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Expert in Pastoral Livelihoods
Source: Action Against Hunger - UK
Rebecca Ngunjiri
| Deadline: | 11 May 2008 |
| Organisation: | Action Against Hunger - UK |
| Location: | Ethiopia |
| Type: | contract |
| Salary: | TBA (000's USD) |
| Description: | ACF is looking for an Expert in Pastoral Livelihoods for the Evaluation of its following program in Ethiopia:
"Support to livestock management for pastoralist and agro-pastoralist populations - Koraihe & Warder Zone of Somali Regional State" 1. Background The area is a semi-arid region inhabited by pastoral and agro-pastoral communities. The society is clan-based and natural resources management fall under clan and family relations. A combination of factors such as long lasting civil conflict, erosion of natural resources and the limited capacities of the population to develop coping mechanisms impact significantly upon households. Livelihoods of both pastoralists and agro-pastoralists structurally depend on livestock, which is a source of income as well as of food (milk and meat production). Livestock, in turn, depends on the two main natural resources: pastures and water, which for the last three years are not sufficient, due to erratic rainfall an recurring droughts. On top of these natural hazards, the targeted areas are facing a long-lasting civil conflict, which intensified since June 2007, when the Government of Ethiopia launched a military operation in five zones of the Somali Region, also often called 'Ogaden': Fik, Degehabur, Warder, Koraihe and Gode zones. This operation aims at eradicating the local rebel group called ONLF. One of the main objectives of the military offensive was to cut any civilian support from the ONLF, as the local population is often suspected to support the rebel group. As a result, the civilian population is caught up into the 2 warring parties. Reinforcement of local militias, control of roads, trade (for staple food as well as for veterinary drugs) and frequent military patrols are few of the means used to control the area. Action Contre la Faim (ACF) has been working for over nine years in Warder and Koraihe Zones of the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia (since 1996), focusing on pastoral and agro-pastoral communities. ACF has been developing a two-pronged approach: responding to emergency situations (such as the droughts in 2000 and 2006) and complementary recovery and development programmes focusing on water, agriculture, community-based animal health, and disaster preparedness. 2. Details of the Programme Livestock being a major component of the pastoralist and agro-pastoralist population livelihood, ACF has focused its interventions on this topic. In 1996, In Warder Zone, ACF conducted a health and water program, focusing on rehabilitation of health centers and water points. In 1999/2000, responding to a drought in Somali Region, ACF launched a nutrition, animal health and water and sanitation programme. From 1999 to 2002, ACF expanded its area of coverage in two zones of the Somali Region (Koraihe and Warder Zones) and implemented Animal health and Early warning programmes. Regarding Animal Health activities, in 2001 ACF made a general assessment to better understand the situation. Generally, governmental services are considered to be insufficient in the area, and this is also true concerning animal health care. Civil servants have limited access to the field and are distributed in towns often far from livestock areas. They have also limited means in terms of logistics or medicines. Free vaccination and treatment campaigns are sometimes organised but largely insufficient and not adapted compared to the needs. From 2001 until now, animal health activities have aimed at improving the animals' health status: in 2003, an animal disease surveillance system was initiated; in 2004, ACF intervened in emergency animal health using the paravet network established for the past few years, ensuring the treatment of 300 000 to 400 000 animals in 2 to 3 months in Somali as well as Afar regions. Meanwhile, water and sanitation programmes have still been implemented mainly when there is an identified emergency - for example in 2007 with the outbreak of Acute Watery Diarrhoea. Meanwhile, ACF has studied during seven years animal health coping strategies and has conducted a six months study to understand local pastoralists' and agro-pastoralists' strategies and coping mechanisms. ACF started the current program: "Support to livestock management for pastoralist and agro-pastoralist populations - Koraihe & Warder Zone of Somali Regional State, Ethiopia". General Objective The proposed intervention intended to improve the food security of pastoralist population of the Somali Regional State. The strategy was to mitigate the impact on livestock of external shocks, mainly climatic and animal diseases outbreaks, by strengthening and supporting existing pastoral local coping mechanisms. In order to achieve that overall objective, ACF was proposing to improve water availability and animal health services for livestock of pastoralists populations of Koraihe and Warder Zones - Somali Region. Specific Objectives Water Component - ACF intended to increase water availability (in quantity/ duration). ACF water component was going to focus primarily on water points which will allow pastoralists to optimize herd migrations and improve the use of natural resources available (pastures) in normal and stress times. Animal Health Component - ACF intended to improve pastoralists' access to adequate animal health (AH) services In order to prevent livestock mortality, ACF was planning: to further reinforce the network of Community based Animal Health Workers (CbAHWs or "paravets") created by the organization over the past six years, and to focus particularly on their link with drug vendors, other animal health related actors as well as with the pastoralists themselves. 3. Objectives of the Evaluation This evaluation is undertaken as an independent examination of ACF strategy in the areas of intervention. It is a critical evaluation of the programme: its purpose is to act as a revision of the ACF technical strategy towards Animal Health in Koraihe and Warder Zones, to give an external vision of the relevance of past and current ACF operations, and to provide strategic recommendations for the present and future similar interventions. Specific objectives come as follows: PRIMARY OBJECTIVE- The primary objective is to evaluate the relevance and the appropriateness of ACF Animal Health strategy in the given context and assess impact. By doing so, the evaluator will analyse the coverage of the programme, and its coherence in the given context. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE- The secondary objective is to evaluate the Animal Health programmes' sustainability in the given context. It will also analyse the monitoring of the current programme. Terms of reference detailing theses criteria will be provided to the successful candidate. 4. Timeline The evaluations are planned for a period of five weeks and should start by the 2nd of June 2008. 5. Evaluator Profile Essential MA or MSC in Animal Health Science, Pastoral Studies, Food Security, Livelihoods. 10 years experience in food security / animal health in a pastoral context (programme management, coordination, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation). Experience of external project Evaluation Excellent communication skills in English Ability to act autonomously Desirable / Asset PhD degree in Animal Health Science, Pastoral Studies, Food Security, Livelihoods. Publication on related-fields Experience of the Somali context, understanding of Somali language Working knowledge of ACF 6. Conditions Payment will be done on the basis of the above mentioned time table, daily fees shall be negotiated. 40% of the fees will be paid after reception of the draft report, 60% will be paid after validation of the final report by ACF-UK. Travel, accommodation (hotel for HQ briefing, and Guest house for in-country nights), food, will be provided at ACF guesthouses at field level. The application of the visa is the responsibility of the consultant (can be obtained at airport), however these costs will be reimbursed in full upon receipt of the expenses. Evaluation costs (in country transport, evaluation team, translator....) will be covered. Insurance costs will not be covered, and the evaluator shall manage its own insurance, and provide the details of this cover to ACF-UK before departure. |
Contact Details
| Name: | Rebecca Ngunjiri |
| Telephone: | +442082936190 |
| Email: | www.aahuk.org |
