Consultancy service for conducting Comprehensive Value Chain Analysis and Market Systems Assessment (VCAMA)

Purpose

The overall purpose of this Value Chain Analysis (CVA) and Market Assessment is to ensure whether FH Farming for Value (F4V) product offerings are contextually fit and align with pro-poor value chain development as well as inform/identify the necessary interventions.

Objectives:

• Map the existing and potential value chains in each specific area program (AP)
• Identify and prioritize 5 key sub-sector/commodity or value chain/system with the highest potential for growth, profitability and employment in each specific area program for the target shareholder (given their needs and capacities)
• To carry out a VCA (assess end-to-end and provide a detailed analysis) of 3 selected crops and livestock based on participatory value chain commodity selection criteria for each specific area program (AP)
• To map out all VC actors, including service providers, and their functions, constraints and opportunities for value chains identified in the participatory value selection criteria
• To provide recommendations on how selected target groups (smallholder farmer, producer organization, women, youth) can be engaged in the value chain in different roles (input supplier, producer, processor, transporter, trader)
• Identify the key stakeholders active in the crop and livestock value chains and conduct a detailed assessment of the operations, processes, opportunities and challenges
• To conduct market assessment/ analysis for four prioritized crop, livestock, fruit, and vegetable commodities in the area program
• To conduct market assessment/ analysis on six prioritized diversified economic opportunities (agribusiness and small & microenterprise) for smallholder farmer, women and youth in the area program
• To analyze the local market structure, enabling and constraining environment affecting the VC development and provide recommendations for its improvement that are needed to develop market linkages across the selected value chains
• To come up with clear recommendations of intervention and leverage areas, including specific business models, cost-benefit analysis to improve the competitiveness of the market system, leading to their resilience and flourishing livelihoods families and communities.

Geographic locations

This assignment will be conducted in FH Ethiopia development area programme. Specific locations are indicated below in the chart. Computing consultants submitting proposals could apply for a single specific location or multiple specific locations within a cluster. However, consultants could not apply for the two clusters or a single/multiple specific locations across the two clusters.

Expected tasks of the consultant

In order to effectively handle this assignment, the consultant is required to undertake the below tasks, but not limited to

• Develop and present an inception report containing well-established and recognized methodology, data gathering and analysis tool, methodology for data collection and schedule for carrying out the assignment considering value chain analysis and market system development tools
• Extensive reviews of secondary information, researches, assessments reports and other relevant documents
• Undertake Focus Group Discussions with smallholders farmers, women, youth, producers’/processors’ groups
• Key informants’ interviews with stakeholders/ line departments, individuals involved in input supplies, traders, local market or small business actors
• Identify potential long list of value chain commodities and prioritize five potential commodities based on participatory value chain commodity selection criteria
• Validate the prioritized commodities (sub-sector/commodity or value chain/system) through joint workshop/s at each area program
• Data analysis, produce draft reports including data interpretation, findings, and recommendations of intervention for areas of value chains development and market assessment along with business models and cost-benefit analysis for further programming for each area
• Present the draft reports to FH Ethiopia (technical and management staffs of NDP and other departments as relevant from AP and HO)
• Incorporate comments provided by FH Ethiopia to improve the draft reports and prepare the value chain analysis and market assessment (VCAMA) reports for validation workshop with relevant stakeholders
• Present the VCAMA reports to stakeholders at the validation workshop
• Incorporate the stakeholders’ comments into the draft reports and submit the final reports to FH Ethiopia.

Expected Deliverables of the assignment

• Matrix of secondary data sources
• Data set for quantitative and qualitative data collected.
• Inception report containing methodology and tools developed for the assessment
• Submit first draft value chain and market assessment report in hard and soft copy and present in the validation workshop
• Submit a final report resulting from feedback given during the validation workshop and comments given on the draft report in hard and soft copy.

Timeframe for the assignment

The whole processes of value chain analysis and market assessment (CVAMA) should be completed by a period of time of 40 working days (8 weeks). The timeframe will be validated from date of contract signed for the study work.

The consultant should have rich research experience and strong technical expertise in designing and evaluating agriculture and food security assessments via using range of data collection tools including online data collection platforms.

The final evaluation process is a dynamic process that calls for demonstrated ability to cater to the needs and achieve expected results by potential consultants. It requires strong pragmatic experience in the field realizing the ever increasing quality demanded from such service providers. FHE would like to invite consultants with the following minimum qualifications to take part:

Eligible lead consultant should comprise of professional/s in the area of agriculture, food security and livelihood, Statistics, and gender studies or other relevant social science fields of study with proven work experience;

1. Relevant Experience:

• A higher degree (Master or PhD) in Agricultural Science or Development Studies filed such as Rural Development, Agricultural Economic, Agribusiness combined with discipline like Business Administration, Sociology, Gender
• Proven Experience in conducting Value Chains and livelihood feasibility (farms and non-farms) and gender-sensitive market assessments focused on the agricultural value chain (livestock/crop) and diversified economic opportunities, private sector engagement, enterprises development, and related areas with Market System Development (MSD) approach
• Experience in research techniques combining qualitative and quantitative survey/assessment methods
• Proven experience in conducting assessment and participatory approaches and previous successful record of accomplishment of doing similar study
• Knowledge and experience on contributing/limiting factors for value chains, market mapping, value chain-based actors and participatory Market System Development
• Demonstrated organizational/individual capacity to manage the assignment effectively; good knowledge in the field of food security and livelihoods and well knowledge on entrepreneurship and business development and inclusive business service;
• Experience in statistical analysis and skilled in technical report writing in international Standard English, documentation, and presentation.

2. Cultural Sensitivity: Familiarity with the study area’s local context, culture, and languages. The consultancy should have knowledge of the local cultural, social, and gender dynamics. This ensures the training is relevant and respectful of local contexts; local language will be an added advantage.

3. Familiarity with relevant policies: Understanding and knowledge of regional and national policies, strategies and programmed related to agriculture, entrepreneurship, gender, climate change.