Heifer International Kenya invites qualified consultants or consultancy firms to submit proposals for a baseline study for the Farmer Visibility: Digitally Connecting Smallholder Farmers to Finance and Markets Project.
Heifer International is an international nonprofit organization working to end hunger and poverty through sustainable, market-based approaches that empower small-scale farmers and animal keepers. In Kenya, Heifer has implemented programs focused on animal development, dairy and agricultural market systems, climate resilience, and institutional capacity strengthening.
The Farmer Visibility Project seeks to enhance the resilience of smallholder farmers by improving access to digital financial services, markets, and data-driven service delivery. The project will support farmers to participate in the digital economy, increase use of Farmer Cards and digital transactions, and strengthen a digitally enabled ecosystem involving cooperatives, financial institutions, suppliers, youth entrepreneurs, and other market actors.
The baseline study will establish an evidence base to support adaptive implementation, learning, and accountability for the FaVi project. The study will assess digital and financial literacy, financial inclusion, service use, market access, ecosystem actors, service delivery processes, and data systems.
Scope of work
The consultancy will cover a rapid baseline study in Kiambu, Uasin Gishu, and Nandi Counties. The assignment will assess the current state of farmer participation in the digital economy, the availability and use of digital financial services, and the effectiveness of digitally enabled dairy value chain systems.
The study will involve smallholder dairy farmers, with attention to women and youth, youth entrepreneurs, dairy cooperatives, input suppliers, dairy processors, feed millers, banks, and other relevant market actors.
Key responsibilities
The consultant or consultancy firm will be expected to:
- Design and deliver the baseline study in line with the project’s Market Systems Development approach.
- Prepare an inception report that includes the methodology, analytical framework, work plan, and tools.
- Conduct a literature review and develop data collection instruments.
- Propose sampling methods and representative sample sizes.
- Recruit, train, and supervise enumerators.
- Oversee data collection using Heifer’s SurveyCTO platform.
- Analyze quantitative and qualitative data.
- Produce a comprehensive baseline report aligned with the AAER framework.
Deliverables
The expected deliverables are:
- Inception report, maximum 15 pages, submitted one week after contract signing.
- Draft baseline report, maximum 30 pages excluding annexes, submitted within two weeks after fieldwork.
- Final baseline report and completed IPTT with baseline values, submitted one week after receiving Heifer’s comments.
Duration
The consultancy will be conducted over 15 days and is expected to take place in July 2026.
Required qualifications
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Master’s degree in Statistics, Research, Social Sciences, Agriculture, Monitoring and Evaluation, or a related field.
- At least 10 years of experience in international development, including at least 5 years conducting research or evaluations for development projects.
- Strong quantitative and mixed-methods research experience.
- Experience in the dairy value chain, especially smallholder dairy systems, fodder production, feed processing, input markets, animal health, and related markets.
- Experience completing at least 3–5 baseline or scoping studies using a Market Systems Development approach.
- Experience in private sector development and knowledge of Market Systems Development principles and practices.
- Strong attention to detail and quality assurance.
Mandatory requirements
Applicants must submit:
- Certificate of incorporation.
- KRA PIN certificate.
- Current tax compliance certificate.
- Current business permit, for companies.
How to apply
Interested consultants or consultancy firms should submit separate technical and financial proposals in PDF format.
Proposals submitted via links will not be considered.
Applications should be emailed to [email protected] with the subject line:
BASELINE STUDY FOR FAVI CONSULTANCY
The deadline for submission is 1 July 2026.
Written inquiries should be sent to [email protected] with a copy to [email protected] by 25 June 2026.
More Information
- Job City Kenya
