BACKGROUND
The LSHTM Sustainable Climate Impact Fund (SCIF) is being developed to offset the LSHTM’s carbon emissions through the implementation of a structured programme of related projects in developing countries, specifically in locations where LSHTM currently has a presence, i.e. Uganda and The Gambia MRC Units. The Programme will be designed to support the implementation of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with support from the Gold Standard Foundation’s Gold for the Global Goals initiative [See: Gold Standard for the Global Goals | The Gold Standard ].
The SCIF, which is currently at initiation stage, will identify, together with local partners, project opportunities that can effectively offset carbon emissions in ways that directly address local needs to benefit communities. Working closely with local communities in these locations to adequately identify and scope needs will be critical to the successful completion of the initiation stage.
The SCIF is set up to support a Programme of projects that can contribute to the environmental, social and economic wellbeing of local communities where the projects are based while at the same time delivering carbon offsetting credits for the SCIF. By helping some of these projects, locations and community groups may provide the opportunity to create added advantage or synergies to some of LSHTM’s local health research work. For example, using the SCIF to provide new community facilities with a clinic and means of low to zero carbon transport may enable more local people to access healthcare. These projects will be scoped, identified and agreed in collaboration with local communities using good practice participatory approaches. Creating a Programme of projects will enable a phased approach to establishing new grey, green and blue infrastructure to improve local health and well-being through measurable socio-economic and environmental improvements that can be independently validated and verified against GS technical standards.
The intention is for the SCIF to provide carbon offsetting credits through specific projects to LSHTM and to other participating organisations wishing to offset their emissions through the scheme. These participants could be; LSHTM grant funders, other HEIs, public sector organisations (e.g., NHS UK Hospital Trusts), private sector healthcare organisations and individuals.
These offsetting projects would be location-specific within the Programme area around each MRC Unit and could comprise of but not limited to the following categories of interventions:
· Reforestation, e.g. planting appropriate native tree species;
· Avoided deforestation, REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation);
· Clean water access, thus reducing the need to burn wood fuel to boil water for drinking as large-scale removal of woodland generally greatly reduces the resilience and integrity of local ecosystems and contributes heavily to adverse climate change impacts.
· Enhancement and sustainable management of forestry, REDD+;
· Renewable energy facilities and infrastructure, such as solar cookstoves, solar PV and wind turbines;
· Capture of landfill gas or methane as ‘biogas’ using appropriate waste materials;
· Clean cookstove projects, e.g. using solar power to avoid particulates from using local wood fuel; and
· Biosphere and local fauna protection
Project scoping efforts with local stakeholders and communities will need to identify SDG-related issues where investment is required to create new grey/blue/green infrastructure at the neighbourhood or community-scale to lift households out of disadvantage. These measures will need to be scoped to identify how low to zero carbon solutions could be developed as prioritised phases to meet needs and implement the SDGs.
OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY:
This recruitment process aims to hire 2 consultancy teams/consultants, each focusing on one of the identified countries, i.e. Uganda or The Gambia (NB - please state which reference you are applying to I.e., The Gambia (REF A - GAMBIA) or Uganda (REF B - UGANDA)) Note – one consultancy may choose to apply to carry out the work in both countries if they have the capacity to do so.
The consultant(s) are required to produce a report on the assessment of identified projects within specific localities/regions, bearing in mind relevant national/country policies, regulations or any planned interventions in the regions. This work should should cover the following key thematic areas:
(1) Country Context: the consultant should consider the environmental, socio-economic and demographic peculiarities that may influence projects or any specific assignment within the particular MRC Unit locality/region context
(2) Prioritization: of areas of intervention based on in-country national priorities particularly where there is alignment with SCIF’s broader objectives and the type of offsetting projects described previously whenever possible. Identify up to 10 possible projects to form the initial phase of a long-term development Programme be supported by the Fund
(3) Stakeholders Consultation: The consultant should organize key interviews, focus-groups and outreach events in the consultation stage to encourage a participatory approach that enables communities and other stakeholders to ‘co-produce’ the Programme and its projects’ selection. It is critical that relevant community stakeholders are heard in identifying priority areas and projects– the consultant should identify and keep a comprehensive record of stakeholder interactions and feedback, highlighting resolutions and areas where outstanding issues persist or are anticipated in subsequent phases of Programme development and implementation.
(4) Local sourcing and participation; where relevant every effort should be made to ensure local raw materials, services and products are sourced locally within the communities, where possible, and utility of interventions have direct benefits to local communities and the economy in each region/locality. The consultants should incorporate participatory methodologies, including the community and local partners in the different stages of assignment where relevant ensuring a consistent and inclusive consultation process.
NB –The consultant(s) is expected to travel if possible, to conduct key interviews -
KEY DELIVERABLES:
· Inception Report
· Preliminary Findings Reports
· Final Report and Executive Summary
· Preparation of results presentation at the stakeholders’ workshop
PROPOSED METHODOLOGY:
· Inception report and Methodology/ Plan presentation – discussion with project team on Study Design proposal
· Desktop Research
· Stakeholders’ mapping
· Consultation Stage – participatory approach - key individual/ joint interviews, outreach events and focus groups organization
· Community involvement and Preliminary Findings Report presentation workshop
· Incorporation of feedback on the report
· Data triangulation and analysis as applicable
· Final Report presentation workshop
· Integrate comments of reviewers and feedback on the report
PROPOSED TIMEFRAME:
The Consultancy is estimated to approximately 40 working days of duration, starting ideally July 2021.
The stakeholders’ consultation should be done in-country as far as practicable, SCIF and Gold Standard will provide some local references and contacts of each MRC Unit, local NGO representatives and existing initiatives to build on, etc.
The consultant is expected to schedule and lead meetings with stakeholders as required.
ROLES AND RESPONSABILITIES:
The Consultant will respond to the SCIF Programme Lead and supported by the internal Project Manager having regular progress meetings as per the workplan, draft versions of the study will be presented, and the Consultant will receive feedback and revision inputs during the writing stage from the Project Team – as agreed in the workplan.
CONSULTANT(S) PROFILE:
· Advanced University Degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Environmental Studies/ Development and International Cooperation Studies/ Anthropology
· Significant experience in infrastructure, developmental and environmental issues, including its socio-economic impacts within a global context and applying this knowledge into programmes, policy, and organizational planning
· Understanding of the Global Goals/SDGs and their relevance to this type of initiative
· Significant experience in ex-ante evaluations; country diagnosis and locality/county assessments.
· Professional experience and knowledge of the region and country context, developing countries and of sub-Saharan Africa is desirable
· In-country presence would be ideal
· Fluently spoken and written English
· Cultural sensitivity and empathy
PRESENTATION OF PROPOSAL:
· Please send your proposal to the following address: ola.bankole@lshtm.ac.uk and sara.dias@lshtm.ac.uk by the 10th June 2021
· Interviews with top candidates will take place via zoom on the week of the 14th June 2021.
· Please include the following in your proposal:
o Curriculum Vitae of the consultant(s)
o Technical Proposal with suggested approach to work/ methodology workplan and timeline (approximately 10 pages)
o Two examples of previous similar work – written samples
o 3 Professional References
o Cost proposal, daily fee all included (travel costs in country included)
Please reference which country(ies) your proposal is for:
Gambia (REF A - GAMBIA) and/or Uganda (REF B - UGANDA)
