Conducting a feasibility study for the project “SUMUD – Sustainable Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Risks in Southern Iraq” via ReliefWeb

CARE Deutschland e.V., within the development of the project proposal, is seeking to contract an external consultancy (individual consultant, consultant team, or consultancy company) to undertake a Feasibility Study (F/S) for the proposed SUMUD project. The study will provide sufficient information and data on the viability, risks, and opportunities for successful implementation of the planned interventions.

I. About CARE Deutschland e.V.

Within the global CARE International confederation (CI), CARE Deutschland e.V. has been founded in 1980 as the third global CARE member, working closely with a network of other CARE entities and partner organizations. CARE Germany is committed to creating lasting change. Our strategy for 2030 focuses on gender justice at the heart of all humanitarian and development programs. Empowering women and girls in their communities, challenging gender norms, engaging men and boys and advocating for change in society and governance are what lies at the heart of CARE’s mission. Our development projects are based on over 75 years of experience and continue to evolve and adapt to local contexts. We strive for equality in all contexts and therefore also place a focus on socially excluded minorities and other marginalized populations. Our methodology encompasses the empowerment of individuals, both as changemakers in their community and to gain economic independence, the strengthening of civil society actors’ capacity in the countries we work and advocacy on behalf of the communities’ rights and needs. CARE’s impact objective is to improve structures in a society to include and empower the poor and disadvantaged.

II. Project Information

The UN identified Iraq as the world’s 5th most vulnerable country to global warming, which highlights Iraq’s susceptibility to decreasing water and food availability, as well as extreme temperatures1. This is positioning the country on the frontline of an escalating climate crisis. The nation’s geography exposes it to a range of environmental hazards, all of which are further exacerbated by the impacts of climate change: Rising temperatures, insufficient rainfall, drought, water shortage and the prevalence of dust storms and floods are becoming more frequent in the country. The consequences of climate change disproportionately impact the most vulnerable communities.

The nation’s agriculture, the second-largest economic sector after oil, faces a decline due to climate change-induced droughts, water shortages, soil degradation, and salinization—particularly in southern regions where desertification is advancing rapidly. Agricultural output is increasingly constrained by the reduced flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which are vital sources of irrigation. Traditional farming practices, combined with outdated irrigation infrastructure and limited access to climate-resilient technologies, exacerbate the sector’s vulnerability. This results in crop production losses, with rain-fed agriculture-dependent farmers experiencing impacts on their livelihoods. Furthermore, global warming indirectly causes food insecurity and heightened vulnerability to disease outbreaks in Iraq. Addressing Iraq’s climate crisis requires therefore a holistic approach that not only acknowledges the immediate environmental challenges in country but also considers the far-reaching social, economic, and health implications for the Iraqi people.

Southern Iraq, especially Dhi Qar Governorate, is highly vulnerable to climate-related risks such as droughts, floods, salinity intrusion, and extreme heat, which severely impact agricultural livelihoods and water security. The SUMUD project aims to strengthen resilience through:

1. Climate-Smart Agriculture: Enhancing productivity with resilient crop varieties, modern irrigation, and sustainable soil and water management practices.
2. Women’s Empowerment: Ensuring women’s active participation in climate adaptation decision-making and access to economic opportunities.
3. Community-Based Adaptation: Strengthening community networks and collective problem-solving for local climate challenges.
4. Policy Advocacy: Engaging local and national policymakers to promote climate-smart, inclusive, and women-center, equitable approaches.

The project will leverage CARE Deutschland expertise and networks to ensure equitable participation, sustainable outcomes, and resilience to climate risks.

Component 1: Capacity Strengthening and Knowledge Building (Agency)
This component focuses on building the knowledge, skills, and leadership capacities of communities to adopt climate-smart and resilient agricultural practices. Farmers and women in southern Iraq will participate in targeted training programs, peer learning exchanges, and community planning activities to enhance their adaptive capacity to climate risks. Key activities include training 300 farmers in water-efficient farming and soil health management, providing leadership training for 150 women farmers, and offering climate-smart agriculture (CSA)-linked income-generating training to 80 women. Additionally, the project will facilitate planning workshops in 10 villages, engaging 200 participants in the development of community action plans, organize four cross-community exchange visits to promote knowledge sharing, and conduct specialized workshops on climate resilience for 60 participants.

Component 2: Access to Climate-Resilient Resources and Technologies (Relationships)
This component aims to improve access to essential agricultural inputs, funding, and infrastructure to strengthen community resilience. Activities will include distributing climate-resilient crop varieties, providing climate resilience grants to 80 vulnerable households, and installing rooftop rainwater harvesting systems on 45 small farms. The project will also support community-based adaptation initiatives in high-risk villages, enabling communities to implement locally relevant solutions that reduce vulnerability to climate impacts.

Component 3: Community-Based Adaptation and Governance (Structures)
Strengthening social cohesion and local governance structures is central to effective climate risk management. This component will formalize village-level preparedness groups to oversee Community Climate Risk Preparedness Plans (CCRPPs), coordinate with local government, and monitor emerging risks. It will also involve community workshops for developing climate preparedness plans in 12 villages, engaging 240 participants, the formation and facilitation of Local Climate-DRR Taskforces, quarterly taskforce meetings and bi-annual coordination meetings with local authorities and relevant stakeholders. These activities aim to enhance collaborative decision-making and ensure sustainable, locally led adaptation strategies.

