Climate Justice Scoping Study in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) in Kenya

Terms of Reference for Climate Justice Scoping Study in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) in Kenya

About the Project

The Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) is a Kenyan NGO whose mission is to improve the livelihoods of communities in East Africa through the delivery of knowledge and skills on sustainable agriculture and adaptation to climate change using modern technologies. In its new strategy (2022-2027), ALIN Promote solutions that enhance long-term resilience of communities and enable them to thrive in the face of devastating climate shocks.

With support from Oxfam, ALIN is implementing the climate justice component of the Oxfam IBIS project titled “Democracy, climate justice and public education for all in Kenya.” The Project’s impact objective is “Strengthened democracy, progressive resource mobilization the right to free, public quality education, and successful progress towards climate justice and a green economy has enhanced sustainable, gender sensitive and equitable socio-economic development in Kenya.”

This means that the project contributes to two of the overall strategic priorities in the Danish Strategy for International Cooperation: Democratic Values and Human Rights with main emphasis on protecting democracy and supporting effective, democratic and responsible states, including providing education; and Climate and Green Solutions, with main emphasis on strengthening civil society capacity to engage in advocacy efforts related to climate justice.

Background

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) ‘Summary for Policymakers of the Working Group I Contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis’ report shows that global surface temperature will continue to increase until at least the mid-century under all emissions scenarios considered. Global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius and 2 degrees Celsius will be exceeded during the 21st century unless deep reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions occur in the coming decades.

In Kenya, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) which occupy 80% of the country’s landmass are highly devastated by the extreme conditions clearly being experienced by the marginalized and most vulnerable communities in these areas. According to the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) July bulletin, drought continued to worsen in 20 of the 23 ASAL counties. The number of counties in the Alarm stage of drought has increased from five (5) in May to eight (8) in June 2022 while twelve (12) counties are in the Alert drought phase. This is attributed to the poor performance of the 2021 short rains coupled with the previous two failed consecutive seasons and early cessation of the 2022 long rains season.

Proposed Study and Purpose

The Democracy, climate justice and public education for all in Kenya Programme believe that a climate justice and a green economy advocated by women, youth and civil society alliances lead to a more sustainable, gender transformative and equitable socioeconomic model in Kenya.

As part of this project, ALIN with support from Oxfam wishes to conduct a scoping studyon the climate justice efforts, gaps and opportunities in ASAL counties around loss and damage, adaptation and mitigation for the ASAL counties, and design a national influencing strategy including around COP27 in Egypt which seek to accelerate global climate action through emissions reduction, scaled-up adaptation efforts and enhanced flows of appropriate finance.

The scoping study will help inform Oxfam and ALIN programming in climate justice in Kenya for the next 2-3 years. This scoping study has five objectives assignment:

1. To analyse climate justice efforts, gaps and opportunities in ASAL counties around loss and damage, adaptation, and mitigation
2. To map out policy and regulatory frameworks that will enable and or hinder Climate Justice in Kenya
3. Analyse potential national climate budget monitoring and advocacy work, including an overview of current efforts and design a national influencing strategy including around the Conference of Parties (COP27)
4. To undertake partner and stakeholder mapping to inform potential areas of collaboration and complementarity
5. To identify gaps, and opportunities for programming that Oxfam in Kenya and ALIN should prioritise on climate justice in Kenya for 2-3 years

The scoping study should among others cover the areas highlighted below;

Climate change adaptation in ASAL areas

1. How are communities in ASALs areas adapting to climate change?
2. What are some of the climate change adaptation interventions that are currently implemented in ASAL areas?
3. Are communities in ASAL areas involved in climate change adaptation planning and budgeting?
4. Are communities able to influence or monitor climate adaptation expenditure?
5. To what extent do climate adaptation actions in ASALs and budgets reflect achieving gender equality? Are there requirements for achieving gender equality?
6. Are there successful examples of communities in ASALs’ involvement in developing and implementing climate adaptation projects?
7. How can ASALs enhance efforts and resources for adaptation measures?

Climate change mitigation in the ASAL area

1. What are some of the climate change mitigation actions implemented in ASAL areas?
2. Are communities in ASALs involved in climate change mitigation planning and budgeting?
3. Are communities able to influence or monitor climate mitigation expenditure?
4. Are there successful examples of communities in ASAL’s involvement in developing and implementing climate mitigation projects?
5. How can ASALs enhance efforts and resources for climate change mitigation measures?

Loss and damage

1. Illustrate the loss and damage impacts of climate change-related hazards such as droughts, food, and soil degradation in ASAL areas
2. Explain the various loss and damage impacts these climate hazards are having on the lives, living conditions and livelihoods of communities and marginalised groups
3. Highlight how loss and damage impacts compound or exacerbate other risks ( such as poverty, health, marginalization, conflict and so on in ASAL
4. Explain the impact loss and damage is having at the level of community and society such as on access to basic services and institutions, migration, and climate-induced conflict among others?
5. Illustrate the coping and adaptation measures- both traditional and innovative- that are being employed by households and communities in ASAL areas to address, minimize or avert loss and damage risks
6. Highlight the existing gaps and challenges and what needs to be done to help the communities to prepare, cope and recover from loss and damage
7. Explain the priorities for action on loss and damage in ASAL areas, sharing solutions and providing recommendations
8. Are there interventions in ASAL counties to track and report on loss and damage?
9. How can ASAL counties secure dedicated finance for loss and damage?

Conference of Parties (COP) 27

1. What are some of the climate change mitigation and adaptation actions do ASAL communities feel are important to be captured in Kenya’s COP 27 position paper?
2. What are some important case studies that the Kenyan delegation can present during COP27 on loss and damage that can help to inform the operationalization of the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage (SNLD)
3. What would be considered a successful COP27 outcome for ASAL

In order to achieve this, ALIN wishes to procure an external entity to undertake the study through an Expression of Interest (EOI).

Consultant Profile

We are interested to hear from consultant (s) that meet the following criteria:

1. Relevant academic, practical or professional experience in climate mitigation and adaptation, loss and damage and United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) processes
2. Demonstrated experience in conducting climate change research in Kenya and specifically in ASAL
3. In-depth knowledge of ASAL in Kenya
4. Demonstrated understanding of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) processes
5. Demonstrated understanding of the climate change policy and legal framework in Kenya