Consultancy Jobs – External Evaluator of Farm Africa’s Projects – Farm Africa
Organization: Farm Africa
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Download Terms of Reference Here, Click Here
About Farm Africa:
Farm Africa is an innovative charity that reduces poverty in rural eastern Africa by helping farmers grow more, sell more and sell for more: we help farmers to not only boost yields, but also gain access to markets, and add value to their produce. We place a high priority on environmental sustainability and develop approaches that help farmers to improve their yields and incomes without degrading their natural resources. Our programmes vary hugely, ranging from helping crops farmers to boost harvests, livestock keepers to improve animal health, and forest coffee growers to reach export markets, but core to all of them is a focus on the financial sustainability of the farmers’ businesses and environmental sustainability.
About the projects
‘Catalysing CSO-led inclusive green growth in Kanungu district’s coffee value chain’ (CCIGG) started in March 2018 and is a three-year project. The aim of this project is to drive the economic and democratic empowerment of young people and women in the Kanungu District of Uganda. The project will build the capacity of four CGCs to engage 4,800 coffee producers, thereby stimulating a thriving and environmentally sustainable coffee sector in Kanungu district that will provide employment for women and youth.
‘Empowering women in the coffee value chain in Kanungu District’ (EWCVC) is a ‘bolt-on’ to this project which will work with 2,640 women coffee producers and their HHs’ to promote women’s economic empowerment within the value chain. The project started in September 2019, running for 18 months, also ending in March 2021.
Biannual Surveys
Following the baseline survey and bi-annual survey of 388 project participants conducted last year, we are looking to ensure consistency in data collection and analysis throughout the duration of the project and therefore farmer surveys will be conducted on a biannual basis following the coffee harvests. These will gather data on farm productivity, adoption, sales, price, income, Women’s Economic Empowerment in Agriculture scores, and employment to update the values for farmer level outcome and impact indicators to support Farm Africa’s internal monitoring and external reporting.
Approach and Methodology: The project implements a routine monitoring system based on a Linear Log Frame (LLF) approach and corresponding monitoring and learning plan (MLP) to collect data against key outcome indicators.
CCIGG and EWCVC Biannual Survey Methodology
Farm Africa will provide its standard survey tool in MS Word format for capturing farmer level income and production and the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Tool for adaptation by the consultant. All other data collection tools will be provided by the consultant. The methodology should disaggregate the data by location, age category and gender as appropriate, and build gender analysis into the study.
Farm Africa will provide its standard survey tool in MS Word format for capturing farmer level income and production and the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Tool for adaptation by the consultant. All other data collection tools will be provided by the consultant.
- Farmer Survey: Structured survey questionnaires will be administered to 388 farmers previously surveyed (list to be provided). This should also account for coffee producers also participating in the EWCVC project. The methodology should disaggregate the data by location, age category and gender as appropriate, and build gender analysis into the study. It is recommended that a digital data collection app such as ODK Collect or Kobo Toolbox is used.
- Document Review: Review of existing project documentation such as the project proposal, previous research/survey reports and relevant literature such as national policies, government reports, academic papers etc.
- CGCs, KDYFA, KDSC and SME Records Review: The consultants will review the financial and sales records of the CGCs and SMEs as appropriate.
- Key Informant Interviews: Consultations with key project stakeholders, including field staff and partners. Guidance on appropriate stakeholders will be provided by field and Country Office staff as appropriate.
- Focus Group Discussions: With target groups and other stakeholders to assess current challenges faced
Expected Deliverables and Timeline
Biannual HH Surveys
We anticipate that each biannual HH will take up to 5 working days, however the consultant must submit the following deliverables outlined below.
The consultant will provide the following deliverables to the Programme Manager:
- Inception Report: A brief report outlining the methodology of the HH survey to reflect any changes to the methodology since previous bi-annual survey. A revised budget with a breakdown of costs and detailed work plan for the entire exercise should also be submitted. Data collection tools will also be submitted for review at this stage. A report template will be provided by Farm Africa.
- Revised Inception report: Farm Africa’s feedback must be incorporated into a revised inception report that will be submitted to Farm Africa for approval.
- Indicator values: Any raw data sets, cleaned data sets, syntax files, and data analysis outputs should also be submitted at this stage. Raw and cleaned data must be submitted in Microsoft Excel format. Other data can be submitted in other software formats; however clear workings must be supplied; please confirm with Farm Africa prior to contract signature the format you intend to supply the data in. Farm Africa will quality control the data analysis and provide feedback should any indicator values need to be revised. Any revisions to data sets and analysis etc. must be re-submitted. Once indicator values have been finalised the consultant will be expected to enter these into the Farm Africa Monitoring and Learning Plan document. Final data collection tools and sampling frames used should also be submitted to Farm Africa
Management and Implementation Responsibilities
The consultant will report directly to the Programme Manager (PM). However, s/he will also be expected work closely with the Project Coordinator (PC) and MEL Advisor. Any proposed changes to the personnel listed in the application must be approved by Farm Africa.
