Consultancy Jobs – Terms of Reference for conducting Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) TOT – Farm Africa
Job Title: Terms of Reference for conducting Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) TOT
Organisation: Farm Africa
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
About Farm Africa:
Farm Africa, founded in 1985, is an international non-governmental organization working in Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. We drive agricultural and environmental change to improve lives. Our strategy has three pillars: agricultural expertise, management and preservation of ecosystems, and the power of business to drive prosperity. We believe Africa has the power to feed itself and are helping make this happen by establishing and spreading the best farming and forestry techniques so that poor farmers and herders have more food to feed their families and to sell. We help smallholders manage their natural resources sustainably so that they can withstand climate change challenges and shocks and ensure their families have enough food in the future as well as now. Farm Africa works in partnership with communities, government, local and international organizations, and the private sector to innovate, learn and share best practices for maximum impact of our projects.
About the project:
Farm Africa is currently implementing a three-year project supporting coffee farmers in Western Uganda’s Kanungu district. The project comprises of two distinct parts. The first part, funded by the European Union, is already under way and focuses on building the capacity of Civil Society Organisations (CSO) to create employment and self-employment opportunities within the coffee value chain for 4,800 young women and men Kanungu district. A broad range of CSOs are engaged ranging from coffee growers’ cooperatives to national stakeholder platforms representing both young farmers and coffee farmers. The second part, funded by UK aid, started in September 2019 and is focussing on ensuring that women are empowered and able to fully benefit from support given to coffee farmers in Kanungu, as well as financially benefit from their contributions to the coffee value chain.
Objectives of the Consultancy Assignment:
One of the project key performance indicator for the UK Aid funded project is to support the establishment of 160 women-led VSLAs. This will help women access essential funds for purchase of inputs, to lease and even potentially buy land. VSLAs will also help bridge cash-flow issues. Farm Africa would like to engage a local consultant to conduct TOT training on VSLA methodology to 20 participants for a period of 3 days. The aim of the training is to expose participants to the range of methodologies and techniques that can help turn the delivery of VSLA training into a participatory, high-impact and memorable learning experience. Emphasis is on developing and applying active learning methodologies such as exercises and simulations to reinforce learning. The training will be highly participatory and practical, focusing on techniques, tools and tips of training management, with participants themselves designing, delivering and critiquing presentations. Participants will be required to apply lessons in developing and delivering training based on their own experience. The indicative budget for the training is UGX. 2,000,000 covering daily expenses and professional fees. The training will be co-facilitated by Farm Africa staff.
The consultant’s tasks include but not limited to the following activities:
- Conduct a 3-day training on VSLA field training methodology to CGC extension officers and selected TOTs.
- To provide the Farm Africa with the necessary materials or manual as point of reference for the training and for reproduction and distribution to participants.
- To produce a training report.
Expected Deliverables and Timeline
- Training Plan: Submit a training plans/proposal by 27th of November 2019
- VSLA TOT Training of Participants: Conduct TOT training of participants in VSLA methodology from 3rd of December 2019 to 5th of December 2019
- Training Report: Submit a comprehensive training report for review and approval by 12th December 2019
Management and Implementation Responsibilities
The consultant will report directly to the Gender Specialist. However, s/he will also be expected work closely with the Project Coordinator (PC).
Farm Africa will provide:
- Guidance and technical support as required throughout the training.
- Training venue
- All training materials, such as stationeries; projector; VSLA kit for training etc.
- Meals, refreshment, Transport refund & accommodation for participants
- Ensure all participants present during training
- The consultant will be responsible for:
- Developing training plan
- Developing training materials and tools;
- Conducting the training in a participatory and practical way
- Sharing training report and training materials for reproduction
- Transport to/from Kanungu and any living/accommodation expenses incurred
Farm Africa Evaluation Principles
Farm Africa follows five basic principles of sound evaluation practice and the consultant is expected to adhere to these throughout the evaluation process. These are:
- Confidentiality and informed consent – all data collected during the evaluation 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. Data collection must conform to Farm Africa’s minimum standards on Informed Consent, which will be shared with the successful consultant.
- Independence and impartiality – Farm Africa is committed to impartial and objective evaluation of our projects. All evaluation 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 evaluations depends on the professional expertise and independence of evaluators and full transparency in the methods and process followed. Evaluations 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 evaluations.
- Openness – To maximise the learning potential of the evaluation process, Farm Africa may publish full evaluation reports or excerpts from them or may otherwise share them with interested parties.
Qualifications of Consultant
Essential
- Extensive experience in delivering VSLA TOT trainings and directly training beneficiaries in VSLA methodology, with a focus on markets and value-chain projects.
- Excellent community facilitation and communication skills
- Excellent reporting and presentation skills
- Fluency in spoken and written English
- Good knowledge and understanding of gender equality issues, particularly in the context agricultural value chain
Desirable
- Understanding of the Coffee value chain
- Fluency in Rukiga
- A Master’s degree in Agriculture, Economics, or related field
Submission of Proposals
Interested consultants or firms are requested to submit:
- A summarised technical and financial proposal, not longer than 5 pages of how you intend to execute the assignment with a clear a training plan/time-table.
- Copy of your Curriculum Vitae (CVs).
- Contact details for two references (including one from your last client/employer).
All documents must be submitted by email to our ‘sealed’ email address tenders@farmafrica.org. The email subject line should clearly indicate ‘Bid for Village Savings and Loans Associations TOT Consultancy’.
Deadline: 27th November 2019 by 6pm East Africa Time
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