RFP_663-12-00001-_LIU-ELA_SK-10252011.docx

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Ethiopia, is seeking proposals from qualified organizations interested in providing the services described in the attached solicitation. This is a full and open competition, under which any type of organization (large or small commercial [for profit] firms, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations) is eligible to compete. Faith-based and community organizations are also eligible for award. In support of the Agency’s interest in expanding the number and sustainability of development partners, USAID encourages proposals from potential new partners.

This procurement is being conducted through full and open competition for which the procedures set forth in FAR Part 15 shall apply.

USAID plans to award a Cost Plus Fixed-Fee- completion type contract with a total estimated cost between $5-$6 million over a period of three base years subject to availability of funds. In addition, the contract may be extended by two one-year option periods for a total estimated cost of $1 million for each option year subject to availability of funds and program needs. The offerors are expected to provide their proposals including the option years. The offeror’s proposal shall be evaluated including the option years. The purpose of providing an estimated cost range for the contract is to help offerors develop their proposals around the government estimate and does not mean that offerors should not attempt to provide the lowest possible cost commensurate with their technical approach. Cost will be evaluated as part of a best value determination for contract award, including cost effective approaches to achieving the results. Offerors must demonstrate that they believe the costs proposed are realistic and reasonable to attain the intended results.

USAID encourages the participation of small business concerns, small disadvantaged business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in this activity as the prime contractor or as subcontractors.

This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a contract, nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the proposal. Furthermore, the Government reserves the right to reject any and all offers, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of the Government.

The RFP and subsequent amendments thereto, is downloaded from the Federal Business Opportunities (“FBO”) web site. The Worldwide Web address is http://www.fedbizopps.gov. It is the responsibility of the recipient of this solicitation document to ensure that it has been received from the INTERNET in its entirety and USAID bears no responsibility for data errors from transmission or conversion processes.

If substantive questions are received which affect the response to the solicitation, or if changes are made to the closing date and time, as well as other aspects of the RFP, this solicitation will be amended. Any amendments to this solicitation will be issued and posted on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website (http://www.fedbizopps.gov). It is the offeror’s responsibility to check this site periodically for official updates and amendments to the solicitation.

An Interested Vendor List is not included in this solicitation. Offerors can register and use the Interested Vendor List (IVL) on the FedBizOpps page, so that firms can contact one another for consideration of teaming arrangements and/or small business subcontracting opportunities in response to this solicitation.

The details associated with the submission requirements are outlined under section L of this solicitation. Late proposals will be handled in accordance with FAR 15.208.

Questions and Answers: The deadline for receiving questions is the date noted above. Questions may be submitted to Tigist Yifru at tyifru@usaid.gov and copy to Satish Kumar at skumar@usaid.gov

We extend our best wishes to all for a successful competition, and certainly want to thank you for your interest in USAID/Ethiopia program activities.

Sincerely, //signed//

Gregory E. Taitt Supervisory Contracting and Agreement Officer USAID/Ethiopia

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11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

STANDARD FORM 33

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD N/A

SOLICITATION

OFFER (Must be fully completed by Offeror) AWARD (To be completed by Government)

RFP 663-12-000001

X November 14, 2011 72000

Office of Acquisition and Assistance, USAID/Ethiopia, C/O American Embassy, ENTOTO Road, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

See section 7

OAA, USAID/Ethiopia, American Embassy, ENTOTO Road, Ethiopia See cover letter 16:00 hrs Ethiopia Time Tigist Yifru 251 111306323 Tyifru@usaid.gov See Attached Table of Contents X X X X X

X X X X X X X $.00 72000 OAA, USAID/Ethiopia American Embassy, ENTOTOT Road, Addis Ababa Ethiopia See section G.5

Table of Contents

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to provide technical assistance and services as described in detail in Section C, Statement of Work for implementation of the Livelihoods Integration Unit-Enhancing Livelihoods Application (LIU-ELA) Project.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

This is a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) completion-type contract. For the consideration set forth in the contract, the Contractor shall provide the results/outcomes described in Section C (Statement of Work) and all reports and deliverable set forth in Section F.3 and F.4.

