التوريد في مشروعات الصندوق

Ministry of Agriculture

Enhanced Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (E-SAPP)

INVITATION FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTERESTS (EoI’s) FOR CONSULTING FIRMS TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE MID-TERM REVIEW OF THE E-SAPP

1.0 Introduction

The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) are jointly supporting the Enhanced Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (E-SAPP). E-SAPP is a seven-year Programme meant to up-scale and consolidate on the achievements of its predecessor Programme (the Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme - SAPP) which closed on 30th September 2017.  The lead implementing agency for the programme is the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).

The Programme will build on SAPP’s achievements and contribute to the transformation of rural smallholder farmers from subsistence production to linked commercial opportunities, by supporting them to establish sustainable partnerships with agribusinesses.

2.0 Description of the Assignment

E-SAPP officially commenced implementation on the 6^th July 2017 to run for a seven-year period.  Even though the Programme has been operational slightly over two years, implementation of interventions in the programme sites began in earnest in the second half of 2019.  Thus, the scope of the mid-term review methodology is anticipated to lean more towards qualitative as opposed to quantitative approaches in order to ensure that the Programme achieves its development objective during the remaining duration.

Hence, the main objective of this assignment is to assess the appropriateness of the programme design in terms of programme content, scope, geographical coverage, beneficiary reach and its likelihood to achieve the programme development objective (PDO); evaluate the overall implementation progress made including, effectiveness and sustainability of implementation approaches, systems and processes; draw lessons  that may be considered for performance enhancement and make recommendations as may be required to achieve the PDO and contribute to the overall goal of increased household incomes, food and nutrition security.

Thus, the overall purpose is to review Programme performance in order to provide greater insight into the operations and enable efficient and cost-effective Programme delivery and management. The MTR will examine and provide feedback on the implementation processes given the prevailing circumstances, and to determine the extent of results achieved. It will also help to identify obstacles to performance, and guide effective implementation of the Programme post-MTR.

2.2 Specific Objectives

Specifically, the consultant will be expected to undertake the following tasks:

1. 1. Critically review the programme implementation to date, including programme environment to ascertain if the design of the programme, in terms of approaches, management, coordination, and overall institutional arrangements, are still relevant in the current context; make recommendations in line with the findings as necessary,
   2. Undertake an in-depth review of the Programme’s design with respect to the scope and geographical coverage, beneficiary reach (is current beneficiary categorization tenable given new information from studies carried-out e.g. Baseline findings); gender and youth participation in interventions, Programme’s organization structure cascading to the province, district/sub-district level and implementation modalities,
   3. Assess the achievements registered since the programme started to date in all the three components, identify factors that contributed to the achievement, and draw lessons from the achievements to enhance overall performance,
   4. Identify the operational and institutional constraints and bottlenecks related to Programme Implementation/Programme’s organization structure necessary to achieve the intended deliverables and advise on ways to address them.

3.0     The Firm’s Qualifications and Experience

Basic Required Data for a Firm to Submit

1.         General Experience of a Firm.

2.         Valid Trading Licence.

3.         Tax Clearance.

A firm with prior experience working on similar assignments for International development Institutions or other Government cooperating partners such as IFAD, World Bank, African Development Bank etc. financed projects/ programmes will be preferred.

• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in development and management related work;
• Prior experience and ability to conduct interviews with a range of stakeholders, experience in data analysis and report writing;
• At least 4 years of demonstrated experience in conducting projects/programmes reviews, outcome and impact studies or other similar assignments;
• Evidence of strong research methodology involving the use and application of quantitative and qualitative data analyses involving large development projects/programmes;
• At least 2 years management consultancy experience relating to review of institutional arrangements, coordination structures involving multi-disciplinary teams to enhance operational efficiency and achieve results;
• Prior experience of having undertaken assignments involving identification of implementation issues and operational challenges, in order to enhance project’s operational effectiveness required to accelerate/optimize programme delivery;
• Adequate knowledge and understanding of human rights- based approaches to development, gender equality, social inclusion or transformative approaches to development, environmental sustainability and demonstrable experience with results- based management (RBM) and
• Experience of carrying out similar assignment in Zambia and/or the ESA region is desirable.

