Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Consultant Needed at SNV Zambia - 3/24/2015

Expression of Interest
Capacity strengthening for Output Marketing and Climate Smart Agriculture for Chambeshi, Chinsali and Isoka Rice Farmers Association in the Strengthening Value Chains through Adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture (SVCA-CSA) Project
Background
The Zambian economy is predominantly based on the exploitation of the country’s natural resources. The adverse effects of climate conditions to which the country is exposed to overtly affect these resources. Climate-induced changes to physical and biological systems are already being felt and exerting considerable stress on the country’s vulnerable sectors such as agriculture and food security, wildlife, forestry, water, energy and human health. In January 2014 SNV Zambia received funding from its head office to implement a strengthening Value Chains through Adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture project (CSA Project). Through this project, SNV Zambia is keen to contribute to building resilience to climate changes and shocks in the agriculture value chains by embracing a Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) approach within its Value Chain development work focus.
Objectives of the Project
This two year pilot project seeks to implement location specific sustainable land management technologies and market driven practices that can generate both private and public benefits.  This we believe constitute a potentially important means of generating “win-win” solutions to addressing poverty and food insecurity as well as building the resilience of small holder farming systems to the negative effects of climate change. The CSA Project focus is on two crops namely rice and soya beans and encourages the participation of Youth and women in entrepreneurial opportunities within the value chains. Over the lifespan of the project, SNV will work in five districts namely Isoka, Chinsali, Kasama, Mungwi and Mongu across three provinces.
Activities for which the Local Capacity Builder(LCB) is responsible with details for each of:
SNV plans to contract a Local Capacity Builder (LCB) to implement the capacity building assignment for Chambeshi, Chinsali and Isoka District Rice Association and its groups in the project piloting areas – Chinsali (Cheswa, mashinda, Chitakwa and Chungulo); Isoka (Mpandwa, Kampumbu, Chibale and Lwanga) and Chambeshi (Numbuka, Bwebe, Mumba and Mulunda) Rice Farmer groups in strengthening its capacity to implement climate smart activities and output marketing with processing companies. Through this assignment, the CSA Project would like to achieve increased number of farmers adopting CSA practices but at the same time increase farmer volumes of paddy reaching the market (processing companies). In achieving this, the LCB is expected to undertake the following objectives
Objective 1: To strengthen the capacity of Chinsali District Rice Association (DRA) and its four (4)  Rice farmer groups (Cheswa, mashinda, Chitakwa and Chungulo)
In achieving this objective, the LCB will undertake to provide Chinsali Rice association and its rice farmer groups with technical assistance to mobilise and organise farmers in preparation for the output marketing, CSA implementation and Enterprise development of the association. In achieving the output marketing, the LCB will support the association in designing how the upcoming output rice marketing with the processing company will be implemented to achieve set volume targets, mobilise farmers in the rice farmer groups for marketing, support the DRA to undertake detailed crop forecast to determine volumes its farmer groups are able to deliver to processing companies in the targeted areas, establish market days or centres where paddy will be regularly collected, undertake sensitisation of farmers in the marketing events with processing companies, train the lead farmers in entrepreneurship and handhold the lead farmers in the price negotiations with the association and support price negotiations meetings with the processing companies. This activity is expected to result in a well develop market system and structures that the DRA and farmer groups can use to sell their members commodities effectively.
In achieving implementation of CSA Activities, the LCB will provide technical support to DRA to mobilise the project targeted groups for CSA implementation and trainings, support the DRA to set up farmer demonstration centres and assisting the DRA to monitor CSA practice implementation of the lead farmers provide hands-on support in up-scaling the learnt CSA practices to other rice growing groups and strengthen the group dynamics of the targeted farmer groups.
In achieving Association Enterprise management, the LCB will provide technical support to improve association financial prudence, support association to develop and develop one revenue stream for the DRA, and development a comprehensive M & E system in line with the organisations objectives and ensure the association operates an up to date membership database
This activity will be implemented in a period not exceeding 48 PP days starting from June 2014 to 31st May 2015. The activity is expected to increase the capacity of the DFA and its farmer groups to manage the output marketing, meeting the targeted volumes contracted by the processing companies.
