Tenders Are Invited For Mapping Primary Livelihoods And Market Actors

Tenders are invited for Mapping Primary Livelihoods and Market Actors in Akkar. Closing Date: 20 Jan 2025 Type: Consultancy Themes: Agriculture/Climate Change and Environment/Recovery and Reconstruction Assignment Locations: This consultancy will be conducted in Akkar focusing on Qobayat and Dreib El Chemali. About World Vision: World Vision International is a Christian, community-based and child-focused organization working in 100 countries around the world, serving and partnering with all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, capacity, background or gender. Project Overview: The Gender and Disability Inclusive Regreening (GDIR) project in Akkar, aims to restore and protect natural landscapes while enhancing community resilience to climate and related shocks. Over its lifespan, the project will apply a gender and disability inclusive comprehensive approach, addressing multiple dimensions of environmental conservation, community engagement, and economic empowerment. Through partnerships with local organizations, the project will conduct capacity assessments and contextual analyses to inform tailored capacity-building plans and community interventions. Community-based environmental restoration committees will be established and supported to engage local community members, including refugees and those with disabilities, in regreening activities. Children and youth will also be involved through dedicated committees, fostering their active participation in regreening efforts. Stakeholders capacities will be strengthened through sensitization sessions and training programs, empowering them to advocate for gender-sensitive environmental restoration. Sustainable income-generating practices will be promoted among male and female caregivers, aligning with regreening efforts to ensure economic viability and environmental responsibility. By addressing root causes of deforestation and promoting social stability, the project seeks to create a conducive environment for long-term environmental restoration and community well-being. Through its multifaceted design, the project aims to achieve lasting impacts on natural landscapes, community resilience, and governance systems in Akkar, Lebanon. Mission objectives: World Vision Lebanon is seeking a consultant, or a consultancy firm, to conduct an in-depth assessment of the key market actors, business sectors and primary livelihoods in Akkar focusing on Qobayat and Dreib El Chemali, with a specific focus on identifying opportunities for vulnerable populations, including women, men, and people with disabilities. This assessment will focus on identifying economic opportunities for vulnerable groups, including women, men, and people with disabilities, within the local economy and natural resource-based livelihoods. The main objective of this consultancy is to provide a comprehensive analysis that will deepen our understanding of how market and environmental dynamics impact the economic inclusion of these groups and identify practical ways to enhance their participation in local economies and ensure that they can engage meaningfully in sustainable, and climate resilient economic opportunities that improve their livelihoods and well-being. Specific objectives include: Providing actionable recommendations for project design and implementation that enhance Inclusivity and ensure meaningful engagement of marginalized groups in local market systems and sustainable livelihood opportunities. Assessing the current market landscape in Akkar Governorate, focusing on key sectors, market actors, and natural resource-based livelihoods (including which ones are sustainable vs. destructive/exploitative), driving economic activity, and how vulnerable populations engage with these systems. Identifying income-generating opportunities related to agriculture, forestry, and other natural resource-based sectors, incorporating climate-smart practices and value chains that promote environmental sustainability now and into the future Mapping opportunities for promoting the economic participation and leadership of women, men, and people with disabilities in local market sectors, fostering their inclusion in business activities and market growth initiatives that align with regreening and environmental goals Identifying the barriers and challenges to market access and meaningful participation for women, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, considering factors such as financial constraints, skills gaps, logistical challenges, and environmental pressures. Evaluating opportunities for strengthening market inclusion through capacity-building initiatives, targeted business support, and improved access to resources and markets for marginalized groups, with an emphasis on sustainability, equity, and resilience Providing actionable recommendations for integrating inclusive and environmentally sustainable market strategies into broader economic development efforts, with a focus on sustainability, equity, and long-term economic and environmental resilience. Scope of Work The Primary Livelihoods and Market Actors Mapping consultant / consultancy firm is expected to: Conduct a comprehensive secondary data review on the current state of market systems and livelihoods in Akkar, focusing on key sectors, business actors, and how vulnerable populations, including women, men, and people with disabilities, engage with these market systems. The review should include an analysis of the natural resources utilized in these sectors and the environmental impacts, as well as key questions related to market access, barriers to entry, and opportunities for sustainable economic inclusion. Engage directly with stakeholders, including community members, local businesses, cooperatives, local authorities, and other consultants, to gather primary data on the challenges and opportunities within the local market. This should include an assessment of the supply-demand dynamics, skills gaps, logistical barriers, and natural resource constraints that affect vulnerable groups, with a particular focus on gender and disability-specific barriers. Conduct a comprehensive secondary data review on the current state of livelihoods in the target areas, including sectors such as agriculture, trade, and services in the target areas. The secondary study should answer key questions regarding the risks, opportunities, challenges, and environmental impacts on livelihoods for vulnerable populations, particularly women and people with disabilities. Conduct primary quantitative (surveys) and qualitative (FGDs and KIIs) data collection with relevant stakeholders, including community members, local businesses, cooperatives, and local authorities, to assess: Existing livelihood strategies and gaps, and the economic sustainability of these options. The impact of external factors (e.g., economic conditions, environmental changes) on the sustainability of livelihoods, with particular attention to gender and disability-specific barriers. Identify key market actors, business sectors, and opportunities that could enhance livelihood outcomes for vulnerable populations while promoting environmental resilience. Assess the impact of external factors (e.g., economic instability, climate change, and logistical challenges) on the ability of vulnerable populations to engage with market actors and participate in the local economy, with emphasis on long-term environmental trends rather than temporary events, and with particular attention to gender and disability-specific barriers. Should make sure not to base analysis on temporary conditions or events but more on trends and patterns observed and documented over several years. Assess how factors like climate-related changes in soil, water, and vegetation affect economic and livelihood prospects. Evaluate existing programs and interventions aimed at improving market access for marginalized populations, assessing their effectiveness and identifying areas for improvement in supporting inclusive and sustainable economic resilience. Coordinate findings with other GDIR project consultants for integrated analysis, and validate assessment findings with the community and local partners. Analyze and interpret data to provide actionable recommendations for enhancing market inclusion, and livelihood sustainability, ensuring that interventions are designed to promote environmental sustainability, equity, and economic growth for vulnerable populations. Consider the following Regreening Communities model guidelines: Conduct a participatory livelihoods assessment, examining how current production systems impact natural resources within the target landscapes. Identify environmental risks and climate-related hazards affecting livelihoods, especially for women, men, girls, and boys. Analyze potential exacerbation of these risks by climate change. Perform a rapid value chain appraisal to evaluate income-generating potential relative to environmental impact, identifying opportunities for climate-smart agriculture. Review local policies, traditional practices, institutions, and market players that impact livelihoods and contribute to environmental pressure. Identify priority livelihood options that support restoration pathways, considering trade-offs with limited project resources. Promote livelihood strategies that are compatible with regreening and sustainable resource management to enhance community resilience to climate change. Ethical Considerations: The consultant / consultancy firm is expected to adhere to the following ethical principles throughout the assessment process: Voluntary participation, Confidentiality, and Anonymity: Participation in interviews and surveys must be entirely voluntary and wont impact in any way any services received by WVL. Informants will be fully informed about the purpose of the assessment, and their right to de Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4124074/3594120-i-wvl-i-call-tender-mapping-primary-livelihoods-and-market-actors-akkar