1. Introduction
Climate justice advocacy and policy engagement is a key priority in the current Strategy of the Lutheran World Federation (2025–2031). The LWF has engaged with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for more than ten years as observer, contributor and participant in climate negotiations and other processes. Its longstanding commitment to climate justice englobes building resilience, climate adaptation and mitigation, as well as supporting communities affected by climate change impacts and undertaking advocacy from local to global levels.
The Action for Justice- AfJ Unit is the advocacy hub of the LWF and accompanies member churches, World Service Country Programmes, and collaborates closely with ecumenical and faith-based organizations, civil society, as well as communities affected by climate impacts. The LWF advocacy methodology is essential to accelerate actions needed to set up a pathway for a sustainable and resilient society and economy where we protect the environment as the foundation for all life.
Local to Global Action for Climate Justice is a global project in 18 countries that includes
Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, South Africa, Ghana;
Asia and Pacific: Philippines, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and,
Latin America and the Caribbean: Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, El Salvador, and Cuba
The overall goal of the project is to accelerate climate action from local to global by boosting the global commitment to the Paris Agreement. The objectives of the project are:
– Churches and faith-based organizations (FBOs) in the project countries have increased their engagement for climate justice.
– By the end of the project, churches, FBOs and partner civil society actors in the project countries have effectively influenced national and regional policymakers for ambitious national and regional climate policies.
– National religious leaders, churches, and faith-based actors actively contribute to climate justice advocacy in international forums.
Target groups for the project include churches, faith-based leaders, and faith-based organizations, their congregations, and the communities where they live and indirectly, local, district and National Government officials and policy makers. The project also targets and influences interfaith and civil society actors from local to global levels. LWF member churches in 18 focus countries represent more than 31 million people according to the LWF 2019 membership figures and engage with many more in their diverse communities.
A particular focus is placed on youth, women, and vulnerable people most impacted by climate change. The project aims for equal participation of women and men when possible and when not, at least will ensure 40% participation whether male or female.
Key stakeholders in civil society such as environmental and climate justice organizations are important allies and critical to the reach and impact of the project, as are academia and the scientific community to ensure science-based actions are taken and evidence-based advocacy is employed for effective influencing and results.
2. Internal displacement in the context of Climate Change
Climate change is increasingly recognized as a major driver of internal displacement.1 Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, droughts, flooding and other climate-related phenomena are forcing communities to leave their homes, disrupting livelihoods, resulting in varied human rights violations such as GBV and creating complex humanitarian challenges. Despite growing awareness, there remains a critical gap in comprehensive data on the impact of climate-induced displacement, the needs of affected communities, and the responses needed to support them effectively.
This research seeks to assess the extent to which fundamental human rights are being violated, community adaptive and response capacity, the adequacy of duty bearers’ responses to affected populations and protect their rights, and the role of national frameworks in addressing climate-induced displacement.
This research will inform the The Regional Durable Solutions – ReDDS2 on policy processes.
It will also explore opportunities for engagement with the UNFCCC, in particular the Task Force on Climate-Induced Displacement, and assess the effectiveness of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and resettlement or return strategies in selected countries.
Current context in Gololcha woreda of East Bale Zone in Ethiopia
The research will focus on the situations in Gololcha woreda where LWF has been implementing a climate resilience building project since 2022 and now entering into a second phase with three years period i.e., 2025-2027, a project co-funded by Act CoS and ELCA.
Gololcha woreda is found in the East Bale Zone of the Oromia Region. The woreda is classified into three agro-climatic zones namely, highland, semi-arid and lowland. The woreda is characterized by a wide variability of temperature as a result of its wide range of altitudinal extent. In the northern part of low land areas along Wabe River, the area experiences moderately warm temperature. This thermal zone covers 35% of the total area of the woreda. Semi-arid climatic zone covers the larger portion of the area i.e. 52% and the remaining 13% of the woreda land mass is characterized by high land climatic zone.
Agriculture is the backbone of the woreda economy and it provides means of livelihoods for almost all population of the woreda. Sedentary agriculture is dominantly practiced in the highland and middle land areas of the woreda, where animal rearing (nomadic way of life) is practiced in the lowland and boarder areas. Mixed agriculture, crop and livestock rearing, is the major economic activity and main source of livelihoods for 95 percent of the population.