Component 4: Policy Advocacy and Visibility (Policy & Awareness)
To complement on-the-ground interventions, this component will promote evidence-based policy development and raise awareness on climate adaptation and gender equity. The project will host policy dialogue roundtables with local and government stakeholders, commission a consultant to develop three policy briefs based on field data, design and print the briefs, and organize multi-year climate advocacy and community mobilization campaigns. Visibility activities will highlight project achievements, share lessons learned, and strengthen institutional support for climate-smart practices.

Key Expected Outcomes

The project is expected to increase agricultural productivity and climate resilience for smallholder farmers, enhance the participation and leadership of women in climate adaptation and agriculture, strengthen community cohesion and collaborative solutions for climate risks, and secure policy and institutional support for sustainable adaptation practices.

III. Impact Population and Target Groups

Impact population: Rural households, particularly smallholder farmers communities in Dhi Qar, with a focus on women and vulnerable groups.

Target groups: Local NGOs, Government authorities (provincial and district levels), Community leaders and farmer cooperatives, Women’s groups and associations, Research institutions and universities working on agriculture and climate adaptation.

IV. Purpose and Objectives of the Feasibility Study

The primary purpose of this consultancy is to assess the feasibility of the SUMUD project concept and provide a strong evidence base for its design and implementation.

Specific objectives:

1. Feasibility Assessment:

• Evaluate relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of the project using OECD/DAC criteria.
• Assess alignment with target population needs, socio-economic context, and structural barriers.
• Analyze stakeholder capacities (CARE, WEO, government institutions) for project implementation.

1. Risk Identification and Mitigation:

• Identify potential political, social, environmental, and operational risks.
• Recommend mitigation strategies to enhance project effectiveness and sustainability.

1. Actionable Recommendations:

• Formulate clear, practical recommendations for refining the project design, including adjustments to the Theory of Change, objectives, outputs, and activities to ensure alignment with the identified needs and feasibility constraints.

V. Scope of Work

The consultancy will conduct a comprehensive feasibility appraisal covering:

• Context Analysis: Socio-economic, political, environmental, and cultural factors influencing project success, with attention to dynamics of Equity between Women & Men.
• Stakeholder Analysis: Capacity, interests, and alignment of relevant stakeholders; mapping potential partners, risks, and conflicts of interest.
• Community Needs Assessment: Understand climate-related challenges, coping strategies, and priorities of farmers, women.
• Policy and Legal Assessment: Review relevant laws, policies, and frameworks related to water management, agriculture, gender equity, and community resilience.
• Lessons from Similar Initiatives: Identify past interventions in southern Iraq or comparable contexts to derive lessons and avoid duplication.
• Feasibility of Interventions: Assess practicality, cost-effectiveness, and expected outcomes of proposed climate-smart, gender-equitable interventions.
• Recommendations for Project Design: Provide actionable inputs for refining project components, scaling strategies, and monitoring approaches.

VI. Methodology

The study should combine desk research and field-based stakeholder engagement, including:

1. Desk Review:

• Existing reports, studies, policies, and project documents relevant to climate adaptation, agriculture, and gender equity in southern Iraq
• Review of CARE Iraq and WEO organizational capacities and prior interventions

1. Field Research:

• Interviews, focus group discussions, and/or surveys with farmers, women, local authorities, NGOs, and community leaders
• Participatory assessment of adaptation needs, barriers, and opportunities

1. Analysis and Reporting:

• Synthesize findings to evaluate feasibility, risks, and potential impact
• Draft recommendations for project design and Theory of Change refinement

VII. Deliverables

1. Inception Report: Detailing methodology, work plan, and tools for the feasibility study.
2. Feasibility Study Report: Up to 30 pages, including executive summary, main findings, recommendations, and annexes.
3. Executive Summary: Key findings and recommendations in English.
4. Data Handover: All quantitative and qualitative data collected during the study.

VIII. Timeframe

• The consultancy is expected to be conducted over a 6–8-week period from contract signing.
• Specific dates will be agreed upon with CARE Iraq.

IX. Management and Reporting

• The consultant will report directly to the Officer Program Development & Donor Engagement.
• CARE Iraq and WEO will provide oversight, access to data, and support stakeholder engagement.

X. Required Skills and Qualifications

Educational & Professional Expertise:

• Advanced degree in rural development, agriculture, socio-economic sciences, or related fields.
• Experience conducting feasibility studies in climate adaptation, agriculture, or gender-focused interventions.
• Familiarity with southern Iraq’s socio-political and environmental context.

Technical Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of climate-smart agriculture, water management, and community-based adaptation.
• Experience with gender equity and women’s empowerment in rural contexts.
• Qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis expertise.

Communication & Analytical Skills:

• Excellent English skills for reporting. Arabic proficiency is an advantage for fieldwork.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and report-writing abilities.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit:

1. CV or Company Profile detailing relevant experience.
2. Consultancy Proposal with methodology, work plan, and timeline.
3. Budget Proposal with all costs.
4. Availability Statement confirming commitment to the assignment.
5. Contact Information.

Applications should be submitted via email to vergaben@care.deby 16th February 2026. Late submissions will not be considered.