Farm Africa will provide:
- Guidance and technical support as required throughout the research;
- Copies of all key background resources identified;
- List of previous farmers surveyed (i.e. 388 farmers)
- A template of Farm Africa’s farmer production and income tool in MS Word format;
- Introductory meetings with key government staff;
- Organisation (including logistics costs) of stakeholders workshops
- 1 hired vehicle and 10 enumerators (exclusive of meals and communications) for 5 days to support with quantitative data collection for each biannual survey
- Up to 10 tablets for data collection
- Data collection templates in MS Word for adaptation
- Comments and feedback on, and approval of, all deliverables within agreed timeline.
The consultant will be responsible for:
- Developing the detailed methodology and data collection tools;
- Digitisation of all data collection tools;
- Conducting all data collection, including recruitment, training and payment of enumerators as well as all field logistics not included above
- Analysis of data and reporting in a clear and accessible format;
- Present survey findings/report to the PC & PM, including responding to any comments or technical inputs wherever reasonable;
- Providing clean raw dataset to the PC & PM;
- Production of deliverables within agreed timeline and in accordance with Farm Africa’s style guidelines;
- Seeking comments and feedback from Farm Africa, through the programme Manager, in sufficient time to discuss and incorporate these into the final report;
- Entering Biannual survey values into the monitoring and learning plan;
- Own work permit or visa (if required) to conduct the work;
Farm Africa Research Principles
Farm Africa follows five basic principles of sound research practice and the consultant is expected to adhere to these throughout the baseline process. These are:
- Confidentiality and informed consent – all data collected during the baseline will be treated as confidential and cannot be shared outside of Farm Africa. All respondents must be advised as such and always given the opportunity not to participate, or to terminate or pause the interview at any time. The purpose of the study should also be clearly explained before commencing any interviews.
- Independence and impartiality – Farm Africa is committed to impartial and objective baseline of our projects. All baseline findings and conclusions must be grounded in evidence. Researchers are expected to design data collection tools and systems that mitigate as far as possible against potential sources of bias.
- Credibility – Farm Africa is committed to learning based on credible evidence. The credibility of baselines depends on the professional expertise and independence of researchers and full transparency in the methods and process followed. Baselines should clearly distinguish between findings and recommendations, with the former clearly supported by sound evidence. Methodologies should be explained in sufficient detail to allow replication, and evidence of failures should be reported as well as of successes.
- Participation – the views and experiences of beneficiary households, groups and partners should form an integral part of all baselines.
- Openness – To maximise the learning potential of the baseline process, Farm Africa may publish full baseline reports or excerpts from them or may otherwise share them with interested parties.
Qualifications and Required Competencies
Applications from individuals or teams are welcome and will be assessed on their ability to demonstrate the following qualifications and competencies. Due to the short duration of the biannual surveys, international consultants may wish to consider working with a Ugandan-based consultant to lead the data collection activities, and only travelling to Uganda personally baseline and final evaluation work:
Essential
- Extensive experience in carrying out baseline studies and evaluations, with a focus on livelihood and gender related interventions
- Experience of conducting crop surveys
- Experience of conducting studies in Uganda
- Demonstrable academic and practical experience in qualitative and quantitative research methodology
- Strong analytical, facilitation and communication skills
- Excellent reporting and presentation skills
- Fluency in spoken and written English
- A Master’s degree in Agriculture, Economics, Gender Studies, Sustainable Development, or related subject
Submission of Proposals
Interested consultants or firms are requested to submit:
- A full technical and financial proposal (template for adaptation attached in Annex A). Please provide as much detail as possible, however at a minimum please clearly distinguish between consultancy costs and expenses, and detail any expenses that you will require Farm Africa to pay directly.
- Copies of all relevant Curriculum Vitae (CVs). Only CVs for the specific individuals that will form the proposed evaluation team should be included;
- A sample of a Survey report for a similar project completed within the last 24 months (this will be treated as confidential and only used for the purposes of quality assurance);
- Contact details for two references and Certificates of completed and signed off surveys from previous clients.
All documents must be submitted by email to our ‘sealed’ email address tenders@farmafrica.org . The email subject line should clearly indicate ‘Bid for the CCIGG External Evaluator Consultancy’.
Deadline: 21st March 2020 by 5:00pm