Objective 2: To strengthen the capacity of Isoka District Rice Association (DRA) and its four (4)  Rice farmer groups (Mpandwa, Kampumbu, Chibale and Lwanga)
In achieving this objective, the LCB will support the DRA and its rice farmer groups to mobilise and organise farmers in preparation for the output marketing, CSA implementation and Enterprise development of the association. In achieving the output marketing, the LCB will support the DRA to undertake detailed crop forecast to determine volumes the DRA and its farmer groups are able to deliver to processing companies in the targeted areas, establish market days or centres where paddy will be regularly collected, undertake sensitisation of farmers in the marketing events with processing companies, train the lead farmers in entrepreneurship and handhold the lead farmers in the price negotiations with the association. This activity is expected to result in a well develop market system and structures that the DRA and farmer groups can use to sell their members commodities effectively.
In achieving implementation of CSA Activities, the LCB will provide technical support to DRA to mobilise the project targeted groups for CSA implementation and trainings, support the DRA to set up farmer demonstration centres and assisting the DRA to monitor CSA practice implementation of the lead farmers and strengthen the group dynamics of the targeted farmer groups.
In achieving Association Enterprise management, the LCB will provide technical support to improve association financial prudence, support association to develop alternative revenue sources, train the board in governance and development a comprehensive M & E system in line with the organisations objectives and ensure the association operates an up to date membership database. This activity will be implemented over a period from May 2014 to end of 31st May 2015 for a period of 53 PP days.
Objective 3: To strengthen the capacity of Chambeshi Rice Association (DRA) and its four (4)  Rice farmer groups (Numbuka, Bwebe, Mumba and Mulunda)
In achieving this objective, the LCB will support the DRA and its rice farmer groups to mobilise and organise farmers in support of implementation of marketing of its farmer group out-grower scheme, CSA implementation and Enterprise development of the association. In achieving implementation of CSA activities, the LCB will provide technical support to DRA to mobilise the project targeted groups for CSA implementation and trainings, support the DRA to set up farmer demonstration centres and assisting the DRA to monitor CSA practice implementation of the lead farmers and strengthen the group dynamics of the targeted farmer groups.
To achieve the association support to marketing efforts of its members, the LCB will work with the DRA and the farmer groups (SACCOs) to select and identify bulking points taking into consideration what works for the farmers, support the SACCOs committees to oversee the bulking and marketing arrangements and educating them of the suitable conditions for bulking as stipulated by processing companies and general monitoring that farmers are adhering to the contract terms with the processing companies. This activity is expected to increase the capacity of the DRA and the four SACCOS ability to meet market requirements in terms of stated quantity, quality and timeframe of delivery. The LCB will be expected to set up four (4) functional bulking centres in the four SACCOS, namely Numbuka, Kasolo, Katanda and Kabweko.
In achieving Association Enterprise management, the LCB will provide technical support to improve association financial prudence, support association to develop alternative revenue sources, reorganise the association’s board and management, support the implementation of management team for the associations and train the board in governance. The LCB will also development a comprehensive M & E system in line with the organisations objectives and ensure the association operates an up to date membership database. The activity will be implemented in the rice marketing season starting in 1st June 2014 and ending at the end of the marketing season at the end of May 2015 for a total of 55days.
Objective 4: To strengthen the capacity of one producer association in Soya beans Sector in Mungwi and its four (4)  farmer groups (Chonya, Nseluka,  Malole and Ngulula)
In achieving this objective, the LCB will undertake to provide the association and its Soya farmer groups with technical assistance to mobilise and organise farmers in preparation for the output marketing, CSA implementation and Enterprise development of the association. In achieving the output marketing, the LCB will support the association in designing how the upcoming output Soya marketing with the grain company will be implemented to achieve set volume targets, mobilise farmers in the soya beans farmer groups for marketing, support the association to undertake detailed crop forecast to determine volumes its farmer groups are able to deliver to grain companies in the targeted areas, establish market days or centres where soya beans will be regularly collected, undertake sensitisation of farmers in the marketing events with grain companies, train the lead farmers in entrepreneurship and handhold the lead farmers in the price negotiations with the association and support price negotiations meetings with the grain companies. This activity is expected to result in a well develop market system and structures that the Association and farmer groups can use to sell their members commodities effectively.