B.3 ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE, AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT

(a) The estimated cost for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee, is TBD. The fixed fee is TBD. The total estimated cost plus fixed fee is TBD.

(b) Within the estimated cost plus fixed fee specified in paragraph (a) above, the amount currently obligated and available for reimbursement of allowable costs incurred by the Contractor (and payment of fee, ) for performance hereunder is TBD. The Contractor shall not exceed the aforesaid obligated amount.

(c) Funds obligated hereunder are anticipated to be sufficient through TBD.

B.4 PRICE SCHEDULE

Year 1-3 Fixed Fee for Base period Year 1-3 Total Estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee for Base Period Year 1-3

The Offeor shall provide budget separately for Two One-Year Option Periods in the same format.

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS

Pending establishment of revised provisional or final indirect cost rates, allowable indirect costs shall be reimbursed on the basis of the following negotiated provisional or predetermined rates and the appropriate bases:

1/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

2/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

3/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

[To be determined]

B.6 COST REIMBURSABLE

The U.S. dollar costs allowable shall be limited to reasonable, allocable and necessary costs determined in accordance with FAR 52.216-7, Allowable Cost and Payment, FAR 52.216-8, Fixed Fee, and 52.232-20 and 52-232-22 Limitations of Cost and Limitations of Funds, if applicable, and AIDAR 752.7003, Documentation for Payment.

[END OF SECTION B]

Section C

Livelihoods Integration Unit-Enhancing Livelihoods Application (LIU-ELA) Project

1. INTRODUCTION

USAID/Ethiopia intends to award a three base year $5-$6 million and two one year option year period with an estimated cost of 1 million for each option year contract under the US Government’s Feed the Future (FtF) Initiative, through a competitive Full and Open Request for Proposal. The main goal of LIU-ELA is to support USAID’s DO 1: “Increased Growth with Resiliency in Rural Ethiopia”, by promoting practical applications of livelihoods information in aiding the decision-making process, both on the emergency response and the development planning sides, and building capacity for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) in Ethiopia.

2. PROJECT TITLE: Livelihoods Integration Unit-Enhancing Livelihoods Application (LIU-ELA) Project

3. BACKGROUND

USAID/Ethiopia has been supporting Government of Ethiopia (GOE)’s efforts and capacity to better anticipate and respond to disasters for more than a decade. Under the Livelihoods Integration Unit (LIU) Project, USAID/Ethiopia provided technical support to the Early Warning and Response Directorate (EWRD) of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Sector (DRMFSS), to realize the EWRD goal: “to improve capacity to manage through shocks.” One of the aims of LIU has been to help the GOE and its partners improve government early warning systems by understanding the impact of natural and/or manmade shocks on livelihoods, especially on the ability of food insecure populations to cope with these shocks. The livelihood profiles produced by LIU for the various regions of Ethiopia are a good basis for predicting the impacts of shocks on the food security of a regional population. Linked to the Livelihoods Impact Analysis Spreadsheet (LIAS) tool, these profiles create a strong understanding of the broad food security issues being faced by any given population. The LIAS has become one of the important decision-making tools for disaster responses.

The project has created the most comprehensive and extensive databases at the household level in the country. These databases can be used to provide relatively sophisticated and tailored responses, as part of the Government’s early warning system, to potential and actual crises throughout Ethiopia. These databases could also serve purposes beyond early warning requirements. However, their potential to support development planning has not yet been tapped. The use of the profiles and datasets in development decision-making processes in particular is not enough. The Livelihood baselines/profiles are a very powerful development planning tools, which can be used to measure the impact of any proposed policy change or intervention. This added developmental dimension will be incorporated into the new LIU-ELA Project, to support federal and regional goals, as well as USAID/Ethiopia’s new CDCS strategy that includes the Feed the Future Initiative.

