Terms of Reference

GIS / RS Diagnostic Study for the Tanzania Component

of the

Kagera Transboundary Agro-ecosystem Management Programme (TAMP)

Context

The natural resources of the Kagera river basin, which rises in Burundi and Rwanda and flows through Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania into Lake Victoria, are facing increasing pressures and degradation as a result of population pressures, the intensification of agricultural and livestock activities and unsustainable land use systems and management practices.

The Transboundary Agro-ecosystems Management Programme for the Lower Kagera Basin (TAMP), through an integrated catchment and ecosystem management approach, is expected to enable national and local stakeholders to combat degradation and rehabilitate degraded lands through ensuring the productive and sustainable use of the biodiversity resources and agricultural ecosystems. Implementation of the TAMP is expected to achieve local and global environmental benefits (biodiversity conservation, protection of international waters, mitigating of climate change effects through enhanced carbon sequestration) and protect the integrity of the ecosystems of the lower Kagera Basin.

The TAMP will comprise the component resources management and development action plans for a) the agro-pastoral system and b) the intensive cropping system (essential banana based), taking into account the interaction between these two broad target ecosystems and with highland systems in the upper catchment and the wetlands and riverine system. It will include the modalities that will need to be put in place during implementation of the full project: (i) firstly, to bring about a change from unsustainable practices into appropriate land management practices in the short and long term and to thereby harness global environmental benefits; and (ii) secondly, to accelerate equitable income growth and promote improved access to necessary information, resources, technologies and markets in order to address poverty and to reduce vulnerability of the poor who depend on the natural resources.

Development of geographical information system (GIS) and spatially referenced information about the Kagera river basin is a key step in capacity building and developing the knowledge base of local people to improve management of the ecosystem. In the full TAMP, the system is to be made available to decision makers / land users at many different levels (ideally to sector level) – enabling communities to have the information available to make informed decisions to bring about change towards more productive and sustainable agricultural systems.

Study

In the process of formulation of the Kagera TAMP through the project development phase (PDF-B), there is a need for a review of the status and trends of land use and its impact on the Kagera basin natural resources and develop a computerized GIS with baseline information for systematic data collection, analysis and monitoring. A contract will be made to conduct the study and establish the GIS with a competent Tanzanian institute/resource team. The specific tasks to be undertaken are outlined below:

Specific term of references

  1. Develop a computerised GIS (ideally using the ESRI Arc suite of software) including (see list in Annex 1):
  2. base-line data at appropriate scales, upon which agricultural and other land users and decision makers can make sound, accurate and timely decisions;
  3. available “legacy” (historical) data, to quantify changing elements in the landscape, particularly vegetation, land use and population datasets.

And

  • be able to incorporate new datasets as they become available(e.g. results from transect / comparative field studies);
  • enable projections to be made (e.g. extrapolate results of beneficial projects) in time and space across the basin, by developing scenarios;
  • be developed with a view to linking the Tanzania system with systems covering the Kagera river basin in Rwanda, Uganda and possibly Burundi.

The data held in the GIS should be reliable, verifiable, geo-referenced, up-datable and accompanied by appropriate “meta data” (information on the methodology used to collect the data, limitations of the data etc). The system must also be capable of including / analysing satellite imagery, as this is likely to form a major source of spatial data at the synoptic scale of the watershed and can be used in multi-temporal analyses (e.g. of vegetation – which reflects the effects of a range of changing factors, including climate, soils, topography and human influence). The focus will be to gain a good understanding of the status and trends in the cropping and agro pastoral systems and their effects on the wider environment. The information should serve different needs such as information on resources degradation, sustainable use and productivity (agricultural, forest and wetland products), food security, and habitats and use in biodiversity / poverty mapping).

The contracted body should undertake to ensure the secure storage of spatial data, including use of a reliable back-up power supply and regular “back-up” of the system to protect from fluctuations in power supply / computer viruses etc.)

  1. Begin spatial analysis of the data collected, including interpretation of any available up-to-date digital satellite images. During PDF-B (to March 2006), the priority is to begin to quantify the processes working across the river basin in Tanzania, linking poverty and environmental degradation to get an understanding of the driving forces of change, specific pressures on resources and locate areas undergoing most serious degradation and areas/communities where sustainable resources management practices are being implemented. (See Poverty mapping approach detailed in Annex 2.)
  2. Working with the National Project Manager, other Tanzanian contributors and the international consultant NRM/GIS, contribute to the TAMP Tanzania field assessments, to verify the diagnosis at local/community; land use/farming system and river basin level scales to provide data for GIS analyses of the effects of projects / interventions and even policies (to the extent possible), in time and space across the river basin. This will require the contribution of one/two land use experts to join the interdisciplinary field study team[1] to obtain ground truthing and field knowledge.
  3. Contribute to collecting the database inventory of available reports, maps, aerial photograph, satellite images, digital data and scientific articles related to land use and natural resources management in the Kagera basin; also relevant studies addressing human & land use issues, resource management, degradation and agro-biodiversity which have been conducted in recent years in the Kagera basin and in other areas of Tanzania. This will build on national experience and knowledge of assessment and monitoring in developing the project baseline. [These are likely to include relevant reports and assessment of certain components of the agro-biodiversity including fisheries and forestry, e.g. animal and plant genetic resources, wetlands, livestock stocking densities, etc., as well as measures of land degradation, population movements and settlements.]
  4. Prepare and provide reports and digital maps (at appropriate scales) and accompanying quantitative analyses.
  • The first report including a preliminary map of the river basin with available information of the situation today (baseline human and biophysical data) for the Tanzania project area and accompanying notes, due two weeks after the start of the contract. This will include a preliminary overview of the situation today (baseline) and, where possible, recent change.
  • More detailed maps and report in draft, due by mid September 2005 (to be confirmed with contracted institute), providing more in depth analysis of the situation and trends in the basin. This will be developed through close linkages with a range of technical experts with in depth knowledge of the agro-environmental and human development issues in the river basin. [This is likely to include mapping of the trends of land use change / land degradation and pressures on biodiversity and agro-ecosystems in the river basin. The diagnoses of the causes/factors of land degradation, changes in farming systems and resources by specific land units.] This will be reviewed by the project team/ TAC members.
  • A final report complemented by maps, incorporating any feedback from the project team and TAC members, should include predictions following agreed scenarios (with project / without project) for use by the project team. These scenarios will be developed through a workshop and analysis with the project team and TAC members. The contracted institute would play a key role in the workshop for generating the knowledge required. [This should also indicate successful response and remediation measures by communities/projects, compiled in consultation with the TAMP National Project Co-ordinator.]

