INTRODUCTION
Introduction to the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA)
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that works as a solutions broker to catalyze action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sector, to ensure we learn from each other and work together for a climate resilient future. Adapting to impacts of climate change provides a “win-win” for livelihoods, food security, water supply, health, security, and economic growth. The work of the GCA elevates the visibility and political importance of climate adaptation and facilitates solutions, such as smarter investments, new technologies and better planning to become more resilient to climate related threats. GCA is a rapidly growing organization with offices in Abidjan, Beijing, Dhaka, Groningen, and Rotterdam.

The GCA’s ambitious 2020-2025 business plan and strategy have three pillars:

• Programs: Food Security; Using Nature for more resilient infrastructure; Water for Urban Growth and Resilience; Climate Finance; Youth Leadership.
• Knowledge: Building adaptation knowledge globally through cutting edge products such as the State and Trends in Adaptation Report and the Adaptation Knowledge Portal.
• Advocacy and Awareness: Formulating policy messages to move the global, regional, and local adaptation agendas forward.

Country Context 
Somalia is ranked as one of the world’s most climate vulnerable countries, experiencing a recurring cycle of droughts followed by floods. Somalia is placed 182 out of 187 countries on the ND-GAIN Vulnerability Index. The country is currently recovering from its worst drought on record, which lasted from 2021 to 2023. By the end of 2022, drought-induced displacement had reached over 1.3 million people. Following the drought, Somalia experienced multiple floods in 2023 that affected approximately 2.48 million people across the country, with about 1.2 million people displaced from their homes and around 118 deaths reported.  

Somalia is facing rapid urbanization, exceeding projections, which significantly strains urban infrastructure and services. Somali’s urban population is estimated to be expanding at a rate of 4.3%. By 2030, Somalia is expected to add 3.8 million residents to its urban areas, and by 2050, another 11.6 million, tripling its urban population over 30 years. However, climate shocks such as the aforementioned droughts are resulting in the surpassing of the projected population growth in Somali cities. The projected 46% of total population being urban dwellers is estimated to be 54% due to the influx of IDPs into cities. This signals a need for rapid expansion in urban infrastructure and services, for which private sector and non-state actors have stepped in to deliver. Although cities are a catalyst of development for Somalia, without climate resilience considerations, this effect can be significantly hampered.  

Ongoing political instability is deepening the existing vulnerabilities of communities, especially in urban areas. Conflict and fragility are driving significant internal displacement, concentrated in urban centers, further exacerbating climate stress. Somalia has been characterized by a long history of state collapse since 1991, leading to one of the most protracted cases of statelessness globally. Recent military operations against al-Shabab, initiated in August 2022 by clan militias and Somali armed forces, have increased conflict and fragility in the country. The conflict has strained climate response efforts. During the recent drought, al-Shabab undermined government relief initiatives by setting fire to food trucks and destroying water wells, as well as damaging sections of the Shabelle riverbank. As a result, large numbers of people are being displaced and streaming to urban centers. The World Bank estimates that 2.6 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) have self-settled in over 2,400 sites across urban and peri-urban areas.  

To increase climate resilience of Somali’s cities, developing climate-resilient urban infrastructure and services and enhancing government capacity to deliver these are key. The World Bank’s SURP-II project recognizes the need to enhance climate resilience in urban areas to address the challenges posed by the influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and rapid urbanization. The project aims to strengthen local government capacity for public service delivery and increase access to climate-resilient urban infrastructure and services.  

Political and institutional instability in the country have contributed to low capacity, hindering the implementation of climate resilient initiatives. Somalia is ranked 122 out of 137 in the global governance index. The relatively new federal government of Somalia (FGS), established in 2012, is still grappling with ongoing conflicts. In addition, clan dynamics significantly influence the selection of appointees for government positions, often leading appointments to lean on clan affiliation rather than merit. Although government officials acknowledge the deep impacts of climate change, there is very limited capacity to ensure adoption of climate adaptation and resilience solutions. 
 
World Bank’s Somalia Urban Resilience Project II (SURP-II) 
The World Bank (WB) is implementing Somalia Urban Resilience Project II (SURP II) with the Project Development Objective (PDO) to strengthen public service delivery capacity of local governments, increase access to climate-resilient urban infrastructure and services, and to provide immediate and effective response to an eligible crisis or emergency in selected areas. The project supports six strategically important cities across five Federal Member States and the Benadir Regional Administration (BRA), and which include the cities of Mogadishu, Garowe, Baidoa, Kismayo, Dhusamareb, and Beledweyene. 
 
GCA Support to SURP-II 
GCA is providing technical assistance to the WB task team to strengthen local capacity to promote the uptake of climate-resilient investments under SURP-II. For this purpose, GCA will develop and deliver a tailored urban climate resilience masterclass, leveraging the training content and materials developed for Kenya under GCA’s technical assistance to the WB’s Second Kenya Urban Support Program (KUSP-II). 
 
Objective of the Assignment  
GCA is seeking a qualified international Individual Consultant (IC), experienced in developing highly technical trainings, to provide technical expertise, quality assurance, and coordination support to its training partner in the customization and delivery of the Urban Climate Resilience Masterclass for Somalia. The consultant will ensure the training is tailored to the needs of relevant Somali stakeholders and meets high standards of effectiveness and impact. 

Scope of the Services, Key Tasks and Activities to be Performed 
The Consultant is expected to guide the development, quality, and delivery of the three core outputs of the training partner (see Annex A for details). 

Output 1. Co-design workshop 

• Supervise the scope and the design of the co-design workshop, ensuring adoption of highly engaging stakeholder participation approaches are utilized 
• Participate in and support the moderation of the co-design workshop 

Output 2. Tailored UCRMC training materials 

• Provide technical guidance and advice for the tailoring of the UCRMC training materials (i.e., training modules, trainer handbook, and trainee handbook) 
• Assure quality of the training materials and their consistency with similar GCA trainings  

Output 3. Trainings 

• Support the training partner team to deliver training-of-trainers (ToT)  
• Participate in the delivery of the UCRMC ToT in Kenya 
• Provide structured guidance for the training partner team to observe pilot trainings 

Proposal Submission 
Proposals and all supporting documents must be uploaded to the link: GCA-PR-25-684 – Submit Proposal in PDF format, no later than 30 March 2025, 16:00:00 hours (04:00:00 p.m. o’clock), Central European Time (CET).  
 
Proposals received after the closing date and time will be rejected. GCA will confirm receipt of Proposals within 24 hours from the closing date and time. Bidders that do not receive this confirmation must contact GCA within 48 hours from the closing date and time. After 48 hours from the closing date and time, GCA shall not respond to any queries related to whether a bidder’s Proposal was received. 
 
The point of contact for all questions or requests for additional information is procurement@gca.org. The email subject heading should be clearly marked with the following information: “Clarification Request – GCA-PR-25-684 – Individual Consultant for Urban Climate Resilience Masterclass for Somalia”. All contact with personnel employed by the Global Center on Adaptation with respect to this RFP is prohibited, except for messages to the above email address. Improper contact may constitute grounds for rejection of your proposal. All inquiries regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing. Each inquiry must include the inquirer’s name, firm and telephone number. The Global Center on Adaptation will share the answers to all questions of a reasonable nature with all the parties that have expressed their interest. The closing date for clarifications concerning this RFP is 21 March 2025, 16:00:00 hours (04:00:00 p.m. o’clock), Central European Time (CET). 
 
The Proposal must be drafted in English.  

Please download the full Request for Proposals on this page for more information.