Trainer

Description of the project:

The ResiLAND project, code AID 012590/06/4 is a three years project funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) implemented by Istituto Oikos in partnership with Al-Shouf Cedar Society (ACS) and the Association for the Protection of Jabal Moussa (APJM). Resiland aims to promote mechanisms to increase the capacities to ensure conservation, sustainable planning and management in the face of climate change in the territory of three Lebanese Nature Reserves and their resources: the Shouf Bioshpere Reserve (SBR), the Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve (JMBR) and the Mount Hermon Nature Reserve (MHNR). The goal will be pursued through an integrated approach that includes: agro-forestry-pastoral landscape planning, implementation of concrete actions for the restoration of ecosystem services in priority sites for each Reserve, promotion of the use of biomass with the dual objective of sustainability of energy consumption and reduction of climate-related risks.

Project expected results:

- R1: The three reserves are equipped with innovative management plans and guidelines and

the bodies that manage them are trained on the planning, adoption and implementation of

efficient and modern management measures, with a particular focus on adaptation to

climate risks.

- R2: Restored 2.150 hectares of agro-forestry-pastoral land in the Shouf, Jabal Moussa and

Mount Hermon Reserves based on the priorities identified in the management plans,

following the principles Forest Landscape Restoration; Land Degradation Neutrality and based on good practices and existing experiences.

- R3: Renewable energy services are boosted in the Shouf and Jabal Moussa Reserves for the

benefit of local public structures and small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the

ecotourism, agri-food and agro-tourism sectors, ensuring the sustainable management of

capital natural and reducing traditional energy consumption.

1. Overall objective of the training

Within the framework of the AICS funded project” ResiLAND”, we are currently looking for experts in terrace restoration to deliver a training cycle to farmers within the Mount Hermon Reserve.

Large surface of land in the mountainous area of the Mount Hermon Reserve have been converted to agricultural land, and terraces are the best solution to grow fruits and crops. Based on the International Soil and Water Conservation Research (September 2021), terraces provide many ecosystem services, including the reduction of runoff and sediment by over 41.9% and 52% respectively, and the improvement of grain yields and soil moisture content by 44.8% and 12.9% respectively.

However, these terraces can have a negative environmental impact if not well managed. The depopulation of these rural mountain communities and the high farming costs have led to the gradual reduction of farming activities, or abandoned due to war events. Consequently, many of the mountain terraces are no longer cultivated and dry-stone walls are not well maintained, causing a domino effect of collapsing terraces. Soil erosion by water has been identified as the main soil threat in degraded and poorly vegetated terraces. To help conserve and enhance these terraces, the Shouf Biosphere Reserve, under the project is planning to provide farmers with a 3 training on stone wall building and restoration. 

2. Deliverables

The expected deliverables are the following:

1. Training outline and presentation (ppt or pdf)
2. 3-day training, including both theoretical and practical sessions, for each group of farmers
3. Report about the activity implemented, inclusive of outcomes, recommendations and feedback

3. Roles and responsibilities

Key responsibilities of the contracted party are:

• Close collaboration with the technical staff, engaged in the project, from the contracting authority
• Meeting the agreed deadlines
• Preparing and submitting an activity plan and timeline responsive to the listed requirements as per this TORs
• Reporting regularly to the contracting authority project technical team and be responsive to Resiland’s team’s project related requests.
• Prepare a final report about the carried-out training

Key responsibilities of the contracting authority are:

• Supervising the training activity as it is implemented
• Provide necessary support to the contracted party
• Inform the trainer duly on any potential changes and deviations from the initial plan