The LIU-ELA project will contribute to areas of the DRMFSS plan where USAID has a long standing investment and comparative advantage. These areas have been articulated in the draft USAID/Ethiopia Results Framework in Development Object 1: Increased Growth with Resiliency in Rural Ethiopia. More specifically the project will support Intermediate Result (IR) 2: “Livelihood transition opportunities increased” by increasing and diversifying household and community assets and improving climate change adaptation. Furthermore, LIU-ELA will support IR 4: “Resiliency to and protection from shocks and disasters increased” by meeting the emergency needs of targeted affected areas, strengthening disaster management capacity, and improving risk and vulnerability assessments. The project is also critical for the Feed the Future strategy by informing and guiding projects that protect and help to increase the productivity and assets of vulnerable populations in chronically food insecure and pastoral areas of Ethiopia.

4. STATEMENT OF WORK

The main goal of LIU-ELA is to support USAID’s DO 1: “Increased Growth with Resiliency in Rural Ethiopia”, by promoting practical applications of livelihoods information in aiding the decision-making process, both on the emergency response and the development planning sides, and building capacity for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) in Ethiopia. This next phase will be an integral part of the GOE’s DRM program implementation plan, which is currently being developed. This plan uses as a blueprint the five priority areas of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA), including disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, informed development, social protection, and emergency planning.

LIU-ELA will focus on the creation of user friendly analytical tools and linkages, and strengthening the utilization of Livelihoods information for better planning, decision making and capacity building in areas of DRR and CCA. The proposed project activities are grouped under three major components.

Component 1: Developing and improving tools to facilitate enhanced utilization of the livelihoods information.

Component 1 focuses on creating mechanisms and tools that will improve the development of and usage of livelihoods information. Currently, there is a need to consolidate the multiple livelihoods baseline information into a single, federal database and develop a user-friendly interface to facilitate analysis of the data. This consolidation will help ensure that information is not lost and that federal-level managers are able to use the databases in different applications that support both emergency and development purposes. There is also a need for developing an interface between the World Food Program’s (WFP) LEAP program and the DRMFSS’ livelihoods databases and information systems used in seasonal assessments to estimate beneficiary numbers and support needs. The interface will enable earlier projection of needs prior to conducting seasonal assessments so that resources are mobilized in enough time to prevent asset depletion and the erosion of livelihoods. LIU-ELA project is expected to develop and harmonize an analysis tool to estimate non-food gaps of income and expenditure and likely non-food needs thru collaborations with the pertinent GOE sectors and development partners.

1. Creating a National Livelihoods Database and analysis tool.

There is a need to consolidate the multiple livelihoods baseline information into a single, federal database and develop a user-friendly interface to facilitate analysis of the data. This consolidation will help ensure that information is not lost and that federal-level managers are able to use the databases in different applications that support both emergency and development purposes. Originally, the analytical tools had limited applications at the regional level. However, a growing demand to use the information for development planning and for disaster risk reduction, as well as emergency needs assessments, means that new tools need to be developed to enable federal and regional users to conduct analyses that will help with resource decisions. The national livelihoods database and analysis tool should hold all of the livelihood zone information and allow for relevant queries, analysis and related mapping to be done. It should be designed to perform both the storage functions and the substantial analytical processes now carried out by the multiple Livelihood Impact Analysis Spreadsheets, have the capacity to map reference year and current scenarios and potential “hot spot” areas, and should enable the input of on-going monitoring data (LEAP, rangelands, market price data) into the database to produce a scenario analysis/outcome.

Development of the database and analysis tool, and training of federal and regional officials in its use, will result in an expanded use of the databases/profiles now in existence.

Illustrative activities:

· Developing and testing a National Livelihoods database and analysis tool,

· Training up to 100 officials from DRMFSS and humanitarian partners,

· Improving the tool thru feedbacks from users.

