Introduction

Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) is the UK public body dedicated to supporting democracy around the world. WFD works with parliaments, political parties, and civil society groups to help make countries’ political systems fairer, more inclusive, accountable, and transparent. In Kenya, WFD has been working with the Senate since 2016, having supported the legislature to build its capacity in areas of research, oversight, law making and citizen engagement. WFD's current engagement with the Senate of Kenya seeks to strengthen its role in legislative scrutiny and financial oversight.

The context

Kenya so far has been a global thought and practice leader in piloting climate action through the establishment of the devolved county climate funds. The rollout of county climate funds requires the integration of innovative Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) approaches to climate finance oversight, such as integrating a multi-level dimension to climate financing oversight. During the October 2023 International Summit on Multilevel Governance of Climate Change Adaptation hosted in Kenya, the need for strengthened multilevel governance for building resilience to climate change was re-emphasized, as countries were urged to implement national adaptation plans. 

WFD observes the government's commitment to devolved climate action as demonstrated through set up of climate action funds. This calls for stronger oversight by the senate and county assemblies. This also calls for the participation of citizens through deliberate social accountability mechanisms. WFD is therefore keen to strengthen the senate’s capacity to provide effective oversight on devolved climate financing, as well as identify potential opportunities to strengthen grassroots Civil Society Organisations’ (CSOs) active participation in climate change adaptation design, implementation, and oversight. 

The assignment

WFD seeks to engage the services of a technical expert to carry out a rapid assessment on status of oversight to climate financing in Kenya at national/sub-national level. The study will also seek to identify entry points for grassroots CSOs’ active participation in climate change adaptation design, implementation and oversight. The findings from the rapid assessment will provide baseline information on climate financing oversight, the current levels of engagement by Parliament for both national and sub-national financing and opportunities for active citizens participation in holding government accountable for the climate financing.

Specifically, the assignment shall seek to:

1. Assess the robustness of existing/proposed legal and policy frameworks regarding climate financing oversight both at national and county level. This should include proposals to further consolidate climate financing oversight. 
2. Assess institutional arrangements for vertical integration across all levels of governance, as well as how to facilitate financing to sub-national levels to enable them to articulate and implement their local priorities.
3. Tracking specific climate change adaptation/mitigation funding flows from the national government to county governments, and from county governments to local communities.
4. Tracking existing and projected donors’ funding flow in supporting LLA initiatives.
5. Provide solid recommendations on how the senate can communicate to make climate financing oversight practice widely accessible by the two houses of Parliament.
6. Document any additional strategies on inclusive and robust oversight to climate financing can be institutionalized by the senate to respond to the evolving contexts as well as how CSOs can leverage opportunities for concerted involvement in climate finance oversight.

Scope of the consultancy

The scope of work for the consultant will include:

• Conducting a participatory rapid assessment on status of oversight to climate financing in Kenya at national and sub-national level. This will be done in close consultation with the senate.
• Preparing the assessment report with clear recommendations on ways and means to strengthen inclusive and robust climate financing oversight by the senate and CSOs. 
• Participating in the dissemination of the assessment report findings and presentation to the senate committee on land, environment and natural resources, the senate caucus on climate change and select grassroot CSOs.

The deliverables

1. An inception report that highlights the roadmap towards carrying out the assessment with the senate committee and caucus.
2. A presentation highlighting key findings/recommendations from the rapid assessment.
3. A validation meeting with the committee and caucus.
4. A detailed process report detailing discussions and resolutions.

Duration of the assignment

The consultant will be contracted for seven consultancy days within the month of August 2024.

Essential criteria

The consultant should have the following qualifications:

• Individual national consultant with a post graduate qualification in a relevant discipline such as Environmental Science, Political Sciences, Law, or any relevant Social Science discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in legislative engagement/climate change policy.
• Some experience in monitoring climate change/public finance funding flows in Kenya from the national government to county governments, and locally-led adaptation action initiatives.
• Ability to work independently within stipulated timelines.
• Excellent writing and editing skills (written and oral fluency in English is a requirement).
• Must be result-oriented, a team player, exhibiting elevated levels of enthusiasm, tact, diplomacy, and integrity.
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and professional skills in interacting with government and development partners.
• Intricate understanding of the workings of the Senate of Kenya is an added advantage.