Community Consultation-HIVOS عودة إلى الفرص

Consultant  Community Consultation for the GreenGrow Initiative: Catalyzing a Just Green  Transition for Smallholder Farmers in Tunisia 

1. Background 

The GreenGrow Initiative is a multi-stakeholder program aimed at enhancing climate resilience  and economic stability for smallholder farmers in Tunisia. The project is still in the early phases of  design and concept validation. The proposal will be submitted to the Adaptation Fund, led by OSS  (Sahara and Sahel Observatory) and executed by Hivos and other consortium members (still in  the phase of confirmation and on-boarding) the project emphasizes inclusive growth, cluster  development, access to green finance, climate-smart agriculture, and ecosystem support. 

As part of the concept design requirements, and in compliance with the Environmental and Social  Policy and Gender Policy of the Adaptation Fund, the proposal must reflect comprehensive,  community-level consultations with direct project beneficiaries. This is especially critical to ensure  that the voices of vulnerable populations—such as women, youth, and marginalized farmers—are  meaningfully incorporated into the design, implementation, and monitoring of the program. 

2. Objective of the Assignment 

The objective of this assignment is to design, facilitate, and document a series of community  consultations in selected project areas across Tunisia, specifically targeting communities expected  to directly benefit from the GreenGrow Initiative. The insights gathered will directly inform the  section titled: 

“Describe the consultative process, including the list of stakeholders consulted, undertaken  during project/programme preparation, with reference to vulnerable groups, including gender  considerations, in compliance with the Environmental and Social Policy of the Adaptation Fund.” 

These consultations are intended to validate and expand on existing feedback collected through  Hivos’ previous and ongoing programs in related sectors. Additionally, this assignment will  support the Hivos team in validating the specific geographic areas where the project will be  implemented, in alignment with the proposed interventions and target populations. 

The selected consultant will be provided with the draft concept note to ensure a comprehensive  understanding of the project’s goals and components. This will help narrow the scope of data  collection and clarify the type of field-level insights required to strengthen the proposal.

3. Scope of Work 

The consultant will be responsible for: 

• Designing a participatory consultation methodology tailored to rural, smallholder  communities, with sensitivity to gender, youth, and social inclusion. 
• Identifying and validating the geographic areas best fitting the project objectives and  planned interventions. 
• Identifying and engaging key stakeholder groups, particularly smallholder farmers (men  and women), youth, local cooperatives, agricultural workers, and community-based  organizations in the targeted governorates. 
• Facilitating at least 4–6 community consultations across different agro-ecological and  vulnerable regions aligned with project intervention areas. 
• Ensuring the participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups is meaningful, safe,  and accessible. 
• Capturing qualitative and quantitative data on: 

➢ Community climate adaptation needs and vulnerabilities 

➢ Barriers to adopting climate-smart agriculture and accessing finance 

➢ Gender roles and dynamics in agriculture and community decision-making

➢ Perceptions and expectations of project activities, including agritech solutions,  training, and cooperative development 

➢ Mapping local institutions, informal structures, and community actors that could  be engaged during project implementation. 

➢ Providing recommendations for embedding community insights into project  design, implementation, and M&E frameworks. 

4. Deliverables

5. Qualifications 

• Experience in data collection from local communities and ability to engage with women,  youth, and marginalized communities. 
• Experience in working with climate adaption, agriculture, access to green finance, and  gender mainstreaming in Tunisia. 
• Familiarity with donor-funded development programs, preferably with environmental or  climate finance mechanisms (e.g., Adaptation Fund, GCF). 
• Fluency in Arabic and French; strong English writing and reporting skills.

6. Duration and Location 

• Estimated Duration: July – August 2025 
• Location: Tunisia with travel to targeted governorates (exact locations to be proposed  and validated with Hivos and the consultant) 
• Level of Effort: Up to 20 working days 

7. Reporting and Coordination 

This assignment is commissioned by the Hivos MENA Hub. The consultant will report to Hivos  (lead partner for this component). A focal point will be assigned for day-to-day coordination. The  consultant will present deliverables to the assigned contact person for feedback and input.  Detailed information on deliverables will be discussed during the contracting phase.