Request for Proposal - Terms for Reference (B) Eat the Locust Project: Baseline Report Proofreading and Editing at Cordaid International

OVERVIEW

• (B)eat the Locust is a three-year project funded by the Nationale Postcode Loterej of Netherlands and implemented by Cordaid (Lead partner), ICIPE and IMPACT in Laikipia, Isiolo, Marsabit and Samburu Counties of Kenya.

PROJECT OBJECTIVE AND DESIRED RESULTS

Overall Objective

• The Project’s main objective is diversification of the livelihoods of pastoralist communities in desert locust prone areas in Kenya based on an environmentally friendly and scalable insect value chain.

Outcomes

The project is expected to achieve the following outcomes:

• Biopesticides have been adopted through policy (county and national level) as the preferred mechanism for controlling Desert Locust Outbreaks in target communities;
• Pastoralist communities build livelihoods on insect value chains.
• Establishing Insect value chains for human and animal consumption

IMPLEMENTATION AND PARTNERS

• The project is implemented by Cordaid (Catholic Organization for Relief and Development Aid) being the lead implementor in partnership with ICIPE (International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology) and IMPACT (Indigenous Movement for Peace Advancement and Conflict Transformation

PROOFREADING AND EDITING OF BASELINE SURVEY REPORT

Assignment Background and Overview

In May 2023, we commissioned a Baseline Survey to provide an understanding on the viability and opportunities for diversification of the livelihoods of pastoralist communities in desert locust prone areas in Kenya based on an environmentally friendly DL control measures and scalable insect value chain. The Survey was undertaken by an independent consultant and concluded in November 2023. The survey adopted a mixed method approach collecting data through quantitative and qualitative approaches including household questionnaires, desktop review, Key Informant Interviews and Focus Group Discussions with community members in the four target Counties of Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo and Laikipia. The Survey specific objectives were as outlined below:

• Provide a comparative cost-benefit analysis of the use of biopesticides versus chemical pesticides in the control of DLs;
• Identify the current policy status, gaps (if any) and pathways for promoting biopesticides use as alternatives to chemical pesticides in the control of DLs at county and national levels- including extent of biopesticide adoption at county and national level if any;
• Determine the status of the insect value chains in Kenya, including awareness, key challenges and opportunities, and doorways for establishing vibrant DL and cricket insect value chains; and general perception of communities on insect rearing and consumption.
• Highlight the feasibility and measures of enhancing the livelihoods and resilience of pastoralist youth and women, who have fallen out of pastoralism, through their engagement in the DL and cricket insect value chains
• Outline plausible measures and mechanisms for improving human and animal nutritional needs through the insect value chain.
• Provide benchmark statistics and indicators against which to measure the project results
• A report was submitted upon completion of the assignment by the consultants in November. The report however had a few gaps that we would want addressed by a separate consultant by proofreading and editing.

Scope of Work

The consultant(s) will undertake the following activities:

• Refine the executive summary to provide a comprehensive overview of the report's key aspects in line with the outlined objectives.
• Triangulate the data provided under findings for each section to ensure that quantitative and qualitative data responding to a particular study objective and research questions align and are captured in the respective sections and not separately.
• With the guidance of Cordaid team, refine the non-standard acronyms used.
• Ensure the conclusions and recommendations sections are distinct in terms of content to avoid duplication between these two sections.
• General formatting and proofreading of the document, including addressing grammatical errors.
• Refine the abridged version to align with the full report.

Assignment Duration

• The duration of the assignment is a maximum of 2 working days spread across 5 days. Conducted in February 2024.

Role of Cordaid

• Provide any necessary documentation, including the report and any other relevant information and data to enable the assignment to be concluded.
• Any other relevant guidance requested by the consultant.

Expected Deliverables

• Final report, well formatted, free of errors, coherent with good level of detail.
• An abridged version of the final report highlighting the key findings well formatted, free of errors coherent with good level of detail.

Required Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• Minimum Degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Social Sciences, Literature or any related field.
• Minimum of 5 to 7 years relevant experience, demonstrated ability to write, edit or proofread and edit reports for various audiences, with portfolio that includes donor reports, evaluation reports and other documents.