In achieving implementation of CSA Activities, the LCB will provide technical support to the association to mobilise the project targeted groups for CSA implementation and trainings, support the Association to set up farmer demonstration centres and assisting the Association to monitor CSA practice implementation of the lead farmers provide hands-on support in up-scaling the learnt CSA practices to other soya beans growing groups and strengthen the group dynamics of the targeted farmer groups.
In achieving Association Enterprise management, the LCB will undertake a detailed organisational assessment and financial health check and provide technical support to improve association financial prudence, support association to develop alternative services to members thereby creating alternative sources of revenue to finance its operations, reorganise the association’s board and management, support the implementation of management team for the associations and train the board in governance. The LCB will also development a comprehensive M & E system in line with the organisations objectives and ensure the association operates an up to date membership and crop database. This activity will be implemented in a period not exceeding 30 PP days starting from June 2014 to 31st May 2015. The activity is expected to increase the capacity of the Association and its farmer groups to manage the output marketing, meeting the targeted volumes contracted by the processing companies.
Deliverables
The CSA Project is expecting the LCB to submit the following deliverables on this capacity development and output marketing assignment;
  • Organisational Assessment reports & financial health check reports from the one rice Associations and one soya beans association expected on 30th June 2014
  • Monthly Technical reports detailing the activities and deliverables being achieved and the financial reports expected on the 5th of every contracted month
  • Draft and final Training reports on governance for the two associations, expected on 30th August 2014
  • Report on Production forecast for the targeted areas with all farmer details by Gender, hectarage cultivated, forecasted production in bags farmer list, negotiation reports expected on 30th June 2014.
  • An annual technical and financial report on overall activities and results achieved will be expected on 30th November 2014
  • Timesheets submitted every week on Mondays
Reporting line
The Local Capacity Builder will work under the supervision of SNV Project Manager for the CSA project in Kasama.
Payment Terms
In consideration of the services to be provided by the LCB SNV shall make an initial down payment on the contract amount of 20% and subsequent payments will be made as follows:
After reconciliation of the initial down payments, Subsequent instalments will be made on monthly basis in accordance with the liquidity plan as will be agreed.
The LCB will show clearance of 75 % of the advanced funds prior to requesting additional funds. This request would be submitted within 5 days after the expiration period of the previous advance and after submission of the Monthly technical reports and the deliverables falling within that month.
All payments will be made in Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) by bank transfer.
Level of Effort  
This assignment has 209 days as total maximum number of days which can be claimed to complete the work.
Timeframe – Total time period within which the work must be completed
The Assignment timeframe is twelve (12) months: 1st June 2014 – 31st May 2015. All the activities within this sub-contract, including sub-contractor reporting to the SNV must be finalized by May 31, 2014.  Therefore, the capacity development objectives described above need to be completed in as stipulated above.
Qualification specifications
Key Personnel
The key personnel for this assignment should possess the following competences;
Educational background
  • A Degree or equivalent in Agri-business, Agronomy, Natural Resources Management, Agricultural Economics, Agriculture or related fields
  • Proven and demonstrated experience in the area of Climate smart agriculture and agro forestry technologies
  • Proven experience working with farmer groups
  • Good experience in mobilising and working with rural communities
  • Proven experience in entrepreneurship development and training
  • Good understanding of multi stakeholder processes and their application in program design and implementation
  • Experience is setting up farmer Monitoring and evaluations system especially with designing of simple data collection tools and management of data at the association level
Past relevant experience
  • Knowledge of the agriculture sector in Zambia
  • Good understanding of the dynamics within and between agriculture value chain actors
  • Experience of working with multi-actor agents in the value chain
  • Excellent communication and writing skills
HOW TO APPLY
Submit your expression of interest by enclosing your detailed company or individual profile, curriculum vitae of proposed personnel to work on the assignment. Note that demonstrable experience should be a minimum of 2 years. See requirements above.
Submit your expression of interest to Elungu@snvworld.org not later than Friday 27th March 2015. You will then be sent a tender document as well as budget format for you to complete and submit by Tuesday 31st March 2015.
No late submission will be accepted.
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