Call for Community and Youth Innovation in shaping sourcing landscape in Rungwe, Kyela, Mbarali and Busokelo District

Terms of Reference (ToR) for Call for Community and Youth Innovation in shaping sourcing landscape in Rungwe, Kyela, Mbarali and Busokelo District

1. Introduction

The Sourcing Landscape Management project, implemented by Rikolto in partnership with TCCIA and 360 Connect, is an initiative dedicated to fostering sustainable landscape management and development. This project is strategically implemented across the Rungwe, Busokelo, Mbarali and Kyela district councils in the Mbeya region, Tanzania. By addressing critical environmental challenges, the project aims to enhance the resilience of local ecosystems while promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Through a combination of community engagement, capacity building, and the introduction of innovative practices, the project seeks to ensure that the natural resources within these districts are managed in a way that balances economic growth with environmental conservation. The initiative also aims to improve the livelihoods of the local communities by integrating sustainable practices into the horticulture, cocoa and rice value chains. By fostering collaboration among local stakeholders, including farmers, government agencies, and private sector partners, the Sourcing Landscape Management project aspires to create a model of sustainable development that can be replicated across other regions facing similar challenges. The project envisions a future where the landscapes of Rungwe, Busokelo, Mbarali and Kyela are sustainably managed, ensuring the long-term well-being of both the environment and the people who depend on it.

2. Rationale

The Sourcing Landscape Management project addresses the urgent need to tackle the interconnected challenges of environmental degradation, agricultural sustainability, and community livelihoods in the Rungwe, Busokelo, Mbarali, and Kyela district councils of Mbeya region. These areas, rich in biodiversity and fertile lands, are vital for the cultivation of rice, horticultural crops, and cocoa, which are essential to the economic well-being of local communities. However, unsustainable farming practices, deforestation, and climate change have increasingly undermined the resilience of these ecosystems, leading to soil erosion, degradation of soil fertility, encroachment on protected water sources, reduced water availability for agriculture and other ecosystem users, rising greenhouse gas emissions, loss of biodiversity, and a decline in agricultural productivity.

In response to these challenges, the project aims to promote sustainable landscape management to restore and protect the environment while enhancing agricultural productivity and strengthening the economic resilience of local communities. By integrating sustainable practices into the horticulture, cocoa, and rice value chains, the project adopts a holistic approach that balances environmental conservation with economic growth.

3. Call for Community and Youth innovation for management of sourcing landscape

This call for innovation seeks to identify and support community and youth-led initiatives that can contribute to the project's objectives by promoting sustainable practices among horticulture, cocoa, rice farmers and management of natural resource in Rungwe District, Mbarali, Busokelo Council and Kyela Districts.  

4. Objectives

The main objective of this call for innovation is to engage youth in Rungwe, Busokelo,Mbarali and Kyela districts in developing innovative solutions that address the challenges of sustainable landscape management. The call seeks to:

• Identify and support community and youth-led initiatives focused on climate-smart agriculture, water management, and sustainable use of natural resources.

• Promote innovative practices that enhance the resilience of local communities to climate change while ensuring sustainable livelihoods.

• Foster a culture of environmental conservation innovation and entrepreneurship among the youth in the targeted districts

• Encourage the integration of sustainable practices into the horticulture, cocoa, and rice value chains within the region.

5.  Scope of Work

5.1 Targeted Innovations

Community and Youth-led initiatives should focus on the following key areas:

• Climate-Smart Agriculture: Development and implementation of practices that increase agricultural productivity, enhance resilience to climate change, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• Water Management: Solutions for efficient water use, conservation, and management, particularly in agricultural practices.

• Sustainable Use of Natural Resources: Initiatives that promote the responsible use of natural resources, including soil conservation, sustainable forestry, and agroforestry practices.

5.2. Target Groups

• Community, Cooperative and Youth Groups: The call is open to youth groups (aged 18-35), associations, or cooperatives based in Rungwe, Busokelo, Mbarali and Kyela districts.

• Individual Innovators: Young individuals with innovative ideas or prototypes that align with the objectives of the call.

6. Expected Outcomes

1. Enhanced resilience of smallholder farmers to climate change impacts through the adoption of innovative, climate-smart agricultural practices.

2. Improved conservation of natural resources and biodiversity in Rungwe, Busokelo, Mbarali and Kyela Districts.

3. Increased awareness and capacity among local communities on sustainable landscape management.

4. Strengthened collaboration and coordination among local stakeholders for sustainable management of natural resources

7. Eligibility Criteria

• Age: Applicants must be between 18 and 35 years for Individual applicants

Community led group/Cooperative/Association involved in farming and management of natural resource

• Location: Applicants must be residents of the Rungwe, Busokelo, Mbarali and Kyela Districts.

• Innovation: The proposed initiatives must be innovative, feasible, and sustainable.

• Impact: Proposals should clearly outline the expected impact on sustainable landscape management and climate change adaptation.

