Consultant for Technical Brief on Winter Storms Disaster Response

LEGS (the Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards) is looking for a consultant to prepare a short Technical Brief focusing on the application of LEGS guidance in the context of winter storms and extreme cold weather events in Asia. The objective is to produce a Technical Brief that reviews knowledge and good practice in response planning and delivery for livestock-dependent communities in the context of winter storms and extreme cold weather events in Asia, and provides LEGS-based good practice guidance to support better preparedness and response and help safeguard livestock livelihoods.

The Brief will present good practice guidance to support livestock keepers affected by winter storms and extreme cold weather events in Asia. The Brief will draw on published and grey literature, including case studies, as well as the LEGS Handbook and other LEGS resources.

The contents will include:

• Introduction to winter storm and extreme cold weather contexts in Asia and the
• application of LEGS
• Overview of the impact of winter storms and extreme cold weather on livestock and livestock keepers in Asia, including:
  • any significant gender-related differences in different parts of Asia:
  • distinguishing the impacts on livestock keepers between livelihoods impacts and nutritional impacts, to capture the links between livestock losses and human malnutrition
  • if and how winter events are changing due to global climate change, including how summer droughts are being followed by winter storms/extreme cold periods in some countries
  • highlighting cases studies of early warning systems that have been used in these areas and any cases of anticipatory action if available.
• Relevant LEGS planning tools, with illustrations including 2-3 case studies from winter storm and extreme cold weather contexts in Asia:
  • Initial Assessment Checklists.
  • Response planning including application of the LEGS Participatory Response Identification Matrix.
  • Technical response options and standards.
• Sources of further information, including detailed cross-references to the LEGS Handbook and other resources.

The Technical Brief is expected to be 8-10 pages in length, plus annexes as required. The Brief will be published on the LEGS website following professional editing and design.

The tasks of the consultant will be:

• Participate in a briefing call with LEGS to agree the scope and focus of the Brief
• Identify and review published and grey literature from appropriate sources on the impact of winter storms and extreme cold weather events on livestock livelihoods and good practice responses
• Draft a contents page for the Brief, to be discussed and agreed with LEGS
• Submit an initial draft of the Brief for comment and feedback from LEGS
• Produce a final version of the Brief

Required competencies include: Background and at least 12 years’ experience in livestock and emergency response, with particular understanding of livestock-based livelihoods; experience of working in winter storm and cold weather affected areas of Asia; excellent writing skills; prior knowledge of LEGS desirable.

The full TORs are available here: https://www.livestock-emergency.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/LEGS-Terms-of-Reference-Winter-Storms-Technical-Brief-extended-deadline.pdf

How to apply

Interested parties should submit their CV and a brief technical proposal (max 1 page) outlining their suggested methodology and timeline, together with a sample of their writing, to the LEGS Finance Manager by 12th April 2024: info@livestock-emergency.net.