Request for Applications (RFA) for private Local Service Provider(s) (LSPs) to sustainably improve extension services on shoat value chain in three LD woredas/Lay Gayint, Tach Gayint and Simada/.

Program Description

RTI International (RTI) is managing the market systems development component of the 5-year USAID-funded Ethiopia, Poverty Reduced Sustainably in an Environment of Resilient and Vibrant Economy (PReSERVE). PReSERVE is an integrated activity to improve food security of vulnerable households in targeted Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) communities in the Amhara Region and contribute to a sustained reduction in rural poverty. The market systems development component of PReSERVE i.e. expected to bring vital market access and growth to four selected Livelihoods Deepening (LD) woredas (Lay Gayint, Tach Gayint, Simada, Sahala).

PReSERVE during the first year of intervention, conducted four value chain analysis studies on haricot bean, potato, shoat and fish VCs in the LD woredas to identify major constraints, value chain functions and recommend interventions. Shoat value chain is one of the four value chains identified and studied through the value chain analysis studies for value chain implementation through the facilitation of market system development approaches. The value chain study identified the major constraints and opportunities to improve Shoat production and marketing to contribute to the improvement of target households’ livelihood and resilience.

According to the value chain analysis studied, the following major constraints identified: Participant HHs practices traditional shoat farming low input and low output business, limited access to quality extension services, disease prevalences, poor/no market linkage, shortage of quality shoat feed (both in supply and utilization), no market- oriented shoat production practices, and limited access to credit services.

Hence, to address these constraints and enhance market-oriented shoat production, productivity, and income of the value chain participant HHs and contributes to their livelihood asset creation and improvement PReSERVE project planned to provide grant for local service providers which implement shoat pluralistic extension services in three woredas. It is obvious that agricultural extension service has the potential to be an exceptionally effective tool in assisting smallholder farmers to break the cycle of low productivity, vulnerability, and poverty. However, the value chain assessment results revealed that the extension service provided in the study areas are inadequate, creating a major constraint to the development of shoat value chain.  Thus, supporting the shoat value chain commodity extension and advisory services is essential to the PReSERVE project’s success.

Therefore, the PReSERVE project is looking for a qualified private sector partner (local service provider) to provide quality pluralistic extension services in shoat production, promote full package technology implementation, market oriented shoat production, and promote output market information.

 

Objectives: 

• The overall objectives of this RFA:
• To identify local services providers that successfully delivers pluralistic shoat extension services to shoat
• value chain participants and government extension staff which enable them to apply full technology
• packages in production, health, and feed utilization.

 

Expected outputs:

The local service providers success will be measured in terms of the outputs listed below.

Enhanced the knowledge and skills of shoat value chain participants and government extension staff.

At least 60 extension workers train ToT in shoat full technology packages implementation and cascade to 221 lead farmers (Lay Gayint 120; Tach Gayint 57 and Simada 44) and 3098 fellow farmers (1796 in Lay Gayint;861 in Tach Gayint and 662 in Simada).

At least 221 Lead farmers 3098 fellow farmers accomplish learning by doing practices on feeding and watering trough making, improved feeding, proper housing, health care, breed selection, in each kebeles of the three woredas.

In collaboration with local partners extension workers, conduct coaching and mentoring of lead farmers on rearing and fattening package implementation practices

Scaled up   full technology package implementation

2.1. Conduct 221 shoat technology packages demonstrations on lead farmers’ house.

2.2. Organize 9 field days with village farmers learning groups on selected lead farmers best practices.

2.3. At least 50% (1435 HHs) of the treatment groups replicate the best practices of shoat commercial rearing and fattening activities(590 in Lay Gaint; 482 in Tach Gayint; and 364 in Simada).

Prepared, and distributed at least 300 copies of market oriented A5 sized shoat production manual/guideline on Good Rearing and Fattening Practice (GRFP) to experts and lead farmers.

Created effective collaboration among shoat value chain actors through multistakeholder platform and review meeting.

4.1. Organize and conduct two MSP meeting for the three woredas together at zonal level.

4.2. Organize review and feedback workshop on the progress of the extension service (2 review per year and 30 participants in each event)

Conducted coaching and mentoring services for shoat VC participants on improved feeding, housing, and health care of the animals in collaboration with Livestock and Fishery Resource Development office kebele experts.

 

Application Information 

In addition to discussing the above-named outputs, successful applicants will include the following in their application:

The applicant’s understanding of the “development challenge,” opportunity, or problem, including the political, social, economic, and environmental conditions required to change

Previous experience working in the area and how the applicants know what needs to be changed in the context of the RFA. The LSP’s experience in haricot bean in terms of marketing, supporting extension service in haricot bean, contract farming, and supporting farmers in accessing input have paramount importance for this grant.

Identifying external factor(s) and other critical assumptions that may aid or hinder achievement of the results Applicants should provide this information as per the Program Description of the grant application form.

Implementation Plan

A standard Implementation Plan should show how the anticipated results would be achieved. What activities, processes, or strategies are essential to achieve the results? Why will the planned work lead to the intended results? What is the anticipated timetable for the achievement of the results?

Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

A standard Monitoring and Evaluation Plan should contain a set of indicators that would permit continuous measurement of progress toward targeted results. For each result, what is the performance indicator? What is the baseline data? What is the performance target? What is the timetablefor achieving results? Foreach performance indicator, what is the definition and what is the unit of measurement? What are the plans for reporting and using the performance information? The framework and scope for monitoring, evaluation and assessment for the stated results should demonstrate how implementation of activities will contribute to achieve intermediate outcomes of women and men agricultural producers’ income improved

Financial

• Each application must contain a detailed line-item budget accompanied by a budget narrative explaining all costs. An acceptable budget will have all costsbroken out by unit costs and clearly show the number of units used for each line item. The narrative will describe how the grantee arrived ateach unit cost and the number of units for each line item. See the grant application form for instructions on submitting a detailed budget and narrative.
• If cost share is required, the detailed cost share contributions should be inserted into the Budget and Budget Narrative.

 

Past Performance

• All applicants are subject to a pastperformance reference check.Therefore, they must provide the name, address, and other contact information of atleast three (3) past performance references, as requiredby the grant application form.

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI, or Unique Entity ID)

• All grantees that receive Award from RTI under PReSERVE project are required to have a UEI before receiving a grant award. See the Grant Application Form for instructions on requesting a UEI.

Evaluation and Award process 

• RTI International will provide award/grant to responsible applicants whose proposals conform to the RFA and will be most advantageous to RTI International, price and other factors considered.

 

Activity Title:	LSPs to provide pluralistic extension services to improve shoat Value chain implementation and increase shoat production, productivity, and income in three woredas.
Type of award:	Grant/Award from RTI International
This grant/Award supports:	Improved access to quality extension services for 4600 target shoat value chain participants
Term of Subgrant:	1 year
Award Range:	73,000 USD /24,333.33 USD for each/
Match Contribution	No matching
Submit application to:	mseffefe@rti.org
Date of Issue of RFA: and closing date	January 03, 2025, to February 2, 2025
Date Questions from Applicants Due:	January 15, 2025
Date, Application Due:	February 2, 2025
Approximate Date for Award/grant issued to successful Applicant (s):	March 1, 2025
Request for Application Number:	RTI-PReSERVE-G-RFA-2024-007