Expression of Interest (EOI) to Undertake Needs Assessment of Working Donkeys in Nyeri, Laikipia & Isiolo Counties in Kenya at Donkey Sanctuary

• The Donkey Sanctuary is looking for an experienced and reputable organisation and/or individual consultant to conduct an assessment in the three counties of Nyeri, Isiolo and Laikipia in Kenya.
• Working donkeys play vital roles for communities in Nyeri, Laikipia and Isiolo counties, however evidence of the donkeys’ needs and factors influencing their welfare is lacking. The purpose of this assessment is to generate knowledge on the status of donkeys in these three counties, which in turn will inform The Donkey Sanctuary how best it can affect change to improve the welfare of donkeys and the lives of those who rely upon them.

The main objective of the assessment is to enable The Donkey Sanctuary to better comprehend the three counties’ context across a range of data points, including:

• Locations, population, needs and welfare issues of donkeys and mules.
• Challenges facing donkey and mule owning communities, including natural disasters like drought.
• Stakeholder mapping of organisations supporting the welfare of donkey and mules and/or donkey and mule owning communities.
• What needs to change to create improvements in donkey and mule welfare.
• What needs to change to create improvements for those who rely on donkeys and mules for livelihoods.

The Donkey Sanctuary is seeking a consultant to focus on these three counties, answering the following questions providing a detailed report on each county individually and within the three counties context:

• What is the donkey and mule population?
• What is the status of donkeys and mules?
• What are the main sicknesses and causes of death for donkeys and mules?
• What is the quality and accessibility of veterinary services?
• What vaccinations are available for donkeys and mules and how are common illnesses treated?
• What nutrition and hydration are available for donkeys and mules?
• What is housing and the wider living environment like for donkeys and mules?
• What are working conditions like for donkeys and mules?
• What is the body condition of donkeys and mules?
• Are donkeys and mules suffering in the milk, meat and skins trade?
• Who owns and works donkeys and mules?
• What industries do donkeys and mules work in?
• How do donkeys and mules contribute to the livelihoods of smallholders/subsistence farmers?
• Who else benefits from donkeys and mules?
• What contribution do donkeys and mules make to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
• What has been the impact of climate change on donkeys and how have donkeys supported communities’ resilience and local coping mechanism during times of drought.
• Who are the stakeholders (including civil society, government, private sector, and groups of people) who can contribute to having an impact on improving the lives of donkeys.
• The work will be carried out in Nyeri, Laikipia and Isiolo, and our preference is for a Kenya-based Consultant to carry this out (but we still welcome proposals that involve an alternative way to deliver the required outcomes, should this not be possible).
• The different tasks involved in this assessment will require a combination of desk research, primary data collection, and meetings with diverse stakeholders in the three counties (which may be conducted remotely, dependent on the health and security status in the counties). The Methodology should be designed to ensure the assessment is informed by a range of relevant stakeholders in the counties. We expect you to use both your existing contacts and other stakeholders you identify as being relevant.

We are seeking expressions of interest and proposals from those that may be able to meet our requirements.

The Consultant will possess the following minimum qualification and skills:

• At least five (5) years’ experience of conducting contextual analysis or assessment, research and ideally, programme development
• Experience of working in animal welfare or carrying out animal welfare assessments OR the ability to work with other individuals/organisations to carry out the assessments and deliver analysis on the equid welfare standard
• A solid and diversified experience within livelihoods, community programming, food security/agriculture, agribusiness and industry, gender equality, development, and governance sectors
• Excellent analytical, facilitation and report writing skills
• Experience in the use of participatory and gender sensitive assessment
  Strong technical knowledge of risks and vulnerability, and disaster reduction and management strategies
• Proficiency in English, in addition to local language skills and cultural awareness