TERMS OF REFERENCE – CONSULTANCY TO CONDUCT A SCOPING REVIEW OF POLICY AND PRACTICE LANDSCAPE, GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES TO FOOD SYSTEMS TRANSFORMATION TO PROMOTE HUMAN AND PLANETARY HEALTH IN EAST AFRICAN CITIES AND DRYLANDS

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a leading Africa-based, African-led, international research institution headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with a regional office in Dakar, Senegal. Our researchers are contributing to the body of evidence about the critical issues in population health and wellbeing impeding Africa’s development in order to provide strong direction and recommendations to policy- and decision-makers at all levels. Our priority research areas are Human Development, Health and Well-Being, Data Science and Evaluation, and Population Dynamics and Urbanization in Africa. In addition to the research component, APHRC has other programmatic areas in Research and Related Capacity Strengthening, Policy Engagement and Communications and International programs.

Rationale and Purpose of the Assignment

The world population is hungry and unhealthy, and our environment is increasingly degraded. The most recent report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI Report 2023) indicates that close to a third of the world population is food insecure, while about three in five of Africans are food insecure. Food systems are not nourishing the people. In addition, they are a major cause of environmental degradation and a driver of climate change. The world has come to the realization of the need for food systems transformation to make them more nourishing, regenerative, inclusive, resilient and sustainable, through human-centered, nature-positive approaches, such as agroecology.

The purpose of the proposed scoping review is to help understand the policy and practice landscape, and identify gaps in research and opportunities for sustainable approaches including agroecology in food systems transformation in East Africa, particularly in urban areas and drylands.

Objectives

1. To establish the existing literature on food systems transformation to make them more nourishing, regenerative, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable and how sustainable approaches including agroecological principles are being applied (including at community level) and highlight application of local/indigenous knowledge; and document any impacts. This should focus on East Africa, but should also identify good practices from other regions globally.
2. To document the existing policies, strategies, programs, guidelines and frameworks that relate to the application of sustainable approaches including agroecology in food systems transformation, with a focus on Kenya and other East African Countries.
3. To establish potential gaps in application of sustainable approaches including agroecology principles in food systems transformation, and opportunities for policy and practice and further research.

Scope and Approach

The scoping review will document the current status of the policy and practice landscape for food systems transformation through application of sustainable approaches including agroecology principles to promote food security and nutrition and environmental health in East African Cities and Drylands, and identify existing gaps and opportunities for policy and practice and further research. While the review should be broad enough to include sustainable approaches generally, a focus in application of agroecology principles is expected. Further, while the focus is Kenya and other East African countries, the review should also give a general global picture in a light way, highlighting good practices.

Activities include:

1. Meetings with the research team to refine the scope at the beginning, to update on progress and to make any necessary adjustments as the work progresses.
2. Rapid desk review to document existing literature on the current policy and practice landscape with regards to food systems transformation and the application of sustainable approaches including agroecology principles, research gaps and opportunities. The review should give a general picture and provide a deep dive into Kenya and other East African countries.
3. Report writing on the scoping review, providing a general review and a deep dive into Kenya and other East African countries. The report should include an up to two-page executive summary.

Anticipated Timelines

The proposed scoping review is expected to be conducted between August and the end of September, with a draft report shared by the end of the first week of September, and the final report by the end of September. The work is expected to be done within approximately 8 days during the stated period.

Required Expertise

We are looking to engage an individual consultant to conduct the scoping review and community engagement, working closely with the APHRC team. The consultant should;

1. Be an expert in Nutrition, Food Systems, Public Health, with good understanding and experience with food systems, especially in the East African Region.
2. Have the ability to rapidly obtain or retrieve and understand needed literature/documents to inform the scoping review.
3. Have demonstrated experience in a similar or related assignment.
4. Have good interpersonal and communication skills, with proficiency in

Academic Qualifications

PhD or equivalent qualification in Food Systems, Nutrition, Public Health or related field.

Application Details

During the application, the consultant is expected to provide a draft proposed plan of work, and budget indicating the anticipated number of days to complete the work and the cost per day. This costing should be all inclusive.

Interested candidates should submit their applications to consultancies@aphrc.org and copy procurement@aphrc.org . This should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a draft proposed plan of work and budget. Please indicate ‘Scoping Review Expert -Food Systems Transformation’ on the email subject line. Applications will be considered until August 18, 2023. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Cover letters should be addressed to:

The Human Resources Officer

African Population and Health Research Center, Inc.

APHRC Campus, Manga Close, off Kirawa Road, Kitisuru

P.O. Box 10787-GPO, Nairobi

APHRC is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to the protection of vulnerable persons.