The SOLKAS Project is one of the largest locally-led adaptation projects globally, and one of the first with a strong focus on the education sector. Largely funded under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) with co-finance from the governments of Australia, New Zealand and the Solomon Islands, the project will reduce children, youth and communities’ exposure to climate hazards and help build sustainable, resilient communities and livelihoods in the context of climate change. SOLKAS is a partnership with the Government of the Solomon Islands, through the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management, and Meteorology (MECDM), and Save the Children Solomon Islands (SCSI). Implementing ministries include Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCA), Ministry of Fisheries (MFMR), MECDM and Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS).

Working with communities across six provinces, the project will strengthen resilience to climate change impacts by strengthening the capacities of national, subnational, and local governments, communities, and schools to understand, plan for and implement responses to the climate crisis through 3 components:

1. Community-led development of adaptation plans, building climate change knowledge and skills, and access to climate change information;
2. Resilient livelihoods, food and nutrition security, and school-level building retro-fits; and
3. Institutional strengthening.

Scope of Work: The consultancy is to be delivered in up to 30 consulting days over a 5 month period (October 2024 – March 2025). The following are essential elements within the consultancy approach and methodology to be delivered according to the following timeline.

With support and guidance from SOLKAS project management unit, key staff from the seven implementing ministries including relevant SOLKAS Ministry embedded staff, the consultant is expected to deliver on the following:

October – December 2024

Youth Livelihoods Research and Scoping:

• Undertake desk-based literature review and key informant interviews to collect and analyse relevant information and data on viable businesses targeting youth as it relates to markets, value chain, opportunities and the capabilities of the private sectors on social development entrepreneurship and best practices in the region

• Assess how youth development is governed, including the role of rural training centres, and examine how they have been supported in engaging with entrepreneurship. What challenges and opportunities exist to model and sustain youth engagement with the private sector in resilient livelihood business opportunities

Specific activity areas the consultancy will contribute to include but not limited to the following:

• Working with the Young Entrepreneurs Council Solomon Islands and government operated Rural Training Centers, like minded private sectors and other providers, youth in targeted villages will be supported to develop the skills they will need to pursue resilient livelihoods as climate change impacts escalate (2024)

• Initial and ongoing assessment of private sector to assess opportunities to link with youth entrepreneurs for livelihood resilience (2024)

• Review of existing training packages in Solomon Islands and the region targeted at appropriate and relevant climate resilient rural livelihoods skills development, with emphasis on climate resilience and business management, especially financial management, marketing, and digital solutions (2024)

Youth Engagement in Climate Adaptation Planning

Support youth to effectively engage with local level adaptation planning processes:

• Work with NDMO and MPGIS to revise the village and ward DRC terms of reference to mandate youth representation (October – December 2024)

2025:

The consultant will build on the work of 2024 to deliver the following work in 2025:

Youth Livelihoods Support – Training development

• Assess, review and make recommendations about existing training packages in Solomon Islands and the region targeted at appropriate and relevant climate resilient rural livelihoods, skills development, with emphasis on climate resilience and business management especially financial management, marketing and digital solution

• Develop ‘flipped classroom’ and ‘micro learning’ model trainings on key issues (including climate- resilient agriculture, fisheries and livestock processes, food preservation and processing, natural resource management and nature-based solutions, non-timber forest product development, native cash cropping, etc., (2024-2025)

Proposals should outline expected timeframes for deliverables and proposed fees.

Deliverables and Fees Schedule – please see detailed TOR

Consultant Selection Criteria

Essential knowledge or experience

• Experience in youth livelihoods / business model-related projects in the Solomons or Pacific

• Demonstrated experience in research and training development consultancies

• Demonstrated business management and advisory experience in livelihoods

• Demonstrated ability to plan and deliver on consultancies with skills and strong time management, administrative and organisational skills.

• Highly developed communication skills, written and verbal, including highly developed report writing skills.

• Experience working with a range of teams, youth and education sector stakeholders including international development specialists, government, non-government stakeholders.

• Excellent project management, advocacy and diplomatic skills to enable effective engagement and responses with stakeholders.Experience with approaches to school safety / climate change adaptation / mitigation, including Disaster Risk Reduction or hazard management in schools

Required qualifications and/or accreditations

• Tertiary qualification/s in relevant and/or related discipline or equivalent work experience.

Timeframe:

• Start Date: October 2024
• Completion: March 2025

Applications:

• Please submit Proposal (under 8 pages), including relevant experience, methodology, activities, timeframe, and financial quotation for deliverables

Consultants must comply with Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy and undergo a National Police Check and Working with Children Check (if applicable).

Application Deadline: Proposals must be submitted by midnight, 29 September 2024.
Submission Address:
SOLKAS Project Manager
Save the Children – Solomon Islands Office
Email: solkas.hr@savethechildren.org.au

ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.