8. Application Process

Interested youth innovators are invited to fill and submit the application form  

9. Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

1. Innovation and Feasibility: The novelty and practicality of the proposed solution.

2. Impact: The potential of the initiative to contribute to sustainable landscape management and climate change adaptation.

3. Scalability: The ability of the initiative to be scaled up or replicated in other regions.

9. Application Pipeline

1. Call for application: (1 month) deadline 24^th October 2024

2. All applications should be sent through eastafrica.rikolto.org email and the subject should be Youth and Community Innovations in Sustainable Landscape Management.
3. Download the form below  and fill it out in your language of preference (Swahili or English) and send it to the email eastafrica.rikolto.org

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TANGAZO

Ubunifu kwa Vijana, Vikundi vya Kijamii vyenye mawazo bunifu katika uwekezaji na kuhamasisha utunzaji wa Mazingira kwa Wilaya za Rungwe, Kyela na Busokelo

1. Utangulizi

Mradi wa USIMAMIZI JUMUISHI WA MAZINGIRA KWA USTAHIMILIVU WA HALI YA HEWA MAENEO YA UZALISHAJI unatekelezwa na Rikolto kwa ushirikiano na TCCIA na 360 Connect ni mpango wa kuhamasisha usimamizi endelevu wa mazingira na maendeleo. Mradi huu unatekelezwa kimkakati katika halmashauri za wilaya za Rungwe, Busokelo, Mbalali na Kyela mkoani Mbeya, Tanzania. Kwa kushughulikia changamoto muhimu za mazingira, mradi unalenga kuongeza uhimilivu wa mifumo ya ikolojia huku ukikuza kilimo endelevu. Kupitia ushirikishwaji wa jamii, kuwajengea uwezo, na kuanzisha mbinu za ubunifu, mradi unalenga kuhakikisha rasilimali za asili ndani ya wilaya hizi zinasimamiwa kwa njia inayowianisha ukuaji wa kiuchumi na uhifadhi wa mazingira. Mpango huu pia unalenga kuboresha maisha ya jamii za wakazi wa Rungwe, Busokelo, Mbarali na Kyela kwa kuingiza mbinu endelevu kwenye minyororo ya thamani ya mazao ya mboga na matunda, kakao, na mpunga. Kwa kuimarisha ushirikiano kati ya wadau, ikiwa ni pamoja na wakulima, mashirika ya serikali, na washirika wa sekta binafsi, mradi unakusudia kuhamasisha maendeleo endelevu ambayo yanaweza kuigwa katika maeneo mengine yanayokabiliwa na changamoto zinazofanana na Wilaya hizi. Mradi huu unatarajia pia kuwa wilaya hizi zitahakikisha ustawi wa muda mrefu wa mazingira na jamii husika.  

2. Sababu za Kuanzisha Mradi
Mradi huu unachangia hitaji la haraka la kushughulikia changamoto zinazohusiana za uharibifu wa mazingira, uendelevu wa kilimo, na maisha ya jamii katika halmashauri za wilaya za Rungwe, Busokelo, Mbarali na Kyela mkoani Mbeya. Maeneo haya yana sifa ya bayoanuwai tajiri na ardhi yenye rutuba kwa uzalishaji wa mazao ya mpunga, mboga na matunda pamoja na kakao ambayo ni muhimu kwa ustawi wa kiuchumi wa jamii za wenyeji. Hata hivyo, mbinu zisizo endelevu za kilimo, ukataji miti hovyo, na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa zimezidi kutishia uhimilivu wa mifumo hii ya ikolojia, na kusababisha kukosekana kwa rutuba ya udongo kutokana na mmomonyoko wa udongo, uvamizi wa maeneo yaliyohifadhiwa kama vyanzo vya maji ambayo inasababisha kupungua kwa upatikanaji wa maji kwa ajili ya kilimo na  matumizi ya viumbe vingine, kuongezeka kwa halijoto duniani kutokana na ongezeko la gesijoto (greenhouse gas), kupotea kwa bayoanuwai, na kupungua kwa uzalishaji wa kilimo.

Kutokana na changamoto hizi, mradi unalenga kukuza usimamizi endelevu wa mazingira kama njia ya kurejesha na kulinda mazingira ya asili huku ukiongeza uzalishaji wa kilimo na uhimilivu wa kiuchumi wa wananchi wa wilaya hizi. Kwa kuingiza mbinu endelevu kwenye minyororo ya thamani wa mazao ya mboga na matunda, kakao, na mpunga, mradi unalenga kuunda njia jumuishi inayosawazisha uhifadhi wa mazingira na ukuaji wa kiuchumi

3. Wito wa Ubunifu kwa Jamii na Vijana katika uwekezaji na kuhamasisha utunzaji wa mazingira

Wito huu wa ubunifu unalenga kutambua na kusaidia miradi inayoongozwa na jamii na vijana ambayo inaweza kuchangia malengo ya mradi kwa kuhamasisha mbinu endelevu miongoni mwa wakulima wa mazao ya mboga na matunda, kakao, na mpunga na usimamizi wa rasilimali asili katika Wilaya za Rungwe, Busokelo,Mabali na Kyela.  