2. Advancing the LEAP-LIAS interface There is a need for advancing the interface between the World Food Program’s (WFP) Livelihoods Early Analysis and Protection (LEAP) program and the DRMFSS’ livelihoods databases and information systems used in seasonal assessments to estimate beneficiary numbers and support needs. LEAP is a software program that uses rainfall satellite imagery to estimate water balance calculations for estimating crop yields. This new tool improves the needs estimates generated by HEA, by providing input on crop yields which is then fed in to the HEA calculations. The interface between LEAP and the livelihoods databases will make it possible to use LEAP’s crop forecast data as inputs into the Livelihoods Impact Analysis Sheets (LIAS) to produce estimates of beneficiary numbers that are based on objective and scientific data that are less prone to human error than crop data given at woreda level. The interface will enable earlier projection of needs prior to conducting seasonal assessments so that resources are mobilized in enough time to prevent asset depletion and the erosion of livelihoods.

This tool is currently under development and further support will be provided over the coming year to ensure the continued alignment of data and the development of a permanent and automated link between the two systems. With LIU-ELA Project support, the ongoing alignment of the two data sets will be strengthened and a more user-friendly and simplified interface between LEAP and the existing DRMFSS’s HEA-based database will be created. The integration of these tools has the support of the Government, donors, and other partner organizations.

Illustrative activities:

· Test and improve the interface,

· Create and strengthen links between monitoring data and LEAP- LIAS,

· Apply the tool for improved and predictive Early Warning to be in place.

· Train up to 15 officials each from Federal and Regional offices,

3. Strengthening the link between monitoring data and LIAS Indicators selected at livelihood zones level for monitoring and the new indicators developed by DRMFSS for regular monthly food security monitoring will be linked with the two tools above to strengthen the production of predicative early warning information for timely preparedness and responses.

Illustrative activities:

· Harmonizing the selected livelihoods based indicators (key parameters) and DRMFSS tools for monitoring,

· Linking the selected indicators with LEAP-LIAS and National Database,

· Developing Early Warning triggers and warning stages,

· Develop price monitoring tools and create links and synergy with the other tools.

· Support objective decision-making for Disaster Risk Reduction and management

· Develop Rainfall Estimates (RFE) analysis tools

· Provide training on RFE analysis and mapping

4. Developing non-food assessment methodologies There is a strong HEA based emergency food needs assessments methodology for defining food gaps and resource requirements for determining humanitarian food aid requirements. There is also a growing recognition of the importance of non-food assistance to complement food aid transfers. However, no consensus is achieved concerning methodologies for assessing non-food emergency needs. LIU-ELA project is expected to develop and harmonize an analysis tool to estimate non food gaps of income and expenditure and likely non-food needs thru collaborations with the pertinent GOE sectors and development partners.

Illustrative activities:

· Develop key parameter analysis as a tool to estimate income and expenditure gaps and likely non-food needs,

· Strengthen the application of ‘Livelihoods protection thresholds’ for estimating non-food needs,

· Support the non-food sectors to harmonize tools and identify appropriate assessment seasons

5. Updating livelihood profiles to maintain accuracy of the atlas and profiles The speed at which livelihoods may change as a result of the increasing number of shocks or proactive adaptation is a challenge to address. In the former instance, for example, if a livelihood zone had sustained a number of shocks in recent years, the baseline would not reflect the lower asset base that might then be a reality for many in that zone. The implications of this on estimates for assistance could be drastic, as analysis would compare the shock year inputs to a higher baseline than existed in reality. Alternatively, the population percentage in a given wealth group might change were many people have to sustain asset losses (i.e. people moving down from the middle or poor wealth groups), resulting in a lower estimate of required resources. Therefore databases need to be updated on a timely and regular basis. Documenting lessons learnt and developing guidelines based on the SNNPR updating will help other regions address updating issues as needed under the LIU-ELA Project, in as efficient a way as possible.

Illustrative activities:

· Documenting lessons learnt and developing guidelines for updating profiles by drawing lessons from the livelihoods updating done in SNNPR,

· Updating selected livelihood zone profiles for each region; up to a maximum of 25 each year.

Component 2: Enhancing utilization of livelihoods information for Disaster Risk Management and Development planning.

