Consultant for Baseline Study of “Local to Global Action for Climate Justice” (remote)

1. Introduction

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of 149 churches in the Lutheran tradition, representing over 77 million Christians in 99 countries. LWF strives to put faith into action within and beyond the communion. This action takes a variety of forms from theological reflection and dialogue with other churches and faiths, to deepening relationships, sharing about our faith, serving those in need and advocating for a more just, peaceful, and reconciled world.

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has worked on climate environmental and ecological justice issues for many decades. It has engaged with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for more than ten years as an observer, contributor and participant in climate negotiations and other processes. Climate justice advocacy and policy engagement is a key priority in the LWF Strategy for the period 2019 – 2024.

The LWF has been engaging with building resilience, adaptation, and mitigation, supporting communities affected by climate change impacts and undertaking advocacy from local to global levels. The LWF member churches provide a strong moral and ethical compass, emphasizing the need to have compassion for all living things, and the moral imperative to care for the earth while protecting the lives, livelihoods, and dignity of communities that are vulnerable to climate change.

The present terms of reference describe the expectations for a baseline study for the project “Local to Global Action for Climate Justice” – a global three-year project with a total budget of EUR 467,000, funded by Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World – BftW) Germany, with back donor funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The overall goal of the project is to accelerate climate action from local to global by boosting the global commitment to the Paris Agreement.

Objective(s) & Indicator(s)

Churches and faith-based organizations (FBOs) in the project countries have increased their engagement for climate justice.

1. At least 6 climate justice advocacy initiatives are implemented per year and documented through media and communication channels.
2. Each year, 10 best practices on climate justice advocacy activities are identified, documented, and shared.

By the end of the project, churches, FBOs and partner civil society actors in the project countries have effectively influenced national and regional policymakers for ambitious national and regional climate policies.

1. By the end of the project, at least 3 concrete actions related to NDCs (National Climate Targets), NAPs (National Adaptation Plans), LTSs (long-term strategies) or changes in national legislation will be implemented.

National religious leaders, churches, and faith-based actors actively contribute to climate justice advocacy in international forums.

1. Churches and faith-based stakeholders are engaged in at least 5 climate justice initiatives per year at United Nations bodies.
2. At least 25 religious’ leaders at local to global levels participate in global climate justice actions each year.

This project will cover the following regions:

Africa: Africa is facing a particularly precarious climate change context, with a multiplicity of impacts such as droughts, floods, and increases in tropical diseases. These are further compounded by the high level of poverty and inequalities, which make the continent vulnerable to humanitarian crises and conflicts. In Africa, the project will cover the following countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, South Africa, and Ghana. Churches and faith communities are some of the most important pillars of society in Africa, making them significant stakeholders to engage with on climate justice advocacy.

Asia and Pacific: Asia and the Pacific region face some of the most pressing climate change impacts, ranging from increased extreme storms to sea level rise. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the region due to climate change have increased over the years, resulting in large amounts of loss and damage. Philippines, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea will be covered in this project. The focus countries for these projects grapple with high level of poverty and face governance challenges. Climate justice advocacy in these countries would necessarily include engagements on issues related to climate induced humanitarian crises, role of youth and women and the broader question of disaster risk reduction, particularly in the context of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Latin America and the Caribbean: Climate change poses many challenges to development in Latin America and the Caribbean region. The countries in this region already experience climate change impacts such as droughts, floods, ocean acidification, sea-level rise, tropical cyclones, and temperature changes that are negatively affecting coastal livelihoods, tourism, health, food, and water security. For this region, climate change is an additional burden on top of other challenges like poverty, insecurity, inequality, and the ongoing public health pandemic. This project will cover Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, El Salvador and Cuba.

Target groups for the project include churches, faith-based leaders, and faith-based organizations, their congregations, and the communities where they live and indirectly, local, District and National Government officials and policy makers. The project also targets and influences interfaith and civil society actors from local to global levels. LWF member churches in 18 focus countries represent more than 31 million people according to the LWF 2019 membership figures and engage with many more in their diverse communities.

A particular focus is placed on youth, women, and vulnerable people most impacted by climate change. The project aims for equal participation of women and men when possible and when not, at least will ensure 40% participation whether male or female.

Key stakeholders in civil society such as environmental and climate justice organizations are important allies and critical to the reach and impact of the project, as are academia and the scientific community to ensure science-based actions are taken and evidence-based advocacy is employed for effective influencing and results.

2. Baseline study purpose and objectives

The baseline study is conducted to gather detailed information on the situation at the beginning of the project in relation to key impact areas of the project. It serves as a starting point for assessing progress through monitoring and evaluation processes throughout the project. The baseline study has the following specific objectives:

• Establish the baseline values for the project indicators, within the 18 focus countries
• Assess whether the target values for indicators as well as direct and indirect beneficiaries are realistic; adjustments should only be made when absolutely necessary
• Provide recommendations for the monitoring of indicators

3. Methodology

Data Availability

Possible data sources for the baseline study include:

• LWF reporting and monitoring data on climate justice engagement in the focus countries in previous years
• Representatives and members of LWF member churches, and partner organizations in the focus countries
• LWF staff members at headquarters and country program level
• Other sources, including relevant documentation available at the level of member churches or partner organizations.

Methodology

The baseline study methodology chosen should:

• take into account the OECD-DAC Quality Standards for Development Evaluation, including participation, credibility, gender-sensitivity and fairness;
• ensure to consult different stakeholder groups, such as representatives of LWF member churches, country programs, and faith-based organizations in the focus countries, as well as staff of LWF headquarters as part of the data collection;
• Use a mix of both quantitative and qualitative methods, incl. triangulation wherever possible, i.e., validation of data through cross verification from different independent sources.

It is expected that data collection will be done remotely, using online surveys, interviews etc.

4. Expected deliverables

Deliverables

The Consultant will prepare:

1. an inception report including the detailed baseline study design, catalogue of questions, work plan and draft data collection tools
2. a draft baseline study report and
3. A final baseline study report.

These deliverables are to be:

• Prepared in English
• Submitted to the LWF Program Executive for Climate Justice and the PMER Coordinator electronically via e-mail.

Inception Report

At the beginning of the assignment, after initial document review and consultations with LWF Staff, the Consultant will prepare a draft inception report to operationalize and direct the baseline study. The inception report will describe how the baseline study will be carried out, describe the overall design, the methodologies to be applied and the draft data collection tools, the proposed detailed timeline, refining and elaborating the assignment described in the terms of reference. LWF will provide comments on the draft inception report, which the Consultant shall take into account in finalizing the document.

Baseline Study Report

The Consultant will prepare a draft baseline study report (max. 20 pages with an executive summary), including a description of the purpose, methodology and limitations of the baseline study, the study findings, and a revised indicator/target matrix. After receiving comments from LWF and BftW, the consultant will finalize the baseline study report.

Expected timeline for deliverables

• Draft Inception report: Within one (1) week of the contract signature, the consultant(s) will submit an inception report detailing the methodological approach, proposed timeline for the assignment and draft data collection instruments.
• Final Inception Report: Within one (1) week of receiving the comments on the draft inception report and data collection instruments, the consultant(s) will produce a final inception document.
• Draft Baseline Study Report: The Consultant will submit a draft baseline study report for review by LWF and BftW by mid-March 2023.
• Final Baseline Study Report: Within one (1) week of receiving comments on the draft report, the Consultant will submit a final baseline study report, including an executive summary and any relevant annexes.

The total estimated number of working days is approximately 20 days between January and March 2023.