RFP: Hiring of a Consultant to conduct Baseline Survey for PROFARM Project in Rwanda

European Cooperative for Rural Development (EUCORD)

Website: www.eucord.org

1. Background: 

EUCORD is an international NGO with headquarters based in Brussels (formally registered as a cooperative in the Netherlands) with offices in Africa and Kigali in particular. EUCORD’s vision is to nurture more prosperous and entrepreneurial rural communities in developing countries. Its mission is to help people living in poverty in developing countries improve their wellbeing, by increasing farmers’ capacity to sustainably grow quality crops matched to the commercial needs of the agribusiness sector and in doing so, increase food security, develop the private sector and improve the livelihoods of rural communities. To fulfil the vision, EUCORD focuses on supporting farmers increase their yields of staple crops and to develop efficient value chains, while working with the private sector to guarantee a demand for produce and a supply of key inputs.

EUCORD helps farmers to reach their full potential while allowing businesses to rely on locally sourced crops. EUCORD provides end-to-end value chain development services, including: access to finance, capacity building, climate smart agriculture, enterprise, development, market assessment, nutrition and value chain development.

The purpose of this Solicitation is to identify an individual Consultant with experience in conducting baseline surveys, for Promoting an integrated farming system around sunflower, maize and vegetables to stimulate resilient agriculture and nutrition security for smallholder farmers in Rwanda. 

2. Scope of Work: Conducting a Baseline Survey for PROFARM Project

2.1 Background and Rationale: In 2022, the European Union issued a call for proposals under Boosting food production in Rwanda “KUNGAHARA” program. The global objective of the program is to promote food and nutrition security as well as food systems resilience in Rwanda.

It is in this regards that the European Cooperative for Rural Development (EUCORD) jointly with the Rural Development Initiative (RDI) developed a proposal PROFARM: Promoting an integrated farming system around sunflower, maize and vegetables to stimulate resilient agriculture and nutrition security for smallholder farmers in Rwanda.  The proposal was selected and funded by EU in 2023.

The overall project objective is to ensure sufficient, sustainable food production and economic security in Rwanda.  Specifically, the action will contribute to improving local production and availability of good quality and affordable food, as well as improved nutrition (Specific Objective 1), and will help to increase income by linking farmers to guaranteed markets and improve the livelihoods and nutritional status of local communities (Specific Objective 2).

The project intervention is hence based on two specific objectives and three outcomes:

Specific Objective 1: Improve local production and availability of good quality, nutritious and affordable food.

• Outcome 1: Increased food production, by means of introduction of integrated soil fertility and water management, innovative agricultural practices and post-harvest handling technologies.
• Outcome 2: Improved health and nutrition behaviour, with a specific focus on pregnant and lactating women and children under age 5, through increased knowledge of nutrition and care. 

Specific Objective 2: Increase income and improve livelihood of local communities through sustainable inclusive value chain development (cereals, vegetables, sunflower).

• Outcome 3: Developed agricultural value chains by linking farmers to extension services, finance and markets through public-private partnerships.

The 42 months’ project will be implemented in Burera and Gicumbi Districts in Northern Province and Ruhango District in Southern Province from November 2023 to April 2027. Therefore, the baseline survey  has to be conducted for the successful monitoring and evaluation of the project.

3. Study Objectives

The overarching goal of this consultancy is to provide a detailed baseline of the Project for the project M&E. The consultant will use various tools and methods to identify the current status of the community livelihoods in the project intervention area, agriculture, nutrition and capacity needs assessment to ensure sufficient, sustainable food production and economic security in Rwanda.

3.1. Specific Objectives: Under the overall supervision of EUCORD, the consultant will ensure that his assignment achieves the following specific objectives:

1. Analyse the current status of agriculture, food security and nutrition in the project intervention area in line with the indicators in the Project’s logical framework
2. Conduct capacity needs assessment of the community in the project intervention area in terms of knowledge, skills, technical and financial support for the three value chains (maize, vegetables, sunflower) and formulate recommendations to stimulate resilient agriculture and nutrition security for smallholder farmers in Rwanda.

4. Approach 

The consultancy will aim to collect and analyse baseline data at impact, outcome and output levels. Thus, this baseline survey will adopt a mixed methods approach; quantitative data will be backed up with qualitative information to ensure a well-constructed start point of the project. 

The consultant is expected to undertake desktop research and field visits in project intervention area to collect relevant information. The consultant is required to use a consultative and inclusive approach to ensure that all key project stakeholders are actively involved during the study. The consultant will also require close consultations with EUCORD’s technical team, RDI, the EU delegation in Rwanda, Districts and leaders to ensure ownership and collective responsibility.

Methods like structured interviews or questionnaires should be applied basing on different indicators and they should be sensitive to the target population (unit of analysis) and robust enough to provide adequate responses to the stated study purpose while factoring in the local context. 

The methodology with all details will be presented in the inception report by the consultant and validated by EUCORD; the methodology section should cover details of study approaches and design, sampling, sample size determination, data collection methods/instruments, data analysis techniques, plan for dissemination of study findings, and be cognizant of quality assurance, the local context, safeguarding and ethical considerations during the study.

5. Deliverables: 

Following key deliverables are expected from the Assignment: 

#1. Inception Report: to be submitted within 10 calendar days, it should include methodology, workplan, timeline for specific tasks, key stakeholders to be consulted and key tools to be used for data collection to inform final study report.

#2. Draft Final Baseline Report (70-90 pages without annexes): to be submitted within 50 calendar days from start of assignment. 

#3. Final Baseline Report to be submitted within 60 days from start of assignment, or 10 days after receiving comments from EU Commission to Rwanda and EUCORD, taking into account comments made. 

All reports shall be presented by the consultant using a power point presentation.

6. Applications

Interested consultants should email Technical and Financial proposal (in Rwandan Francs) detailing the proposed approach, methodology and workplan for the assignment. The proposal should be accompanied by (i) detailed CVs outlining the consultant’s academic qualifications, previous relevant experience, contact information, etc.; (ii) documented evidence e.g. copy of study reports previously developed or certificate of work completion and (iii) and signed application template.

Applications entitled: “Hiring of a Consultant to conduct Baseline Survey for PROFARM Project in Rwanda_Full names of Consultants/Consultancy Firm” should be sent electronically by email : inforwanda@eucord.org   no later than January 30, 2024, at 23:00, local time in Rwanda.