6. Informing Climate Change Adaption (CCA) decisions Understanding climate change and the ability of people to adapt to climate change are fundamental to the sustainability of livelihoods. It is critical to monitor climate change and to adopt policies that respond to the impact of climate change, especially on poor households. HEA is a good tool to observe how individual households are coping and reacting to changing conditions. The LIAS tool is another good way to monitor the impact of climate change on poor households at the village level.

As an empirical, locally-informed basis for climate-related disaster risk reduction program formulation, the climate change study will help bring the science of climate change and livelihoods analysis down to the village level, and subsequently to bring knowledge and dialogue generated at the village level back up to the federal level.

Illustrative activities:

· Assess studies and analyses done by different agencies to inform adaptation planning, and identify the need for additional analyses.

· Conduct adaptation studies in representative livelihood zones selected from the three Ethiopia: “Productive, Hungry and Pastoral”;

· Conduct studies/research to analyze vulnerability to climate change and adaptive capacity for selected livelihood zones at the national level.

· Assess to determine whether climate variability and change is a current stressor on key development priorities of the country driving food insecurity or water scarcity

· Conduct climate variability assessment in at least two livelihood zones each in the three Ethiopia (“productive, hungry and pastoral”),

· Assess how current programs could mainstream (or integrate) climate resilience into the whole development portfolio;

· Assist projects to use the results of the assessment for designing new projects;

· Produce leaflets/pamphlets for creating public awareness on climate change adaptation practices.

· Support the GOE’s capacity integrating early climate prediction and forecast in to the EWS.

7. Improving efficiency of targeting in the Food Security Program In the past, chronic food insecurity at the district (woreda) level was described as those households that received food assistance as a result of facing continuous food shortages (three months’ food gap or more) over the most recent three years. Other eligible households were those that had experienced severe asset losses due to shocks. These formed the base of the PSNP (Productive Safety Net Program).

A World Bank pilot study in 2008 showed the relevance of using livelihoods databases to identify and address the food security issues faced by PSNP beneficiaries. Known as the 3’6’9’ study, it was a first step toward using more cost-effective resources in addressing PSNP needs, as well as toward better targeting of PSNP beneficiaries, to provide them the right amount and kinds of inputs.

A review of targeting guidelines conducted by WFP in 2010 revealed that the targeting guidelines for food insecure households need to be updated and revised. The review recommended a stronger link between beneficiary targeting and use of the HEA methodology, which can be applied at the woreda and kebele level.

The above studies and reviews have shown a need to better target PSNP resources on the poorest districts (woredas) and on the poorest livelihood zones within those districts. Refinements are needed to better map the seasonality of peak labor periods, which would result in identifying the best time frames for the provision of inputs (cash or food), and to avoid conflicts between normal work cycles and the PSNP public works seasons.

Illustrative activities:

· Support training and familiarization of targeting guideline being developed;

· Conduct periodic review and demonstrate how the livelihoods databases can be used to determine variable levels of support required for addressing chronic food insecurity of PSNP beneficiaries regions (esp. in the Hungry and Pastoral Ethiopia).

8. Modifying graduation criteria aligning to the specific livelihood characteristics in each region The current graduation system – articulated in the PSNP PIM and the IFPRI benchmarks study – relies on asset-based benchmarks. However, there are unresolved issues. For example, there is a need to have better federal guidelines for graduation, but taking into account the differences of livelihoods zones. A World Bank pilot study in 2009 found that a new graduation threshold needed to be developed that took into account the most effective credit programs that provided the least amount of household risk.

There is general agreement that the whole topic of graduation thresholds needs further refinement to take into account how resilient households are expected to be vis-à-vis normal risks versus their ability to withstand major shocks when they occur. Better criteria for determining graduation thresholds will help refine resource requirements and serve as practical guidelines for officials at the district (woreda) and other local levels. These criteria will also be useful for donors and implementing partners to track progress and to adjust their resource contributions.

