biodiversity) and stakeholders’ perceptions toward those changes and their impact on production systems and livelihoods
• Identify the main challenges of natural resources evolution (ex: lack of water for cultivation; yields decrease, erosion, etc.)
• Identify key stakeholders (ex of stakeholders: professional/farmers groups; resources management committees, privates firms, micro-credit institutions, banks, public services, training centers, Scientifics, research institutes, experts firms; CSOs; traditional leaders, village committees (CDC), noumainda, religious leaders; national and international NGOs, donors, international institutions, etc.).
• Analyse stakeholders’ roles, strategies and relations between them ( subordination or partnership interactions, identify the capacity of determined stakeholders to influence others)
• Analyze stakeholders’ perception and potential role toward the CHPII actions

Provide recommendation regarding:

• The local knowledge, competencies and know-how that are environmental and social sound, and should be maintained, built-on and diffused (ex: cultural association)
• The local knowledge, competencies and know-how that are bad practices and should be refrained
• The knowledge transmission means that should be used by CHPII, and if applicable the improvement that CHPII could provide to those transmission means
• The geographical areas (specified by maps and GIS coordinates) where CHPII should undertake which natural resources restoration or maintenance interventions
• Confirm the most relevant basic geographical unit to be used for the implementation of CHPII**: Manteqa, CDCs, valley or sub-valley, watershed…
• Precise/confirm the area of intervention based on the selected geographical unit chosen (e.g: watershed) (specified by maps and GIS coordinates)
• *How local stakeholders (communities and authorities) could be fully involved parties in the project implementation, including roles and responsibilities of each party. And how the project will link with each administrative and geographical units (Manteqa, CDCs, Districts, watershed, sub-valleys…)**CHPII intervention logic: activities, expected results and indicators*

SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The field work will be undertaken in the areas pre-identified by MADERA and SI, which cover no more than 3 watersheds. The consultant will undertake a first landscape analysis and manteqa identification to suggest precise CHPII intervention area, based on the following criteria:

• Evidence of natural resources degradation (erosion, overgrazing, etc.)
• As far as possible contiguous watersheds
• Communities’ and local authorities motivation to be involved in the project

Production system survey should be undertaken in at least 5 farms in the survey area, with different characteristics when possible. The number of 5 farms as a minimum takes into account the complexity of the production system study and the timeframe of the survey.

The mission occurs after the submission to the donor (AFD) of the concept note (FIP- Project Identification Form). The mission outcomes will review and inform SI and MADERA’ interventions before the proposal submission (planned for August-September 2017).

METHODOLOGY

The methodology is at the consultant’s initiative, and constitutes an integral part of the methodological proposal. The rigor of the methodology proposed by the consultant will be assessed and should allow the application of qualitative techniques of social and environmental surveys, including participatory techniques that are valid and reliable.

Indicative information sources are the following:

• Studies, governmental strategies, consultancy report about the area of assessment. The CHP consortium can provide part of the necessary documentation.
• Internal learning (CHP evaluations, CHPII concept note…)
• Key persons: farmers, traditional authorities, technical services, traditional healer, local authorities, associations, scientists, natural resources management committees, private suppliers, seeds banks, nursery owners, seed producers, UN agencies, local and international NGOs
• Field observations
• Note: The 3 NGOs can provide support in terms of logistic and human resources locally. If needed, translator and/or skilled local staffs can be employed to support assessments on the field.

Debriefing: The consultancy will include a presentation of key findings and initial report to CHP partners in Kabul, at the end of the mission. A second short debriefing might be requested in Paris (France) to present key findings to the 3 partners.

DELIVERABLES

All deliverables must be provided in English language. Inception report including details on sampling and analysis of representativeness of chosen sample, detailed map showing the manteqa where the inquiry will take place, the tools, data processing method, the team and the calendar, to be submitted within the first week after contract signature.

Report including:

• 1 executive summary (3-4 pages max), presenting key findings
• 1 narrative report (max 30-40 pages)
• 1 table with the main conclusions and recommendations in terms of operational strategy
• 1 stakeholder analysis matrix
• Area of intervention maps
• Technical appendices: Contain the technical details of the evaluation, as well as reference terms, models for questionnaires, check list and canvasing interviews, any tables or charts, references and other sources, people and institutes contacted, and all the deliverable that are not included in the narrative report

Power Point presentation of the results. A first draft of report and power point presentation will be provided at least 10 days after the end of the field visit and final version 5 days after SI’s feedbacks.

DURATION AND DATES

The duration of consultancy will be provided by the consultant in the technical proposal. For information, an indicative planning has been drafted below.

Desired start date: May 1^st 2017

Duration of the mission: 40 to 45 days

Preparation phase

• Location: Paris (Madera HQ or skype exchanges)/ Kabul / Bamyan
• Duration: 5 days

Field phase

• Location: Bamyan / Panjab / Yakawlang / Waras
• Duration: 20-25 days

Analysis and debriefing phase

• Location: Bamyan / Kabul
• Duration: 5 days

Report preparation

• Location: To be defined
• Duration: 10-15 days

The consultant commits to integrate in its planning some space for briefing at arrival on the mission as well as one day to debrief its mission on the base and at the coordination level. As much as possible, a debriefing at SI’s Headquarter should be included in the planning.

BUDGET

The budget will be provided by the consultant as part of the financial proposal. The budget must include the daily fee, perdiem, international flight and other costs. Accommodation in Afghanistan will be provided, as well as local transport and VISA.

PROFILE

• Training and qualifications: Master degree or justified qualifications in agriculture, rural development and/or agro-ecology.
• General professional experience: relevant and consistent knowledge and experience in agro-ecology approach. Specific experience in conducting territorial diagnostic following a agro-ecological approach is requested.
• Specific professional experience: At least 10 years, professional experience in conducting social and environmental field survey, RRA, production system surveys. Familiar with the use of qualitative and participatory techniques.
• Knowledge of Afghanistan and/or Central Asia contexts would be an asset.
• Required qualities: Capacity to work in difficult environment (mountainous and hard to access area, basic living conditions).
• Languages: Fluent in English. Dari language would be an asset.