Terms of Reference for Gender-Inclusive Avocado, Mango, and Moringa Market System Assessment in Wolaita Zone

Job Description

Introduction

Ayuda en Acción is a secular, non-partisan, non-governmental organisation established in 1981 with a global commitment to fight against poverty, inequality, and exclusion. Its headquarter is in Madrid, Spain. The organisation operates in 18 countries within Africa, South and Central America and Europe (Spain, Portugal). In Ethiopia, Ayuda en Acción supported a range of humanitarian and development interventions through local partners between 2002 and 2017; an independent country programme was established in 2018. Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia aspires to tackle poverty, inequalities and exclusion that perpetuate poverty. The organisation perceives women, men, girls and boys as the centre of its efforts in the country, giving it an impetus to strengthen people’s and institutions’ capacities to meaningfully contribute to development and dignified life of all in Ethiopia. To achieve its mission, Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia has worked in three regions of Ethiopia, namely Afar, Oromia and SNNPR in close cooperates with local partners, international research institutes, public agencies, and private sector actors.

The country programme (2023 to 2025) focuses on three strategic pillars: Pillar 1: Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Livelihoods; Pillar 2: Inclusive and Quality Education; and Pillar 3: Emergency Response and Resilience Building. Market based agriculture and pastoral development are Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia’s key priority sectors addressed through Pillar 1 aiming to reduce poverty, increase incomes, create employment opportunities for marginalised community members and enhance food security. Ayuda en Acción has invested in development of several value chains over the course of recent years, including wheat, barley, cattle, shoat, camel, mango, avocado, moringa, and tourism.

Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia has recently launched a two-year project within Pillar 1 aiming to contribute to the improvement of income of women and men smallholder farmers through three value chains (VC) in Wolaita zone, Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region involving: (1) value-added moringa products in Kindo Koysha district; (ii) raw and dry mango products in Boloso Sore and Boloso Bombe districts; and (iii) raw avocado production in Boloso Sore, Boloso Bombe and Damot Woyde districts:

• Moringa VC: This intervention is a follow-up of the project implemented in 2021-2022. The first phase involved strengthening farmers’ cooperatives; procurement of moringa oil extracting machine; installation of processing facilities and key actors’ capacity building. The second phase will be implemented in 2023-2024 and targets 1,000 2 smallholders in six kebeles of Kindo Koysha district. It will focus on launching moringa oil extraction from moringa seeds; marketing through value addition; and facilitation of coordination among actors, support providers and enablers. The project will create new economic opportunities by capitalizing on highly valued moringa oil, which can be used in cosmetic, medical or food products in domestic and export sales. The project has a strong focus on women and youth job creation. A moringa oil processing enterprise will be managed by the Bele Multipurpose Cooperative based in Kindo Koysha district, supported by the Damota Farmers’ Cooperative Union (DFCU) - an apex organization of which the Bele Multipurpose Cooperative is a member. 
• Mango VC: Mango is a major fruit product for smallholder farmers in Boloso Sore and Boloso Bombe, though its economic benefits have been constrained by inefficient ‘traditional’ production system, limited market access of smallholders and weak supporting services. The current phase of the project (2023 – 2024) builds on the previous interventions implemented during recent years, including installation of a multi-purpose fruit drying machine (not yet operational), construction of processing facilities, capacity building of smallholders and their cooperatives, and facilitation of access to improved inputs. The current phase of the project aims to launch dry mango production and product marketing; foster linkages with raw mango traders; facilitate coordination within mango production; and continue capacitation of cooperatives. The project targets 1,100 mango smallholder producers from 15 target kebeles of Boloso Sore and Boloso Bombe districts. 
• Avocado VC: Avocado is one of the most common horticulture crops widely grown in Wolaita with a large share of smallholders; on average, each household hasfive to seven avocado trees. However, major systemic constraints hamper smallholders in improving their production and productivity, including lack of access to lucrative market beyond village and farmgate sales, limited quality inputs, low engagement of private sector and weak enabling environment. The first phase of the two-year project (2023-2025) will address some systemic constraints and contribute to the transformation of traditional avocado production system into market-oriented production, including penetration of lucrative domestic and international markets. Similar to the moringa and mango VC interventions, the project will prioritise women’s involvement in market system; cooperate with smallholders’ cooperatives; and improve access to financial services. The project targets 5,000 smallholder farmers in Boloso Sore, Boloso Bombe and Damot Woyde districts
• Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia is now seeking to undertake a gender inclusive in-depth diagnosis of the selected market systems with the objective to identify systemic constraints and their underlying causes of market underperformance with the focus on smallholder women and men. The analysis will guide the interventions and will be used to set the baseline and target values for each project.