Illustrative activities:

· Assist the study to modify graduation criteria for the PSNP that are standardized at the federal level and adaptable to the unique livelihood parameters of the regions (DAG supported study);

· Demonstrate how the livelihoods database can be used for graduation and help refinement of the graduation thresholds using livelihood database;

· Ensure the thresholds are used to estimate resource requirements and guide determining graduation rates on the ground,

· Conduct periodic review of the graduation criteria and recommend for improvements.

9. Guiding PSNP Risk financing decisions In order to save lives and livelihoods as well as to protect the achievements of the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) and prevent the falling of people outside the PSNP into chronic food insecurity situation, the Safety Net Program temporarily addresses transitory food insecurity through the Risk Financing mechanism in a proactive manner. To achieve these objectives, the need for advance preparedness (in anticipation of shocks) in which required financial resources are readily available and plans are drawn well ahead of the occurrence of shocks is essential. One of the preparedness modalities is the development of Contingency Plans for PSNP Woredas so that people affected by shocks can be supported in the same way the PSNP beneficiaries are assisted.

This contingency fund is utilized in periods of transitory needs due to shocks where standard PSNP transfers are unable to meet the needs. At present the links between the PSNP and the emergency system are in transition. As a result there have been areas of confusion and the likelihood that vulnerable people have not been assisted in a timely manner and may in some cases have fallen through the gaps. Hence as recommended by the risk financing consultants to the government, using the Livelihood Impact Assessment Sheet (LIAS) is the best available option.

Illustrative activities:

· Develop a simplified guide for using wealth-based analysis in the LIAS to calculate the number of people falling under a ‘livelihood protection threshold’,

· Assist to determine the costs of additional PSNP transfers that would be required to protect the livelihoods of existing and new beneficiaries,

· Develop a training guide for using the LIAS as a tool for risk financing in PSNP woredas.

10. Informing future agriculture/food security designs for both governments and donors The existing (175) databases/profiles provide a rich information base for policy makers and officials responsible for program design and implementation. The databases include information on topography, meteorology, soils, and natural vegetation – all factors that provide the context for rural activities, especially crop and livestock production. The different profiles track human activity on the local level – what people produce, consume, sell, where they sell it, who they work for, their food and non-food necessities, and what services they use. Under the LIU Project, these databases have been incorporated into an Atlas of Ethiopian Livelihoods. With some modest refinements, the profiles and the atlas will better inform decision makers on the Government side, and funding on the donor side.

Illustrative activities:

· Assess databases used by USAID and other donor funded projects for design and impact assessment.

· Organize presentations/workshops to demonstrate how to use livelihoods database for the design and monitoring of future agriculture/food security programs

· Tailor the livelihoods data for use in the identification of projects in various corridors for both the Government and for donors;

11. Measurement of trends in rural incomes Trends in rural incomes, and comparative trends for better off, middle, and poorer households can be derived from HEA analysis. Regular reporting or response to requests for information on trends will be supplied by the project to support learning and policy work.

Illustrative activities:

· Analyzing the impacts of price hikes since 2006 on livelihoods,

· Analyzing trends in livelihood patterns since the reference year - including herd dynamics in pastoral areas.

Component 3: Building capacity of GOE and development partners Component 3 focuses on strengthening the capacity of federal and regional governments to effectively utilize the LIU tools. In addition, the program implemented at Bahir Dar University, along with an additional university in pastoral areas, will be strengthened and assisted to build DRM and CCA in their curricula.

12. Building capacity of federal and regional government to appropriately use the LIU tools This deals with both institutional and staff capacity for the proper utilization of LIU tools. The institutional capacity aims to ensure that adequate institutional arrangements and sufficient capacity exists to ensure the use of the tools at all levels. Training for existing and new staff is the key so that they understand the tool and implement it properly. At Federal and Regional levels, it is assumed that adequate numbers of staff receive the Training of Trainers (ToT) and ensuring that they are in place to provide the necessary support to woreda level experts is crucial.