Although the Gana rain (the long rain of March-April) in 2023 and 2024 appeared to be high in the area comapred to the previous periods, the distribution was poor affecting the tatrget communities in many of the kebeles and leadning to unequal distribution of rain resulting in poor harvest. The rain in the woreda in general is not reliable in terms of intensity and distribution. The woreda has been exposed to hazards such as drought and as a result of the drought impact, community memebers at times have been receiving humanitarian assistance.
Although the entirety of the population is local, the woreda is inhabited by IDPs. Gololcha woreda hosts 313 (155F) IDP households. Of this, A total of 252 households (135 FHHs) are hosted in Dobi Bika kebele and the rest 61 households (20FHHs) live in Jara town, the capital of the woreda. The people were forced to flee their homes in the Eastern part of the country namely West Hararghe as a result of drought in 2010 settled in Gololcha woreda.
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has been working with the IDPs by providing different training and other capacity building support. They will also continue to be targeted by the new phase of the project.
3. Objective of the research
This research seeks to examine the human rights impacts of climate-induced displacement by assessing violations of fundamental rights such as housing, livelihood, and security, and evaluating the effectiveness of duty bearers in addressing these issues.
Additionally, the study will assess the role of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) in addressing displacement and protecting vulnerable populations, including analyzing the inclusion and alignment of resettlement or return strategies with human rights standards, focusing on their adequacy, inclusiveness, and effectiveness
The findings will highlight ways to address internal displacement through UNFCCC frameworks, especially the Task Force on Climate-Induced Displacement, and identify opportunities to integrate human rights-based approaches.
The research will focus on communities in Gololcha woreda of East Bale Zone in Ethiopia
4. Expected deliverables
The research will include the following.
– Inception report: Detailed methodology, data collection tools, proposed work plan and agreement on the questionnaire.
– Interim Progress Report: Preliminary findings and assessed national policy framework
– Consultation with relevant stakeholders: A summary presentation of findings and preliminary recommendations to get feedback
– Final report: A comprehensive document presenting research findings, analysis and recommendations for national climate policies. The report should include an executive summary, methodology, key findings from the case studies and actionable recommendations.
These deliverables are to be:
Prepared in English
Submitted to the Endeshaw Mulatu and LWF Program Executive for Climate Justice electronically via e-mail.
5. Suggested time frame and period of the assignment
The assignment will take place from March – May 2025.
6. Methodology
This methodology should integrate the following:
– Desk review of secondary data and relevant literature, including collection of specific data through desk research and expert interviews on past climate conditions and extreme weather events that served as drivers of human mobility.
– In-depth analysis of national climate change policies, such as NAPS, to assess the inclusion of climate-related displacement issues.
– Assess national resettlement strategies in the context of climate change and their compliance with human rights standards, focusing on adequacy, inclusiveness and effectiveness.
– Qualitative methods:
o Conduct in-depth interviews with climate-displaced people and households to document their experiences, challenges and current needs.
o Facilitate Focus group discussions with different community groups (e.g. women, youth and elders) to understand the impact on different demographic groups.
o Examine the relationship between displaced and host communities, focusing on integration and resource sharing.
A consent form will be signed by the interviewee.
It is expected that 25 in-depth interviews and 6 focus groups with a maximum of 8 participants each will be conducted, including one focus group with young people, one with women and one with older people.
The expected number of days for this assignment is 30 days
7. Qualifications and Experience of the consultant(s)
– Proven experience in climate justice related work.
– Proven expertise in human rights.
– Proven track record of conducting similar work
– Experience in conducting research (in-depth interviews, focus groups, online interviews, surveys etc.)
– Demonstrable knowledge of the displacement context in the region/country
– Eligible to undertake such an assignment in Ethiopia. Proof of functional operations in Ethiopia an advantage.
– Excellent writing skills in English.
– Experience in working with faith-based organizations;
– Knowledge of LWF and the ACT Alliance members an advantage.
How to apply
Content of the consultant’s offer
Interested candidates who fulfil the above qualifications shall submit the following:
– A technical and financial offer according to the present terms of reference;
– The technical offer shall contain a summary presentation of the proposed approach, the suggested methodology to be used, a proposed template for elaboration and analysis of good practices.
– The financial offer shall contain the costs for honorarium (including taxes) based on a daily rate as well as any other costs. The technical offer will include a proposed number of consultancy days needed to provide the expected deliverables within the timeframe mentioned above.
– CV(s) of all consultants involved.
– A written sample of previous similar work.
Additional information:
· Location: Ethiopia
· Contract with the national office in Ethiopia
Offers shall be submitted under the subject: “2025 Climate induced displacement research” to action.justice@lutheranworld.org no later than 28 February 2025.