Catholic Agency for Overseas Development is Currently Recruiting in Zambia
1. Introduction
The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) is an international development charity and the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. CAFOD is supporting the Catholic Diocese of Ndola (CDoN) to implement a 3 years project funded by the Department for International Development (DIFD) on Building community resilience to climatic shocks, through improving food security, caring practices for vulnerable groups, and sanitation and hygiene practices to enhance the nutritional status of rural communities in Zambia. The project seeks to improve the nutritional status of key vulnerable groups (including pregnant and lactating mothers, adolescent mothers, children under 5, people with disabilities and people living with HIV) that have additional nutrition requirements and barriers in accessing them. The project will specifically tackle the underlying causes of malnutrition and target vulnerable groups with increased food security, access to WASH and improved caring practices. The project will be implemented from October 2018 to September 2021 and will target 5 districts in the Copperbelt province (Mpongwe, Masiti, Kitwe, Chingola, and Chililabombwe).
A key premise of this project is that improvements in longer-term nutrition among households at higher risk of malnutrition will require improved food and nutrition security through activities that seek to enhance increased food availability, diversification of food production and increased livelihood/income opportunities. The project has therefore been designed to build longer-term nutrition security and livelihoods options, through mobilising 20 smallholder producer associations (each comprising 25 members) to participate in agriculture, livestock, fisheries and horticulture production. Each smallholder producer association will be engaged in two areas of food production, which will give a total of 40 food production initiatives supported under this project. To ensure that each smallholder producer association will engage in an area of production best suited to improve nutrition, better livelihood opportunities, product expansion, market viability and value addition opportunities, a market assessment and value chain analysis is required to be undertaken.
The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) is an international development charity and the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. CAFOD is supporting the Catholic Diocese of Ndola (CDoN) to implement a 3 years project funded by the Department for International Development (DIFD) on Building community resilience to climatic shocks, through improving food security, caring practices for vulnerable groups, and sanitation and hygiene practices to enhance the nutritional status of rural communities in Zambia. The project seeks to improve the nutritional status of key vulnerable groups (including pregnant and lactating mothers, adolescent mothers, children under 5, people with disabilities and people living with HIV) that have additional nutrition requirements and barriers in accessing them. The project will specifically tackle the underlying causes of malnutrition and target vulnerable groups with increased food security, access to WASH and improved caring practices. The project will be implemented from October 2018 to September 2021 and will target 5 districts in the Copperbelt province (Mpongwe, Masiti, Kitwe, Chingola, and Chililabombwe).
A key premise of this project is that improvements in longer-term nutrition among households at higher risk of malnutrition will require improved food and nutrition security through activities that seek to enhance increased food availability, diversification of food production and increased livelihood/income opportunities. The project has therefore been designed to build longer-term nutrition security and livelihoods options, through mobilising 20 smallholder producer associations (each comprising 25 members) to participate in agriculture, livestock, fisheries and horticulture production. Each smallholder producer association will be engaged in two areas of food production, which will give a total of 40 food production initiatives supported under this project. To ensure that each smallholder producer association will engage in an area of production best suited to improve nutrition, better livelihood opportunities, product expansion, market viability and value addition opportunities, a market assessment and value chain analysis is required to be undertaken.
TERMS OF REFERENCE MARKET ASSESSMENT AND VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS
2. Objectives and Scope of Work
The overall objective of this assignment is to carry out a market assessment and value chain analysis of agricultural, small livestock, fisheries, and horticulture products to provide evidence-based information for designing areas of interventions for the smallholder producer associations in the target districts of the project.
The specific objectives of the assignment are:
a) Map and profile the existing value chains of agricultural, small livestock, fisheries, and horticulture products in the target areas of the project, considering market demand and comparative advantage of market.
b) Generate a shortlist of profitable and technically feasible value chains in each target district. Criteria for shortlisting and selecting value chain should include gender balance, potential for growth, potential for adaptability, potential for creating a high impact on the income of producers and potential of contributing to improved nutrition.
c) Identify value chain actors, their role and influence over the production and supply chain.
d) Suggest strategies and interventions for promotion of gender responsive value chain across local to tertiary market.
e) Describe skills training needs related to potential roles of the smallholder producer associations in the value chain.
f) Identify areas of intervention in the value chain cycle for persons with disability.
g) Identify major local, provincial and, if applicable, distant markets for identified commodities.
h) Assess selected local market structures and market enabling environment (services, policies and rules regulations, infrastructure), and market constraints in the target districts.
i) Assess size of markets, volume of sales, market integration/segmentation of identified commodities.
j) Asses market actors (consumers, sellers, traders, middle-men, employers) behavior.
k) Assess market requirements (standards, conditions for delivery), prices and wage rates.
The consultant is expected to develop a robust study methodology in line with the objectives of the research. The research methodologies should focus on but not limited to the following:
a) Review existing Market Assessments and Value Chain Analyses of agricultural, small livestock, fisheries, and horticulture products in the target areas of the project.
b) Plan and conduct a Market Assessment and Value Chain Analysis focusing on the objectives above.
c) Draft a Market Analysis and Value Chain Analysis report, which includes an action plan and a value chain framework that can be used to inform viable, appropriate, and sustainable areas of interventions for the smallholder producer associations.
d) Other areas that will be agreed upon at inception.
The methodology should include primary data collection through the use of data collection tools (e.g. market survey, interviews with market and value chain actors, focus group discussions and key informant interviews) that will be used to conduct the Market Assessment and Value Chain Analysis. The research will be undertaken in all the five districts and the methodology should include a participatory design where the main project stakeholders will be involved to give their inputs and views in the assessment process. The data collection tools to be used should capture as much as possible crosscutting issues particularly gender and accountability.
3. Deliverables of the Consultancy
The consultant will be expected to deliver the following outputs:
a) Inception Report to be reviewed and validated by CAFOD and CDoN. The inception report should include a work plan, detailed methodology, research tools, process of data collection, analysis plan, report outline, as well as the revised budget if needed.
b) Draft report of the research for the feedback and comments by CAFOD and CDoN.
c) Presentation on the main findings of the research with CAFOD and CDoN in Ndola.
d) Final report (three hard copies and a soft copy) in English.
e) Summary version of the final report to be shared with project communities.
f) Raw data summaries and data sets used.
4. Timeframe
The consultancy will be for 30 days. This research is paramount in the implementation of the project activities hence timelines agreed should be strictly adhered to.
5. Required Skills and Competencies
The required qualifications and experience of the consultants are as follows:
- Minimum of MA in Agriculture business, Agriculture economics or any related courses.
- Excellent knowledge and experience in carrying out market assessments and value chain analysis.
- Proven experience in using different agriculture business approaches.
- Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical kills and previous experience using statistical analysis software;
- Ability to respond to comments and questions in a timely, appropriate manner;
- Ability to write high quality, clear, concise reports in English and excellent analytical and report writing skills.
6. How to Apply
Qualified candidates are required to provide the following:
a. A comprehensive proposal: This should show the consultants understanding of the Terms of Reference; A brief explanation about the Consultant/s with emphasis on previous experience in this kind of work; Proposed approach and methodology for conducting the research; Detailed workplan; profile, and CVs of the Consultant team to be involved in undertaking the research (be gender sensitive).
b. Detailed comprehensive budget: The consultant’s gross fees and itemized field data collection expenses including accommodation, transport, per-diems, and other costs related to data collection and data processing.
c. References: Contact details for three references that CAFOD can contact.
The proposal should be addressed to the Country Representative, CAFOD Zambia via email to [email protected] 21 January 2019 with the reference “Market Assessment and Value Chain Analysis Consultancy-CAFOD Zambia”.
Please ensure that you mention www.gozambiajobs.com as the source of this job advertisement.
To apply for this job email your details to [email protected]
2. Objectives and Scope of Work
The overall objective of this assignment is to carry out a market assessment and value chain analysis of agricultural, small livestock, fisheries, and horticulture products to provide evidence-based information for designing areas of interventions for the smallholder producer associations in the target districts of the project.
The specific objectives of the assignment are:
a) Map and profile the existing value chains of agricultural, small livestock, fisheries, and horticulture products in the target areas of the project, considering market demand and comparative advantage of the market.
b) Generate a shortlist of profitable and technically feasible value chains in each target district. Criteria for shortlisting and selecting value chain should include gender balance, the potential for growth, the potential for adaptability, the potential for creating a high impact on the income of producers and the potential of contributing to improved nutrition.
c) Identify value chain actors, their role and influence over the production and supply chain.
d) Suggest strategies and interventions for the promotion of gender-responsive value chain across local to tertiary market.
e) Describe skills training needs related to potential roles of the smallholder producer associations in the value chain.
f) Identify areas of intervention in the value chain cycle for persons with disability.
g) Identify major local, provincial and, if applicable, distant markets for identified commodities.
h) Assess selected local market structures and market enabling environment (services, policies and rules regulations, infrastructure), and market constraints in the target districts.
i) Assess size of markets, volume of sales, market integration/segmentation of identified commodities.
j) Asses market actors (consumers, sellers, traders, middle-men, employers) behavior.
k) Assess market requirements (standards, conditions for delivery), prices and wage rates.
The consultant is expected to develop a robust study methodology in line with the objectives of the research. The research methodologies should focus on but not limited to the following:
a) Review existing Market Assessments and Value Chain Analyses of agricultural, small livestock, fisheries, and horticulture products in the target areas of the project.
b) Plan and conduct a Market Assessment and Value Chain Analysis focusing on the objectives above.
c) Draft a Market Analysis and Value Chain Analysis report, which includes an action plan and a value chain framework that can be used to inform viable, appropriate, and sustainable areas of interventions for the smallholder producer associations.
d) Other areas that will be agreed upon at inception.
The methodology should include primary data collection through the use of data collection tools (e.g. market survey, interviews with market and value chain actors, focus group discussions and key informant interviews) that will be used to conduct the Market Assessment and Value Chain Analysis. The research will be undertaken in all the five districts and the methodology should include a participatory design where the main project stakeholders will be involved to give their inputs and views in the assessment process. The data collection tools to be used should capture as much as possible crosscutting issues particularly gender and accountability.
3. Deliverables of the Consultancy
The consultant will be expected to deliver the following outputs:
a) Inception Report to be reviewed and validated by CAFOD and CDoN. The inception report should include a work plan, detailed methodology, research tools, process of data collection, analysis plan, report outline, as well as the revised budget if needed.
b) Draft report of the research for the feedback and comments by CAFOD and CDoN.
c) Presentation on the main findings of the research with CAFOD and CDoN in Ndola.
d) Final report (three hard copies and a soft copy) in English.
e) Summary version of the final report to be shared with project communities.
f) Raw data summaries and data sets used.
4. Timeframe
The consultancy will be for 30 days. This research is paramount in the implementation of the project activities hence timelines agreed should be strictly adhered to.
5. Required Skills and Competencies
The required qualifications and experience of the consultants are as follows:
- Minimum of MA in Agriculture business, Agriculture economics or any related courses.
- Excellent knowledge and experience in carrying out market assessments and value chain analysis.
- Proven experience in using different agriculture business approaches.
- Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical kills and previous experience using statistical analysis software;
- Ability to respond to comments and questions in a timely, appropriate manner;
- Ability to write high quality, clear, concise reports in English and excellent analytical and report writing skills.
6. How to Apply
Qualified candidates are required to provide the following:
a. A comprehensive proposal: This should show the consultants understanding of the Terms of Reference; A brief explanation about the Consultant/s with emphasis on previous experience in this kind of work; Proposed approach and methodology for conducting the research; Detailed workplan; profile, and CVs of the Consultant team to be involved in undertaking the research (be gender sensitive).
b. Detailed comprehensive budget: The consultant’s gross fees and itemized field data collection expenses including accommodation, transport, per-diems, and other costs related to data collection and data processing.
c. References: Contact details for three references that CAFOD can contact.
The proposal should be addressed to the Country Representative, CAFOD Zambia via email to [email protected] 21 January 2019 with the reference “Market Assessment and Value Chain Analysis Consultancy-CAFOD Zambia”.
To apply for this job email your details to [email protected]