Agriculture Value Chain & Climate Vulnerability Consultant

Syria

Environment / Geology - Agriculture

Not Specified

The Syria crisis remains one of the gravest humanitarian crises globally, with over 13 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. In Northwest Syria (NWS), climate change impactssuch as increasing temperatures, erratic rainfall, drought, and rising input costs are compounding existing vulnerabilities in agricultural livelihoods and food systems.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC), through its Food Security and Livelihoods programming, aims to strengthen community resilience by promoting climate-smart, sustainable, and market-oriented agricultural interventions. Building on previous value chain analyses conducted by IRC and partners, this consultancy seeks to deepen understanding of climate vulnerability across selected agricultural value chains and generate practical, forward-looking guidance to inform future programming. Additionally, this study aims to identify entry points for value chain development in light of increasing climatic challenges, as well as potential actors to engage with in such work.
This TOR outlines a two-phase research assignment combining (i) Value Chain Analysis (VCA) and (ii) a Climate Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) across selected value chains.
2. Objective of the Consultancy
The overall objective is to generate actionable, climate-informed evidence to guide IRCs agricultural and livelihoods interventions in -; Hama, Idlib, and Aleppo Syria by: (1)- Conducting a value chain analysis for potatoes as an additional priority value chain; and (2)- Assessing climate vulnerability across all selected value chains, including those previously analyzed (summer vegetables, fodder crops, and wheat).
3. Phase Structure of the Assignment
Phase 1: Additional Value Chain Analysis (Potatoes): This phase will focus on conducting a full value chain analysis for potatoes, including mapping of market system actors.
Phase 2: Climate Vulnerability Assessment (All Value Chains): This phase will assess climate risks and vulnerabilities across all relevant value chains: Summer vegetables , Fodder crops, Potatoes, Wheat and analyze how climate risks affect market access, price volatility, and income stability for different value chain actors.
4. Specific Objectives and Key Research Questions
Phase 1 Value Chain Analysis (Potatoes)
- Map the potato value chain, including key actors (input suppliers, producers, traders, processors, wholesalers, retailers) -and their relationships.
- Analyze production systems, costs, margins, and market dynamics.
- Identify key constraints, risks, and opportunities along the value chain.
- Assess inclusion dimensions, particularly for women, youth, and smallholder farmers.
Phase 2 - Climate Vulnerability Assessment (All Value Chains)
- Assess climate-related risks and hazards affecting each value chain (e.g. drought, heat stress, water scarcity, pests).
- Analyze vulnerability of different value chain actors based on exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity.
- Assess the climate vulnerability of the wheat value chain, drawing on secondary data and existing VCAs.
- Develop scenario planning for different climate change projections (5, 10, and 20 years).
- Identify potential alternative or substitute crops and varieties suited to future climate scenarios.
- Propose climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices and technologies relevant to smallholders.
- Assess economic feasibility and adoption barriers of proposed practices for smallholder farmers and vulnerable producer groups
- Identify required support systems ).
- Analyze environmental, social, and gender-related implications of recommended adaptations.

5. Scope of Work
The consultant will undertake the following key tasks:
- Review existing IRC studies, VCAs, and climate-related literature.
- Clearly distinguish outputs related to Phase 1 (VCA) and Phase 2 (CVA).
- Conduct value chain actor mapping for potatoes.
- Analyze climate vulnerability across all value chains, including wheat.
- Integrate gender, age, and disability considerations throughout the analysis.
- Produce practical guidance usable for future agricultural consultations and program design
6. Methodological Approach
A mixed-methods approach will be applied, combining:
- Desk review of secondary data and climate projections.
- Key informant interviews (KIIs).
- Focus group discussions (FGDs).
- Quantitative and qualitative analysis.
The methodology should balance analytical rigor with practical applicability, ensuring recommendations are feasible within the operational, security, and market constraints of Northwest Syria.
The Climate Vulnerability Assessment will be structured around the Exposure – Sensitivity – Adaptive Capacity framework.
Note: The consultant will be responsible for analytical design, tool development, data analysis, and reporting, while IRC field teams will be responsible for primary data collection and logistical coordination.
7. Expected Deliverables and Timeline
The consultant will produce the following deliverables:
- Deliverable 1: Inception Report
- Refined research questions
- Clear two-phase methodology
- Selected value chains and rationale
- Workplan and tools outline
Timeline: Weeks 1–2

