Climate change consultant for research on knowledge and awareness design and implementation

Climate change: Research on public knowledge and awareness, and Design of awareness campaign

Introduction

Oxfam in Iraq envisions climate justice in a way that is feminist, equal, and free from conflict, promoting human rights, and expanding civic space. Oxfam supports equitable socio-economic transformation, inclusive and accountable climate governance, and climate adaptation and resilience measures which protect those who are highly vulnerable and most exposed to the climate consequences. Raising public awareness is one of the key measures to apply Oxfam’s green vision. Therefore, this knowledge empowers individuals and communities to take proactive measures to adapt to the changing climate and mitigate its negative effects on the short, medium, and long term. Awareness campaigns can educate people about sustainable practices for natural resources conservation, such as water conservation, which can help influence positive behavior change, adopt new practices, and build resilience against climate-related disasters.

Background

Iraq is among the countries most affected by and most vulnerable to climate change globally and is the fifth most vulnerable to reduced water and food availability, extreme temperatures, and associated health problems^[1]. It is one of four countries that depend on the Euphrates–Tigris River basin for its water supply, which over recent years has experienced high levels of water stress and environmental degradation, resulting in increased water scarcity for countries dependent on it, including Iraq^[2]. With the impacts of climate change, drought in the area continues to increase in duration and intensity, together with growing desertification and more frequent sandstorms and flash floods, all of which affect agricultural yields^[3].

As the public narrative on conflict in Iraq is receding; more attention is being directed towards topics including education, economy and corruption, as well as the growing public interest in issues related to climate change, especially with the immediate impacts that are notably increasing year after year, such as water scarcity and sandstorms. There is a belief amongst the Iraqi public that the government and local authorities are aiming to improve the management of environmental issues and crisis related to climate change^[4].

Funded by GIZ, Oxfam in Iraq is implementing a project in Ninewa and Al Anbar governorates of Federal Iraq to promote public awareness on the potential and negative effects of climate change on local natural resources and livelihoods.

Al-Anbar Governorate

Anbar is the largest of Iraq’s governorates and one of its most sparsely populated. The governorate is made up of seven districts: Ana, Fallujah, Haditha, Heet, al-Qaim, Ramadi, and al-Rutba, and borders three neighbouring countries, Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. The capital city of Anbar is Ramadi. As of 2019, the estimated population of Anbar is 1,818,318 people. The governorate is predominately inhabited by Sunni Arabs^[5]. Anbar leads the unemployment rate for youth aged 15-24 in Iraq at 33.3%^[6] following the ISIS occupation, which led to the widespread destruction of infrastructure, markets, and factories, and minimal support to businesses that might create job opportunities for young people.

Ninewa Governorate

Ninewa hosts 1.77 million returnees out of the 4.60 million returnees in Iraq (38% of the total), making it the governorate with the highest number of returnees in the country. Ten percent of these returnees live in locations ranked as having high severity conditions, whilst 32 percent live in medium severity locations and 58 percent live in low severity locations. The districts of Sinjar and Telafar host the largest number of individuals who have returned to high severity conditions. In Sinjar in particular, nearly all locations with returnees are categorised as high severity, with no returnees found to be living in low severity conditions. Given the large presence of non-camp based IDPs, one out of every four locations in Ninewa hosts both IDPs and returnees, increasing the pressure on meeting basic needs and resources for recovery. Multiple locations in Mosul and Sinjar, for instance, currently host more IDPs than returnees.

Assignment

1. Objectives:

Oxfam in Iraq is seeking a consultant to undertake research on Climate Change public knowledge and awareness in Ninewa (Sinjar, Baaj, Hamdaniya districts) and Al-Anbar (Habaniyah and Karma districts) Governorates in Iraq. Based on the findings of the research, the consultant will design an awareness campaign aiming to improve public awareness, knowledge and understanding of climate change as well as water usage in the two governorates.

The main objective of the current assignment is to:

1. Assess the public awareness, knowledge, concerns and interests about climate change, considering the two target areas separately, and the diversity of community groups in each area;
2. Understand where the public receives information on topics such as climate change and what information channels they trust and perceive as reliable.
3. Analyze the findings of the assessment and answer, accordingly, the gaps in awareness by designing a comprehensive public campaign strategy containing, but not limited to:

• Campaign’s aim and objectives.
• Target groups, audiences, and stakeholders.
• key messages, well defined;
• Communication tools and suggested awareness materials.
• Tools of dissemination based on each material designed;
• Frequency of dissemination and planned coverage;
• Channels of communications (both online and offline).
• Evaluation plan to capture the success and impact of the campaign.

2. Key Deliverables:

• Inception Report summarizing the objectives, scope and outputs of the assignment, organization and methodology for achievement of the outputs, documentation review, meetings, findings, and setting out a detailed planning of the assignment, including the schedule.
• Conduct the Research analysis.
• Report – Research analysis: A situational analysis of the current awareness, knowledge, concerns and interests about climate change in the targeted areas of Al Anbar and Ninewa governorates.
• Comprehensive awareness campaign strategy:
• Content: Audio/visual/printed design and content – ready to publish (English/Arabic); The products should be based on the assignment’s objectives and further tailored according to the research findings and the campaign strategy’s design.
• Implementation plan: Channels/tools/expected coverage/frequency of dissemination.

Timeline for implementation

All documents and reports are to be submitted in English unless otherwise stated. Where specifically stated, translation into Arabic will be done only after the English version is approved by Oxfam in Iraq and for the respective deliverables. All deliverables will only be accepted if they meet highest quality standards. Documents, including drafts, must be well structured and written. Data collection, analysis and presentation are expected to meet highest standards. All final documents must be proofread and professionally edited before submission. 

Proposal requirements  

Oxfam is requesting the service providers to hand in a proposal of maximum ten (10) pages, which should highlight the methodology and analytical approaches that the consultant will employ for acquiring and analysing data; the types of data(sets) that will be used; an analysis plan; and a workplan. The proposal should also include a succinct description of consultant’s capacities and any relevant experience related to the ToR. The 3-page proposal does not include biographies, CVs, diplomas, sample work and references, which should be submitted separately. Proposals not fulfilling the minimum criteria will be excluded from the tender procedure and will not be assessed further. 

 Education and Experience  

Education:

Advance degree in Sociology, Environmental Sciences, Public Policy/Environmental Policy, Communication and Media Studies, Sustainable Development studies or any other relevant field. Academic training or degree combining social studies and climate science and climate change related matters is highly preferable.

[1] https://www.unep.org/resources/global-environment-outlook-6?_ga=2.118495561.1336518399.1641386645-2043264144.1641103432

[2] https://www.stimson.org/2021/joint-working-group-on-international-and-eu-water-diplomacy-in-focus-the-euphrates-tigris-river-basin/   

[3] https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/mitigating-conflict-over-water-in-the-euphrates-tigris-basin/ 

[4] https://ecfr.eu/publication/early-warning-how-iraq-can-adapt-to-climate-change/

[5] https://easo.europa.eu/country-guidance-iraq-2021/anbar

[6] As per Ministry of Planning

How to apply:

The interested parties should send all the required documents listed above to the address: [email protected].

Deadline for submission of offers:

The deadline for submitting the offers is: 10^th of March 2024 (17:00 hr Iraq Time.).