3.1      MTR Team Members

The preferred firm is expected to field in a core team of experts and non-experts required to deliver the current assignment, which will of the following: (i) Team Leader, (ii) Financial Management Specialist, (iii) Agricultural Commodity Marketing/ Trade Expert, (iv) Agricultural Management (crop/livestock) Expert and (v) Procurement Specialist.

The Ministry of Agriculture now invites sealed expressions of interests from Consulting Firms to conduct the E-SAPP Comprehensive Mid-Term Review (MTR). For any clarifications contact: martin65mulomba@gmail.com or petronella.chisunka@agriculture.gov.zm

Expressions of Interest shall be submitted in sealed envelopes, clearly marked “Invitation for Expressions of Interest (EOI’s) for Consulting Firms to conduct the E-SAPP Mid-Term Review (MTR).”

Expressions of Interest shall be deposited in the Tender Box at Ministry of Agriculture, Procurement and Supplies Unit, Ground Floor, Mulungushi House, on or before Friday 17 April 2020 at 10:00 hour’s local time. Alternatively, Expressions of Interests can be sent electronically to martin65mulomba@gmail.com or petronella.chisunka@agriculture.gov.zm.  Expressions of Interests delivered after Friday 17^th April 2020 at 10:00 hours local time, will be rejected.

Head – Procurement and Supplies Unit

For/ Permanent Secretary

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURE VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (AVDP)

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FORESTRY (MAF)

23 Torwama Road, Bo, Southern Province, Sierra Leone

CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR BASELINE SURVEY

Employer: Agriculture Value Chain Development Project (AVDP), Ministry of Agriculture and    Forestry 

Title of the Assignment: Consultancy Services for Conducting Baseline Survey for the Agriculture Value Chain Development Project

Country: Sierra Leone

Issued on: 30^th   March, 2020

The Government of Sierra Leone received a Grant/Loan from the International Fund for Agriculture Development for the implementation of the Agriculture Value Chain Development Project. The Project is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and managed by the Project Management Unit and supervised by the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

Government intends to apply part of the proceeds towards payments under the contracts for aforementioned consultancy

The objectives of this consultancy  are (i) determine the pre-intervention conditions of the project area and beneficiaries, in order to be able to monitor outcome-level changes and (ii) pilot the Flexible Outcome Survey (FOS) methodology with the aim of scaling it up to other IFAD funded projects

Consultant will:

• Work with the project team and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) to verify the population of interest (AVDP potential beneficiaries).
• Determine the sample size from the population of interest, using appropriate sampling techniques
• Design the household questionnaire that will solicit quantitative information from potential project beneficiaries.

AVDP now invites proposals from legally constituted consulting firms to provide the consultancy services referenced above. More details on the consultancy services are provided in the Terms of Reference.

Interested consultants MUST request for a copy of the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Consultancy Services, using the following email address:    avdppmu@gmail.com

The RFP is open to all eligible entities (“Consultants”) who wish to respond. Subject to restrictions noted in the RFP, consultants may associate with other consultants to enhance their capacity to successfully carry out the assignment.

A Consultant will be selected under the Quality and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) Method. The evaluation procedure for which is described in the Instruction to Consultant. The selection process, as described, will include a review and verification of qualifications and past performance, including a reference check, prior to contract award.

Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address indicated below.

Proposals (Technical and Financial) must be delivered to the address below not later than 16.00 GMT on 30^th April, 2020. Submission of Proposals via email is not acceptable.

Project Management Unit,

Agriculture Value Chain Development Project,

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry,

23 Torwama Road,

Bo, Sierra Leone