Illustrative activities:

· Identify capacity building needs,

· Provide TOT Trainings for federal and regional officials and practitioners,

· Support the GOE in developing contingency plans both at regional and national level,

· Carry out evaluation of each contingency plan in post-crisis period and provide recommendations to refine future contingency measures,

· Provide technical support to GOE to design a detailed implementation strategy and plan for the draft multi-sectoral disaster risk management policy,

· Supporting linkages of the Household Economy Approach to the National Incident Command System.

13. Strengthening DRM/CCA training & research in Higher Education Institutions The program implemented in Bahir Dar University (BDU) plus one university in pastoral areas will be strengthened and assisted to build DRM and CCA in their curricula.

Illustrative activities:

· Provide technical support to two Ethiopian institutes of higher learning to use Household Economy Analysis and design Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change courses in their curricula;

· Help cascade the curricula to elementary schools across the country,

· Provide technical support to Bahir Dar University, Disaster Risk Management and Sustainable Development Department to further Institutionalize Household Economic Approach trainings.

SUMMARY of LIU-ELA DELIVERABLES

The contractor shall be responsible for all deliverables listed below. These were discussed earlier as a part of each IR/Component. Deliverables for Years two (2) through theee (3) may be negotiated based on changing circumstances.

Component 1: Developing and improving tools to facilitate enhanced utilization of the livelihoods information.

· Federal Livelihoods database and Analysis tool,

· TOT level training for up to 100 officials from DRMFSS and humanitarian partners on utilization of the tool,

· Links between monitoring data and LEAP- LIAS,

· Harmonized livelihoods based indicators (key parameters) and DRMFSS tools for monitoring,

· Links of selected indicators with LEAP-LIAS and National Database,

· Early Warning triggers and warning stages

· Price monitoring and forecasting tools linked with the other tools,

· Rainfall Estimates (RFE) analysis tools,

· Key parameter analysis tool to estimate income and expenditure gaps and likely non-food needs,

· Guidelines for application of ‘Livelihoods protection thresholds’ for estimating non-food needs, Component 2: Enhancing utilization of livelihoods information for Disaster Risk Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Development planning.

· Assessment of studies and analyses done by different agencies to inform climate change adaptation planning, and identify the need for additional analyses,

· Research outputs analyzing vulnerability to climate change and adaptive capacity for selected livelihood zones at the national level,

· Leaflets/pamphlets creating public awareness on climate change adaptation practices,

· Reports on GOE’s capacity built for integrating early climate prediction and forecast in to the EWS,

· Manual how the livelihoods databases can be used to determine variable levels of support required for addressing chronic food insecurity of PSNP beneficiaries regions (esp. in the Hungry and Pastoral Ethiopia),

· Guidelines on how the livelihoods database can be used for graduation and help refinement of the graduation thresholds using livelihood database,

· Guidelines on how livelihoods information can be used to address the unique needs of women, children and female headed households,

· Review of the graduation criteria with recommendation for improvements,

· Guideline for using wealth-based analysis in the LIAS to calculate the number of people falling under a ‘livelihood protection threshold’,

· Tailored livelihoods data for use in the identification of projects in various corridors for both the Government and for donors,

· Reports analyzing the impacts of price hikes since 2006 on livelihoods,

· Analysis of trends in livelihood patterns since the reference year - including herd dynamics in pastoral areas, and

· Assessment of trends in length of growing period (LGP), adaptations of seed varieties, changes in cropping patterns and herd dynamics.

· Up to 125 updated baselines and profiles.

Component 3: Building capacity of GOE and development partners

· TOT level Trainings for federal and regional officials and practitioners,

· GOE lead contingency plans both at regional and national level,

· Detailed implementation strategy and plan for the draft multi-sectoral disaster risk management policy,

· Guidelines linking Household Economy Approach to the National Incident Command System,

· Design and implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change courses in the curricula of two Ethiopian institutes of higher learning including utilization of Household Economy Analysis, and

· Progress report on technical support provided to Bahir Dar University, Disaster Risk Management and Sustainable Development Department to further Institutionalize DRR, CCA and Household Economic Approach trainings.

