Purpose and Scope of the Study
The purpose of this study is to:
Underscore the importance of and potential for youth participation in agroecology transformations.
Identify and clarify opportunities and entry points for youths as agents of change in promoting sustainable food systems frameworks in Africa.
Provide recommendations to donor agencies, policy makers and other stakeholders interested in strategies for youth inspirations/ aspirations, imagined futures and future orientations in AE/EOA
Specifically, the country-specific assessments will focus on the following:
Identifying position of youth in agroecology/EOA transformations.
Assessment of scope and role of youth in interventions related to Agroecology/EOA to provide an overview of the entry points for effective youth engagement.
Assessment of aspirations and strategies of youth participation in supporting Agroecology/EOA interventions.
Constraints and challenges to youth participation in Agroecology/EOA initiatives across dimensions of practice & advocacy, production, supply chains and consumption.
Recommendations on priority setting for youth engagement in agroecology/EOA at national, regional, and continental levels across dimensions of practice & advocacy, production, supply chains and consumption.
Deliverables
The expected key outputs of the assessment are:
An Inception Report: Elaboration of the assessment methodology and tools to be applied including a detailed schedule of activities to be undertaken across the selected countries. This should be ready within 2 weeks before signing the contract.
Draft Report: A report with findings related to all the objectives and should be ready within 60 days from the day of signing the contract.
) Final Report: The technical report should include the executive summary, background, methodology, key findings, conclusions, lessons and recommendations, and annexes (key officials interviewed, documents consulted, and data collection instruments applied). The final report to include inputs from the CSC and RSC. The final report to be submitted by 30th June 2023.
Policy Briefs: Preparation of national, regional, and continental policy briefs resulting from the findings and recommendation of this assignmen
Background Documents
In addition to relevant documents and reports to be sought at country and AU level, various documents valuable to this study will be provided including but not limited to:
Report of the study on the legal, policy and institutional development of EOA in Southern, Northern, Central and Southern Africa undertaken by AUC under the EOA-I
Report on the legislation and policy development of EOA-I in 3 eastern Africa countries of Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia.
Country specific reports, plans and strategies on Agriculture and particularly EOA, if any
EOA Strategic Plan (2015-2025) and EOA Action Plan (2015-2020)
Report of the Assessment of SSNC contribution to second phase ( 2016-2020) of EOA in Eastern Africa
EOA Phase I ( 2014-2018) External Evaluation Report 2020
Report of the Organizational and Capacity Assessment (2018)
Baseline Study of EOA Initiative in Africa- Phase 2 – 2019
EOA Phase II ( 2019-2023) External Evaluation Report 2022
Methodology
This assessment will be conducted through an assets approach to youth participation in agroecology which appreciates and mobilizes individual or group talents and strengths, rather than focusing only on deficits (needs), problems or threats and is referred to as the three-lens approach to youth participation: Youth as target beneficiaries, with youth as partners, and be shaped by youth as leaders.
The ultimate aim is to develop youth as partners and leaders in development. This is based on youth having agency: their capacity to act, their skills and capabilities and their ability to change their own lives and is the central tenet of the asset-based approach to youth participation.
For statistical purposes, the UN defines youth as individuals between the ages of 15 and 24. Youth do not constitute a homogeneous group; their socio-economic, demographic and geographical situations vary widely both within and between regions.
Identification and review of relevant documents on initiatives, programmes, projects etc. implemented in the countries over the last 5 years and ongoing, and where possible capturing upcoming initiatives where youth are involved or targeted.
Data collection approaches and tools, appropriate to allow for triangulation of findings
Data analysis techniques that are rich and informative to allow for quality decision-making.
Validation meetings for the results obtained.
This assessment will be conducted between February and April 2023.
Budget Considerations
The budget is expected to cover:
Field activities for data collection in at least 15% (8) of African countries, focusing on the EOA-I participating countries in Eastern Africa and Western Africa and randomly sampling from 7-10 countries from the other regions (Central, Southern and Northern Africa) including selection across the five categories of the policy study (Advanced EOA Sector, Active EOA Sector, Infant EOA Sector, Nascent EOA and Awaiting Inspiration) to sample of size of 15-20 countries.
Consultancy – Data collection, analysis, and reporting
Preparation, editing, design and layout of national and regional policy briefs
Consultants & Minimum Qualifications
The study will be conducted by a consultant or team of consultants with the team leader and partners having the following main qualifications:
At least a master’s degree or equivalent in agriculture, sociology, development studies, economics, or related social sciences.
At least 5 years of experience in conducting policy assessment/evaluations, policy impact assessments or similar assignments in agricultural development programmes and projects.
Demonstrated ability to assess complex situations to analyze critical issues succinctly and clearly and draw conclusions and recommendations.
Proven in-depth understanding and consulting experiences on institutional set-up of complex development programmes.
Substantive knowledge of participatory M&E processes and experience with multistakeholder/community development interventions.
Excellent English writing and communication skills.
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Interested candidates should submit the following:If you are interested in the above consultancy and can demonstrate your ability to meet the qualifications required, then submit your expression of interest with the above mentioned documents to info@eoai-africa.org with the subject heading: e.g Consultancy for Assessment of Landscape of EOA Initiatives in Africa.
The closing date for applications is 27th January 2023. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.
Apply via :
info@eoai-africa.org
