Agricultural Development Strategy Consultant

Opportunity Title:

Agricultural Development Strategy Consultant

Short Description:

The main goal for this assignment is to compare existing and potential delivery models for strengthening output markets and trade systems with quantified potential/projection of impact. The team will recommend best practices for creating effective technical assistance that can attract more impact investments in food crop value chains.

Detailed Description

TechnoServe is seeking proposals from qualified consultants for the following scope of work. For information on timeline, application requirements, and evaluation criteria, please review the full Request for Proposals here. Please submit your proposal for this consultancy to buy+US+P0017088@tns.org by February 8, 2023 2023.

Agricultural Development Strategy Consultant – TechnoServe Scope of Work 

Role: Consultant

Location: Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Togo, and Mali (Please specify which country/countries are of interest in proposal.)

Timing: ~5 weeks (25 days) per country starting between February 1 and April 24, should be completed by May 31

Language: English

Background

TechnoServe helps people lift themselves out of poverty by harnessing the power of the private sector. A leading nonprofit organization operating in almost 30 countries, we work with hardworking women and men in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries.

TechnoServe has engaged by a public-sector donor to carry out a study of the main delivery models that are used to develop output market and trade systems for increased farmer income and food security, with a particular focus on markets in Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Togo, and Mali. The main goal for this assignment is to compare existing and potential delivery models for strengthening output markets and trade systems with quantified potential/projection of impact.

TechnoServe is developing a preliminary perspective on these markets based on secondary sources and seeks to validate and expand its findings through meetings with key stakeholders  in each market, which include input importers, blenders, producers, distributors and retailers. (agro-dealers), as well as government organizations involved in regulation, procurement and/or distribution, non-profit organizations also involved in purchasing and distribution (e.g., local, regional, or multi-national companies that serve as off-takers). On the basis of these conversations, the team will recommend best practices for creating effective technical assistance that can attract more impact investments in food crop value chains.

TechnoServe’s overall purpose is to provide an objective perspective of the dynamics and opportunities in the output market systems, with the ultimate goal of supporting an accelerated transformation of food market systems to ensure that they are competitive, inclusive, resilient, and predictable.

Consultant Role

The consultant will support the set up and execution of meetings with key stakeholders in the country by identifying the most relevant organizations, scheduling meetings with them, organizing and overseeing local logistics and accompanying the team during the meetings. Broadly, the consultant would conduct the following activities to achieve this objective:

Prepare country field research

• Identify the most relevant organization in the agricultural sectors to meet with (from the types listed in above)
• Reach out to those organizations and schedule meetings within suggested dates
• Collaborate with TechnoServe team on drafting the interview guide
• Translate interview guide
• Internalize interview guide
• Collaborate with TechnoServe on building data capture for all interview results

Conduct country field research

• Conduct scheduled meetings
• Share daily updates with key interview findings
• Update data capture daily with results from each interview
• Adapt interview guide as needed to ensure all key inputs are collected
• Collaborate with TechnoServe team on synthesizing interview findings into insights

Deliverables

1. Schedule Meetings – 12-15 meetings scheduled and executed, contact details, interview guide translated, data capture complete – Week 1-2
2. Conduct Meetings – Interview notes from 12-15 meetings, daily key insights updates, data capture updated from 12-15 meetings – Week 3-4
3. Final Deliverable and Strategy – Develop PPT deck outlining national output market vision, Present final strategy with vision, targets, KPIs, detailed design for focus mechanisms, investment, income, and nutritional outcomes, and tangible next steps/implementation plan – Week 5

Skills and Requirements

• University degree in agricultural sciences, management, or related field
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience in preferred country/countries
• Minimum of 3 years work experience in agri-business and/or rural development
• Sound understanding of key agricultural value chains in the preferred country/countries
• Previous business interaction with agribusiness in country/countries preferred
• Strong communication and convening skills
• Advanced knowledge of English language is preferred

Logistics

If travel is required, TechnoServe will cover travel-related costs including airfare, in-country accommodation, in-country transportation, and per diem for living expenses.

The consultant will report into TechnoServe’s Strategic Initiatives team and will also collaborate with in-country teams. While under the supervision of the Strategic Initiatives team, the bulk of the consultant’s work will be independently driven and executed.

TechnoServe is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females’, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities. 

Qualifications