 Objectives of the study

The overall objective of this assignment is to carry out an in-depth gender- inclusive market system analysis of moringa oil, avocado and mango production with specific focus on the following: 

• Analyse relevant value chain actors, service providers and enablers in the selected VCs at local, regional and country levels. 
• Identify opportunities and systemic constraints of the selected market systems. 
• Develop an in-depth feasibility analysis, enterprise plan and market strategy for moringa and mango processing cooperatives.
• Analyse local market structure and enabling environment contributing to women’s exclusion from the selected value chains’ development and provide recommendations to increase participation, decision-making and control of productive resources by women. 
• Develop collaborative intervention plan and recommendations to bring systemic changes. 
• Identify baseline values and set targets for all three project interventions as per the selected indicators.

 Methodology

The consultant is expected to apply gender-inclusive market system development approaches such as M4P, value chain mapping, and non-negotiable dimensions of women’s economic empowerment in Market System Development by Jones (2016). The consultant will propose a relevant methodology outlined in detail using general guidelines provided below: 

• Desk review: review of the secondary data on moringa, avocado and mango VCs and other relevant technical studies conducted in the last 3 years; in addition to reviewing existing regional and national policies, plans, and interventions. 
• Focus group discussions: these can involve diverse groups, however smallholder women and men within the project districts should be prioritised.
• Key informant interviews: these can include service providers, market actors such as small, medium, and large-scale businesses, NGOs, government bodies from district to federal levels (e.g. Drug and Food Standardization Agency, Ethiopia Bio-diversity, Ethiopia Forest and Climate Change, Ethiopia Public Health), key universities such as Addis Ababa University and Arba Minch University. •
• Validation workshop with stakeholders.

 Scope and deliverables

Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia seeks to contract an experienced consultancy firm with a multi-disciplinary team able to travel to Kindo Koysha, Boloso Sore, Boloso Bombe, and Damote Woyde districts as well as other locations, including Addis Ababa, Hawassa, and Adama. The following key aspects should be covered by the study: 