Qualifications

The Institution/Consultant should be a team including strong expertise in both GIS and environmental remote sensing (particularly interpretation of satellite imagery) in resources assessment, analysis and utilization, including socio-economic aspects of resource uses and monitoring, baseline studies including natural resource, ecosystems and environmental impact assessment.

The lead resources person/consultant should have a Master or PhD and experience of interdisciplinary work. (CVs of staff likely to work on the contract should be included in proposal.)

.

Appropriate facilities are required (including computerised GIS & remote sensing systems, with the requisite hardware and software and data management procedures) to conduct the work according to the TORs above.

There will be an initial period of relatively intense work on the project (GIS, RS and in the field) – then an on-going commitment required to accept / analyse / provide further outputs as required for the remainder of PDF-B.

Products:

  1. A geographical information system including data on land use, degradation, agro-ecosystems, biodiversity (see Annex 1) and (if available) results of satellite image interpretation.
  2. Maps and other GIS products quantifying the current situation, recent changes (where available, for sample areas) and results of scenarios for the differing farming systems in the programme area (scales and areas covered to be agreed with TAMP staff in Tanzania and IC-NRM/GIS)
  3. An initial Map of the basin with available data on human and biophysical dimensions due two weeks after the start of the contract.
  4. A Technical Report, analysing the status and trends, including digital maps (at appropriate scales) and information on biophysical and socioeconomic issues and priority areas requiring attention (hot spots and bright spots) (due by mid September 2006)
  5. Final Technical report including qualitative (based on expert opinion) and quantitative (based on data) analyses of the status and trends (due by 15 December 2005) should include an analysis of the situation today (baseline) and, including recent change and should include predictions following agreed scenarios (with project / without project) for use by the project team

Duration and Timing

The start date for this work should be as soon as possible. There may be some uncertainties in timing due to the need to negotiate access to the soils data, waiting for the release of the population census data and obtaining use of satellite imagery.

The GIS activities need to be linked to the timing of the TAMP field programme, as the predictive analyses depend on results form the field work. The final results and report should be available by late 2005, in order that they can be included in the full TAMP proposal. However, activities should continue throughout PDF-B (funded until March 2006).

Activities / Timing
Contacts with relevant institutions and projects, collection of data and information (socio-economic and environmental)
Review of initial data. Determination of field data requirements and development of methodology.
Baseline Study
Analyses of Change (past and scenarios)
Review of preliminary results with national team and FAO
Completion of analyses and draft report preparation
Finalise and submission of report, database products
Training / awareness raising
Total

Annex 1

During PDF-B, a GIS is required covering the Tanzanian part of the Kagera river basin, including Bukoba, Ngara and Karagwe Districts in the Kagera Region (project area in Tanzania), which includes (at least) data (at appropriate spatial and temporal scales – to be agreed with FAO) on:

Soils

Topography,

Vegetation cover (e.g. Africover, using the LCCS)

Agro ecosystems

Land Use / Land Systems

Meteorological Data (particularly rainfall and temperatures)

Population Data

Other Socio-Economic Data

Agricultural Census / Livestock

Also line “coverages” showing the:

River Network

River Basin Boundary

National Parks limits

Road Network (including bridges and other river crossings)

Administrative Boundaries and Typonomy (place, names of cities, towns and settled areas…)

Annex 2

Case study: Livelihoods and Information Mapping in Kenya

Objectives

Recognizing that expenditure-based poverty estimates do not necessarily capture the importance of the five types of assets (physical, natural, social, financial and human - see Figure 1) that may largely determine the livelihood options facing poor households, ILRI is collaborating with FAO/FIVIMS on a livelihoods mapping project, commencing with Kajiado District in Kenya. One objective of this project is to explore what is 'map-able' with respect to these five types of assets, and work closely with community members to determine which of the spatial indicators of livelihood assets identified (with their inputs) are the most useful.

Examples of the 5 types of livelihoods assets to map, locations and catchment areas:

  • Physical capital: markets, roads, water, electricity, telephones, livestock dips
  • Natural capital: agricultural potential: rainfall (amounts and timing), soils, water sources, communal forage land, forests
  • Human capital: agricultural services, including skilled people, e.g. vets, other service providers, health facilities/services, human disease incidence and sickness rates, availability of labour
  • Social capital: Information networks/groups, churches, community-based organizations, NGOs
  • Financial capital: Credit, livestock, off-farm income options (e.g. mining sites, tourism)

[See - for more details.]

[1] The field study team will include the following experts from the region: land use systems, range/ pasture resources, crop and crop associated resources, agroforestry resources, and soil including soil biology expertise.