1.    INTRODUCTION

 This is the Terms of Reference (ToR) for -the Midterm Review (MTR) of the full-sized UNDP-supported GEF-financed project titled “Ecosystem/Landscape Approach to Climate the Rural Settlement Program of Rwanda (LDCF III Project)”, PIMS ID 6083.

 This six-years project is being implemented by Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) in collaboration with Gakenke and Kirehe districts and other stakeholders including Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA), Meteo Rwanda, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA).  The project started in June 2022 and will end June 2028.

 These ToRs set out the expectations for the MTR.  The MTR process will follow the guidance outlined in the document Guidance for Conducting Midterm Reviews of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed Projects

(http://web.undp.org/evaluation/documents/guidance/GEF/mid-term/Guidance_Midterm%20Review%20_EN_2014.pdf)

2.    PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND RATIONALE, PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Rwanda is among the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change in the world. Higher incidents of irregular rainy seasons, droughts, landslides and floods have exacerbated the impacts of historically degraded ecosystems to significantly increase vulnerability to climate risks for most rural households. These changes affect agriculture, water resources, ecosystems, energy systems and human health, causing an estimated annual economic cost of about 1% of GDP by 2030[1]. Left unchecked, these impacts will particularly erode the benefits of the rural settlement programme (Imidugudu), adopted by government to catalyse urbanization and economic development in the rural areas. Such loses can be avoided by integrating climate risks and adaptation measures during the planning, design and implementation of the programme, to avoid maladaptation and ‘lock-in’.

The objective of the project is therefore to climate proof the Rural Settlement Programme, piloted in Kirehe and Gakenke Districts. The project is built on the premise that current deficiencies in adaptive capacity are matched by a limited ability to manage and respond to existing climate variability, even before future climate change is considered. Improving the capacity of individuals, communities/villages, companies and government institutions to deal with current climate variability will build the foundation for tackling future climate change. The effective use of medium to long-term climate information in the planning and implementation of the Imidugudu programme will be particularly crucial and will ensure that development avoids maladaptation and lock-in.

The project has four outcomes:

1. Institutional and community capacities for planning for landscape approach enhanced to climate-proof Imidugudu

2. Adaptation measures implemented in targeted landscapes following the landscape-approach

3. Policy frameworks and coordination strengthened to support climate- proofing of Imidugudu;

4. Knowledge management and M&E strengthened to support iterative adaptation planning. Gender will be mainstreamed throughout project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

The project provides technical skills, more accurate and relevant short to long-term climate information, tools, plans, methods and institutional and policy conditions to create and sustain climate resilient livelihoods for selected communities, benefiting a total of 2,211,600 individuals (50% being women). The total cost of the six-year project is USD 31,215,638, financed through a LDCF grant of USD 8,355,638, USD 500,000 in cash co-financing to be administered by UNDP and USD 22,360,000 in other co-financing from the Government of Rwanda’s stakeholder institutions such as the Rwanda Housing Authority, MINAGRI and the Local entities (Kirehe and Gakenke Districts) etc.

The project is being implemented in four mini-catchments: Bukinanyana and Gasharu in Kirehe District (Eastern lowland) and Muzo/Kagano and Muramba in Gakenke District (Northern highlands). (i) Bukinanyana catchment covers a surface area of about 5,282.5 ha with the Bukinanyana IDP model village covering about 10.9 ha (0.2% of the catchment). The Mahama refugee camp is included in the Bukinanyana catchment[2]. (ii) Gasharu covers about 6,165.1 ha, with the existing old and proposed extension site for the Gasharu IDP model village covering about 6.8 ha (0.1% of the catchment). (iii) Muramba covers about 3,033.2 ha, with the proposed IDP model village covering about 29.9 ha (1.0% of the catchment). (iv) Kagano covers 9,085.1 ha, with the proposed IDP model village covering about 46.7 ha (0.5% of the catchment). The total project pilot area is therefore 25,566 ha, with a total population of 107,651 in 191 villages. Both sites of Kirehe are located in lowlands with elevation varying between 1300 m and 1700m while Gakenke district’s sites have topography with very high contrast, with elevation varying between 1400 m and 2400 m.

UNDP RWANDA

PROCUREMENT UNIT