Technical capcity enhancement for climate-resilient agriculture through the revision of national policies and the improvement of data management systems.

The United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), on behalf of Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) invites qualified interested firms to submit Expression of Interest (EOI) to participate in the upcoming solicitation for provision of technical assistance for technical capcity enhancement for climate-resilient agriculture through the revision of national policies and the improvement of data management systems. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on behalf of the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) requires the services of an institution to deliver the technical assistance as approved by National Designated Entity from Fiji. The objective of this Technical Assistance is to enhance Fiji’s technical capacity for climate-resilient agriculture through the revision of national policies and the improvement of data management systems. The project will be responsible for enhancing the technical capacity of Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways and key stakeholders to promote climate-resilient agriculture, thereby increasing resilience to climate change impacts in Fiji. It will support the widespread adoption and scaling up of climate-resilient agriculture practices in Fiji, leading to improved food security, sustainable livelihoods, and resilience against climate change impacts. Fiji, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, faces significant vulnerability to climate change impacts such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and changing precipitation patterns. These climatic shifts pose serious challenges to Fiji's agriculture sector, which is vital for the livelihoods of approximately 60% of the population. The sector is threatened by saltwater intrusion damaging coastal farmlands, extreme weather events destroying crops and infrastructure, and soil erosion leading to land degradation. Estimates suggest that Fiji's economic losses from climate change could reach 4% of GDP by 2100. To date, Fiji has pursued various climate-smart agricultural practices, including involvement in the Climate Resilient Food Systems (CRFS) Alliance and the Pro-Resilient Fiji project. These initiatives have promoted local crop production, enhanced community capacity to address climate risks, and supported the development of disaster risk management plans. Despite these efforts, Fiji faces numerous barriers, including outdated policies, inadequate data management, and a lack of awareness and technical capacity among farmers and government staff. Agricultural activities have been pushed into marginal lands due to increased land use competition and diversification of prime agricultural land, triggering deforestation and further land degradation. The "National Biodiversity Threat Assessment" identified agriculture as a major threat contributing to carbon emissions and biodiversity loss. Existing policies, such as the Land Conservation and Improvement Act of 1953 and the National Rural Land Use Policy of 2005, are outdated and lack provisions for climate resilience. Furthermore, Fiji lacks adequate real-time land-based data and has insufficient skilled personnel to utilize emerging technologies like drones for data collection and management. Limited awareness and knowledge of climate-smart agriculture among farmers and agricultural staff hinder the adoption of resilient farming methods. Addressing these challenges is essential for safeguarding food security, economic stability, and the well-being of Fiji's people in the face of climate change. Some of the expected outputs are: 1. Project Management 2. Inception workshop and recommendations report on realignment of policy and act 3. Improvement of data management systems. 4. Study visit and media coverage reports of climate-smart farming practices. 5. Scale-up project concept note and capacity-building workshop. The complete details of the requirement will be provided in the tender documents that will be issued to bidders after this request for EOI is closed.