1. Assignment Background
Enviu believes in an economy that serves people and planet. And in the power of impact-driven entrepreneurship to get us there. Together with partners we build companies that address social & environmental issues and drive failing markets towards a new normal. We build world-changing companies. When we founded Enviu in 2004, our dream was the same as it is today: an economy that serves people and planet. An economy enriching the lives of all people, providing access to basic needs. An economy that sustainably utilizes the valuable and limited resources our planet endows.
Together with partners we start long-term issue-driven and entrepreneurial programs to disrupt and drive broken value chains and industries towards a “new normal.” Building on an ambitious overarching theory of change we determine what business interventions are needed along the value chain. We validate new, sustainable business models by creating, replicating, or accelerating ventures. We use what’s already there and add what’s missing.
The Regenerative Agriculture FoodFlow Program
Regenerative Agriculture describes farming and grazing practices that, among other benefits, reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity – resulting in both carbon drawdown and improving the water cycle.
We believe Regenerative Agriculture is the answer to the growing unsustainability of food production in Kenya where depletion of soils, droughts, and food insecurity are some of the key issues. However, transitioning to regenerative farming practices requires knowledge, money, and trust. Together with IKEA Foundation, Enviu has recently started a new chapter as part of our broader food program: “RegenAg FoodFlow”. In the upcoming 5 years, we will build the innovative business ecosystem that will enable the transition of smallholder farmers in Kenya to regenerative agriculture. As envisioned outcomes, we are working towards smallholder farmers transitioning at scale, and a flourishing regenerative agriculture market.
Specific Purpose of Impact measurement and M&E in the RegenAg FoodFlow program
Our aim is to build the evidence and provide proof of concept of a catalytic business ecosystem that shifts the agricultural sector towards the use of regenerative practices and showcase the long-term effect of applying these practices.
On a program level, the impact and M&E framework will provide metrics and KPIs that will allow us to track if we are reaching our programmatic goals, as well as monitor the transition of a group of farmers. On a venture level, the impact and M&E framework will provide preliminary metrics and KPIs that are specifically relevant to the business model to monitor the progress of venture development in this specific sector.
There is an initial set of KPIs in place that are already defined and monitored, the work of the consultant will be additional. These KPIs will be shared when starting the assignment.
Key questions that need answering, for which the impact KPIs should provide guidance to track
progress on program and on venture level, are:
● To what extent are we creating a sustainable, commercially viable business ecosystem?
● To what extent are we transitioning farmers to regenerative practices, and what constitutes the transition (how does it happen, among whom, etc.)
● To what extent are farmers becoming more resilient?
● To what extent are we increasing biodiversity and how is that defined?
● To what extent are we increasing the health of our soils using these regenerative practices, leading to stable, more reliable, yields and nutrient-rich crops?
● To what extent are we successfully creating a market for RA produce?
● To what extent are transitioned farmers running a sustainable, future-proof farm business?
● To what extent can we integrate traceability and certification / standardization?
While regenerative agriculture is not a new concept, it has only recently gained new traction, and is being globally recognized more broadly for the impact and effect it has on climate change. Because of this new recognition, there is a need for robust M&E approaches in regenerative agriculture projects and concepts. In lieu of a standardized approach, alignment to the approaches set up by thought leaders and prominent organisations in the sector will be important.
Objective of the Consultancy
Enviu seeks the services of an independent monitoring and evaluation consultant (“a Consultant”), with specific and demonstrable experience in the regenerative agriculture, agroecology or sustainable agriculture sector, to setup a tailored M&E framework and protocol for the RegenAg FoodFlow program and ventures set up within.
The following Terms of References are applicable to the execution of the requested services.
1. Description of the Project
Within the program, we will first transition a showcase early adopter group of farmers, and then build the business ecosystem that will facilitate the transition to regenerative practices for smallholder farmers in East Africa at large.
A systematic approach to impact measurement and M&E needs to be formulated, capturing impact, business and operational KPIs. This will need to be combined with a simple monitoring format ideally aligned to, and integrated in, program and venture activities. The monitoring format should also contain guidelines on how to capture and use the data.
The project will entail: A desktop review of current impact measurement practices in the regenerative agricultural sector, combined with partner and stakeholder consultations. In the absence of a standardized approach, it will be key to ensure alignment to approaches and practices from partners and leading organisations, to ensure comparability as much as possible. The output of the consultancy should be an impact measurement framework and M&E plan, aligned to the program’s Theory of Change, accompanied by a set of guidelines and tools describing how and when to capture the data needed. The output should be practical to implement, and with data points being captured in a LEAN way in already existing data sources and touchpoints with farmers and/or customers as much as possible. A training session on how to implement and capture the data showcasing the impact of the intervention.
2. Objective
The requested services are to provide Enviu and program partners with the framework and guidelines for monitoring the program progress and impact in a consistent and comparable manner. The M&E protocol will also aim to provide aligned operational and business KPIs for the program and the ventures-to-be to track their progress.