4. Malengo
Lengo kuu la mwito huu wa ubunifu ni kuhusisha vijana na jamii katika wilaya za Rungwe, Busokelo, Mbarali na Kyela katika kuendeleza suluhisho za ubunifu zinazoshughulikia changamoto za usimamizi endelevu wa mazingira. Wito huu unalenga:

• Kutambua na kusaidia miradi inayoongozwa na jamii na vijana inayolenga kilimo kinachozingatia hali ya hewa, usimamizi wa maji, na matumizi endelevu ya rasilimali asili.

• Kukuza mbinu za ubunifu zinazoongeza uhimilivu wa jamii za ndani dhidi ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa huku zikihakikisha maisha endelevu.

• Kukuza utamaduni wa uhifadhi wa mazingira, ubunifu, na ujasiriamali miongoni mwa vijana katika wilaya zilizolengwa.

• Kuhamasisha kuingizwa kwa mbinu endelevu kwenye minyororo ya thamani ya mazao ya mboga na matunda, kakao, na mpunga ndani ya wilaya hizo.

5.1 Ubunifu unaolengwa

Jamii na vijana wanaotarajia kushiriki katika mwito huu wanatakiwa kuzingatia yafuatayo

• Kilimo stahimilivu: Maendeleo na utekelezaji wa shughuli mbalimbali zinazoongeza uzalishaji katika kilimo, uhimilivu wa mabadiliko ya tabia nchi, kupunguza utoaji wa hewajoto (greenhouse emission)

• Usimamizi wa maji: Utatuzi wa matumizi sahihi ya maji, uhifadhi wa maji na usimamizi wa shughuli za kilimo

• Matumizi endelevu ya rasilimali asili: Michakato inayohamasisha uwajibikali katika matumizi ya rasilimali ikiwa ni pamoja na utunzaji wa udongo, uendelevu wa misitu na shughuli za upandaji wa miti

5.2. Makundi Yanayolengwa

• Makundi ya Jamii, Ushirika, na Vijana: Mwito huu uko wazi kwa makundi ya vijana (wenye umri wa miaka 18-35), vyama au ushirika vilivyoko katika wilaya za Rungwe, Busokelo, Mbarali na Kyela.

• Wabunifu Binafsi: Vijana wenye mawazo au mifano ya ubunifu inayolingana na malengo ya mwito huu.

6. Matokeo Yanayotarajiwa

1. Kuongezeka kwa uhimilivu wa wakulima wadogo dhidi ya athari za mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa kupitia mbinu za kilimo zinazoendana na hali ya hewa.

2. Kuimarika kwa uhifadhi wa rasilimali asili na bayoanuwai katika Wilaya za Rungwe, Busokelo, Mbarali na Kyela.

3. Kuongezeka kwa uelewa na uwezo wa jamii za wenyeji kuhusu usimamizi endelevu wa mazingira.

4. Kuimarika kwa ushirikiano na uratibu kati ya wadau kwa ajili ya usimamizi endelevu wa rasilimali asili.

7. Vigezo vya ushiriki

• Umri: Waombaji binafsi lazima wawe na umri kati ya miaka 18 na 35. Kikundi kinachoongozwa na jamii/Ushirika/Au Chama kinachohusika na kilimo na usimamizi wa rasilimali asili.

• Mahali: Waombaji lazima wawe wakazi wa Wilaya za Rungwe, Busokelo, Mbarali na Kyela.

• Ubunifu: Miradi iliyopendekezwa lazima iwe ya ubunifu, inayowezekana, na endelevu.

• Matokeo: Mapendekezo/maandiko yanapaswa kuelezea wazi matokeo yanayotarajiwa kwenye usimamizi endelevu wa mazingira na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa.

8. Mchakato wa Maombi

Wabunifu vijana na vikundi vya kijamii wanakaribishwa kujaza na kuwasilisha fomu ya maombi.

9. Vigezo vya Kuchaguliwa  

Mapendekezo yatatathminiwa kwa kuzingatia misingi ifuatayo:

1. Ubunifu na Uwezekano wa utekelezaji: Upekee na uhalisia wa suluhisho lililopendekezwa.

2. Matokeo: Uwezo wa mpango na mkakati wa kuchangia usimamizi endelevu wa mazingira na mabadiliko ya tabianchi.

3. Ukuaji/Kuenea: Uwezo wa mpango kuenezwa au kuigwa katika maeneo mengine.

9. Mchakato wa Maombi

• Wito wa maombi: (mwezi mmoja) mwisho wa kuwasilisha ni tarehe 24th Oktoba 2024.

• Maombi yote yatumwe kupitia barua pepe hii eastafrica@rikolto.org Kichwa cha Habari kiwe Wito wa Ubunifu kwa Vijana na Jamii Katika Usimamizi wa Mazingira.
• Pakua fomu hapo chini na uijaze kwa lugha utakayochagua (Kiswahili au Kiingereza) na kisha uitume kwenda kwenye email eastafrica.rikolto.org

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