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Carbon Pre-Feasibility Study Consultant (Limited term - 30 days)
Terms of Reference (TOR)
Carbon Pre-Feasibility Assessment for the Advancing Conservation Agriculture and Livelihoods (ACAL) project in the Belete Gera Forest, Jimma Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

1. Introduction
Digital Green is creating a world where farmers use technology and data to build prosperous communities. We’re utilizing insights gained from our long history of delivering community video-based advisory services and recent developments in large language models (LLMs) to boost the cost-effectiveness of public extension systems with an AI assistant for front-line extension workers. This innovative technology empowers extension agents by using our human-centered design principles to deliver customized advisory in local languages, helping farmers increase their productivity, incomes, and climate resilience at just a fraction of the cost of conventional solutions. Digital Green operates in India, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria.
About the Advancing Conservation Agriculture and Livelihoods (ACAL) project
The ACAL project is being implemented in two Woredas in Jimma Zone: Gera and Gomma. Jimma Zone is located in the Oromia National Regional State, Southwest Ethiopia. The Zone is divided into 21 Woredas, hosting a total population of over 2.2 million, with an agro-ecological setting of highlands (15%), midlands (67%) and lowlands (18%). The zone is one of the major coffee-growing areas of the Oromia region. It is well endowed with natural resources and contributes significantly to the national economy. Beyond coffee, major crops include maize, teff, sorghum, barley, pulses (beans and peas), root crops (enset-false, banana and potato) fruits, and beekeeping. The Zone reliably receives good rain, ranging from 1,200 - 2,800 mm per annum. In normal years, the rainy season extends from February to October. Jimma town is the capital and administrative center of the Zone and is located at a distance of 350 km away from Addis Ababa.
The ACAL project activities entails promotion of forest conservation, sustainable agricultural practices including coffee-based and non-coffee agroforestry systems, and livelihood improvement interventions.
A snapshot of project accomplishments
For the project area, Land Use Land Cover and Land Use Planning maps have been produced to support as a decision making tool to plan natural resource management and livelihood activities in the project implementation. According to a recent project progress report to strengthen the effective forest conservation 18 Participatory Forest Management Cooperatives were established and facilitation for transformation, while the establishment of 13 Forest Management Associations is under process. The forest resources are being used by the community through shade based coffee farming and non-timber forest products like honey production. A total of 4 Honey producer groups (HPGs) comprising women, youths and male farmers were established and strengthened to improve livelihoods from nature-friendly farming systems. Similarly, 5 Youth Led Enterprises have organized systems for nursery management and seedling production. Fruit seedlings, improved coffee varieties, indigenous forest species, and improved forage trees are among the major seedling products. So far, a total of 78 women-led Self Help Groups (SHG) have been established and capacitated to engage in different income generating activities. Video dissimination on sustainable agricultural practices, including agroforestry promotion, vermicompost production and application, crop rotation and Integrated Pest Management, practices are integral activities in the project.
Next Steps: Conducting the Pre-feasibility Study
Digital Green is seeking a consultant to conduct a pre-feasibility study for integrating carbon mitigation and sequestration measurement into our ACAL project to develop a high integrity carbon project. The specific objectives are to deepen the impact of the ACAL project and to prove the feasibility of using our farmer.chat product to support the carbon workflow.
2. Objectives
The primary objectives of this pre-feasibility study are to:

• Assess forest protection and restoration options;
• Identify potential degraded area to restore through plantation or natural regeneration;
• Assess the suitability of the target area for implementing agroforestry practices and characterize the Agroforestry system in the target area;
• Evaluate the carbon sequestration (mitigation) potential of the project;
• Analyze the socio-economic feasibility of the project, including potential benefits for local communities;
• Highlight how the project contributes to broader sustainability goals (soil health, biodiversity enhancement and reduce erosion);
• Demonstrate how the agroforestry and forest conservation practices will be integrated with existing farming systems;
• Identify potential risks and challenges associated with the project;
• Provide a preliminary financial analysis to assess project costs and potential revenue from carbon credits;
• Recommend whether to proceed with a full feasibility study.

• Desk Study:

• Review land tenure security, policy and strategy related with carbon project implementation in the country.
• Analyze existing data on climate, soil conditions, and land cover of the target area.
• Research potential tree species suitable for agroforestry, forest restoration and their carbon sequestration potential.