3. Reference Framework
As part of the assignment, the Consultant will explore the most standardized and suitable reference frameworks that we will align to. Some of the expected sources will be (non-exhaustive list):
· Standardized frameworks for capturing impact in the different thematic areas. E.g. GRI, GIIN / IRIS+, EVPA, Sustainable Food Lab, WRI, WUR, etc.
The RegenAg Foodflow program already comprises an initial set of KPIs, which are based on initial research, conversations and alignment to our theory of change and external approaches in order to effectively capture progress and learnings.
4. Team
The assignment must be carried out by a suitably qualified independent monitoring and evaluation expert, with appropriate and demonstrable background and experience in the regenerative agricultural sector and East Africa region.
The consultant must have at least 5 years of experience in research, monitoring and evaluation of sustainable agricultural projects and programs, and preferably have M&E experience in tracking and evaluating regenerative agriculture. Experience in regenerative agricultural value chains or marketing would be a plus.
5. Scope of Work and Tasks
The scope of work comprises the independent review of material available on monitoring and evaluation practices focused on regenerative agriculture, within the framework(s) stipulated in Section [3] and found by the Consultant, which is then shaped into a bespoke impact measurement framework and M&E protocol, including guidelines and implementation plan, for the program and its ventures.
Specifically, this work will entail:
1) Desk research on available comparable M&E practices and frameworks that capture the impact of work done in the regenerative agricultural space.
2) Stakeholder consultations with partner organisations and ecosystem players.
3) Based on findings and research, develop an impact measurement framework to be used by program and the ventures-to-be, existing of a set of impact metrics aligned to the ToC of the Regen Ag FoodFlow program (will be provided at start of the assignment), that are easy and straightforward to calculate. Where assumptions for metrics or calculations are made, they are to be based on scientific research.
4) Based on findings and research, develop a comprehensive M&E protocol, containing a data collection approach and implementation guide.
5) Conduct training for Enviu and partner staff to introduce the Program M&E Protocol and instruct on its relevance and its use. Focus on the proper capturing of data.
The assignment will comprise fourtasks:
A. Kick-off Meeting: The Consultant will organise a kick-off meeting involving Enviu and the implementation partner Biovision Africa Trust, to align on project timeline, schedule, deliverables, and goals.
B. M&E Documentation Review:
The consultant will review available sources of Regenerative Agriculture M&E approaches, both through literature and through stakeholder consultation.
C. Consultations and one-day site visit: The Consultant will undertake elaborate stakeholder and ecosystem player consultations, to collect insights on the M&E approach taken by the different actors and how they are implemented. A one-day visit (day trip from Nairobi) to a farmer implementing regenerative practices can be conducted as part of this assessment.
D. Preparation of the deliverables (see Section [6]):
The Consultant will prepare the deliverables as described below.
6. Reporting and Deliverables
The Consultant will provide:
i. Preliminary Summary of Principal Findings – shortly after the conclusion of the desk review and potential site visit, the Consultant will provide a concise report focusing on principal findings and identified approaches. A meeting/conference call will be scheduled between Enviu and the Consultant to discuss the principal findings, selected metrics, and the timeline for the preparation of the full set of deliverables.
ii. Program impact measurement framework – the Consultant will prepare a detailed impact measurement framework consisting of the selected impact metrics, underlying calculations and datapoints to be captured.
iii. M&E Protocol, tools and guidelines – the consultant will prepare an M&E protocol for tracking progress against the created framework, including an M&E implementation plan, guidelines, and other useful tools or practices for implementation staff.
iv. Training Session for staff – the Consultant will provide a training session to implement and action the M&E protocol, focusing on the proper capturing and inputting of data needed for tracking the KPIs
7. Timeline
Below is an indicative timeline for delivery of the consultancy assignment between mid August – mid October 2022.
Task
Timeline
A. Kick-off Meeting
Within week 1 of contract signing
B. M&E Documentation Review
Week 2-4
C. Consultations
Week 2-5
D. Preparation of Deliverables
Week 5-7
8. Proposal
The proposal for the M&E protocols should contain the sections listed below:
1) Scope of Work: The scope of work should include a description of the specific activities that will be performed to accomplish the required tasks identified in Section 5. This should include any proposed documents to be reviewed, interviews, etc. If the Consultant feels that additional tasks or components within a required task are suggested or warranted, these should be stated and delineated as “Optional Tasks”.
2) Project team and qualifications: This should include the name of the principal staff members and a brief description of their role within the project team. Qualifications of staff should include relevant technical capabilities, specific previous project experience similar to this Project, specific in-country experience and knowledge, and specific language skills. There will be no subcontracting for this assignment.
3) Budget and Payment Schedule:
The total cost of the contract should include all fees, travel and logistic expenses, and applicable taxes. Budget should be in KES, USD or EUR. Payments will be made to the Consultant based on satisfactory completion of milestones, e.g. (to be confirmed at the contract negotiation stage):
• Payment 1: 30% on contract signing
• Payment 2: 70% on completion of final deliverables (i.e., business and operational KPIs, training delivery, recommendation report and baseline collection)
This is a competitive proposal; we will look for the optimal price/quality ratio. We have a preference for candidates based in Kenya.
The deadline for submission of proposals is 17th August 2022, at 11.59pm CET. Submissions should be made via the link
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