Local STTA to Conduct an Analysis on Selection of Nutrition-Sensitive Horticulture Value Chains

Feed
the Future Rwanda Hinga Weze
STTA
to Conduct an Analysis on Selection of Horticulture Value Chains
Project Name
Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Weze
Consultancy Assignment
Local STTA Consultant – Feed the
Future Rwanda Hinga Weze  
Consultant/team of consultant Title
Local STTA to Conduct an Analysis on
Selection of Nutrition-Sensitive Horticulture Value Chains
Reports to
Business, Market,

and Finance
Development Specialist (BMFDS)

Level of Effort
Approximately 25 days
Place of Performance
Kigali with frequent field visits to
Hinga Weze target districts
Estimated Period of Performance
Starting from early February 2018
1. 
About CNFA
Cultivating
New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA) is an international agricultural
development organization that specializes in designing sustainable, market-led
agricultural, agribusiness and livestock initiatives. CNFA builds strong
local and global partnerships, incorporates innovative approaches in its
programs, and fosters inclusive development to offer enhanced opportunities to
underserved groups. Since 1985, CNFA has managed more than $600 million in
donor-funded agriculture development programs, and has worked in 44 countries
across the world in Africa, Eastern Europe, Latina America, the Caribbean, the
Middle East, and South and Central Asia. 
2.
About Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Weze Activity
The
objective of the five-year USAID Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Weze Activity is
to sustainably increase smallholder farmers’ income, improve the nutritional
status of Rwandan women and children, and increase the resilience of
agriculture and food systems to the changing climate. These outcomes will be
achieved through combining capacity building with in-kind matching grants and
technical support to strengthen agricultural extension, improve agricultural
infrastructure, and facilitate linkages among value chain actors.
To
achieve the goals of Hinga Weze, five value chains will be specifically
targeted: high-iron beans, orange flesh sweet potato (OFSP), Irish potato,
maize and horticulture. The Activity is being implemented in the following ten
districts of Rwanda: Gatsibo, Kayonza, Kirehe, Ngoma (Eastern Province);
Nyabihu, Rutsiro, Ngororero Nyamasheke, Karongi (Western Province); and
Nyamagabe (Southern Province).
3.  
 Overview of the Assignment
a.    Task Description
Horticulture
is grown by over half rural households in Rwanda, as a result of diverse
geography that has created unique agro-ecological opportunities for
production
of a wide range of horticultural crops. These crops are often
grown in household gardens and on very small plots. Vegetables represent an
estimated 2% of total GDP, and about 7% of total agricultural output in 2013,
while only accounting for 3% of total cultivated land. Most vegetables are
grown on very small plots within household gardens. While household consumption
is an important objective of these household gardens, a significant amount of
the production is sold for cash, mostly by women. For example, 50% of cabbage
and more than 60% of tomatoes, onion, and carrots were sold into the
marketplace for cash, which are important sources of income for farmers.
As
a result of this environment, Hinga Weze will adapt its approach to
horticulture in order to take the above context into account and work to make
smallholders better-informed decision-makers for production, processing, and
marketing processes. To do so, Hinga Weze must focus its efforts on a
relatively-small subset of all possible horticulture interventions, so as not
to dilute its efforts too widely
and to increase its impact on a large
group of Rwandan farmers.
Therefore,
Hinga Weze will engage a consultant to conduct an analysis that will help
prioritize its interventions around the horticulture value chain, identifying
which products and technologies have the greatest potential to make an impact
in the near-term on contractual deliverables. Within this scope, the consultant
will analyze a range of 20 commodities within the horticulture value chain and
select six of them as key focus areas for Hinga Weze.  The consultant will
be asked to identify the most appropriate commodities that have the potential
to increase incomes, to increase nutritional outcomes, and increase access to markets
for Rwandan agricultural producers. The consultant will then make
recommendations to USAID and to CNFA about which focus areas are recommended
within horticulture over the remaining 4-5 years of the activity.
The
STTA Value Chain Advisor, with support from CNFA, will first review a previous
PSDAG horticulture value chain analyses and the various other Rwanda
assessments to identify needs for additional research. He/She will coordinate
with stakeholders to determine whether existing data and analyses provide
sufficient information to guide private investments and project interventions.
He/She will then provide summary Value Chain Analyses (VCA) of at least 20
crops in the horticulture value chain which will incorporate end-market
analysis information along with other factors of the value chain, and recommend
six of them for Hinga Weze focus.
The
STTA Value Chain Advisor will not work alone. He/she will be supported, by
CNFA/Hinga Weze local field staff will also assist and participate in the
implementation of the assignment, especially in the organization of the
conference. The results of the analyses will be shared with public and private
sector stakeholders, and with other donor programs. As mentioned, of the
horticulture value chains to be analyzed, the consultant will recommend six
priority value chains and eight secondary value chains (in consultation with
GoR and USAID) for Hinga Weze to focus its activities on.  The criteria
for the assessment and selection of the priority commodities will be jointly
