The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is a global humanitarian organization with a mission to work with people in poverty and distress to create just and positive change. ADRA Somalia belongs to the worldwide network, comprised of more than 130 supporting and implementing country offices. ADRA Somalia is seeking to recruit a consultant to conduct a capacity building on climate smart agriculture and sustainable rural livelihoods Kismayu District Jubbaland state of Somalia.

Background

Climate change is inevitable, and its impact is most visible in the agricultural sector affecting crop production and productivity, leading to increased food and nutritional insecurity. Smallholder farmers are the most vulnerable and affected due to their low adaptive capacity. The effects of climate change vary by region, country and location and will affect people differently depending on their vulnerability and capacity to adapt. Some areas are expected to become drier and drought-prone, while others experience more intense rains or altered rainfall patterns. Increasing temperatures will change the length of the growing seasons and affect yield in some areas, while at the same time modifying the distribution of livelihood resources in water bodies like rivers. This added variability changes the conditions in which agriculture is practiced and requires context and site-specific strategies and responses. In overall, climate change continues to increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including floods, droughts and heatwaves. These events threaten food production and the livelihoods of food producers, particularly those with the weakest adaptation capacity who are too often located in areas exposed to the most severe changes.

The climate in the Horn of Africa is projected to become even drier, warmer, more erratic, and more extreme than in recent decades and thus less favorable to crops, livestock, fisheries, and forestry-based livelihood systems. While most climate models predict higher rainfall, the expectation of a drier climate is supported by the stronger historical evidence. Somalia has a predominantly agrarian economy, with agriculture accounting for about 60% of the country’s GDP. However, the pre-existing vulnerabilities of decades of conflict, climate change, drought, flooding, and insecurity have had a significant impact on the agricultural sector in Somalia. A warmer future, with increased variability and frequency of extreme rainfall events is predicted. The consequences of such changes are dire for Somalia’s agriculture. Higher air temperatures will increase transpiration from soil, tree canopies, and water bodies. More variable and extreme rainfall on already barren soils will result in more run-off and erosion, less groundwater recharge, and less water availability in the surface layers for plant growth. Other likely impacts include reduction of vegetation for grazing and more variable water availability, with grave impacts on livestock herding and related livelihoods. Rising sea temperatures and acidification will also reduce fish stocks and change their distribution.

ADRA is intent on promoting climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices that sustainably increase agricultural productivity and incomes (assets) and also adapt and build resilience to climate change by addressing vulnerability, adaptation and resilience. The intended agricultural practices should seek to increase gender equality within households and communities; provide nutrition and health benefits (nutrition-sensitive agriculture) despite anticipated climatic changes; build, or prevent the decline of, soil fertility; protect and conserve the environment, biodiversity, ecosystems and hydrology; adds value to pastoralist communities and indigenous communities who share common resources; do not create a monopoly for the owners of the technology; do not displace or exclude other technologies that would score higher on the CSA scale through alternatives analysis, by addressing synergies between the three pillars of productivity, adaptation, and mitigation

Rationale

Climate change creates additional stress on land, exacerbating existing risks to livelihoods, biodiversity, human and ecosystem health, infrastructure, and food systems. This calls for targeted capacity building initiatives that will improve the knowledge and skills of farmers and extension workers in climate-smart agriculture practices. Widespread changes in rainfall and temperature patterns threaten agricultural production and increase the vulnerability of people dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods, which includes most of the world's poor. Climate change disrupts food markets, posing population-wide risks to food supply. Threats can be reduced by increasing the adaptive capacity of farmers as well as increasing resilience and resource use efficiency in agricultural production systems.

Agriculture is and will remain central to Somalia’s economic development. Livestock and crops remain the main sources of economic activity, employment, and exports in Somalia. Livestock is the traditional repository of household wealth in Somalia, the largest export, and an important source of livelihood for a large part of the population. Strengthening Somalia’s climate resilience and improving its overall performance will not only boost prospects for sustained economic development, but will also help cement peace and security, alleviate poverty and malnutrition, and enhance health outcomes in both rural and urban areas.

Purpose and Objectives of the task

The purpose of this assignment is to improve climate resilience, increase agricultural productivity, profitability and sustainability for rural community livelihoods by adopting Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs).

