SSDO

TERMS OF REFERENCE – RESEARCH CONSULTANT – DECEMBER 2022

SURVEY AND ACTION RESEARCH ON CLIMATE CHANGE, LIVELIHOOD AND YOUNG PEOPLE.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Background

South Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO) is a non-profit organization founded in 2001. SSDO works with poor and vulnerable people, with a particular view to equipping young women, youth and children with the educational, political, and social skills needed to survive and compete favorably in a vastly changing and urbanizing sub-Saharan Africa. Our areas of focus include Education, Good Governance and Health.

The SPA II project is a four-year (2022 – 2025) project funded by Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). The project aims to improve the realization of fundamental human and democratic rights and improved, sustainable livelihoods, resilience and protection for young people, especially young women living in marginalization, including in disaster and protracted crises contexts. 

SPA II is being implemented in 7 states across Nigeria – Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, Abuja, and Lagos.

Enugu has one of the highest concentrations of tertiary institutions and a very high youth population with limited growth opportunities and access to public services.

Enugu’s indigenes and residents are faced with massive youth unemployment, worsening climate conditions, and stretched public services.

The activities of unknown gunmen, kidnappers and secessionist groups have fuelled conflict in the region, leading to weakening structures and protection systems, household vulnerabilities, and displacements.

The humanitarian crises in Nigeria can be viewed as inherently a development crisis of poor governance and poverty. In this situation, young people are increasingly vulnerable to radicalization and violent extremism. Loss of livelihoods is also linked to climate change, as desertification and prolonged droughts are causing conflict over scarce resources. The recession of Lake Chad River has left about 40 million youths restive and exposed to poverty and unemployment.

Climate change is affecting everybody regardless of caste, ethnicity, religion, sex, race, or level of income. Climate change impact has served a toxic mix of high unemployment, loss of livelihood and despondency.

Residents of Enugu State are feeling the impact of climate change in different ways in Enugu state. Early cessation of rainfall and longer dry spells have affected farming and agricultural activities. Farmers have had to readjust the planting season to suit the changing climate. Especially those who cannot afford to implement irrigation programs. This has affected food availability and resulted in scarcity.

There has also been an increase in temperature and a persistent surge of heat waves across cities, especially during the dry season. These heat waves have a costly effect on health and agriculture. It has led to an increase in heat stroke, dehydration, heat rashes, and meningitis. Flooding and erosion are also clear indicators of the impact of climate change in Enugu state.

Other factors causing poverty for young people and particularly young rural women, include skills gaps, limited economic opportunities, restrictive and discriminatory economic policies.

Addressing the multiple inequalities and disproportionate impacts faced by young people, and marginalized communities must be central to addressing climate induced loss and damage. However, most analysis, policies and interventions related to climate change and livelihood fail to consider the youth lens especially that of young women.

As part of SPA II climate change objectives, we are conducting research to understand young people’s perceptions on the effects of climate change on their livelihoods. And specifically, to assess the effect of climate change to their livelihood activities and identifying mitigation or adaptation measures against the effects of climate change on young people’s livelihood activities.

Objectives of the Study

The broad objective of the study is to get in-depth context knowledge and to understand young people’s perceptions on the effects of climate change on their livelihoods.

Specifically, to:

  • Identify the livelihood options of young people especially young women within specific LGAs in Enugu state- Aninri, Isiuzo, Igboeze North and Enugu North.
  • Assess the effect of climate change to their livelihood activities
  • Identify mitigation or adaptation measures against the effects of climate change on young people’s livelihood activities.
  • Establish the linkage between climate change, young people and livelihood, challenges, and framework for engagement through public expenditure processes (budgeting)
  • To determine the frequency with which climate change occur and how it affects livelihood of young people.
  • To gain new insight into the issue of climate change, livelihood, and young people.

Research Methodology

Literature Review: The research will involve a qualitative review of the latest grey and academic literature on youth, gender and climate resilience and adaptation. Other publications and documentation will also be reviewed.

Primary data collection

Building on this literature review qualitative primary research (Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interviews) will be carried out within selected LGAs in Enugu State (Aninri, Isiuzo, Igboeze North and Enugu North) on assessing the impact of climate change on young people’s livelihood.

Analysis and Outputs

Analysis of the findings will be written up into a detailed report that also explains the methodology used and the shortcomings of the research. A further output will be a shorter policy brief that will be used for the purpose of advocacy and policy influencing within the subnational and national levels in addressing the problems identified from the research

Overview of the Consultancy

The consultant would lead this research project from start to finish. The consultant would carry out the literature review, work with SSDO team to refine the research questions, develop-out the methodology and carry-out the data collection. He would also lead the writing of the report and provide the policy brief.  The consultancy would take place over 10 days from 6th to 19th December 2022.

Expected Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs with key process elements included in the timeline and outputs below:

  • Literature Review
  • Methodology for the research
  • Conduct the data collection, validate data, and present it in the format as given by SSDO
  • Analyze survey data and present findings in tables, graphs, and presentation
  • Analysis report of findings and comprehensive list and findings of the survey showing the impacts of climate change on young people and livelihood within the selected LGAs in Enugu State.
  • Policy brief
  • Report should be submitted in hard and a soft copy on an external hard drive or Hard disk, it should also contain relevant documentation including video clips, quality photographs, links for reference purposes and any other material produced/documented during the fieldwork investigation
  • Write report and make recommendations based on the research findings.
  • Produce an advocacy tool on climate change and livelihood to be utilized for stakeholders’ engagement

Qualifications and Criteria for Selection  

The Consultant is expected to have the following qualifications: 

  • Minimum of master’s degree in social sciences, international development, statistics, or any other relevant field
  • At least 7 years experience in research and youth analysis and excellent knowledge of the development sector and humanitarian programmes including terminology
  • Experienced in conducting research using qualitative and quantitative data collection methods as well as coordinating and training data collectors
  • Experienced in contextualizing and elaborating counting methodologies and data collection processes and tools.
  • Excellent facilitation, writing, and reporting skills 
  • Computer literate and able to apply Microsoft Office and other analytical tools efficiently 
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal relation skills 

Contact Details

For more details or to submit your expression of interest, please send an ‘Expression of Interest letter indicating your current rate, along with an up-to-date CV, to the email – hr@southsaharan.org

Deadline for Applications

All applications should be submitted on or before the 6th of December, 2022.

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