Term of Reference
A. General Information
Service/work description : Consultancy to conduct a series of studies
on localized climate change impacts on crop
response (agriculture), community well-being,
gendered impacts, lake ecosystems (Ledulu, "
Peto, and Lendoen), access to water, and endangered species.
Program : Forest program WCS-IP.
Reports to : Forest Senior Program Manager (FSPM) /
Rote Project Coordinator (RPC).
Type of contract : National/Local institution.
Duration : 3 months, from November 1, 2024
to January 31, 2025 (subject to Non-Cost Extension).
Location : Rote Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province.
B. Background
Since 2016, a global effort has been underway to reintroduce the Critically Endangered, endemic Rote Island snake-necked turtle, in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tangara (NTT) Province. Extinct in the wild since 2000 due to wildlife trade, the turtle is being reintroduced into three lakes, privately owned and managed by communities: Daima Village, Ledulu Lake; Daurendale Village, Lendoen Lake, and Maubesi Village, Peto Lake. However, there is growing concern about threats to access to key ecosystem services - notably water, in the turtle reintroduction lakes, which also threatens the wider habitat, local biodiversity and endemic bird species. The same conditions endangering the Rote turtle also threaten other endemic species and impoverished communities across NTT, one of Indonesia’s poorest regions, where communities depend on small-scale farming/livestock are at high risk of climate impacts.
Rote's semi-arid climate already experiences climate anomalies, including altered rainfall patterns, temperature fluctuations, and increased extreme events, threatening waterbodies that already suffer seasonal drying in a region noted for its high climate change vulnerability. These factors are exacerbated by current local land and resources management practices – including low efficiency small-scale farming techniques; unrestricted cattle grazing; deforestation, and water extraction practices. Moreover, there is little evidence of community- and district-level spatial and land/resource management planning, or of how these link to increased climate risks. Indeed, as in other regions, local decision-making and planning bodies show low awareness and engagement with climate change issues, although a recent WCS survey highlights emerging concerns in the 3 target communities.
The turtle recovery’s long-term success, and improved social and environmental conditions across NTT hinge on holistic, participatory interventions that consider biodiversity alongside multidimensional poverty; empower community- and district-level planners and decision-makers to build shared understanding about interconnected climate-conservation-community risks at the local level; and develop locally-appropriate and actionable climate adaptation strategies. There is strong evidence of the importance of local-level climate adaptation, and how improved planning can help improve conservation outcomes.
Overcoming these challenges requires incorporating local knowledge with new information to engage local stakeholders in understanding the scope, scale and interconnectedness of the challenges, and how actions within their realm of power can build resilience. There is then a need for dialogue and consensus-building to identify locally-appropriate responses, and further technical support to help households and communities identify, develop and implement local responses (e.g., climate-smart farming techniques, crop/varietal selection, spatial planning, watershed restoration, biodiversity monitoring).
Similarly, at the district-level, there is a need for technical support to better engage climate change issues and understand how these can be integrated into local level planning (e.g., zoning, spatial planning, priority setting). This requires not only technical expertise and access to new technology, but also bottom-up engagement with communities to facilitate coherent, fair and appropriate local response strategies. A combination of community-level planning and action, with district-scale planning is needed to begin mainstreaming climate change adaptation and guide land-use planning – to enable biodiversity conservation and improved wellbeing.
Therefore, the key research question that needs to be answered is how the localized climate change impacts on crop response (agriculture), community well-being, gendered impacts, lake ecosystems (Ledulu, Peto, and Lendoen), access to water, and endangered species?
C. Objectives of the service/work
The primary goal of this study is to conduct a series of surveys on localized climate change impacts on crop response (agriculture), community well-being, gendered impacts, targeted lake ecosystems (Ledulu, Peto, and Lendoen), access to water, and endangered species. The aim is to develop and implement strategies to address the climate change localized impact, particularly to protect critically endangered Rote's turtle and their habitat on Rote Island of East Nusa Tenggara Province.
D. The scope of the service/work
The consultants for this project may include individuals who serve as team leaders or institutions from local in East Nusa Tenggara Province. These consultants will bring together a diverse range of expertise and perspectives to ensure comprehensive coverage of the project's objectives and requirements. The consultant will undertake the following tasks:
- Conduct baseline data/literature reviews, and identify key research questions that need to be answered in order to evaluate risks and identify possible solutions.
- Preparing the detailed survey design based on baseline/literature reviews.
- Conduct field surveys on the localized climate change impacts on crop response (agriculture), community well-being, gendered impacts, lake ecosystems (Ledulu, Peto, and Lendeoen), access to water, and endangered species especially rote island snake-necked turtle (Chelodina mccordi).
- Conducting a potential assessment of the project to ecotourism development in Ledulu Lake and restoration initiative in Peto Lake.
- Analyzing the data collected from the survey, compiling and submitting a comprehensive report detailing the findings of the survey. This report should address the listed research questions and include a sanitized version of the raw data for reference.
- Presenting the findings to WCS-IP, BBKSDA NTT, and submitting the Final Report
E. Expected Output
Analyzed survey data with the aim of answering the key research question, clearly written in a report.
F. Deliverables
G. Required qualifications.
G.1. Minimum individual/organization requirements.
This research necessitates professional expertise related climate change issues, conducting to socio-economic, demographic, biodiversity, and well-being research, coupled with a comprehensive understanding and extensive experience in livelihood interventions. The consultant should also possess the ability to assemble efficient teams to carry out the study, analyze the data, and produce a report adhering to the highest scientific standards. Sound statistical analysis is essential to derive robust conclusions from the collected data.
G.2. Minimum eligible criteria for team leaders.
- Master’s degree or PhD in social studies, biology, agriculture, economics, forestry, environmental studies, anthropology, or any other relevant topic.
- Minimum 10 years of experience and demonstrate extensive knowledge and/or experience in climate change issues, conducting socio-economic, demographic, and well-being studies, biodiversity, and fully aware of the ethical issues involving humans as research objects.
- Demonstrate ability to form efficient teams to conduct series of studies.
- Excellent research and analysis skills with a sound statistical approach, including report writing.
- Communication, facilitating, and diplomatic skills combine the ability to work under pressure, with minimum supervision, and on-distance.
- Good English and fluent in Indonesian.
- Prefered base in East Nusa Tenggara province.
H. Other
Data collected during this study can be published in other formats (presentation, journal publication, book, etc.) by the consultant, together with WCS-IP and BBKSDA NTT. Apart from receiving written reports, WCS IP and BBKSDA NTT have the right to raw data produced by consultants.
Kindly submit your tender responses or proposals to WCS by sending them via email to ldaulima@wcs.org, using the email subject "CC Rote proposal" no later than the 22th of October, 2024.