Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plans in Anbar, Iraq.

1. Introduction

Oxfam in Iraq envisions climate justice in a way that is feminist, equal, and free from conflict, promoting human rights, and expanding civic space. This requires a locally led and owned and systematic approach which considers the fragile context and intersecting inequalities. Specifically, Oxfam supports equitable socio-economic transformation, inclusive and accountable climate governance, and climate adaptation and resilience measures which protect those who are highly vulnerable and most exposed to the climate crisis. 

1. Background

Funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ in cooperation with Oxfam is implementing a project with the aim to support local government and communities in three districts of Anbar governorate to have improved understanding of and capacity to manage climate change and climate adaptation. The project aims to improve access to information on the implications of climate change, raise awareness of the increasing risks resulting from climate change, establish improved dialogue between local government and communities, and improve the preparedness of targeted communities to address the future impacts of climate change while contributing to more peaceful coexistence among communities.  

One of the major outputs of the proposed project is to generate, document and disseminate knowledge, both scientific and traditional, on climate change and adaptation planning.  

Oxfam is thus seeking the services of a consulting agency/team of consultants who can apply for both or either of the two tasks below: 

• Comprehensive climate vulnerability assessment covering five key sectors, i.e., water, agriculture, transport and mobility, energy, as well as urban and public spaces in three districts i.e., Fallujah, Ramadi and Heet in Anbar governorate;
• Integrated adaptation plans for each of the three districts, covering the five sectors. 

The research project will specifically consider the implications of climate change on basic services (such as water, transport, energy etc.) and how vulnerable groups (including women, small farmers etc.)’ access to basic services is affected by climate change. The study shall employ an integrated approach, combining both the top-down scientific approach with a bottom-up participatory one (where adaptation planning will include district and provincial government, communities, and other stakeholders) in delivery of the final output.  The research shall include a comprehensive desk review on the available historical data related to climate change in Iraq, and if possible, on Anbar governorate.

1. Assignment 
2. Objectives 

The overall objective of this research project is to conduct a climate vulnerability assessment (CVA) in three districts, i.e., Fallujah, Ramadi, and Heet, in the Anbar governorate of Iraq. The objective is to undertake an evaluation and analysis of the scope and severity of potential impacts of climate change on the natural environment and the main sectors of the economy.  The assessment will focus on five key sectors i.e., 1) water, 2) agriculture, 3) energy, 4) transport and mobility, and 5) urban and public spaces. Based on the climate vulnerability assessment and through a consultative and participatory approach with district and provincial government representatives, community members and other stakeholders, three integrated climate change adaptation plans (ICAP) will be developed that support efforts to build resilience to climate change.  Specifically, the objectives of this assignment are to: 

Part A: Climate Vulnerability Assessment  

• Describe and analyze the past and present impacts of climate change in the research context. 
• Access and interpret information about the projected climate impacts (to the extent possible at the district level, or province, or country level) building on previous work (for e.g., Oxfam’s regional perspectives of climate driven water insecurity).  
• Conduct a risk and vulnerability (economic, social, and human vulnerabilities) assessment for the focus sectors (water I.e., watershed/ground water, rain, storage, agriculture – crop varieties, soil, energy, transport and mobility, urban and public spaces) with cross-cutting issues such as gender.  
• The risk and vulnerability assessment must include trends of various climate variables building on IPCC data to provide region specific data and trends (e.g., average, and extreme temperature, number of days with extreme heat and result on productive labor, women and other vulnerable groups, intensive rainfall events/flooding, snow cover), based on a range of different climate scenarios. 
• The assessment should explore expected (direct and indirect) impacts (threats and opportunities) by identifying the most relevant hazards for each sector - water, agriculture, energy, transport and mobility, urban and public spaces. 
• The assessment should include a timescale, such as short (e.g., 2030s), medium (e.g., 2050s) or long-term (e.g., end of century), as well as an indication of the level of confidence for such impacts, with a view of facilitating the decision-making process for district and provincial governments.  
• Provide an overview of the regional and country level policy context, relevant environmental legislation and regulations and budgetary allocations (e.g., water resources management, NDC, NAP, etc.)  

