Call for Consultancy
To conduct Baseline for the Gender and youth Empowerment in horticulture Markets
Context
SNV Ethiopia is implementing a three-year project (2016-2019) called ‘Gender and youth Empowerment in horticulture Markets’ which is funded by Comic Relief. This project is about strengthening women and youth active in the horticulture value chains in order to raise their production, productivity and income through better access to assets, business development services, financial services, reliable input supply and markets. Improved access will only be effective if control over benefits accruing from the horticulture activities is also addressed in the value chain. Therefore attention will be given to the economic and social roles allocated to men and women based on tradition and culture and the mutual relationship between them. The project is undertaken from a value chain development approach, with special focus on the synergy between all the stakeholders in the chain and improving access to sustainable markets for smallholder farmers.
Objectives of the baseline
The baseline study is primarily intended to provide the project staff, the donor, the unions and the regional governments with baseline data on key outcome indicators that are to be measured over the course of the project. More specifically, the objectives of the baseline survey are to:
· Capture the existing situation at union, cooperative and household level prior to implementation of the project
· Establish a benchmark against which the outcomes of the project can be measured for mid-term (summer 2017) and final evaluation (beginning of 2019)
· Provide information that helps steering the current project proposal into the direction of the desired outcomes and refining the intervention logic, indicators and implementation plan
· Give in-depth information on the prevailing challenges and opportunities affecting the success of the project
· Suggest on indicator tracking means and tools: sources of data for specific indicators, possible and appropriate season/period for collection on routine data on particular indicators etc.
We are looking for a consultancy firm with the following skills and qualifications:
- Track record in developing and conducting quantitative and qualitative types data collection
- Experience and expertise on using smart phone data collection method
- Proven experience in applying the Women’s Empowerment Agriculture Index (WEAI) tool
- Composition of team with agriculture education background and /or experience in research or professional experience in horticulture
- Demonstrated understanding and experience of horticulture and value chain analysis
- Strong experience in quantitative and qualitative statistical data analysis software
- Ability to write high quality, clear, concise reports in English
Qualification and experience
- A consultancy firm with team composed of experts with agriculture background and practical knowledge and practical experience on horticulture related development works, research , study, etc.;
- A firm with more than 5 years of experience on the business and particularly with proven record on designing and implementing baseline surveys in rural areas;
- Strong in identifying key areas of intervention based on the results of the field work.
Application process, submission of proposals and timeline
- We invite interested companies to submit both Technical and Financial Proposal in two separate envelops sealed in one submission envelop and stating the title/Subject of the consultancy service. The technical proposal should specifically include:
- Expression of interest /proposal describing how the consultant firm meets the selection criteria and their understanding of the ToR;
- Proposed methodology,
- Sampling method and sampling size;
- Proposed activities schedule/work plan with time frame.
- Two reference letters from recent clients with contact details of the referees
- Copy of CV of each team member who will be involved in baseline
- Lists of recent similar assignments undertaken to other organisation/s should be attached as annexes. The technical proposal should not exceed a maximum of 15 pages.
The technical proposal will be weighed at 80% and the financial 20%. SNV reserves the right to interview consultants before taking a decision.The financial proposal should detail itemized fees, data collection and administrative costs (one page).