Terms of Reference (ToR): Study on: Mapping of Agricultural Farm Machinery based on Agro-ecologies in Oromia -Gudina Tumsa Foundation (GTF)

Location: Oromia, Ethiopia

Deadline: November 29, 2025

Job Description

1. Background

Gudina Tumsa Foundation (GTF) was established in 1992 and is a not-for-profit civil society organization registered with the Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO). It is registered with the Authority for Civil Societies Organization with the mandate to operate at the national level in Ethiopia. GTF was established by the family and friends of Reverend Gudina Tumsa to carry on his vision through rendering holistic service to the marginalized communities in Ethiopia. The foundation was formed in 1992 and started delivering development services in 1994. The foundation has implemented different projects in nine regional states of Ethiopia.

GTF envisions empowered communities that perceive themselves as capable human beings, equipped to actively engage in all aspects of human life. This is in line with the Reverend Gudina Tumsa’s own words, stated below:

“… an integral human development, where the spiritual and physical needs are seen together, is the only right approach to the development question in our society.”

GTF has developed and implemented different projects that promote the holistic development vision of the organization. The organization was formed to create a better world for those people who have been left behind and most vulnerable in our society, to help them live with dignity and hope.

GTF engages in different thematic areas that are life-changing. Accordingly, the foundation engages in the following program areas:

• Women and child support services whereby education, healthcare, and other essential services are provided to marginalized women and children,
• Education program focusing on building schools, production of materials and supplies, and teacher supports,
• Health, Water, and Environment program focusing on promotion of health services and prevention of disease, WaSH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), and environmental protection and conservation through planting trees, etc.
• Livelihood enhancement through different economic empowerment and job creation initiatives for women and youth.
• Policy advocacy that focuses on influencing Regional Decision Makers towards evidence-based, effective, and responsive policy formulation and implementation

Recently, GTF has commenced the implementation of a project titled “Healthcare and Livelihood Improvement Advocacy Project in Oromia and Somali (HaLIAPOS)” with the funding secured from the Gates Foundation (GF). The project is implemented in Oromia and Somali regions for 3 years, from January 2024 to December 2026, in collaboration with the two regional states. GTF has signed Memoranda of Understanding with the respective Presidents’ Offices of the Oromia and the Somali regional states to guide the implementation of the project activities in the regions.

The Goal of the project is to contribute to the increased use of evidence and policy analysis by decision-makers, leading to the adoption of policies broadly favorable to agricultural productivity, healthcare and nutrition, financial inclusion, and women’s economic empowerment.

The project employed competent experts in project management, policy analysis, and data analysis who are working as a team. The activities of the project are enormous, and recruitment and assignment of pertinent outside thematic experts/consultants are required to undertake studies and research on identified topical issues. One of these thematic study areas to be outsourced is the topic of Mapping of Agricultural Farm Machinery based on Agro-ecologies in Oromia.

2. Introduction to the Assignment

Agriculture remains the backbone of Ethiopia’s economy, employing about 65–70% of the population and contributing significantly to GDP and export earnings (World Bank, 2020). Agricultural mechanization, mainly the wide use of tractors, combine harvesters, small-scale tillers, threshers, etc., for agricultural production, has been widely recognized as a key driver for improving productivity, reducing drudgery, and completing agricultural operations such as land preparation, crop establishment, crop protection, harvesting, threshing, processing, and transportation on time (FAO, 2014). Mechanization contributes not only to increased yields and efficiency but also to labor saving and improved product quality (Sims & Kienzle, 2016).

In Ethiopia, the Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) identifies mechanization as one of the pillars of agricultural modernization, emphasizing its role in bridging yield gaps and addressing rural labor shortages (ATI, 2021). Mechanization adoption among smallholders remains low due to various factors such as slope, soil conditions, topography, land use, land cover, small landholding, and limited access to mechanization services (IFPRI, 2017). Studies have shown that access to appropriate types of agricultural farm machinery, affordability, and availability of service providers are the most critical barriers for smallholders (ILRI, 2020). On top of topographic variations, the fragmentation of landholdings, poor rural infrastructure, shortage of skilled operators, and inadequate maintenance and spare-part supply chains further limit effective mechanization services mainly in remote areas (Mekonnen et al., 2022).

Despite these challenges, mechanization remains a priority for Ethiopia’s rural transformation agenda. The government’s Ten-Year Development Plan (2021–2030) and Agricultural Mechanization Strategy highlighted mechanization as a key lever for increasing productivity and promoting agricultural commercialization (MoA, 2020).

Ethiopia has developed several policies and strategies to promote mechanization, including the National Agricultural Mechanization Strategy (2014) and the Rural Job Creation Strategy (2019). However, their implementation has been uneven across regions due to limited data on machinery distribution, agro-ecological suitability, and institutional capacity (FAO, 2018). Reviewing these frameworks in the context of Oromia will help align mechanization interventions with regional realities and smallholder needs.

Given Oromia’s diverse agro-climatic zones, soil conditions, slopes, topography, and production orientations, a uniform mechanization approach isn’t applicable. For example, heavy clay soil in the central highlands requires higher-horsepower tractors, while lighter soil in lowland areas can be efficiently managed with smaller tractors.

Mapping the appropriate type and size of agricultural farm machinery will help match the local circumstances of smallholder farmers to their agro-ecological conditions. Furthermore, it will enable policymakers, service providers, and development partners to design targeted interventions and investment models. Such a mapping exercise will also help to identify mechanization service gaps, infrastructure needs, and stakeholder linkages that influence adoption and service delivery efficiency.

