RFP-IRQ-CO-23-01 for consultancy service for exploring opportunities to utilize digital technologies in the agriculture sector in Iraq.

1. Who is the Danish Refugee Council?

Founded in 1956, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading international NGO (Non-Government Organizations) and one of the few with a specific expertise in forced displacement. Active in 40 countries with 9,000 employees and supported by 7,500 volunteers, DRC protects, advocates, and builds sustainable futures for refugees and other displacement affected people and communities. DRC works during displacement at all stages: In the acute crisis, in displacement, when settling and integrating in a new place, or upon return. DRC provides protection and life-saving humanitarian assistance; supports displaced persons in becoming self-reliant and included into hosting societies; and works with civil society and responsible authorities to promote protection of rights and peaceful coexistence.

DRC has been operational in Iraq since 2003 serving the needs of populations impacted by displacement, including refugees, IDPs (internally displaced persons), returnees, and host community. Our programming encompasses multiple governorates in Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and includes protection, economic recovery, shelter and settlements, WASH, and humanitarian disarmament and peacebuilding programming.

2. Purpose of the consultancy

The Danish Refugee Council based in Iraq seeks proposals from a consultancy firm to conduct research exploring opportunities to utilize digital technologies in the agriculture sector, to promote climate resilient agriculture.

3. Background

Iraq is highly vulnerable to climate and environmental change and its impacts and has been classified as the fifth most vulnerable country in the world to climate change. Increasing temperatures, decreasing water availability and greater inter-annual variability in rainfall negatively affect agriculture, reduce household income and food availability, and exacerbate livelihood insecurity. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by the adverse effects of climate change, due to pre-existing gender norms and persisting inequalities. Low agricultural yields and loss of livelihoods contribute to increased urban migration, with urban challenges including the risk of social unrest and protests in host cities.

In Iraq, agriculture is a priority sector identified for recovery and longer-term development which has the potential to create employment and provide sustainable income opportunities for conflict affected populations recovering from multiple crises, including most recently with the so-called Islamic State and Iraq (ISIS). The agricultural sector in Iraq is the second largest contributor to the GDP, bested only by the oil. In 2017, agriculture contributed 4.8 percent to Iraq’s GDP and employed 19 percent of the workforce (World Bank, 2020). Small-scale farming systems dominate the sector and are typically characterized by traditional methods and minimal capital investments. These systems were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent economic downturns, and highlighted the lack of social protection systems, including social insurance, to support farmers’ resilience against shocks. In addition to vulnerability to economic crises, farmers are particularly at risk to the negative consequences of climate and environmental change, including rising summer temperatures, increased frequency of dust storms and drought/water scarcity. Loss of agricultural production means loss of livelihoods, not only for the farmers and their households, but also for any agricultural workers employed on the farms and their households too, thus deepening poverty for all. Agriculture development is critical to allow Iraq to achieve its vision of a more diversified economy, in addition to generating employment and boosting private sector engagement. Approximately 22 percent (9.5 million hectare) of Iraq is suitable for agriculture production, yet only about 5 million hectares are currently cultivated. Crop production is the major source of income for most farmers (about 75 percent), while the rest depend on livestock or mixed crop and livestock production systems. The agricultural sector is strategic for food security and is a source of employment and income for millions of Iraqi families. Despite the government’s commitment to revive the sector, agriculture has been affected by distortionary and ineffective policies, mismanagement, and conflict-related destruction. According to FAO, agriculture is the largest source of employment for those living in rural areas (FAO, 2017). Agriculture is also an important sector for female employment; 23 percent of women working in Iraq are employed in the sector (WB, 2020).

DRC is a longstanding INGO in Iraq, with an extensive program providing consumption and economic recovery support to conflict affected populations across the country. The beneficiary profile of the economic recovery program includes all categories of population, i.e., IDPs, refugees, returnees, and host communities. The program portfolio on economic recovery is divided into three major areas—relief, recovery, and longer-term resilience.

1. Relief: Under this, DRC provides consumption support to extremely vulnerable displacement and conflict affected populations. The assistance is provided through multi-purpose cash grants to households.
2. Recovery: Through its economic recovery interventions, DRC uses multiple programming approaches which are further divided into two areas: i.e., self-employment, and ii. wage employment
3. Longer term resilience: DRC under its resilience pillar is working to address the root causes of economic inequalities through system-based approaches with special focus on agriculture and food sectors. The aim is to address the root causes which are drivers of conflict and displacement.

DRC’s program is designed to serve as a bridge between humanitarian assistance and longer-term recovery and development strategies by identifying entry-points to assistance for households at different vulnerability stages: addressing basic needs and reducing reliance on negative coping strategies for extremely vulnerable households, and job creation and income generation for vulnerable households for sustainable livelihoods.

