Bahirdar, Amhara
MEDA-Mennonite Economic Development Associates
Terms of Reference (TOR):  Training on Ecosystem-Based Adaption, nature-based solutions and disaster risk reduction for regional, zonal and woreda experts in Amhara national regional state 1.     Background: MEDA/EMERTA Project MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) is an organization dedicated to creating business solutions to poverty. MEDA’s EMERTA project (Ethiopians Motivating Enterprises to Rising in Trade and Agri-business), which is funded by Global Affairs Canada, is committed to increasing the income and employment opportunities for entrepreneurs and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) focusing on three value chains: rice, vegetables and gemstones with gender equality and environmental sustainability are cross-cutting themes.   The project has an environmental sustainability strategy that is designed to encourage clients to adopt good environmental management practices and to protect natural resources. MEDA designs activities to mitigate environmental and climate change risks associated with our work to ensure a do no harm approach to the environment, while supporting entrepreneurs in climate change adaptation and improving local environmental conditions. 2.     The Concept and Task Human and natural systems are influenced by climate variability and hazards, with the negative impacts most severely felt in developing countries like Ethiopia. Climate change exacerbates the existing risks and vulnerabilities associated with disasters, due to changing patterns of some hazards and due to increased population exposure and land-use changes. Adaptation occurs in physical, ecological, and human systems and takes place through reducing vulnerability or enhancing resilience in response to climate change.  According to Convention on Biological Diversity (2009); Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) is the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. Nature-based solutions (NbA) are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits (IUCN, 2021). EbA/NbS focuses on the benefits humans derive from biodiversity and ecosystem services, and how these benefits can be utilized in the face of climate change. The ability of people to adapt to climate change is inextricably linked to their access to basic human privileges and to the health of the ecosystems they depend on for their livelihoods and wellbeing. If adaptation policies and programs are to be effective, they must integrate efforts to sustain and restore ecosystem functions and promote human dignity under changing climate conditions. Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) combines “short-term” measures such as early warning with “long-term” measures such as integrated water resources management (UNEP, 2021). Thus, in pursuit of this, MEDA is looking for a consultant to train agricultural experts of the Amhara Region, South Gondar Zone, and three woredas: Fogera, Dera, and Libokemkem experts on the concepts of EbA/NbS and Eco-DRR and introduce practical implementation and possible intervention activities as part of adaptation strategy. Objective of the Consultancy To train experts on Ecosystem based adaptation, Nature based Solution and Disaster Risk Reduction concept ·       EbA as a conservation, sustainable management, and restoration of ecosystems concept:  to help people adapt to the impacts of climate change, participate in mitigating climate change. ·       EbA as a people-centric concept: that human resilience depends critically on the integrity of natural ecosystems. ·       EbA as an integrated element in development: since environmental management solutions are best implemented as an integrated element of a broader sustainable development strategy, and ecosystem health is necessary for human resilience. ·       EbA approaches which includes, for example, agroecology, integrated water resource management, livelihood diversification, and sustainable forest management interventions that use/conserve/restore nature to reduce vulnerability to climate change. ·       NbS and DRR approaches and techniques as an integral part of EbA.   Deliverables and Timeline ·       Draft training material to be delivered for MEDA (tentatively in late July) ·       Conducting the training concerned stakeholders (tentatively in early August) in Bahirdar. ·       Incorporate feedback of the trainees and submit final report and training manual and PPT to MEDA (tentatively in late August) Task Table: S.NActivityNo. of days Daily rate in ETBTotal Cost in ETB1Prepare training manual and PPT72Conduct training (training should be participatory and practical and should not be limited to training hall)113Prepare final report2Sub TotalTax (ToT 2% or VAT 15%)Grand Total Please Note that:  ·       Daily rates shall be the same for all the activities. ·       Transportation expense, accommodation (hotel), and meals (as per MEDA per diem rate) will be covered by MEDA.    Venue and Date The training will be conducted tentatively in August 2021.