The mechanization ecosystem in Oromia includes a wide variety of stakeholders. A lack of coordination among these groups has caused fragmented mechanization efforts. This study will help map these actors and their roles to improve collaboration, increase service efficiency, and encourage smallholder adoption.

By providing evidence-based insights, this study will support decision-makers, service providers, and smallholder farmers and (agro) pastoralists in making informed choices, thus advancing context-specific mechanization services in Oromia.

3. Overall Objective

The overall objective of the study is to map agricultural farm machinery types and sizes suited to different agro-climatic zones, slopes, soil conditions, topography, and production orientations in Oromia, including the identification of key stakeholders involved in the mechanization sector.

The Specific Objectives are to:

• Assess the existing state of mechanization service provision for various agricultural operations based on crop types (land preparation, crop establishment, crop protection, harvesting, threshing, processing, and transportation) under different agro-ecologies.
• Categorize agricultural farm machinery types and sizes appropriate for different agro-ecologies, slopes, soil conditions, and topographies in Oromia.
• Identify factors influencing the use of agricultural farm machinery among smallholder farmers and (agro) pastoralists
• Identify and map key stakeholders and their roles in agricultural mechanization to facilitate smooth adoption and service delivery.
• Review existing agricultural mechanization policies and strategies and propose a context-specific policy framework that enhances access and utilization of appropriate mechanization technologies for smallholders.

4. Scope of Work

The assessment will be undertaken across all seven (7) agro-ecological clusters in Agricultural Transformation in Oromia (ATO). Efforts will be made to map different sizes and types of agricultural farm machinery that are appropriate for 0-5° and 5-10° slopes within the seven clusters in Oromia. Further consideration will be given to identifying farm machinery types and sizes that are recommended for light, medium, and heavy soil types, integrating the above-mentioned slopes in the region. To substantiate the research findings, a relevant policy review and analysis will be made.

The assessment will engage relevant private and public stakeholders involved in agricultural farm machinery supply, service provision, financing, and policy implementation, ranging from federal to individual company levels.

5. Methodology

The study is expected to employ both quantitative and qualitative methods to collect primary and secondary data. Various data collection tools, such as household surveys, Key Informant Interviews (KII), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), will be used to generate primary data. A desk review will be made to collect secondary information. The consultant or consulting firm should identify a clear and appropriate research design that can effectively address the above objectives.

5.1 Sampling Methods 

A multistage simple random sampling method will be employed to select zones, woredas, kebeles, and households from the seven (7) agro-ecologically classified ATO clusters, ensuring representativeness within the above-mentioned slopes and soil type conditions.

5.2 Sample Size Determination

In deciding the sample size, the following should be considered:

• The study should apply an agreed-upon statistical formula for determining the quantitative survey sample size.
• The selected sample size is expected to ensure adequate representativeness for meaningful statistical inference.
• Distribution of sample sizes across the ATO clusters (different agro-ecologies) must be considered.

6. Expected Deliverables

The consultant will be expected to deliver the following outputs:

• A comprehensive inception report outlining the study approach, methodology, sample size, work plan, data collection tools, etc.
• Progress presentation to update the Gudina Tumsa Foundation (GTF) and Oromia Bureau of Agriculture (OBoA) on the study’s status
• Produce a comprehensive draft assessment report that contains an executive summary, background information, introduction, methodology, major findings, recommendations, and conclusions
• Presentation of the draft report during a validation workshop involving key stakeholders for feedback
• Submission of the final comprehensive report, both in hard and soft copies, with necessary annexes
• A concise policy brief for senior decision-makers
• Submission of all collected raw data, recorded videos, photos, etc, in soft copies

7. Required Qualifications

The assignment will be undertaken by a consultant/consultancy firm with the following qualifications and experience:

• Lead researcher with a PhD educational status and other team members with a minimum of M.Sc in Agricultural Engineering, Soil Science, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Mechanization, GIS, Statistics, Policy Analysis, or related fields.
• Proven experience (at least 10 years) in agricultural mechanization studies, farm machinery assessment, or agro-ecological mapping
• Prior experience of working on related issues in the Oromia Regional State
• Proven technical competence in both quantitative and qualitative data analysis
• Strong analytical and GIS/mapping skills
• Excellent report writing, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Proficiency in English and Afaan Oromoo is mandatory

8. Evaluation

The proposal will be generally evaluated from 100% as follows:

• 70% for technical proposal
• 30% for financial proposal

Below are some of the evaluation criteria:

• Understanding of the assignment
• Proposed methodology
• Relevant experience and qualifications of the consultant/team
• Technical soundness and feasibility of the work plan
• Experience in agricultural mechanization and related policy review
• Financial proposal and cost-effectiveness

9. Time Frame of the Assignment

The total time required to complete this assignment is a maximum of sixty (60) calendar days since the signing of the contractual agreement.

 

HOW TO APPLY

10. To Apply

Potential consultants or consulting firms should submit their detailed technical and financial proposals, including:

• Detailed CVs and valid experiences
• A copy of their renewed business license
• A copy of their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
• A copy of their VAT Certificate

All application documents should be sent electronically to: jobs@gtfound.org with the subject line “Mapping of Agricultural Farm Machineries based on Agro-ecologies in Oromia” in PDF format.

Submission Deadline: Ten (10) calendar days from the announcement date, no later than 4:30 PM.

For more information, please contact us at the following address:

Email: teshome.b@gtfound.org.

Tel: +251969355555

Important Notes:

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• GTF reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, in whole or in part, without providing any reason whatsoever.
• Late submissions will not be considered.