Ilri consultancy: systematic reviews on climate change and agri-food systems commissioned by the cgiar climate adaptation and mitigation impact area platform(closing date: 19 august 2024)

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) on behalf of the CGIAR Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Impact Area Platform which it hosts, seeks to engage the services of an individual consultant or a group of researchers affiliated to an institution to synthesize scientific knowledge on various aspects of climate change and agri-food systems through thematic meta-reviews. A total of four to six such reviews will be commissioned. Each thematic review will focus on a critical area within agri-food systems, namely:

• Overall impacts of climate change on agri-food systems on the entire value chain (from production to consumption)
• Adaptation to droughts, floods, pests and diseases in the context of agriculture and agri-food systems
• Mitigation and low emissions pathways in the agri-food sector and,
• Just transitions in agri-food systems

ILRI works to improve food security and nutrition and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for efficient, safe, and sustainable use of livestock. It is the only one of 11 CGIAR research centers dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, ILRI has regional or country offices and projects in East, South and Southeast Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa. www.ilri.org

The CGIAR Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Impact Area Platform is hosted by ILRI and works across all CGIAR centres.

Background

The Impact Area Platforms play a crucial role in driving achievement of CGIAR’s results and target impacts aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. Each Platform does this via four key functions: a) Convening communities of practice across CGIAR’s three Global Divisions and close partners; b) Deepening CGIAR and partner capacities; c) Amplifying CGIAR’s external profile and pathways to impact; and d) Advising portfolio-level management and strategy. The agricultural sector is increasingly facing challenges due to climate change, which manifests as droughts, floods, temperature fluctuations, and other extreme weather events. These challenges necessitate a deeper understanding of adaptation and mitigation strategies to enhance the resilience of agri-food systems.  Towards building the knowledge base on the impacts of climate change in agrifood systems, meta reviews are being commissioned by the Climate Impact Platform of the CGIAR. The outputs of the meta-reviews will be used to provide valuable insights and recommendations for policy and practice.

Scope of Work:

Proposal for reviews could be on any of the topics outlined below:

Overall impacts of climate change

Objective: To determine the implication overall climate change (both slow onset events and extreme weather events) on agricultural production or at any part of the value chain in agrifood systems. Focus will be on how agricultural production, and/or the supply chain is affected due to climate change where there is clear attribution to long term climate change. The scope of the review could be as broad or as narrow as needed, if the primary focus remains on the impacts of climate change on agriculture production and agri-food systems. For example, a narrowly focused meta review could focus on one single crop or livestock or fish, or one part of the value chain, or tackle only one or two selected climate hazards (slow onset event or extreme event); while a broadly focused one could focus on one single geography and look across various crops, livestock and fish, across various hazards and slow onset events. We welcome applications across varying scopes and geographies, provided the geographies are from the Global South.

Review on Adaptation to droughts, floods and pests and diseases in agriculture production and agri-food sector

Objective: To evaluate interventions providing win-win outcomes for adaptation particularly focusing on droughts and floods which often occur in the same geographies. Or: Analysing the literature on adaptation to climate shocks like unseasonal rains, hailstorms, and pest and disease outbreaks. Similarly, the scope of the  review could be broadly or narrowly defined,  as long as it is well defined and limited to geographies in the Global South.

Review on mitigation measures and low emissions pathways in agri-food systems, including carbon credits and, market and non-market measures.

Objective: To assess significant mitigation efforts within the agri-food sector, with a specific focus on efforts that reduces emissions without compromising food and nutrition security. The scope of this review could be focussed on a particular thematic area, such as mitigation in fertiliser, livestock or rice paddy, or on ability of land to sequester carbon (e.g. through agroforestry or soil carbon measures). The scope could also be broadly focused on carbon markets in the context of small holder farmers, or policy measures that promotes (or impedes) transitions to low emissions food systems.

Scoping Review on Just transitions in agri-food systems and lessons it can learn from just transitions in the energy sector

Objective: To explore the concept of just transitions within agri-food systems, including gender dimensions and transition pathways. This review can focus on review of all available evidence base on just transitions in agri-food systems (defined as transition to low emissions pathways in food systems that does not penalise the most vulnerable); or can review the available theoretical literature base on what a just transition will mean in the agri-food system; and what could be the appropriate lessons from just transition in energy sector that can inform such transitions in the agri-food sector.

