Recruitment of an individual consultant or consultancy firm to carry out a Baseline Survey for Kungahara Project.

About Rikolto

Rikolto is an international NGO with more than 50 years’ experience in partnering with farmer organisations and food chain stakeholders across Africa, South Asia, Europe and Latin America. Through its 5 regional offices Rikolto is implementing 3 global programe which include Good Food for Cites, Sustainable Rice and Cocoa/Coffee Programme. Under our Good Food for Cities programme, we strive to build interconnections between actors and to foster collective action mechanisms and inclusive business relationships through participatory and inclusive food governance structures. Sustainable food production, Inclusive markers and creating an Enabling environment are always at the core of everything we do.

Currently, in Rwanda, Rikolto is leading the implementation of Good Food for Cities (GF4C) locally known as “Imirire Myiza Iwacu” which is financed by The European Union (EU) through Kungahara programme and the Belgian DGD. The project is implemented in partnership with Kilimo Trust and The Rwanda Consumer's Rights Protection Organization (ADECOR). Rikolto is also partnering with Kahawatu Foundation to promote economic empowerment for women and youths for sustainable coffee production in Rwanda. The initiative will contribute to the transformational change in coffee industry by co-designing and co-implementing interventions that tackle issues related to sustainable coffee production and marketing, crop diversification and increasing the living incomes of smallholder producers with focus on women and youth inclusion in the coffee value chain.

About Kungahara Programme

Kungahara is a 3-year project (2024 – 2026) funded by the European Union with co-financing from Belgium Cooperation, implemented by Rikolto SON in partnership with Kilimo Trust and ADECOR. The project is implemented in Rwanda in the north-west districts of Musanze and Nyabihu. The Goal of Kungahara project is to boost the production and consumption of healthy, sustainable, and nutritious food in Rwanda’s north-western region specifically Musanze and Nyabihu District. The project’s objective is to enhance sustainable food production by smallholder horticulture farmers, food system resilience, and nutrition security in Rwanda’s North-west Region.

The project has three specific objectives:

1. To increase the adoption of climate-smart technologies and regenerative agriculture practices to boost productivity, income, and sustainability of smallholder farmers, including women, and reduce postharvest losses in the potato, fruits, and vegetables production systems in Musanze and Nyabihu Districts;
2. To enhance market inclusion of smallholders, women, youth, and other vulnerable groups through the development of fair and sustainable business relations, accessible business development services and inclusive market governance; and
3. To improve the accessibility and affordability of nutritious foods on local markets and enhance consumer rights and awareness of food safety risks and healthy diets.

Kungahara project outputs are:

1. Climate-smart agricultural practices in fruits, vegetables, and potatoes production enhanced;
2. Increased access to markets and financial services for smallholders, women, youth and vulnerable consumers;
3. Increased awareness of consumers on nutritious food and healthy diet; and
4. Improved food stock management and distribution systems.

The project targets to benefit at least 6,000 farmers involved in Irish potatoes, fruits and vegetables value chains.

Overview and Scope of the Assignment

Kungahara is seeking an Independent Consultant or Consultancy firm to lead a baseline survey for the project.

The purpose of the baseline survey is to establish the starting point for the project’s intervention-level performance indicators, and to collect additional contextual information for interventions with baselines that are not being assessed. The baseline survey is expected to be conducted in Musanze and Nyabihu districts where the project is implemented.

The consultant will be required to prepare an inception report, that clearly presents the study methodology, data collection tools and the timeline, which will be approved by Kungahara implementing partners. The consultant will also prepare and submit a baseline report for review and validation by key stakeholders.

The assignment should be completed by the consultant or consultancy firm in no more than 25 working days.

Specific Tasks

• To assess the prevalence of undernourishment in the target district (disaggregated by gender).
• To assess the average income of small-scale food producers from farming system in Musanze and Nyabihu districts.
• To assess the percentage (%) of the target population with acceptable Food Consumption Score (FCS) (disaggregated by gender and district).
• To assess the percentage (%) of smallholder farmers of fruits, vegetables and irish potatoes practicing sustainable agriculture approaches in targeted communities (disaggregated by gender and district).
• To assess the level/ status of adoption of regenerative agriculture practices for fruits, vegetables and irish potato production and storage in Musanze and Nyabihu districts.
• To enumerate and elaborate the existing types of regenerative practices and recommend the best local solutions that can be adopted and promoted within the fruits, vegetables and Irish potato value chains.
• To assess the percentage (%) of smallholders with access to business development services including access to finance and profitable markets.
• To map the production zones for fruits, vegetables and Irish potatoes and produce’s market destinations/ market distribution channels within Musanze and Nyabihu districts.
• To profile the existing business models among the farmers’ networks in Musanze and Nyabihu districts.
• To identify existing commercially viable short chain food distribution models and their operational models (public and private).
• To identify the level of investment in supporting infrastructure/facilities for production, post-harvest handling, storage, transport, marketing and value addition of fruits, vegetables and Irish potato.
• To assess the level of skills and/or knowledge of smallholder farmers on conservation agriculture, climate smart agriculture approaches, good agricultural practices, management of postharvest, aggregation techniques, marketing and nutritional aspects.
• Assess existing opportunities and challenges within the targeted value chains.
• Identify and categorize stakeholders involved in the market governance for fruits, vegetables and Irish potato value chains.
• Assess the interests, influence, current level of engagement, expectations and communication within stakeholders and their groups.
• Develop a comprehensive Vision of Change document that outlines the desired future state of market governance and the role of each stakeholder.
• Identify potential gaps and areas for improvement in stakeholder management.
• Fill the missing baseline information in the logical framework.

Deliverables and timelines

Request

Interested candidates should submit an application containing:

• A bid submission letter addressed to Kungahara Programme Coordinator.
• Technical Proposal including a description and background of the independent consultant or consultancy firm, clear understanding of the ToRs, survey methodology, team composition and expertise (CVs of consultants) and detailed workplan of activities to be conducted.
• Budget: Price offer for the task (should clearly indicate the cost breakdown for all work to be done).
• At least 3 reference letters for completion of similar assignments.

Specific Technical Requirements and Qualifications

• The consultant or consultancy company’s team composition (at least the team leader) must possess a Master's Degree in Agriculture, Agriculture Economics, Agribusiness, Economics, Education, development studies; project management with strong background in research and statistics.
• The Consultant must have technical expertise in carrying out quick baseline surveys to inform project implementation.
• At least 5 years’ relevant experience in conducting similar surveys with no less than 3 Proof/ testimonial certificate of completion.
• Experience in working with development partners including local and or intentional organizations will be an added value/Advantages.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Excellent knowledge in data management, data cleaning using Modern tools (Stata-V21, SPSS, Analytica)

Deadline and Address for submission

• The deadline for applications is Friday 26th April 2024 at 5:00 PM Rwanda time.
• Applications should be submitted to the following e-mail address: eastafrica.recruitment [at] rikolto.org
• For technical enquires you can reach us through: frank.rugamba [at] rikolto.org