TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE RESEARCH AND MAPPING IN AFRICA

1.0 American Friends Service Committee Brief Background

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace, and humanitarian service. AFSC promotes nonviolent approaches to conflict resolution. As such, we seek to promote the transformation of cultural and societal norms, values, and behaviors to reject violence, with Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship as our values. AFSC promotes non-violent approaches to conflict resolution. As such, we seek to promote the transformation of cultural and societal norms, values, and behaviors to reject violence

1.1 Background

AFSC’s new global ten-year strategy includes three goals; namely, Shared and sustainable peace; Just approaches to forced displacement and migration, and economy that works for people and earth. The strategy makes it clear that climate justice will be integrated into all AFSC work. Specifically: “make the links between climate change and violence, adding to the grassroots energy around building ecologically sustainable lives, joining the call for a just transition to a carbon-neutral future, and seeking new alliances with Quakers, youth and others mobilizing on this existential issue. This work will enrich our already deeply intersectional approach to peace and justice.”

As such, Climate change is a new lens for AFSC. Applying this lens and integrating this thinking within existing peacebuilding and justice frameworks will help AFSC to understand climate impacts on vulnerable populations and how to strengthen their resilience. AFSC recognizes large populations in Africa are being impacted by climate change in the places where they live, and for those on the move - at the place of departure, transit, and arrival. Additionally, UN figures show that 80% of those displaced by climate change are now women dur to their roles as primary care givers and providers of food and fuel, make them vulnerable when flooding and drought occurs. Women are more likely than men to be affected by climate change, studies show. Effects on climate change may also (but are not limited to) land, loss and damage of habitats, livelihoods, rethinking the economy, as well as how climate justice intersects with conflict, displacement/migration, and gender inequality. As such, communities’ (whether on the move or not) need the ability to reduce exposure, prepare for, cope with, recover better from, adapt, and transform as needed to the effects of climate change. These are key elements for community resilience to climate change.

1.2 Rationale for Climate Justice inclusion

The Intergovernmental Panel on [1]Climate Change[2] has shown that climate change impacts will significantly increase the number of people on the move. At the forefront of any discussion surrounding the complicated layers of movement, is the need to ensure a rights-based approach that recognizes the dignity and humanity of people on the move. People on the move interact with other environmental, political, and economic dimensions. Moving across and within borders is expensive and inaccessible to many. Extreme poverty can mean that people become locked in disaster-prone places. Enabling pathways for these - and all - communities to find shelter and safety, while upholding human rights, is an important aspect of climate action. However, if countries (or cities/regions) form climate policies out of fear of people arriving from climate-affected places, it can prevent rights-based and inclusive mitigation and adaptation while enabling a hostile environment that can endanger people on the move.

[1] Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil and gas), which produces heat-trapping gases

[1] https://www.ipcc.ch/ar6-syr/

1.3 Dialogue and Exchange Program (DEP)

Through the Dialogue and Exchange Program, AFSC plans to convene key thinkers and other actors in Africa (and elsewhere) to identify the effects of climate change in relation to migration and sustainable peace to understand relevant lessons and priority areas to inform AFSC in designing well thought out strategic interventions necessary to integrate climate justice thinking within existing peacebuilding and justice frameworks. For effective implementation of the DEP, research will be necessary to map and understand the eco-system of climate justice and other key issues. This research and mapping will involve looking at the current issues affecting the continent in relation to climate justice[3] specifically around people on the move (migrants) and those left behind. The research and mapping will therefore include key informant interviews with relevant experts on climate change issues, partners working with AFSC and another think tank in the continent.

2.0 Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to gather useful examples, stories, and recommendations from those who are experiencing climate injustice; and use this as the basis for actionable policy or practice recommendations aimed at international, regional, and/or national actors. This will provide AFSC with grounded analysis, insight, and perspectives to be able to design appropriate climate justice related programming for the Africa region. The mapping will also be used to generate discussions in the DEP.

It is hoped that this assignment will lead to a larger project to develop actionable policy recommendations where analysis of donor policies, government strategies, would be mapped against the insights / examples / stories etc coming from those experiencing climate injustice.

2.1 Objectives

1. To carry out research on issues of climate justice in Africa specifically for those experiencing injustices to support policy work, as well as inform the programming of Africa region on the same

2. To map out the key actors in climate justice in Africa for collaboration with the AFSC Africa region in terms of programming on the same.

3. This will lead to the eventual recommendation on key areas of focus for AFSC (in terms of policy, interventions especially for migrant populations in future)

3.0 Methodology

The methodology will be mixed (Desk review, Key informant interviews with actors in the continent on climate justice, and case stories from the affected migrants’ population). Data collection tools will therefore include in-depth interviews for the migrants, key informant interviews and case studies. Since gender justice is an important component on this assignment, respondents and case stories should ensure inclusivity.

[1] “Climate justice” is a term, and more than that a movement, that acknowledges climate change can have differing social, economic, public health, and other adverse impacts on underprivileged populations.

4.0 Logistical support during the assignment

AFSC will provide all the necessary background documents prior to the commencement of the consultancy. This will include:

· Strategic plan document

· Other documents that maybe necessary to facilitate the mapping and research

· Prompt feedback on all deliverables, generally providing written feedback within one week of receipt.

· Support with some respondents where possible.

4.1 Period of Research

The research will commence 10^th January 2022 and finalized mid-February (15^th February 2022). It will take a maximum of 21 days (from commencement to handing over final report. Expected time of delivery of final report is 20^th February 2022. The consultant will also be expected to share the findings during the DEP on 22 and 23 of February 2022).

4.2 Deliverables

· A detailed inception report with details of methodology of this assignment

· Map of key actors - list of suggested participants and knowledge leaders in the region on climate change and drivers of conflict

· Draft report for comments from the AFSC

· Power point presentation during the DEP

· Final report inclusive of case studies and recommendations

5.0 Applicant Requirements

· The consultant should have qualifications at Master level education or above, minimum of 5 years of hands-on experiences on climate Justice issues as well as a sound understanding of effects of this on people on the move in Africa.

· Extensive knowledge of policy issues relating to climate justice in the region and working of regional bodies, specifically IGAD, AU, UN and EU – including COP.

· Sound knowledge on research, development of data collection tools, analysis and interpretation.

· Experience in peace building, conflict resolution, research and policy-based advocacy in the African region.

· Knowledge of issues of conflict across the region and main drivers, especially those related to climate change.

· Flexibility, responsive to changes and demands and open to feedback

· They should demonstrate alignment with AFSC values.

How to apply:

Send your application with three contacts of previous assignment done on the same (climate change), CV with three references, technical proposal (brief outline of the approach and methodology to be applied to this assignment), budget proposals for the assignment, and cover letter) must be received by close of business 2^nd January 2022 to the Regional Director, P.O. Box 66448 – 00800 Nairobi, Kenya. Or email application packet (preferable in Adobe PDF file) to infoafrica@afsc.org. Successful consultant will be informed 5th January 2022 and contracted thereafter to start the assignment on time. Candidates from Global South are encouraged to apply.

The AFSC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer