Terms of Reference for End of Year 1, Evaluation Creating Shared Value in the Maize Value Chain (CSV-Maize) Project- Solidaridad Network

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Solidaridad Network is an international solution-oriented civil society organization working through eight regional expertise centers to transform markets to make them more sustainable and inclusive. Our eight regional expertise centers include Asia, Eastern and Central Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America, Southern Africa, South America, West Africa, and our global Secretariat in the Netherlands. Solidaridad Eastern and Central Africa, one of the regional centers, is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with country offices and programmes in Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda. We bring together supply chain players and engage them with innovative solutions to improve production, ensuring the transition to a sustainable and inclusive economy that maximizes the benefit for all. We facilitate strengthening of local capacity in developing countries, support the creation of enabling environments for economies to thrive, and improve market access.

1.1 Creating Shared Value in the Maize Value Chain (CSV-Maize) Project

Creating Shared Value in Maize Value Chain in Kenya (‘CSV Maize’) project is a four-year food security and climate resilience project that aims to improve the livelihoods and resilience of 3,000 smallholder maize farmers (50% youth and women) by driving innovation towards sustainable maize production systems in Bungoma County, Kenya. The project is funded by Louis Dreyfus Foundation (LDF) and implemented by Solidaridad Eastern & Central Africa in partnership with the Cereals Growers Association (CGA) and the County Government of Bungoma.

The project goal is to improve the livelihoods (food security and income) and resilience of 3,000 smallholder maize farmers by innovating the maize business case and production systems through improved production, productivity, quality, and collective marketing practices. Project interventions are based on a theory of change combined with business cases that are built around smallholder farmers and producer organizations to sustainably increase maize productivity, build resilience to changing climate, and improve gender and social inclusion in the value chain.

1.2 Creating Shared Value in the Maize Value Chain (CSV-Maize) Project Consortium:

The consortium comprises the following organizations;

1. Solidaridad East & Central Africa (ECA): is part of the Solidaridad network and is based in Nairobi, Kenya. Solidaridad ECA operates in agricultural, industrial, and mining supply chains across East and Central Africa. The organization facilitates local actors’ capacity strengthening, supports the creation of enabling environments, and promotes market transformation initiatives. Sustainable land use, improved working conditions and livelihoods, food security, and strong dynamic producer organizations are key priorities for Solidaridad ECA. The organization’s delivery strategy combines boots and brains on the ground, interactive dialogue across platforms, community-based initiatives, and public-private partnerships in championing sustainable supply chains.

2. Cereal Growers Association (CGA): is a national non-profit member-based farmer organization with 25 years’ experience in bringing together commercial cereal farmers to promote collective action for the sustained improvement of their farming enterprises and in addressing industry challenges in Kenya. CGA works with industry stakeholders such as government bodies, agricultural input suppliers, financial institutions, insurance companies, output buyers, development partners, NGOs, and others to provide services to its members. CGA delivers key services to its members, including; farmer representation in various platforms, training research and advisory services, linkages to inputs, finances and markets, and information services.

3. Bungoma County Government: Has a department of Agriculture, Livestock, Irrigation, Fisheries, and Co-operative Development, whose mandate include promoting and facilitating the improvement of productivity of crops for food security and agricultural raw materials, value addition, and access to an efficient market. To increase yield and improve food security, the Government of Bungoma County invested in 3 mobile soil laboratories which are used across the county to analyze farmers’ soils and provide a soil status report. The laboratories also raise farmers’ awareness of the importance of soil health and sustainable soil management.

2.0 Creating Shared Value in the Maize Value Chain (CSV-Maize) Project

2.1 Background

Similar to many African countries, Kenya is mainly an agricultural country, with maize providing a basic diet to millions of people in the country. Maize remains to be the most important cereal crop in sub-Saharan Africa because it is a staple food to an estimated 50% of the total population of Sub-Saharan Africa. In Bungoma County, maize is the staple food; hence most of it is produced mainly for local consumption. Smallholder maize farmers depend on rain-fed maize farming. Currently, the total area under food crops in Bungoma County is 201,654.6 Ha, of which 110,912 Ha (55%) is under maize cultivation.

Increasing household incomes through intensive and sustainable maize production in the county is severely constrained by several factors, such as low production and productivity mainly as a result of poor crop production practices, degraded soils out of overuse of agrochemicals, high post-harvest losses, poor waste management, and heavy losses associated with disease and pests. Most of the soils continue to degrade due to continuous farming, high population density, limited soil fertility management decisions, inadequate knowledge, climate change, high cost of production, landscape threats, inefficient marketing systems, and fragmented value chain, which continue to stifle rural livelihoods putting households at risk of hunger.

CSV-Maize Project to support sustainable maize production in Bungoma County by addressing the maize production ecosystem challenges, promoting access to markets for smallholders in Bungoma County through efficient aggregation, increasing the ability of smallholder maize farmers to manage climate variability effects in the long term, and reducing gender and social disparities in the maize value chain. The overall objective of the ‘CSV Maize’ project is to promote sustainable production of maize while building resilience to climate risks and addressing the barriers to youth and women’s inclusion in the maize sector in Kenya.

2.2 Expected Project Outcomes

1. Increase availability of sustainably and safely produced maize by 50% for household and commercial consumption.
2. Increase access to market for smallholder maize farmers in Bungoma through efficient aggregation at the farmer-led centres.
3. Increase ability of smallholder maize farmers to manage climate variability effects in the long term.
4. Reduced gender disparities due to strengthened gender-responsive mechanisms in the maize value chain.

2.3 Evaluation Objectives:

The evaluation will serve programming and management purposes for similar project interventions in years 2, 3 & 4. An independent evaluation will generate important findings, lessons, and recommendations that will be useful to various stakeholders. The main users of the evaluation include Louis Dreyfus Foundation (LDF) Solidaridad ECA, Cereals Growers Association (CGA), and the County Government of Bungoma.

The specific evaluation objectives are:

• To independently verify (and supplement where necessary) the record of achievement as reported through Annual Reports and defined in the project’s log frame.
• To assess the extent to which the project performed well and was good value for money, which includes considering:
• How well the project met its objectives;
• How well the project applied value for money principles of effectiveness, economy, and efficiency in relation to the delivery of its outcome;
• What has happened because of LDF funding that wouldn’t have otherwise happened;
• How well the project aligns with LDF’s goals of empowering smallholder farmers, their families and communities toward increased global food security.
• Assess how the end of Year 1 project period has contributed to the achievement of national priorities as reflected in key national goals, policies, and other instruments.
• Assess the likelihood of Year 1 project period and its activities to continue at national, district, and community levels beyond the support received during the intervention period.
• Draw lessons learned – What lessons have been learned so far which can be applied in similar interventions on CSV Maize project.
• Appraise the project partnership approach (including management structures, communications and relationships) to community implementation, research and advocacy in relation to the project’s achievements.

2.4 Survey Methodology:

The methodology for this study will include both direct and indirect data collection, analysis and cross-referencing, and formulating recommendations thematically and as area/site-specific. The Consultant will finalize the methodology to undertake this study in line with the scope of the assessment, presented and refined with the management during the inception meeting.

The methodology used during this assessment will overall, include, but not be limited to the following:

• Review existing relevant secondary information and reports related to the maize production in Bungoma County.
• Review of previous Solidaridad-related project-level documents and reports.
• Discuss with key Solidaridad staff, partners, and key informants at Office and field implementation levels.
• Carry out field visits for data collection, observations, and triangulation in the implementation areas.
• Hold community-level participatory meetings and focused group discussions for data collection and information gathering.
• Carry out a household-level survey for data collection through structured questionnaires.
• Data analysis and verification of analyzed data.

2.5 Responsibilities of Consultants/Scope of Work:

The composition of the survey team is left up to the consultant/ organization based on their internal system, ideas, and logic. However, Solidaridad recommends that the team comprise one Team Leader (TL) to coordinate/conduct the overall study and liaise with Solidaridad. To collect information from the field using an adequate number of Field Enumerators (FEs). Supervision of the fieldwork and quality (reliability and validity) of the data/information collected from the field is the primary responsibility of the TL. The TL will work closely with Solidaridad M&E Officers and the project team. In each step and process, consultation with the Project Officer and the M&E Officer are vital. The survey will be conducted in Mt. Elgon (Cheptais ward), Kimilili (Kamukuywa ward), and Bumula (Siboti, Kimaeti, Bumula, South Bukusu, and Khasoko wards) sub-counties in Bungoma County, Kenya.

The consultancy/consultant team will be primarily responsible for:

• Development/design of end-of-year monitoring and evaluation tools, including questionnaires for HH survey and checklist and tools for group interaction, including FGD with target beneficiaries at village levels.
• Share the study design, including process, methods, and questionnaires/checklist, with the project team, collect feedback, and finalize the study design.
• Pre‐test questionnaires and other tools in one of the project sites.
• Submit an inception report.
• Debrief/discuss with the project team about the effectiveness of the questionnaire, checklists, and other tools used in the pre‐test, collect feedback and finalize them.
• Orient, train, and supervise the enumerators.
• Carry out fieldwork together with enumerators.
• Ensure the quality of information collected from fields, cross-check with the validity of information collected, and verify/revise where needed.
• Update the progress of the study on a weekly basis to the Project Officer.
• Analyze data and prepare quality reports.
• Give a presentation of the draft report to Solidaridad, and;
• Submit a final report (a compiled version of the report ‐ both hard copy and electronic version in word format) to the project after incorporating the feedback and suggestions from Solidaridad and CGA.

2.6 Deliverables:

• An expression of interest (EOI) for the Monitoring and Evaluation, outlining a detailed methodology for implementation of the survey, including proposed sample sizes;
• An evaluation design methodology that satisfactorily demonstrates how the end-of-year monitoring and evaluation will be evaluated;
• A work plan for the evaluation exercise;
• A presentation of survey methodology to project team in an inception meeting and later incorporate suggestions in the final inception report.
• An inception report demonstrating understanding of the assignment within one week from the start of the assignment;
• Tools for the evaluation exercise;
• Draft report for feedback and comments from Solidaridad and partners involved;
• A well-written project evaluation report of not more than 30 pages on EYP addressing the objectives of the assignment within 30 days of the assignment. (Outline of the report to be shared with the successful consultant);
• A power point Presentation on the main findings of the study for validation involving project teams and other stakeholders as agreed with the project team.

2.7 Technical SUPPORT

The successful consultant will work under the supervision of the Project Manager with technical support from the Project and M & E Officers. The Project Officer will support the process through the provision of information and linkages to project beneficiaries and stakeholders at the sub-county and community levels.

2.8 Expert/Consultant’s Profile:

Consultancy firms/companies with verifiable research work in the cereals value chains and who fulfill the following requirements are encouraged to express their interests.

Academic Qualifications

• Relevant degree(s) in social sciences, Agriculture, or development studies

Professional Qualifications

• Experience in results-based monitoring and evaluation;
• Ability to design and plan evaluation approaches and research methodologies, including quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Experience in designing and conducting impact evaluation using experimental or quasi-experimental techniques;
• Statistical analysis skills and strong proficiency with data analysis packages.
• Proven experience in conducting end-of-project monitoring and evaluations, impact studies, and evaluations, preferably on the cereals industry in Kenya.
• Relevant subject matter knowledge and experience, such as Research experience with maize farmers, is an added advantage.
• Must have appropriate county knowledge/experience, including an understanding of the context of the project impact areas;
• Excellent communication and written skills in English and Swahili.

2.8 Consultancy Period:

The overall time frame of the survey will be 30 days (including Saturdays), which will include inception meetings, finalizing the survey methodology, training of enumerators, data collection, data analysis, report writing, and presenting findings of the survey.

Activities and Deadlines

1. Interested parties should submit a Technical and Financial proposal(Budget proposals should include logistics costs (transport, communications, meals, and accommodation), deadline is on 20th December 2022, 5:00 pm (EAT)

2. Decision on the selected consultant – only selected candidates will be contacted, deadline is on 13th January 2023

3.Signing of Contract deadline is on 27th January 2023

4. Inception report and meeting (in-person), deadline is on 3rd February 2023

5. Field Work deadline is on 14th March 2023

4. Draft report submitted, deadline is on 24th March 2023

5. Validation meeting and final report (in-person) deadline is on 31st March 2023

2.9 Expression of Interest:

The consultancy firms/companies are required to submit an EOI containing a statement on candidate’s experience with similar assignments, curriculum vitae, financial proposal and work plan by 20th December 2022 at 5:00 (EAT). All applicants must meet the minimum requirements described above. Those unable to meet the requirement will not be considered.

Each EOI submission should be not more than 15 pages and include the following:

• A brief proposal for the study with methodology and work plan.
• A sample/samples of previous related work.
• A financial proposal with a budget with breakdowns of different costs involved, to the finer detail. A budget with aggregated figures will not be accepted.
• Updated CVs for the team leader and team members (each CV not more than 2 pages).
• Contact details of 3 references with complete contact information (i.e., name, organization, title position, address, email, telephone).

Subject reference: EOI End of Year 1 Monitoring and Evaluation for CSV-Maize Project.