Methodology

The meta-reviews should employ a systematic approach, including:

• • Write up a protocol that has a clear definition of the scope of the review, the method ((includes cumulative reviews such as scoping review, mapping review and descriptive review or aggregative reviews such as systematic reviews, meta-analyses, realist and umbrella reviews (also known as overviews of reviews)), with clear inclusion and exclusion criteria
  • Comprehensive literature search and review.
  • Define what sub-sectors are focused on in each meta-review.
  • Use of scientometric analysis where peer-reviewed literature is limited.
  • Synthesis of findings to identify gaps, trends, and key insights.

Deliverables

• • Inception Report: Outlining the approach, methodology, and timeline.
  • Draft Meta-Reviews: Preliminary findings for each thematic area.
  • Final Meta-Reviews: Comprehensive reports including executive summaries, key insights, and recommendations.
  • Power point Presentation: Summary of findings to stakeholders.

Timeline

The entire commission is expected to be completed within six months from the start date. Key milestones include:

• • Month 1: Inception Report
  • Month 3: Draft Meta-Reviews
  • Month 5: Final Meta-Reviews
  • Month 6: Presentation and Dissemination

1. Expertise Required
   • Proven track record in conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses, with publications
   • Experience in assessing climate change adaptation and mitigation in agri-food systems.
   • Expertise in defining resilience, just transitions, and social dimensions of agriculture.
   • Transdisciplinary teams including members from academia, non-academia and with multiple disciplines are highly desirable.

Reporting and Coordination

Teams will work remotely with regular reporting to the to the project coordinator.

Final Products

• Inception report
• Presentation and dissemination of meta reviews outcomes
• Draft publication outline of meta reviews outcomes

Consultancy Fee:  Lumpsum payment of USD 30,000 per review

Post location:  Homebased

Contract duration: 6 months

Essential skills and qualifications

The selected individual consultant, or group of researchers affiliated to an institution should possess.

• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in fields related to climate change, with experience of carrying out meta reviews and systematic reviews.
• 3 to 4 years of research/academic experience, and particularly proven experience of conducting meta reviews in related fields of study, for example, experience conducting meta-analysis including scoping reviews, evidence (gap) maps, systematic reviews, including experience of working with large teams.
• Experience of publishing papers using systematic reviews as methodology is a must.

How to apply: 

The applications should not exceed 10 pages (unless the team comprises of multiple members, in that case, the number of pages will increase as each member will need to provide a 2-page CV), excluding references, and should include:

Proposal which should not exceed 6 pages that is outlined into the following headings (Headings 1 to 5):

Title: should reflect the scope of the review

Heading 1: Relevance and context of the metareview based on four topics outlined above

Heading 2: Objectives: Clearly mention the objective and how it addresses any one of the four topics outlined above

Heading 3: Methodology: Provide justification for the method of the review chosen and clearly mention the inclusion and exclusion criteria (see below)

Type of reviews that can be proposed includes cumulative reviews such as scoping review, mapping review and descriptive review or aggregative reviews such as systematic reviews, meta-analyses, realist and umbrella reviews (also known as overviews of reviews) (Templier and Paré, 2015). In defining the review approach, include the state of the art and rationale for the approach in the context of identifying the gaps, trends and key insights. Include the timeframe envisioned for the review with justification and proposed inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Heading 4: Expected outcomes and outputs

Heading 5: Publication and dissemination strategy

In additional 4 pages (or more if there more than 1 member in the review team), please provide the following:

• Evidence of previous work on reviews which should not exceed 1 page.
• Bios of PI and team members which should not exceed 2 pages (if there are more than one member in the team, please provide 2-page CV of each member, in that case, the requirement of 4 pages documentation will be relaxed).
• Research plan in Gannt chart which should not exceed 1 page.

Applicants should send a cover letter and full proposal (maximum 10 pages if only one person in the team, additional pages for CVs if there are more members) expressing their interest in the consultancy assignment, and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s (or the team’s) professional qualifications and work experience to the Director, People and Organizational Development through our portal ilri.simplicant.com on or before 19 August, 2024.  The position title and reference number C/ 1513/2024 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

We thank all applicants (individuals or teams) for their interest in working for ILRI. Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, or training). ILRI also does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

To find out more about ILRI, visit our websites at http://www.ilri.org/

ILRI is an equal opportunity employer