Consultant Job Vacancy in Rwanda

Report on the impact of agricultural productivity
towards economic development of the Rwandan citizens

1. Background

Agriculture remains the backbone of the economy and continues to significantly
contribute to poverty alleviation as Rwanda aspires to become a middle income
country by 2020. The sector comprises of approximately 91.1% of the active
population especially women, contributes to 36% of the GDP and constitutes
about 70% of the country’s export revenue. The export revenue is generated
majorly through exports of coffee and tea (MINECOFIN 2007).

As there has been a steady increase in agriculture
employment share since 2012, – especially an increase in off farm jobs-
agriculture still commands 33% of GDP and employs 72.4% of the population.
Since 2005, the sector has grown at an yearly average of 5%.

Under the first Comprehensive Africa Agricultural
Development Program (CAADP), Rwanda increased its agriculture funding by 13% of
the total budget, reformed its crop intensification programs by focusing on
land consolidation, use of fertilizers and improved seeds.

On top of that government invested significantly in
basic factors of production including terracing and consolidating more than
850,000 hectares of land in five years, increased land under irrigation from
11,000 hectares in 2006 to 25,000 hectares by 2013 and increased farm
mechanized operations from 3% in 2000 to 13% in 2013.

Agriculture is explicitly recognized in the second
Economic and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS2) as being one of the four
priority sectors of the economy that will both stimulate economic expansion and
make the greatest contribution to poverty reduction. It is expected to grow by
7%, to constitute a 27.7% share of GDP and to significantly contribute towards
the targeted 28% export growth.

The Rwandan Government has laid strategies to attract
private sector participation in agriculture development. They include
strategies such as increased private credit to agriculture at all levels,
identifying lucrative opportunities and actively engaging the private sector,
increase insurance uptake, and encourage high value public private partnerships
and encouraging collaboration between farmers and private sector.

These reforms have significantly improved yields. For
instance, Maize yields have increased more than six fold to 4000 kg/ha in 2012
while wheat yields 2.5 times during the same period.

2. Problem Statement

Research has made tremendous achievements overtime in contributing to the
modernization of agriculture in Rwanda in line with agricultural development
policies.

Public concerns are centered on the low agriculture
productivity influenced by lack of access to loan, inefficient of the improved
seeds and fertilizers and remunerative market (PSTAIII).

In this system, the stakeholders (farmers, scientists,
traders, local authorities, NGOs and the private sector) are becoming
increasingly involved in the research process from priority setting and
technology development to technology transfer.

It is in this regard that the Rwanda Civil Society
Platform with support of the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) seeks to recruit a
consultant to conduct an intensive review of “the impact of Agricultural
productivity towards economic development of citizens of Rwandan”.

3. Objective and scope of the assignment

The general objective of this assignment is to carry out an intensive review of
the current status of agriculture productivity in Rwanda and its impact on the
economic development of Rwandan citizens.

The assignment will be primarily including a desk
review of the relevant literature. Additionally structured interviews and Focus
Group Discussions (FGDs) will be administered with selected informants in the
districts of Gatsibo, Gakenke, Ngororero and Nyaruguru where the Public Policy
Monitoring and Advocacy Project (PPIMA) project is implemented.

The review aims to examine:

The knowledge of the citizens on the usage of
artificial seeds and fertilizers: the economic incentives associated with
seeds/fertilizers; the impact of use of artificial fertilizers and seeds
to the economic development of the citizens.
Accessibility of the seeds and fertilizers:
quality and quantity as well as information available on the use of seeds
and fertilizers
Market and cost of the agricultural products: the
cost of getting fertilizers to the field at the right time
Role of citizens in crop intensification program
Land use consolidation
Proximity extension service by proximity service
providers
Agricultural product marketing
Change in farmer’s behaviours,
Promote Agro inputs dealer’s network
Stimulate reliable, private-sector input and
output markets: through fertilizer
Food sufficiency and sovereignty of Rwanda

The review will primarily focus on issues that affect
agricultural productivity mainly, access to loan, seeds/ fertilisers and market
and how these affect the economic livelihood of Rwandans involved in the
agriculture sector.

Key output

Desk review of all relevant literature to the
assignment;
Structured interviews and Focus Group Discussions
(FGDs) with key informants in the districts of Gatsibo, Gakenke, Ngororero
and Nyaruguru;
Evidence on issues that affect agricultural
productivity mainly, access to loan, seeds/ fertilisers and market and how
these affect the economic livelihood of Rwandans involved in the
agriculture sector;
A research report highlighting key findings and
recommendations that will be submitted to the Government of Rwanda (GoR)
to foster Agriculture sector improvement.

Deliverables

An inception report showing the consultant’s
proposed approach and methodology for the execution of the consultancy.
The methodology will provide details on the methods and tools to be used,
informants or respondents to be interviewed and the time line for the
delivery of the service.
A review report and assistance in developing an
advocacy strategy for the implementation of the proposed policy on the
ways to improve agricultural productivity towards achieving EDPRS II
overall goal.

4. Duration of the assignment

The Firm /consultant will propose the time frame.
However, the proposal should not exceed 30 working days for the whole process.
The duration of the study completion is one of the items that will be
considered in the analysis of the bids.

5. Qualification and experience

Consultant’s profile and qualifications:

Have a minimum of MA/MSc level education in
Agricultural Economics, Social Sciences, Public Policy Analysis, Law and
Economics or other relevant fields.
Have good skills in public policy analysis and
good knowledge of the Rwandan policy context;
Have no less than 5 years of progressive
experience work in areas of policy analysis and development work;
Be familiar with the theory of change influencing
processes;
Have proven experience in the use of
participatory, qualitative and quantitative assessment/analytic
methodologies;
Have proven competencies in research,
facilitation skills, good communication, excellent English language and
writing skills.
Excellent knowledge of written and spoken
Kinyarwanda is highly desirable.

6. Working language:

The consultation will be carried out in English and the finalized report
submitted in the same language.

7. Expression of interest and application submission

A written application, including the consultant’s profile and qualifications
and updated CV(s), technical and financial proposal (in 3 original copies),
telephone contact numbers, and names, email addresses and telephone numbers of
three referees for whom the consultant has undertaken similar services over the
last 2 years must be submitted in hard copy, not later than Friday 8th
August 2014 before closure of business, to:

The Chairperson of the Rwanda Civil Society Platform

C/O Centrale des Syndicats des Travailleurs du Rwanda,
CESTRAR, located at Kacyiru in the Building of CESTRAR (Trade Unions), opposite
BanquePopulaire SA, Kacyiru branch, E-Mail: info@rcsprwanda.org,
rwandacsplatform@gmail.com Tel.:
0785448419

MUNYAMALIZA Edouard

Chairperson of the Rwanda Civil Society Platform