• Field Assessment:

• Conduct a site visit to the target area to assess land suitability, accessibility, forest conservation systems, agroforestry pattern and potential logistical challenges.
• Interview local stakeholders, including landowners, farmers, women-headed households, and community leaders, to understand their needs, interests, and potential participation in the project.
• Take quality photographs featuring landscapes of the target area.
• The maximum duration for field assessment will be 14 days.

• Project Design and Analysis:

• Develop a preliminary concept for forest conservation and the agroforestry system, including tree species selection, planting density, and integration with existing agricultural practices (coffee, annual crops and pasture land).
• Estimate the potential carbon sequestration of the proposed agroforestry system and forest restoration/conservation practices based on GIS mapping, carbon modeling, and cost-benefit analysis to assess potential carbon sequestration.
• Analyze the potential socio-economic benefits for local communities, such as income generation, improved food security, and enhanced biodiversity.
• Identify potential risks and challenges associated with the project, such as market fluctuations, technical challenges, and community engagement.

• Financial Analysis:

• Develop a preliminary estimate of project costs, including land acquisition (e.g. cooperative formation), tree seedlings, planting and maintenance costs, capacity building, monitoring expenses, validation and certification fees.
• Based on estimated carbon sequestration potential, assess potential revenue from carbon credit sales.
• Conduct a simple cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the project's financial viability.

• A detailed desk review with background and context of of Digital Green’s work in Ethiopia, including Farmer chat testing and roll-out.
• Demonstrate consultant’s understanding of what the consultancy work is aiming to achieve and why.
• Outline core tasks and activities.
• Proposed methods of the study.

• Project background and objectives.
• Description of the target area and stakeholders.
• Proposed agroforestry system design and forest conservation/restoration system.
• Assessment of carbon sequestration potential in the project’s agroforestry systems.
• Technical Feasibility and requirements for carbon sequestration measurement to be used.
• Assess the feasibility of using the Farmer chat product to support the carbon workflow and its integration into the project.
• Financial analysis with preliminary cost estimates for the integration of carbon mitigation and sequestration and a sensitivity analysis on the impact of key variables on the project viability.
• Socio-environmental Impact assessment including potential environmental benefits and any adverse impacts of the project, the social implications of the project, including benefits for local communities and women extension agents and mitigation strategies.
• Legal and regulatory consideration: identify relevant laws and regulations related to carbon projects in Ethiopia, including licensing requirements and compliance issues.
• Risk and challenge identification.
• Preliminary financial analysis.
• Recommendation on proceeding with a full feasibility study.

• An advanced degree in environmental science, forestry, agriculture, or a related field.
• Proven experience in conducting feasibility studies related to carbon mitigation and sequestration (sample of past work requested).
• Expertise in agroforestry systems, particularly in the context of Ethiopian agriculture and coffee in particular.
• Strong analytical skills, including GIS mapping and carbon modeling.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and participatory research methods.
• Excellent reporting and communication skills.
• Project design and development for carbon offset projects.
• Forest protection and restoration project design.
• Knowledge of agroforestry principles and practices.
• Knowledge of carbon accounting methodologies.
• Experience with socio-economic analysis.
• Project financial analysis.
• Experience with carbon project design (reforestation/afforestation, agroforestry ), validation, monitoring and verification process is an asset.

• The client will provide the consultant with all relevant information about the project area, including land ownership details, existing data sets, and access to the project site.
• Review the consultant field plan, checklists and methodology and also provide timely feedback to the consultant prior to undertaking field research.
• The client will also facilitate communication with local stakeholders and assist with logistics during the field assessment.
• Follow up the overall quality of the work in terms of procedures and information gathered in compliance with the agreed TOR while working together.

• Technical proposal (not exceeding 5 pages): the technical proposal should reflect the tasks that are to be undertaken and methodology to be used.
• Budget for each line item must be specified.
• Detailed work plan indicating the timeline.
• One page profile of the consultant(s) and relevant qualifications.
• 2-3 pages of capability and former engagement statements.

• Technical proposal =30%
• Demonstrated experience in reference to submitted CV = 20%
• Proposed personnel qualification based on submitted CV to conduct the study = 10%
• Corporate capability based on CV= 10%
• Financial proposal= 30%

10. Payment Terms
The payment terms for the consultancy services will be negotiated and agreed upon in a separate agreement.
11. Approval
These Terms of Reference will be considered final upon approval by both the client and the consultant.

Application time line- until August 25,2024