AGRA Call for Baseline Study Proposals

SAIOMA: Call for Baseline Study Proposals

Introduction

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) mission is to trigger a uniquely African Green Revolution that transforms agriculture into a highly productive, efficient, competitive and sustainable system to assure food security and lift millions out of poverty. The main goals of AGRA by 2020 are to: i) Reduce food insecurity by 50 percent in at least 20 countries ii) Double the incomes of 20 million smallholder families and iii) Put at least 15 countries on track towards attaining and sustaining a uniquely African Green Revolution.Strengthening Agricultural Input and Output Markets in Africa (SAIOMA) is a Global Development Alliance (GDA) between AGRA, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation designed to reduce poverty and hunger in line with the US Government’s Feed the Future initiative. The ultimate goal of SAIOMA is to promote inclusive agriculture sector growth in Kenya, Malawi and Zambia by the end of 2015. The primary beneficiaries for this program are rural smallholder farmers, most of whom are women.
AGRA presently invites proposals from firms or individuals (“the consultant”) to conduct a baseline study for SAIOMA in each target country, namely: Kenya, Zambia, and Malawi.
The aim of the study is to provide an analysis describing the situation prior to SAIOMA’s intervention, against which progress will be assessed. This will enable AGRA and USAID evaluate the extent to which its objectives have been achieved. A number of possible outcome indicators have been set. Some of these are quantitative while others are related to the more qualitative objectives of SAIOMA with respect to practices and behavior change. The baseline study therefore will provide benchmark data against which attainments can be evaluated especially in respect to the set indicators while identifying the role of other players in the sector. A country specific SAIOMA indicator table will be provided for your reference.Design a comprehensive baseline study for SAIOMA and methodologies, giving special emphasis to the participation of the country’s SAIOMA consortium team members;Develop data collection techniques, formats and guidelines with SAIOMA consortium team members;Conduct the comprehensive baseline study utilizing the tools and methods developed;Compile, analyze and validate the data collected for the baseline study and produce an analytical report;The exact timeframe for this assignment will be negotiated in line with the proposal submitted by the successful consultant firm. The methodology proposed by the consultant for this assignment will to some extent influence the duration of the assignment. It is envisaged that the baseline study could be completed within a period of not more than 60 consulting days.
Proposals shall be submitted in two parts, i.e. Technical and Financial. The technical proposal should include the firm’s profile detailing the relevant experience, CVs of the proposed team members and the methodology to be used.
The financial proposal should indicate a detailed budget and the total cost of the study including taxes.
Interested consultants are requested to write to the following email address: saiomaproject@agra.org by 8 July 2013 (5p  Kenya time), in order to receive the full terms of reference. Please indicate the target country of your application and submit your full proposals to the same email address by 5 pm, Kenya time on 18 July 2013.