5. CROSS-CUTTING ACTIVITIES

5.1 Gender

The LIU-ELA Project has a strong focus on improving the capacity of the GOE to address disaster risk management requirements. Natural disasters, conflicts and emergency situations in general, can have different impacts on women and men, young and old. Disasters tend to have the most severe consequences on vulnerable farming and pastoral women and men, typically living in poverty, that are not often able to cope with the consequences of disasters. Gender differences can make women more vulnerable than men to natural disasters in those contexts where they have less access to productive assets, such as land and livestock. For each study conducted, project procedures will disaggregate data by gender and by age. The analytical tools to be developed under the project will also allow for the disaggregation of data and provide results by gender and by age to explore gender issues and women’s unique needs in the implementation of disaster risk reduction activities.

IX. ENVIRONMENT

Pursuant to 22 CFR 216.2(c)(2)(i, ii, iii, v, and xiv) the proposed activity is Categorically Excluded from further environmental review. If additional activities not described in this document are added to this program, further environmental examination will be conducted so as to ensure compliance.

6. LINKS TO RELEVANT USAID AND NON-USAID PROJECTS

USAID/Ethiopia has developed a comparative advantage over the last several years in these areas through methodological support and innovation to the GoE with the introduction and development of the Livelihood Integration Unit (LIU) using the Household Economy Approach (HEA). Besides the LIU USAID/Ethiopia supported and continues to support a number of other activities related to disaster risk management. These include: technical assistance in the drafting of the national policy and strategy on disaster risk management, and the ongoing institutionalization of National Incident Management System (NIMS) through a partnership program with the United States Forest Service (USFS). USAID/Ethiopia has also partly funded a partnership program with University of Arizona to support the establishment and launching of Ethiopia’s first Master of Science curriculum in Disaster Risk Science and Sustainable Development.

The Pastoralist Livelihoods Initiative (PLI) and Revitalizing Agricultural/Pastoral Income and New Markets (RAIN) activities funded by USAID and OFDA, support a range of innovative work to improve drought cycle management and early warning activities, particularly those related to livestock management. PLI and RAIN are linked to the PSNP with their focus on protecting household assets and building community assets in pastoral areas. Linkages will also be created with the new USAID FtF initiatives to support the planning and implementation of development programs in line with the new growth and transformation policy of the GOE.

Linkages with other Donor Projects USAID also coordinates with other donors’ and UN agencies’ climate change and disaster risk management activities. LIU-ELA project activities have a strong link with existing DRM, CCA and capacity building projects funded by other donors such as the World Bank, DFID and UNDP. LIU-ELA will climate change and DRR activities complement with DfID and the rest of the PSNP Donor Working Group to research Climate Change impacts, ways to augment/offset those impacts, and develop a Climate Change and DRM driven approach to continue building resiliency and adaptive capacity.

GOE Coordination LIU-ELA implementation coordinates with the GoE Disaster Risk Management-Strategic Program and Investment Framework (DRM-SPIF) and inputs to related activities such as woreda risk profiling, risk financing, contingency planning and implementation of the draft national DRM policy. DRMFSS is currently conducting woreda risk profiling to inform the implementation of DRR in the country. LIU profiles and baselines are the major sources of data and input for this activity. The analytical tools to be developed will also complement and help simplify the utilization of the available information for risk profiling and DRM implementation. Furthermore, LIU-ELA activities complement activities to better protect vulnerable populations by improving the GOE's disaster risk management (DRM) capacities including preparedness, mitigation, and response; and in strengthening linkages in areas of DRM and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) activities.

7. RELATIONSHIPS:

In terms of technical matters, the Offeror will work under the overall guidance of the EWD of the DPPC while in terms of administrative and financial matters it works under the guidance of Cognizant Technical Officer Representative (COTR). The project will be housed in the Federal DRMFSS office.

A Terms of Reference will be developed by the offeror describing the expected roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder in this exercise. This TOR will be discussed, clarified and agreed with USAID/Ethiopia, DRMFSS and the regional counterparts prior to work proceeding.

Success of this assignment will not solely be evaluated simply based on deliverables.