Background

N.B.

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Cabo Verde is a country with high food-import dependence, in particular for cereals, and very vulnerable to the international context, a situation which is aggravated by the country’s insular and archipelago condition. These contribute to the country’s extreme vulnerability in terms of food, agro-climatic change, as well as global market fluctuations.

Two levels of food insecurity can be identified in Cabo Verde. The first one concerns de structural deficit in domestic food production, chiefly cereals (the basis of the diet) and the strong dependency on the international market in order to fulfill food needs. The second, related to access, due to the socio-economic situation of a significant proportion of the population, holding a low income level (27% of population is poor).

The first survey to monitor food vulnerability of rural households (ISVAF) was conducted in 2005, among approximately 4,500 households of rural Cabo Verde, with the objective of establishing a methodology to monitor food vulnerability and understanding household’s situations. Based on ISVAF’s data, 20% of rural households (approximately 8,050 households), lived in a situation of food insecurity, 7% in its severe form and 13% in its moderate form, while 11% are at risk of food insecurity, corresponding to an additional 4,500 households. The highest percentages of rural households with food insecurity were found in the islands of Santo Antão and Santiago, with respectively 27% and 20% of households with a food insecurity status. Santo Antão stood out as the island housing the highest proportion of households with severe food insecurity (12%), above the national average.

Food security has thus been, for the above mentioned reasons, one of the priorities contemplated by successive governments within the broad political orientations for the country’s development. In 2002, the country approved its National Food Security Strategy for 2002-2015 (ENSA) in view of alleviating food insecurity and establishing conditions for sustainable food security. The National Food Security Strategy takes into account the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and establishes links with other important programs, whose actions impact on food security. The strategy took into account the Rural Development Strategic Plan (PEDA 2004-2015) and the National Agricultural Investment Plan (PNIA 2011-2015).

Notwithstanding the progresses achieved, several challenges persist in guarantying food and nutritional security for the country and its population. Cabo Verde’s climatic vulnerability, resulting from its insular condition, impacts on the country’s food security, mainly in respect to agricultural, livestock and fisheries production. Scenarios established for the agro-climatic future of the country warn that a significant percentage of the population may possibly be exposed to food insecurity until 2020 due to the effects of climate change. Adaptation and resilience measures are being implemented to respond to these challenges. In 2009, the Government of Cabo Verde, in partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and UNDP, initiated the project “Strengthening capacities for climate change adaptation and resilience in the water resources sector”, funded through the GEF for least developed countries (GEF-LDCF), based on the priorities identified by the NAPA (National Climate Change Adaptation Plan). In 2013, a second phase of the project was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), through its mechanism for funding adaptation initiatives, the “Fast Start Climate Change Funds”, with food security at the heart of intervention. Taking into account that climate change has environmental, social and economic effects, understanding what makes people vulnerable and what contributes to build their resilience is a necessity, so that public policies are designed to guarantee sustainability.

In this context, the present consultancy aims at strengthening the technical capacities of the National Secretariat for Food and Nutrition Security (SNSAN) in terms of analysis and mapping methodologies of household food (in)security and vulnerability and climate change, taking into account social issues, such as gender. 

• UN Cape Verde website, www.un.cv , under the section Anuncios;
• The UNGM website at www.ungm.org and
• UNDP Procurement website at http://procurement-notices.undp.org.

Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of the present Consultancy is outlining a methodology for the collection, analysis and mapping of food (in)security and vulnerability, with a focus on the risks and opportunities provided by climate change, and taking into account a gender perspective. The core aspect is strengthening the technical capacity of the National Secretariat for Food and Nutrition Security, of the Ministry of Rural Development, in terms of food and nutrition (in)security and vulnerability analysis and mapping methodologies, with a focus on climate change and gender issues. In this first phase, the methodology will be tested in the project’s intervention areas and later extended to the whole country.

• Methodology for food security data collection and analysis, with a focus on climate change and gender issues, defined;
• Capacity of the SNSAN’s technical staff, in respect to household food security information collection, analysis and mapping, strengthened;
• Food vulnerability and climate change study, with a focus on gender issues, in the project’s intervention areas, conducted and socialized;
• A step-by-step document, describing the methodology approved by the SNSAN, available.

The starting point for this consultancy should be reviewing the methodology used by the SNSAN (ex-DSSA) for food insecurity analysis and mapping, as well as other documents available. At the end of this phase, the consultant should be familiar with the methodologies used in Cabo Verde for analyzing vulnerability to food (in)security, as well as for climate change and gender issues.

Training/capacity strengthening

The work should be entirely based on strengthening technical capacities of the SNSAN. As such, it should be included in all phases, including the ones managed at a distance, for which information technologies should be used to allow discussion and training of the technical staff. During the in loco phase, in addition to on the job training, training sessions will be conducted with the technical staff, in respect to the different tools and methodologies developed.

Following the definition of the methodology and tools for information collection (questionnaires, manuals), a survey will be conducted by the SNSAN in the project’s intervention areas. After data collection, the consultant shall train the technical staff of the SNSAN in food security analysis and mapping.

• Design, with support from the technical staff of the National Secretariat for Food and Nutrition Security of the Ministry of Rural Development, the methodology and tools for food security data collection, analysis and mapping, integrating climate change and gender issues;
• Train the technical staff of the National Secretariat for Food and Nutrition Security of the Ministry of Rural Development, on methodology, questionnaire development, data treatment, information mapping and analysis and reporting on household vulnerability and food insecurity;
• Design the tools, methodology for household sampling, data collection and georeferencing of information and develop the study report for the Study on food vulnerability and climate change in the project’s intervention areas.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:  

• Good team work skills and ability, experience to lead multi disciplinary and national teams, and deliver quality reports within the given time;
• Excellent feedback-giving skills and culture sensitiveness and immediate availability.

Required Skills and Experience

• International consultant with advanced academic degree (master or PhD) and professional background in fields related to food security, climate change and gender issues.
  

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience is required;
• Proven analytical experience in the domains of food security/nutrition and climate change.

• Proficiency in Portuguese is required;

• Proficiency in English and/or French is an asset;

• Proficiency in statistical methods for data collection, treatment and analysis and in informatics analysis programs (SPSS); as well as in Geographic Information Systems ( SIG) and database management;