Aga
Khan Foundation
Terms of Reference
For
Consultant to Study
Rice, pulses, horticulture, sunflower, and
poultry marketing actors, their relationships and opportunities for
strengthening linkages
1.0 Background/Introduction
The Coastal
Rural Support Programme Tanzania CRSP(T) is a multi-input area development
initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), in collaboration with the
Government of Tanzania, under the MKUKUTA poverty alleviation programme with
the overall goal: to improve the quality
of life and social well-being of 60,000 households in Lindi and Mtwara Regions
(covering nine districts) through sustainable socio-economic interventions in
food security, income generation, health, and education. CRSP(T) provides
long-term support to rural communities in the two southern Tanzania coastal
regions of Lindi and Mtwara. Its economic sector programme started out with two
areas of focus: rural development (rice, sesame, conservation agriculture)
using a market-based approach through the Food Security and Incomes (FSI)
project funded by the Department for International Development (DFID); and
access to finance through Community Based Savings Groups (CBSGs) funded by the
Financial Sector Deepening Trust (FSDT) and it now includes Horticulture funded
by the European Union.
Through
CRSP(T), AKF initiated and implemented a number of market development
initiatives across rice, sesame and horticulture value chains Farmers
established producer marketing groups (PMG’s) which are serving as a hub for
collective mechanisms, finding appropriate markets for their produce as well
as developing market linkages and
vertical relationships with relevant actors in the value chains. Although AKF
facilitated formation of PMGs for the sake of enhancing producers access to
markets effectively, not all of them are gaining their members; the present
market operations are disorganized, un-transparent and fragmented,
characterized by lack of information, unstructured pricing, poor post-harvest
infrastructures, missing links and hostile relationships among actors in some
instances. It is still a challenge for
the farmers to link to the major markets, understand the demand and access the
necessary support to meet the demand.
AKF seeks to
engage a consulting individuals or firm on the assignment to undertake an
in-depth assessment of the marketing actors, their relationships, opportunities
and provide recommendations on how to support the market in Lindi, Mtwara, and
beyond to function more efficiently for the small holder.
2.0 Intervention Objectives
The major purpose of this study
is to map out the current marketing actors and their relationships from the
farmers/farmer groups to the end buyer/consumer in Lindi and Mtwara along rice,
pulses, poultry, sunflower, and horticulture value chains, assess their
effectiveness and existing opportunities so as to identify and provide
recommendations for improvement of the systems and growth of the smallholder
farmer.
The intervention has the following specific objectives:-
i. Identify existing market actors along grains, pulses, poultry,
sunflower, and horticulture value chains and describe their current roles in
the marketing process. Use illustrations to describe the flow and roles played
by each actor; ii. Assess and analyse their business relationships and existing
linkages along the chain; iii. Establish which actors between the
producers and the end buyer/consumers play central roles and catalyse other
players. Identify players that have
authority, control and what their gains
are; iv. Assess physical infrastructure that are critical to facilitate
the marketing transactions along the selected value chains. (Types, conditions,
ownership, costs related to access and relevance);
v. Assess and identify the motivation of
each of the actors in the system; vi. Assess the existing mechanisms that are
used to channel information among various actors along the value chains,
examine their effectiveness and propose areas of improvements; vii. Assess
the forms of financing that is being accessed by the market actors and those
that are available but not accessed and why;
viii.
Identify main end/consumer markets linked to the Lindi
and Mtwara agriculture produce and their share in-terms of volumes traded per
year for the selected value chains;
ix.
Assess the challenges and experiences that various
marketing actors face during engaging with farmer related marketing groups and
suggest recommendations for improvement.
3.0 Expected Deliverables
The consultant/s will produce the following deliverables:
•
Inception report to be presented to the market
development team before commencement of the assignment during an inception
meeting;
•
Set of tools to be used during the study. These
will be jointly assessed and refined so as to ensure efficiency;
•
Well- structured detailed study report after
completion of the assignment based on the literature review and field
assessment.
•
Recommendations and proposed model that AKF can
adapt to enhance the relationships amongst market actors for effective
marketing systems of agriculture produce.
4.0 Approach and Methodology
The
consultant is expected to undertake the study through both primary data
collection by engaging participatory field assessment with pre-identified
marketing actors along the rice, pulses and horticulture value chains as well
as complementing with secondary data collection from the pre-existing sources.
AKF shall support the consultants by providing information and linkages with
known marketing actors; however the consultants are not expected to be limited
to AKF partners only. Structured interviews, Focus Group Discussions as well
rapid assessment will be part of the consultants’ study methodologies. The
consultant will also ensure constant updating and engagement of AKF’s market
development team of the progress of the study so as to ensure support at all
times.
5.0 Consultant Qualifications
AKF is seeking to engage a
consulting firm or individual consultant or team of consultants with the
following qualifications and experience:-
•
At least master’s degree for lead consultants
(in relevant field of study)
•
Proven experience in undertaking similar
assignments (market assessments and value chain analysis in the Tanzania rural
context). Evidence will be required for applying consultants/firms.
•
Experience working in sectors around agriculture
and value chain development
•
Strong knowledge and connections with SME and
companies in the relevant sectors.
•
Proven skills, experience with examples in
developing working marketing models for agricultural produce in rural settings.
•
Fluent spoken and written English essential and
fluent spoken Swahili desired.
•
Ability to work and stay within Lindi and Mtwara
region up to 75% of time during period of implementation.
•
A good understanding on the trends and issues in
agriculture markets sector in Tanzania.
6.0 Support
The consultant/s will be
supported by AKF’s Market Development and Monitoring and Evaluation teams,
which will ensure that all available and relevant background materials are
provided and that initial logistics are arranged. Where possible, during
execution of activities, AKF team members will join the consultant/s to ensure
transfer of AKF-contextual information, ownership and uptake of learning by
AKF. The consultant/s will have full responsibility for the undertaking of the
contracted duties.
7.0 Duration of the Assignment
The study
assignment is expected to be undertaken in March 2016 and will be completed
after final report being submitted to AKF. AKF may extend the assignment period
based on the needs.
8.0 Mode of Application
Interested
candidates should submit detailed proposal, describing their understanding of
the assignment, study approach and methodology. The applicants’ relevant
experience on similar assignments should clearly outlined; If a team of
consultants are making a submission, CVs for each member of the team should be
included. Submissions in PDF format should be sent by email to william.mato@akfea.org
not later than Friday 4th March 2016.