 Part B: Adaptation Plan for the Districts 

• Develop a strategic direction for the adaptation planning, based on the assessment of climate-related risks and vulnerabilities, and based on the concerns of urgency, impact, and opportunities and budget/finances.
• Identify all types (legal, technical, informative etc.) of possible adaptation options, both existing and new ones, with an understanding to building on    indigenous knowledge and practices.  
• Prioritize the options for each of the five sectors covering short, medium, and long-term time frames. 
• Undertake a capacity assessment of local governments to plan, manage and implement climate change adaptation plans. 
• Develop a detailed plan of action with the Oxfam team and relevant stakeholders, setting out how, when and by whom specific adaptation measures should be implemented with a reference to required financial and technical inputs by local government, private sector, and civil society.  
• Assess the environmental and socio-economic (especially from a gender perspective) impacts of implementing the proposed adaptation plans - also over time. When are the benefits predicted to materialize in a monitoring plan. 
• Highlight contextual limits and challenges to climate adaptation.  
• Conduct validation workshops on both CVA and CAP at district and governorate level.  

Within the scope of this project, an additional field research endeavor will be undertaken. Consequently, the contracted consultant(s) are expected to closely coordinate and engage in information exchange with other consultants who are conducting the remaining field research.

2. Deliverables

The consultancy work will deliver the following outputs in two steps. i.e., draft reports incorporating and reflecting feedback from stakeholders whereas the final report and summary report: English & Arabic versions, both in word and the summary report in power point presentation format: 

• 01 climate vulnerability assessment (CVA) report. This will cover 3 districts and focus on the five sectors.  
• 03 district level climate change adaptation plans (CAP) (one plan for each district) covering the five sectors.  

1. Proposal requirements 

Oxfam is requesting the service providers to hand in a proposal of maximum 05 pages, which should highlight the methodology and analytical approaches that the consultancy team will employ for acquiring and analyzing data; the types of data(sets) that will be used; an analysis plan; and a workplan. The proposal should also include a succinct description of team capacities and any prior, directly relevant experience related to these ToR. The 5-page proposal does not include company biographies, CVs, sample work and references, which should be submitted separately. *If also applying for the ‘adaptation planning’, the proposal can be 06 pages maximum, and the methodology, approach and plan for adaptation planning must be detailed.  

The proposal must be submitted in a Microsoft Word or PowerPoint version to facilitate any copy-and-pasting of content that may be needed during evaluation.  Proposals not fulfilling the minimum criteria will be excluded from the tender procedure and will not be assessed further. 

Education and Experience  

1) The consultants or applicant agency should have individuals possessing significant knowledge and experience of conducting high quality research on climate vulnerability and adaptation planning. Experience in MENA would be an asset.  

2) The researchers must have sound and relevant academic and research credentials. 

3) Experience in managing multi-disciplinary studies in MENA or countries with similar contexts. 

4) Capability to collect primary data efficiently in Iraq.  

5) Proficiency in English. Arabic would be an asset.   

 Selection Process  

Step 1: Technical Criteria  

Evaluation scores will be awarded for each of the components. The evaluation committee will score each component unanimously. The proposal will be assessed based on the following selection criteria: 

Step 2 – Financial Criteria  

A combined price  (ex VAT) is to be presented. This is to be broken down by team member rate and hours. The criterion of assessment is “the best price for the proposed level of quality” with a maximum grading of 5. 

Step 3 – Weighting 

The assignment will be awarded to the service provider with the most economically advantageous tender. The most economically advantageous tender is determined based on the evaluation criteria of price and quality. The final score will be weighted 70% on Technical and 30% on Price. If scores of service providers are equal, priority will be based on the total scores that were given for the technical criterion.  

1. Timeframe

The assignment is expected to be completed within a 5-month period, inclusive of the submission of the final deliverables defined within. Weekly meetings will be held to discuss findings and direction of report.

1. Required minimum mandatory documents (in addition to clause D. Proposal requirements )  which must be submitted to the email below:
   1. technical proposal.
   2. Signed stamped detailed financial proposal, including the payment terms and payment methods.
   3. Consultant CV.

1. How to apply:

The interested parties should send all the required documents listed above to the address: irqconsultancy@oxfam.org.uk  

Email subject: Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plans

Deadline for submission of offers:

The deadline for submitting the offers is: 14 March 2024 5:00 PM Iraq time.

Attached Documens:

-TOR

-Tender Dossier

TOR LINK: https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/vacancy/20727/description