• Context and position of the target groups in the moringa oil, fresh and processed mangos, and fresh avocado production: The study will outline the profile of the target group, carry out a livelihood analysis and identify factors influencing the positions of smallholder women, men, youth, and other actors in the market systems. This aims to identify opportunities that lead to benefits for the target group and can be unlocked by interventions. Though the commodities are pre-determined, the consultancy firm will provide their assessment whether the selected market systems are a good choice for the target group.
• Significance and participation of target groups in the market systems: The study will indicate a three-year production and marketing volume data, number of people involved, the role of women in the market system, barriers to enter the market system for the target group, capital, skills, land, social networks, and rank in society, etc. 
• Supply side: The study will analyse supply trends during the last five years (in terms of quality, quantity, prices, etc). It will assess the existing capacities and profile of the target smallholder farmers for each value chains to address current production issues, such as post-harvest practices, and will provide recommendations to overcome existing gaps. It will also provide details on input supply system, production, market channels, and destinations of products. Moreover, as moringa oil and mango chips market is new, the consultant will analyse imports in the major cities; type of moringa oil demand in the market, buyers’ preference, price analysis, quality, volume, etc. 
• Demand side: The study will analyse demand trends during the last five years (in terms of quality, quantity, prices, etc. The analysis will also address the demand for fresh and processed mangos, and avocado, and moringa oil concerning multiple product possibilities. The study will provide insights into the expected product demand analysis and its marketing in the region and the country. 
• Trends in the market system: The study will analyse trends related to shifting demand for higher quality, quantities, characteristics, shifting markets, etc).
• Actors and support provider functions: The study will map and analyse the support function or services related to moringa oil, fresh and processed mangos, and fresh avocado market systems. This may include research institutes, financial institutions, business development service providers, civil society actors, agro-industrial parks, governmental bodies, or international entities, such as UNIDO. 
• Mapping the core market systems: The study will visualize and describe the core function (demand and supply) of the market system and analyse the relationships among core market system actors. 
• Competitiveness of the market system: The study will analyse the competitive advantage of the market system in Wolaita in comparison with the same market system in other regions. The consultancy firm is expected to provide information on profitability / productivity for each value chains, conduct an economic analysis of the value chain, particularly the production costs at each stage of the value chain and comparing them with the prices received at each step (see value chain map above), calculate profits at each step of the chain as well as identifying the most important cost drivers.
• Major and sub-donuts for each value chain will be developed based on leverage points or entry points. The entry points for each market systems will be agreed with Ayuda en Acción country office focal point before the design of interventions.
• Analysis of enabling environment: This will focus on regulatory aspects, including moringa oil, fresh and processed mangos, and avocado quality standards, food safety, certification, grading, policies, and regulations. The study will also shed light on informal factors: sociocultural, economic, gender, and power structures in households, communities, and across the chains (see above).
• Analysis of systemic market constraints: The study will identify and prioritize major systemic constraints, the underlying functions and rules that do not work and lead to poor performance, and acts as barriers for change. It will also examine how governance issues constrain the performance of the market system, considering informal rules / regulation and governance aspects where appropriate. 
• Stakeholders and their interest: The study will map out market players and stakeholders, their characteristics, interests, incentives, and capacities of key types of stakeholders and their suitability as a partner. 
• Intervention plan for each value chains: The plan will address systemic constraints in the market system. It includes priorities for market system changes, drivers of the change and their incentives (why they want to do it more than anyone else), and a business model for different functions, rules, etc. 
• In-depth feasibility analysis, enterprise plan and market strategy: This will be prepared for both moringa and mango processing enterprises.
• Gender disaggregated data: From the onset, the study will collect and analyse gender disaggregated information at every step of the analysis to produce information on how women and men benefit (or are excluded) from their integration in the selected market systems. The data collection will integrate aspects such as women/men’s access to services; women/men’s control over productive resources; women/men’s time to engage in business activities; women/men’s access to decision-making roles; policies seeking equal participation by women and men in economic activities. 
• An inception report (before the field research starts): It will include the methodology and specific tools for each method, including specific respondents, their number and location; and a schedule of activities. 
• Draft and final reports: The consultant will submit draft and final comprehensive reports presented in soft copy in English in line with this ToR, the contract, and the inception report. The report will be edited and proofread to be ready for dissemination. The report will be structured and include a cover page, table of contents, executive summary, background/introduction section, objectives, methodology, and a separate section for each identified value chains. The consultancy firm will agree on the content and length of the report during the inception phase. 
• Validation: The consultant will present the report during a final workshop to a broad range of stakeholders.

Please note that Ayuda en Acción team will participate in the data collection, in addition to reviewing the report, providing feedback and final validation of the study. Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia will cover all transportation cost during the data collection and validation workshop.  

 Payment schedule

The payments are proposed as follows:

• 1 st Instalment: 30% of the total amount upon signing the contract.
• 2 nd Instalment: 30% upon completion of field work
• 3 rd Instalment: 30% upon accepting the final report with recommendations. 
• 4 th Instalment: 10% upon presentation of the findings at a multi-stakeholder workshop

For more and detailed information use the document linked below: 

TOR_Inclusive Market System Study_Ethiopia.pdf

Job Requirement

 Minimum requirements to conduct the study 

• The lead consultant must have at least 5 years direct experience working on value chains, market assessment, and gender-inclusive market development strategies. 
• Team members should hold graduate/post-graduate level qualifications in related subjects (Agricultural Economics, Marketing, Economics, Food Business, or related).
• The consultancy firm must propose a multi-disciplinary team comprising specialists in gender equality strategies, horticulture, and value chain analysis with a minimum of three years of relevant practical professional experience. 
• The firm should be registered in Ethiopia and demonstrate a successful completion of at least 10 relevant assignments during at least five years.
• The firm should present at least two similar studies performed during the last three years, substantiated by recommendation letters or certificates from legally operating organizations.
• The lead consultant must have excellent verbal and written skills in English, with the ability to prepare high quality reports to be disseminated to high value stakeholders.
• The consultant should present a legal business certificate, TIN and VAT registration