developed by Hinga Weze and the consultant during the first few days of the
assignment and highlighted in the below-mentioned inception report. 
b.     
Task Duration
The
STTA Value Chain Advisor is anticipated to be on the ground in Rwanda for 20
days, and have 5 days of home-office research, preparation and post-travel
report writing, for a total of 25 LOE days.
c.  
 Expected Results
The
analysis for the nutrition-sensitive horticulture value chain in
Rwanda
will include:
  • Desk
    analysis of similar initiatives of USAID/other donors in Rwanda, with an
    aim of leveraging existing value chain and nutrition-sensitive value chain
    research in making recommendations to Hinga Weze and USAID about which
    value chains are most appropriate to support (i.e. increase positive
    nutrition outcomes of agriculture interventions and also support income
    generation for resource-poor households) ;
  • In-country
    interviews with Hinga Weze, GoR, USAID and other donors, agricultural
    producers and processors and anyone else needed in order to focus the
    research;
  • Analysis
    on potential horticulture contributions to Hinga Weze contractual
    deliverables and MEL targets, by commodity.Analysis to cover at a minimum
    the following commodities; amaranth, beetroot, cayote, onion, eggplant,
    cabbage, mushroom, green pepper, red/hot pepper, speeder plant, squash,
    carrots, peas, okra, pumpkin, garlic, watermelon, pears, mango, avocado,
    citrus, passion fruits, tree tomato, papaya, and pineapple. This analysis
    should focus on the nutritional benefits and income-generating potential
    for each commodity. The consultant may also add any other commodity that
    could serve as a potential focus area for the activity.
The
output will be a written report in the English language of approximately 25-30
pages, with a PowerPoint presentation required to communicate elements of the
analyses.
4.  
 Qualifications for the Position:
  • Master’s
    degree in agriculture, economics, international development, business or
    related field is preferred. Or, bachelor’s degree and an additional five
    years of relevant experience.
  • A
    minimum of 10 years of work experience in agricultural value chain
    development, with 5 years of experience in market analysis, research and
    agricultural development practices.
  • Experience
    in identifying opportunities for value chain development which will
    promote market linkages and better access to markets at the processor and
    household level that positively impact the entire value chain
  • Proven
    understanding of nutrition sensitive value chain programming
  • Acquainted
    with agricultural and rural development conditions in emerging markets.
    Priority will be given to knowledge of Rwandan or East African market
    conditions.
  • Holder
    of a post-graduate degree in finance, banking or business related fields;
  • Experience
    in value chain methodologies and techniques, horticulture promotion,
    monitoring/evaluation, and other relevant areas;
  • Experience
    working with USAID and other donors
  • Excellent
    written and oral communication skills
  • Rwandan
    citizenship an advantage but not required.
5.  
 Deliverables:
The
consultant will provide the following deliverables
  • An
    inception report within 5 days of contract signature with an outline of
    the proposed methodology and the approach to be used, also including a
    workplan of activities to be carried out during the assignment.
  • A
    draft final report outlining the methodology used, the results, and the
    primary recommendations to Hinga Weze about which six commodities with the
    horticulture value chain to focus on, and upgraded strategies for the
    Hinga Weze approach.Report to include eight commodities of secondary
    focus.
  • A
    final report taking into account comments by Hinga Weze, USAID, and the
    GoR
The
consultant/team will provide a draft report of the assignment including a
comprehensive cost and benefit analysis within 30 days of contract signature.
The final report can be submitted once the draft report has been reviewed and
accepted by CNFA and other stakeholders.
6.  
 Required Qualifications and Experience
  • Master’s
    degree in agriculture, economics, international development, business or
    related field. Or, bachelor’s degree and an additional five years of
    relevant experience.
  • A
    minimum of 5 years of work experience in agricultural value chain
    development, with 10 years of experience in market analysis, research and
    agricultural development practices.
  • Experience
    in identifying opportunities for value chain development which will
    promote market linkages and better access to markets at the processor and
    household level that positively impact the entire value chain
  • Acquainted
    with agricultural and rural development in emerging markets. Priority will
    be given to knowledge of Rwandan or East African market conditions.
  • Practical
    skills in value chain analysis, market analysis and food pricing;
  • Experience
    in using excel-based financial analysis to solve problems is desirable;
  • Experience
    working with USAID and other donors
  • Excellent
    communication skills in Kinyarwanda.
  • Fluency
    in English and excellent technical report writing skills in English.
7.  
 How to apply:
Interested
candidates should submit an application containing technical and financial
proposals through the following e-mail address c1.stta@cnfarwanda.org
with copy to hingaweze@cnfarwanda.org;
Please include “STTA – Analysis on Selection of Nutrition-Sensitive
Horticulture Value Chains
” in the subject line. Your application will not
be considered otherwise. The deadline of submission of applications is
January 25th, 2018.
However, applications will be
assessed on a rolling basis. Therefore, early applications are highly desired.
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