- Deliverable 2: Data Collection Tools
- Develop data collection framework and tools (qualitative and quantitative).
- Identify interviewees and sampling methods.
Conduct short training for data collectors (if required).
NOTE: IRC team will conduct the actual data collection in the field
Timeline: Week 3
- Deliverable 3: Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Potato VCA (analysis and actor mapping)
- Climate vulnerability analysis for all value chains, including wheat
- Scenario planning and adaptation pathways
- Conduct a validation meeting with IRC technical staff to review preliminary findings and refine recommendations prior to final reporting.
Timeline: Weeks 4–5

- Deliverable 4: Final Report, Training, and Presentation
- Conduct online training (5–10 participants) for IRC staff and partners on value chain analysis methodology.
- Submit final report (Word, PDF, PPT) including Executive Summary, Analysis, Value Chain Maps, Constraints, Recommendations, and Economic Analysis.
- Deliver 2-hour online presentation.
Timeline: Weeks 6–7
8. Duration, Level of Effort, and Payment Schedule
The consultancy is expected to require approximately 30–35 working days. The final workplan may be adjusted during the kick-off meeting. Payments will be made based on deliverables as follows:
- Payment 1: 35% – upon completion and approval of Deliverables 1 and 2.
- Payment 2: 65% – upon completion and approval of Deliverables 3 and 4.
Deliverables will be considered complete upon formal written approval by IRC.
9. Reporting and Coordination
The consultant will report directly to the WoS ERD Coordinator, with technical guidance from the Technical Advisor and Sr. Agriculture Manager. Regular coordination meetings will be held to review progress and ensure quality outputs.
10. Ethical Considerations and Data Protection
The consultant must adhere to IRC’s Code of Conduct, Safeguarding, and Data Protection policies. All information gathered must remain confidential, and informed consent must be obtained from all participants.

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The IRC has operated in Syria since 2012, providing protection, health, economic recovery, and early childhood development programs in Idleb, Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa, Hassakeh, and Deir ez-Zor, with new programs expanding into Hama, rural Damascus, and Homs. With a team of over 700 members, the IRC has established trust and strong community relationships, ensuring access and effective service delivery. It plays a significant role in Syria’s NGO, donor, and coordination forums, holding key positions and adapting to the evolving context.
With the new realities under the new government, as of December 2024, the IRC has deployed a team to Damascus to set up operations and engage in coordination structures for newly accessible areas across Syria—including parts of NES, NWS, and other previously unreachable locations in South and Central Syria, adjusting operations to maximize coverage and efficiency.
Healthcare
Since 2012, the IRC has provided comprehensive primary and secondary healthcare through hospitals, clinics, and mobile medical units (MMUs). Ensuring access to vital services like sexual and reproductive health, clinical psychosocial support, and other specialized care. Working alongside our partners, we’ve helped secure a steady supply of medicines and medical equipment into the country, trained healthcare providers, and deployed health personnel to maintain services in even the most challenging conditions.
Protection
The IRC has been delivering protection programs in the northwest since 2013 and in the northeast of Syria since 2014, focusing on Protection/Rule of Law (PRoL), Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE), and Child Protection (CP). These efforts include specialized case management, PSS, protection monitoring, service mapping, and advocacy. Collaborating with partners, IRC improves access to protection services, raises community awareness, and strengthens referral pathways. Protection capacity building, community outreach, and rapid response through mobile protection teams have also been provided since 2017.




Economic Recovery and Development (ERD)
IRC has over 10 years of experience in Syria implementing cash, agriculture, and livelihoods programming, and was one of the first organizations to use cash transfers, supporting vulnerable communities with MPCT since 2014 in the northwest, and 2015 in the northeast.
Early Childhood Development (ECD)
The IRC, in partnership with Sesame Workshop, is implementing the 'Ahlan Simsim' program to provide early learning and nurturing care to children and caregivers affected by conflict and displacement across the Middle East. Our goal is to create inclusive environments where all children, regardless of their background, can reach their full potential, especially in communities that have experienced the brunt of the conflict.

Jan 14, 2026

English