Tenders are invited for End of Project Evaluation of the Eccras Project Closing Date: 28 Aug 2025 Type: Consultancy Themes: Climate Change and Environment/Gender/Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding 1. Context and Background 1.1 Project description The project Enhancing Climate Change Resilience and Adaption Among Smallholder Farmers (ECCRAS) in Western Kenya financed by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management (BMLUK) is implemented by a consortium consisting of Austrian organization Sei So Frei Salzburg (SSF Salzburg) and Development Education Services for Community Empowerment (DESECE) between 01.07.2021 and 31.12.2025. The project was initially planned for a duration of 4 years, but has been extended to last until 31st December 2025. The overall objective of the project is to enhance the adaptive capacity and climate resilience of smallholder farmers. In the extension period, a specific objective has been added, aiming at the distribution of fuel efficient cookstoves and empowering single mothers and increasing school retention of girls. The project takes an integrated approach, combining agroecology-based climate-resilient agriculture with human rights and conflict resolution. 1.2 Implementing organisations DESECE (Development Education Services for Community Empowerment) is a registered Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in Mukuyuni, Bungoma North Sub County in Bungoma County, Kenya. It started in 1993 as a Community-Based Organisation (CBO). DECESE focusses on Leadership and Capacity Building integrating Sustainable Organic Agriculture (Agro-Ecology), Gender equality and Human Rights through Civic Education and Policy Dialogue in their holistic grassroots approach. The organisations work has improved the social, economic and political situation of the beneficiaries in more than six sub-counties of Bungoma and Trans-Nzoia counties. Sei So Frei Salzburg is an Austrian organization and a constituting member of horizont3000, an Austrian non-governmental organization specialised in supporting the implementation of programmes and projects and the deployment of technical assistance personnel to support organisations and people in partner countries in their aspiration to improve the quality of their lives in a sustainable and human way. horizont3000 has been commissioned by SSF Salzburg, to support the implementation of this project through its regional office in Kampala. horizont3000 is an Austrian NGO for development cooperation, formed by eleven (11) grassroots organizations of the Catholic Church. Its core activities include cofinancing, advisory services, and knowledge management. horizont3000 is responsible for overseeing the project implementation in accordance with the existing project plan. This includes ensuring professional standards and close cooperation with the implementing partner, DESECE. Key tasks involve regular monitoring visits, fulfilling reporting obligations, ongoing project steering to maximise goal achievement, prompt and prudent crisis management if needed, proper project closure, and joint decision-making with DESECE on strategic adjustments in case of major deviations from the plan, evaluations, or the development of follow-up phases. 1.3 Project Context Climate change is increasingly impacting Kenya through rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and more frequent droughts. As the countrys economy depends heavily on rain-fed agriculturemainly practised by smallholder farmers who make up 7080% of all farmersthese changes have serious consequences. In Western Kenya, agricultural production systems are particularly vulnerable. Adaptive capacity remains low due to widespread poverty, gender inequality, and pressure on already degraded and overused natural resources, especially land. These pressures contribute to local conflicts and are compounded by a general lack of climate change awareness. As a result, ecosystem services, biodiversity, livelihoods, and food security are under threat. Population growth in the region has led to further land fragmentation, with small farms averaging just 0.3 hectares, and larger ones around 3 hectares. Unsustainable practices, soil erosion, pollution, shifting rainfall patterns, and high temperatures have caused severe land degradation. These challenges are worsened by high input costs, poor market systems and infrastructure, deforestation in wetland areas, poor waste disposal, and mismanaged cooperatives, all contributing to low agricultural productivity. Structural conflict and violence persist, often rooted in the unequal distribution of scarce resources like land, which are withheld based on ethnicity or kinship. While there has been some progress in womens leadership in Bungoma and Trans Nzoia, women, youth, and children still face exclusion from key decision-making and control over productive resources. Patriarchal traditions, reinforced by discriminatory laws and customs, continue to limit womens and youths access to land and economic opportunities, weakening their ability to adapt to climate change. For women in particular, gaining land access, learning agroecology, and becoming independent farmers and leaders remains extremely difficult. However, agroecology offers opportunities for solidarity, livelihoods, and empowerment, enabling women to challenge unjust practices and participate more actively in political and community life. 1.4 Purpose of the project Despite government and stakeholder efforts, smallholders in Western Kenya still face major barriers to climate adaptation, including limited access to training, technical advice, and secure resources, as well as gender inequality and resource-based conflict. Building on previous DESECE projects, the initiative aims to strengthen the adaptive capacity and livelihoods of smallholder farmers through agroecological and ecosystem conservation practices, combined with a strong focus on gender equality and conflict transformation. The impacts of climate change will continue to heighten existing vulnerabilities and tensions, which is why the project promotes integrated, cross-sectoral approaches such as agroecology, organic farming, and positive peace. These methods not only enhance resilience but also help address the root causes of local conflict. According to the FAO, food insecurityaggravated by climate changecan fuel grievances and conflict. Agroecology supports adaptation through diverse local farming systems like kitchen gardens and food forests, which improve soil health, income diversity, local microclimates, and carbon sequestration, while enhancing biodiversity. Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4170090/terms-reference-end-project-evaluation-eccras-project