DRC’s Iraq economic recovery program strategy is transitioning toward longer term recovery and development with application of market systems development approaches. Agriculture is one priority sector identified for recovery and longer-term development which has potential to create employment and provide sustainable income opportunities for conflict affected population recovering from the crisis impacts. However, beside many other constraints in growth of agriculture sector, climate change is alarmingly posting threats to already weekend systems within agriculture sector which requires further interventions to response and adapt to climate change impacts on the sector.

4. Objective of the consultancy

In response to the emerging climate crisis and to improve resilience within the context of climate induced migration and displacement, DRC intends to explore opportunities to make use of digital technologies in agriculture sector for promoting climate resilient agriculture. For this purpose, DRC initially will conduct a detail technical research of digital ecosystem in Iraq with the aim of designing program and providing support to develop climate resilient agriculture practices. The consultant will be required to write a research report with detailed findings and program recommendations for DRC according to the objective and scope of work defined under this TOR.

Scope of work and Methodology

1. Mapping existing digital technologies and actors in Iraq within the broader digital ecosystem which supports to climate adaptation and mitigation.
2. Examine the availability and effectiveness of existing infrastructure in Iraq supporting use and development of digital technologies for climate smart agriculture practices including private sector and government.
3. Mapping of the services and gaps in existing services including, Weather and Climate Services (WACS), climate smart agriculture digital advisory services, early warning services, agriculture intelligence, and role of actors like Mobile Network Operators (MNO), hydrological and metrological departments, and others involved.
4. Explore and identify the end user’ (farmers) familiarity and capacity on utilization of existing services and/or potential of adopting to new digital services.
5. Identify the gaps which prevents development and functioning of digital platforms including infrastructure, actors’ capacities, investment, knowledge, skill, attitude, and regulations.
6. Developing program recommendations and feasibility including estimate resource requirements of developing and applying digital solutions in response to emerging climate crisis.

The Consultant will be required to prepare a detailed methodology and work plan indicating how

the objectives of the project will be achieved, and the support required from DRC.

5. Deliverables

The Consultant will submit deliverables as mentioned in annex F

6. Duration, timeline, and payment

The total expected duration to complete the assignment will be no more than 42 working days.

The consultant shall be prepared to complete the assignment no later than 30 May 2023.

7. Proposed Composition of Team

The consultancy firm is expected to list the CVs of staff in the proposal with their tasks and responsibilities to complete the deliveries as per the TOR, however, DRC expects the research team to include the following members:

• Project Manager and focal person to DRC for overall technical and administrative engagement.
• Research analyst with strong background and proven expertise on conducting research work.
• Climate, environment, and digital specialists in agriculture sector with strong expertise and knowledge on climate change and on digital technologies in agriculture sector.

8. Eligibility, qualification, and experience required.

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, development economics, climate change or other related discipline.
• Proven experience of min 5 years in conducting technical research studies and feasibility studies especially focusing on climate change, agriculture, and digital technologies
• A team composed of technical experts with experience in agriculture, climate, digitization, and research.
• A team of enumerators or research assistants available locally in country to conduct data collection.
• Evidence of the similar work from past assignment

Desirable:

• Familiar and knowledgeable about Iraqi context
• Advanced degree in agriculture, development economics, climate change or other related discipline.

Eligibility:

• The consultant has the authorisation to work in Federal and Kurdistan Region of Iraq
• The consultant has a team of local research assistants in Iraq.

Qualification:

• At least Bachelor’s degree in disciplines mentioned above in ‘Essential’.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years in related work with evidence of sample report provided as part of proposal submission.
• Experience of similar related work in same context of Iraq.

Skills and knowledge:

• Team consists of strong expertise on climate change and digital technologies in agriculture and climate change.
• Strong data analysis skills with robust systems and tools for analysing big data.
• Proven experience of developing technical feasibility studies related to use of digital technologies and climate in agriculture sector.

Language requirements:

• Written and spoken fluency in English (s)
• Working knowledge of Arabic is an advantage.

9. Technical supervision

The selected consultant will work under the supervision of:

• Head of program

10. Location and support

Governorates of Federal Iraq, Ninewa, Diyala, Basra, with some consultation and interviews at Baghdad level

The Consultant will provide her/his own computer and mobile telephone, data analysis platforms, and other essentials required for accomplishment of the deliverables.

11. Travel

This consultancy assignment will require visiting different Governorates of Iraq (as per the names mentioned above) for data collection, expert interviews, and site observation. Therefore, consultant is expected to arrange transportation, accommodation, insurance, food, and all other logistics related to these field visits. Selected consultant would be responsible for securing visa to travel to these locations. DRC can only provide advisory and information guide related to these arrangements.

12. Submission process

Refer to the RFP Invitation letter RFP-IRQ-CO-2023-01 for consultancy service for exploring opportunities to utilize digital technologies in the agriculture sector in Iraq Section V. Submission of Bids

13. Evaluation of bids

Refer to the RFP Invitation letter RFP-IRQ-CO-2023-01 for consultancy service for exploring opportunities to utilize digital technologies in the agriculture sector in Iraq Section Selection and Award Criteria