Background Information
Rikolto, an international NGO with over four decades of experience, has established itself as a pivotal partner to farmer organizations and food chain stakeholders across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Operating through seven regional offices, Rikolto runs programs in 17 countries worldwide, driven by the ambition to address one of our most pressing challenges: crafting food systems that are sustainable for the future and do not overburden our planet. This mission raises the critical question: "What will we eat tomorrow?"
In collaboration with the RUSOMBE consortium partners (BRITEN and Rotai), and with funding from AGGRA, Rikolto is spearheading the "Accelerating Innovation Delivery Initiative" in Tanzania. This program aims to expedite farmers' access to quality inputs and markets, specifically targeting the Mbeya, Songwe, and Ruvuma regions. The initiative seeks to hasten the adoption of agricultural technologies, thereby boosting the sustainable production of key crops such as horticulture, rice, and beans, through a market-led approach.
As part of this endeavor, we are on the lookout for a Climate Smart Agriculture Consultant firm. This firm will play a crucial role in supporting the training and demonstration of climate-smart technologies and regenerative agriculture to smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and farmer organizations. The project aims to make a significant impact, reaching out to 125,000 small-scale farmers, including 25,000 youths, to foster a more sustainable and productive agricultural sector.
The specific objectives of the assignment are:
- Climate-Smart Farmer Training Manual Development:
- Create a detailed training manual focusing on climate-smart practices tailored for horticulture, beans, maize, rice, and soya farmers. This manual will serve as the cornerstone of our educational initiatives, ensuring farmers in Mbeya, Songwe, and Ruvuma regions have the knowledge to implement sustainable farming techniques.
- Capacity Needs Assessment and Strategy Formulation:
- Perform a thorough capacity needs assessment to pinpoint knowledge and technical gaps hindering the adoption of climate-smart initiatives among farmers and develop a comprehensive capacity development strategy aimed at bridging these gaps, facilitating the transition to climate-resilient farming practices.
- Climate-Smart Messaging for Local Radios:
- Craft and distribute climate-smart educational messages for broadcast by local radio stations. This effort aims to widen the reach of our climate-smart knowledge and education campaign, ensuring farmers across the targeted regions are informed and motivated to adopt sustainable practices.
- Capacity Building for Smallholder Farmers:
- Engage in intensive capacity-building exercises targeting 4,000 smallholder farmers, including youth, women, and village-based advisors (VBAs). The focus will be on scaling up climate-smart and resilient agricultural production technologies, alongside enhancing access to climate-resilient inputs and production practices through farmers' organizations.
- Commercial Demonstration Site Development:
- Support the establishment and management of 10 (tomato, watermelon, beans etc.) commercial demonstration sites. These sites will serve as practical, hands-on examples to promote the widespread adoption of climate-smart and regenerative agriculture technologies among the farming community.
- Farmer Field Days and Learning Initiatives:
Organize six farmer field days at the village level, each involving at least 150 farmers. These events are crucial for enhancing learning, disseminating technologies, and fostering connections between farmers and food system actors.
Facilitate farmer-to-farmer learning and demonstrations of climate-smart technologies to accelerate the adoption rate of these critical practices.
- Sustainable Technology Demonstrations and Exchange Visits:
Convene demonstrations by input/service provider companies around the demonstration sites; ensuring small-scale farmers have access to a comprehensive suite of services.
Organize nine farmer exchange-learning visits to foster experience sharing and further encourage the adoption of sustainable practices.
- Strengthening Linkages and Collaboration:
Facilitate the linking of farmers with village, district, and ward agro-dealers to improve access to necessary resources and services.
Collaborate with Rikolto and other stakeholders in conducting field monitoring and on-site visits to oversee the implementation of climate-smart practices, ensuring adherence to established guidelines and objectives.
We advise a consultant to use a multi-faceted approach to ensure that the climate-smart program not only addresses immediate agricultural challenges but also builds a resilient foundation for sustainable growth and productivity in the targeted regions.
- QUALIFICATION FOR A CONSULTANT
The lead consultant is required to hold a degree in Horticulture, Agriculture General, or Agronomy. Furthermore, the consultant or consulting firm must provide proof of at least six years of experience in offering direct agricultural extension services. These services must cover a broad range of activities including farmer mobilization, procurement of input resources, establishment of demonstration plots, and the design, installation, maintenance, and budgeting of irrigation systems. Additionally, the applicant should exhibit proficiency in greenhouse production techniques, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), water conservation, and the presentation of climate-smart technologies. Importantly, a deep and current understanding of climate-smart agriculture technologies and practices is essential, especially with demonstrable experience working with farmers in the southern highlands. A presence on the ground in these regions is also a critical requirement.
- Requirements and Procedure to Apply
Qualified firms/candidates are invited to submit their Technical and Financial proposal, Methodology/ approach, and CVs via email at eastafrica.procurement [at] rikolto.org by 19 April 2024 and should indicate the title and the source of this advertisement
Note: The engagement for this service will be for four months but is subject to an extension of one to two years depending on performance availability of funds.