KHRC Consultancy to Develop Human Rights Based Guidelines on Improving the Livestock Benefit Chain

Consultancy to develop human rights based guidelines on improving the livestock benefit chain as a means of reducing cattle-theft related conflict in Wajir and Kuria

1.      KHRC BACKGROUND INTRODUCTION:

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) was founded in 1991 and registered in Kenya in 1994 as a national Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). 

Throughout its existence, the core agenda of the Commission has been campaigning for the entrenchment of a human rights and democratic culture in Kenya. KHRCs’ mission is to foster human rights, democratic values, human dignity and social justice. 

To achieve this KHRC work is programmed into interdependent themes namely Civil and Political Rights (CPR), Equality and Non-Discrimination (END) and Economic Rights and Social Justice (ER-SJ). This research is situated in the securitysector reforms agenda, a project within the CPRthematic program.

The KHRCs’ work on security sector reforms involves interventions that are aimed at finding lasting solutions to the endemic problem of conflict and particularly Cattle rustling, defined as the “Stealing or planning, organising, attempting, aiding or abetting the stealing of livestock by any person from one country or community to another, where the theft is accompanied by dangerous weapons and violence”, in parts of the country among them Pokot, Baringo, Kuria, Kilgoris, Samburu, Isiolo, Wajir, Marsabit, Turkana and Marakwet.  The commission recognizes the fact that poverty is a major causal factor to the perennial conflict in the region. This together with systematic marginalisation suffered by these communities, (especially those living in the ASALs) since the era of colonial government and by succeeding governments, has increased the levels of poverty in these regions.

2.      RATIONALE FOR THE RESEARCH

The livestock sector employs 90% of the rural population especially in the Arid and Semi-Arid lands (ASALs) of Kenya where about 60% of the livestock is concentrat­ed. It contributes to about 42% of the agricultural Gross Domestic product (GDP) and about 10% directly to the overall GDP (GoK, 2008). The sector also accounts for about 30% of the total agricultural products earnings for the country’s for­eign exchange through the export of live ani­mals, dairy products, hides and skins.

Evidently therefore, livestock farming is an important economic and socio-cultural mainstay among many Kenyan communities and particularly the pastoralist community. However, the poverty-reducing potential of the livestock sector remains largely unexploited. This is linked, to some extent, to varying challenges that confront this sector including; insecurity manifested as cattle-rustling which denies the livestock owners the right to property and a livelihood; fluctuations in weather; insufficient budgetary allocation which hampers human resources and service delivery by government institutions to this sector; livestock diseases and pests, which  affect animal production and marketing over and above posing a threat to human health; outdated and fragmented legal, institutional and regulatory frameworks;  inadequate disaster preparedness and response with very weak early warning systems,  poor rural roads and other key physical infrastructure, leading to high transportation costs of produce to the already inefficient local markets and unfavourable international trade environment (stringent requirement) and trade barriers which prevent farmers from selling their produce abroad.

The main objective of this research is to develop a position which will inform the development of a people-driven and human rights-centred policy in probing the legal and institutional frameworks with the ultimate goal of strengthening the livestock industry among the members of the pastoralist community. 

The study will seek to find out whether improving the livestock benefit chain can subsequently result in job creation, especially for the youth in the identified areas of study. 

It is hoped that with a decent and secure livelihood from livestock farming, the youth who are oftentimes susceptible to manipulation by the political elites and other influential persons to engage in acts of criminal nature such as clan conflicts and cattle-rustling, will be persuaded to devote their time to gainful employment as opposed to being used as pawns by the powerful in inter-ethnic conflicts.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

The KHRC intends to award a one (1) month’s consultancy to a highly competent consultant or consultancy firm with the requisite qualifications and relevant technical background to conduct a Research on Livelihoods in the Livestock sector focusing on Wajir and Migori (Kuria district) Counties.

 Objectives of the research 

1. Identify and map out the existing national mechanisms at the legal, policy and institutional instruments levels that regulate livestock farming in Kenya.
2. Examine the gaps in the institutional, policy and legislations related to livestock farming in Kenya that make them inefficient and make develop specific policy and legislative recommendations for remedial measures.
3. Interrogate the level of community participation with a particular focus on communities living in the ASAL areas in the development of governance plans and frameworks in the livestock sector.
4. To analyze how livestock benefits are shared along the production chain among key players and make recommendations to foster equitable access and control of the same;
5. Examine the role of the livestock sector both as a causal factor of and a remedy to perennial conflict in the cattle rustling prone areas, especially by focusing on the potential for gainful employment within the sector.

 Desired outputs

1. A comprehensive research report on the current livestock farming in Kenya, problems plaguing the sector and potential solutions involving all stakeholders in the value chain
2. A policy brief with recommendations suggesting long-term solutions that are people driven and human rights centered and that can be implemented replicated at the county and national levels.

 Scope of the Research

The research will involve discussions with the affected communities in Wajir and Kuria locations and relevant local and national state and non-state actors. 

Specifically the project will involve:

1. Conducting relevant desktop literature review related to livestock sector and conflict.
2. An in-depth critique of the existing national legal and institutional frameworks that govern the livestock sector in Kenya and make specific policy and legal recommendations.
3. Conduct requisite interviews with relevant state and non-state stakeholders, and particularly with the target communities on the related topic, on how the livestock benefit chain can be improved for their benefit.
4.  Present the report and recommendation in the feedback and validation forums with KHRC and other relevant stakeholders for review and input.
5. Incorporate feedback from (4) above and submit the final audit report to KHRC.

 Academic and professional requirements

1. A university degree holder in social sciences or any other relevant qualification in social sciences. An advanced degree in the aforementioned areas of study will be an added advantage. 
2. Sound and demonstrable knowledge on issues affecting the pastoralists and the livestock sector programming. Knowledge on human rights based programming will be an added advantage.
3.  Familiarity and prior engagement with security sector reforms with a special focus on the issue of livestock sector programming in Kenya and regionally.
4. Ability to work with minimum supervision and the capacity to deliver within the set project deadlines.

Deliverables

1. An inception report outlining the methodology and literature review
2. Study Design, methodology and data collection tools (including questionnaires for different target groups)
3. Desk review of related documents available at national and district/county offices before data collections.
4.  Data collection and analysis/raw materials
5. Final research report
6. A human rights based framework on improving the livestock sector aimed at conflict reduction in cattle theft prone areas in Kenya 

 Preliminary Timeframe:

	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Meeting with Project Coordinator to discuss proposal and data collection tools
Data collection
Report writing
Submission of draft Baseline study report
Validation forum
Submission of final report and guidelines

The following documents must be submitted for this bid:

1. An inception report that contains Background, Proposed Approach, Expected Duration of Assignment and statement of experience.
2. A detailed CV indicating the requisite academic and professional background and experience.
3. Copies of at least two (2) completed similar assignments and contacts of the clients.
4. Quotation of the expected consultancy fee per day.

Expression of Interest deadline:

The deadline for submission of the expressions of interest (EOI) is 14^th February, 2014. The bids with the reference “Consultancy for Livestock Research”should be sent via email to Lillian Kantai onlkantai@khrc.or.ke and copied to admin@khrc.or.ke

 

Timelines: The 28 days (4 weeks) contract will commence on 24^th February, 2014.