Specific objectives:

The specific objectives include:

1. Provide farmer trainers with knowledge and skills to facilitate, demonstrate and support farmers to adopt and upscale techniques for GAPs in their villages and neighborhoods for increased agricultural productivity by adapting and mitigating the effects of climate change.

2. Establish and support farmers to manage nutrition-sensitive crop fields including post-harvest management and value addition for the markets.

Participants:

The participants for this capacity building initiative will be Farmers, Farmer trainers, Agricultural Extension agents and School Garden Management Committees (SGMC). The participants will be selected based on specific criteria, including their willingness to participate in the program and their commitment to improving their agricultural practices. An estimated 140 farmers are expected to benefit directly from this initiative.

Scope of Work

The scope of work shall entail:

1. Conduct training needs analysis (TNA):

Prior to rollout training and developing a training manual (in dual language: English and Somali), the consultant is supposed to conduct a proper training needs analysis (TNA) to assess and understand the current knowledge and skills of the participants.

1. Develop a training manual for training of trainers (ToT):

Develop a customized training manual based on TNA findings, their context and level of individuals to be trained as trainers, to enable effective impartation of knowledge and practical skills to target farmers and the rest of the community.

1. Train farmers and extension agents:

Provide practical Training of Trainers (ToT) on climate-smart agriculture practices for 25 Farmer Trainers in cooperatives; 40 Individual Farmers and 8 Agricultural Extension Agents and selected School Garden Management Committees, to deepen their awareness and undemanding of climate change risks in agriculture and adapt to the changing climate through conservation of natural resources and environmental protection, utilizing smart agriculture methods. The target groups shall be drawn from Banadir, Jubaland, Hirshabelle and Southwest states

1. Facilitate proposal development:

Facilitating training on proposal development on climate smart agriculture, ensuring farmers can articulate their needs effectively. Conclude the training with instructions for farmers to submit project proposals. Successful proposals will be eligible for grants, enhancing community engagement and sustainable practices.

Deliverables

1. Inception report including work plan and climate-smart training approach and manual(s).

2. Beneficiary needs assessment and assessment of CSA practices in beneficiary communities including results of pre- and post-training tests.

3. Conduct practical ToT training sessions for the target groups.

4. Final report, including all relevant material developed and data collected during the assignment. The final report will also cover, details achievements, challenges encountered, mitigation measures employed and recommendations for subsequent implementation.

Training Methodology

The consultant is expected to propose interactive, practical, and modern adult learning methodologies for this assignment. The training methodologies should be culturally appropriate and designed for inclusive participation including low-literacy participants. As part of sustainability and exit plan, the consultant will be expected to consider post-training support plans like mentorship, refresher sessions and access to CSA inputs and tools as may be needful.

Qualifications and Key Requirements

• The lead consultant will have a minimum Degree in Agriculture or Environment and Natural Resources Management or any other related field;

• Experience in climate-smart agriculture, agricultural research, or a related field.

• Past knowledge and experience in undertaking climate change capacity building programmes will have an added advantage.

• Proven experience in the design of agriculture and or natural resources management-related training manuals.

• Strong knowledge of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in agriculture

• Proven track record of conducting similar assignments in Somalia or any other relevant context.

• Experience in designing and implementing capacity building programmes;

• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in both English and Somalia.

Application Requirements:

All expressions of interest should include:

• Cover letter, maximum three pages.

• Detailed curriculum vitae.

• Technical Proposal: maximum 5 pages interpreting the understanding of the TOR, detailed methodology of executing the task, as well as draft work plan.

• Financial Proposal: should provide cost estimates for services rendered including daily consultancy fees excluding accommodation and living costs; transport cost; stationery, and supplies needed for the training as well as costs to be incurred by trainees and enumerators.

How to apply

For the detailed TOR kindly visit www.adrasom.org. Applications for this consultancy should be emailed to the Human Resource Manager using the email [email protected] on or before COB 24th July 2025, with ‘Climate Smart Agriculture” in the subject line.

‘’ADRA Somalia is committed to upholding the rights of all children and vulnerable adults that we serve and those we interact with in the course of our work. We endevour to protect all from all forms of abuse and exploitation as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) six core principles on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). ADRA Somalia has zero tolerance to abuse and exploitation of beneficiaries and staff.’’