Southern Africa Trust

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National-Level Participatory Climate Risk Assessments (PCRAs) – Consultancy Opportunities (Zimbabwe, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia)
Organisation: Southern Africa Trust

The Southern Africa Trust invites qualified national consultants to apply for consultancy opportunities to conduct National-Level Participatory Climate Risk Assessments (PCRAs) in Zimbabwe, Malawi, South Africa, and Zambia. These consultancies form part of a multi-country climate justice programme being implemented by the Southern Africa Trust titled “Strengthening Women and Young People’s Agency for Community-led Solutions and Models for Resilience Building in Climate Change-Impacted Rural Communities in Southern Africa.”

This programme seeks to strengthen community-led climate resilience, amplify the agency of women and young people, and influence climate governance and natural resource management processes at local, national, and regional levels. Through this initiative, the Southern Africa Trust aims to support inclusive, justice-oriented, and locally grounded responses to climate change in some of the most vulnerable rural communities in Southern Africa.

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Background

Across Zimbabwe, Malawi, South Africa, and Zambia, rural communities are facing increasing exposure to climate-related hazards such as droughts, floods, cyclones, and land degradation. These environmental challenges are compounded by long-standing structural inequalities, including gender disparities, economic marginalisation, and weak natural resource governance systems. As a result, women, young people, and other marginalised groups experience disproportionate impacts from climate change.

The Southern Africa Trust recognises that effective and sustainable climate action must be rooted in community knowledge and lived experience. For this reason, the Trust places strong emphasis on participatory approaches that centre community voices in identifying risks, vulnerabilities, and locally appropriate solutions. Participatory Climate Risk Assessments (PCRAs) are a critical foundation for informing programme design, strengthening advocacy, and engaging with climate governance structures at national and regional levels.

Purpose of the Assignment

The primary purpose of this consultancy is to conduct comprehensive national-level Participatory Climate Risk Assessments (PCRAs) in selected climate-vulnerable rural communities in Zimbabwe, Malawi, South Africa, and Zambia.

The assessments will be grounded in a climate justice framework, with strong focus on gender equality, youth inclusion, and community agency. The findings will be used by the Southern Africa Trust to guide programme implementation, inform community-led resilience strategies, and strengthen national-level climate governance engagement.

Through this work, the Southern Africa Trust aims to generate credible, community-driven evidence that supports equitable and effective climate responses.

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Scope of the Consultancy

The Southern Africa Trust intends to engage one national consultant per country. Each consultant will be responsible for carrying out the PCRA within their respective country and facilitating a national validation process.

The scope of work will include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Conducting participatory climate risk assessments in selected rural communities
• Analysing climate hazards, vulnerabilities, exposure, and adaptive capacities
• Documenting existing local knowledge, coping mechanisms, and resilience practices
• Applying a gender- and youth-responsive analytical lens throughout the assessment
• Engaging community members, traditional leaders, and relevant stakeholders using participatory tools
• Facilitating national validation meetings to review and confirm assessment findings
• Producing high-quality national assessment reports aligned with the Southern Africa Trust’s programme objectives

Consultants are expected to use participatory, inclusive, and ethical research methodologies that prioritise community voices and lived experiences. All activities should be conducted in a manner that upholds dignity, cultural sensitivity, and meaningful participation.

Expected Outcomes

The PCRAs conducted under this assignment are expected to generate:

• A clear and evidence-based understanding of climate risks at both community and national levels
• Identification of priority climate vulnerabilities and resilience gaps
• Insights into gendered and youth-specific climate impacts and opportunities
• Documentation of community-led adaptation practices and solutions
• Validated findings that can inform programme design, advocacy strategies, and policy engagement

These outcomes will directly support the Southern Africa Trust’s broader objectives of advancing climate justice and strengthening resilience-building initiatives across Southern Africa.

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Consultancy Location and Duration

Location: National-level consultancy within one of the following countries:

• Zimbabwe
• Malawi
• South Africa
• Zambia

Consultancy Modality:
The assignment will involve in-country fieldwork combined with data analysis and reporting.

Duration:
The duration will be as specified in the detailed Terms of Reference for each country assignment. Each consultant will be responsible for delivering all agreed outputs within their national context.

Application and Submission Process

The Southern Africa Trust invites interested consultants to submit proposals outlining their suitability for the assignment. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the detailed Terms of Reference, which include information on qualifications, deliverables, and timelines.

To access the full consultancy documentation, applicants should consult the detailed Terms of Reference provided by the Southern Africa Trust.

Proposal Submission Details

Proposals must be submitted by email to:

Email: amumba@southernafricatrust.org
CC: isakala@southernafricatrust.org

Submission Deadline:
Close of Business (17:00 CAT), 9 February 2026

Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis. While early submission is encouraged, only proposals received by the stated deadline are guaranteed full consideration. The Southern Africa Trust reserves the right to close the call earlier if a suitable consultant is identified before the deadline.

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Additional Notes

The Southern Africa Trust is committed to promoting equity, inclusion, and climate justice in all its programmes. Consultants with strong contextual knowledge of rural Southern Africa, demonstrated experience in participatory research, and proven expertise in gender- and youth-responsive climate analysis are strongly encouraged to apply.

This consultancy presents a valuable opportunity to contribute meaningfully to community-led climate resilience and justice-oriented climate governance across Southern Africa. By working with the Southern Africa Trust, selected consultants will play a key role in shaping evidence-based approaches that amplify community voices and strengthen national and regional climate action frameworks.

Professionals with a passion for participatory research, climate justice, and community empowerment are encouraged to submit their proposals and become part of the Southern Africa Trust’s mission to advance inclusive and sustainable climate solutions.

Disclaimer: The Business Pulse shares verified opportunities from trusted sources. We are not a recruiting agency and do not request any payment for applications.

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