Supporting piloting S34D seed demand forecasting recommendations in select woredas and kebeles. 59 views0 applications

BID DOCUMENT

Consultancy Service to Support piloting Feed the Future Global Supporting Seed Systems

for Development (S34D) seed demand forecasting recommendations in select woredas and kebeles

Open TENDER No. CRS-SC-2022-53

Date & Time for submission of technical & financial documents:

December 18, 2022 up to 3:00pm Eastern Time

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES- ETHIOPIA OFFICE

ADDIS ABABA

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• Note: The Supplier or Service Provider agrees to adhere to the requirements laid out in the Supplier and Service Provider Code of Conduct.
• Overview S34D

  S34D is a five-year LWA, funded by the Feed the Future through the Bureau for Resilience and Food Security and by USAID through the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. S34D focuses on the livestock sector, seed policies and regulations, forage seed, cultivated forages and feed reserves. S34D is promoting resilient, nutritious, productive and profitable seed systems to contribute to the agriculture-led inclusive economic growth objective of the host government and USAID. S34D is contributing to Ethiopia’s mission to “build modern seed industry to ensure users’ timely access to required seed at the right quality”. There are several factors that contribute to the realization of this mission 1) Effective development, release, and registration of high-quality varieties, and 2) A vibrant market environment which enables public and private producers to produce, market and distribute seed effectively through multiple channels.

  Background

  Currently in Ethiopia, there are challenges in effectively forecasting and fulfilling farmers’ demand, both for variety and volume, driven by forecasting methodology, links with distributors, supply bottlenecks, and assessment of costs and risks across actors in the system. Thus, seed production volume does not match farmers’ demand. Limited information exists on what seed is available and accessible to smallholder farmers.

  In 2021, CRS developed a technical road map for demand forecasting in Ethiopia. The recommendations suggested in that roadmap were validated through stakeholder workshops and it was determined to do a pilot test case by applying a few of those recommendations in select kebeles/ woredas.

  In FY23, S34D will select up to 10 kebeles across different woredas, zones, and regions to pilot the recommendations that stemmed from the forecasting assessment. CRS will collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Regional Bureau of Agriculture (RBoA), Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), Development Agents (DA), Farmer Cooperatives and Unions and the Central Statistical Agency (CSA).

  The goal of this work is to pilot the seed demand forecasting. Data determines the immediate and mid- to long-term seed systems, forage seed system and animal feed priorities. Therefore, the focus of the pilot will be to:

• Augment the current data collection forms used by kebeles based on recommendations
• Transform from paper to digital data collection and storage
• Train key staff on data collection and database maintenance
• Build capacity on database architecture and data storage at grass root levels
• Use simple trend analysis to make forecasts
• Develop estimates based on preferences by gender and youth
• The piloting exercises will be conducted in two regions of Ethiopia with two woredas per region. In each woreda, two kebeles will be selected to participate in the piloting. In addition, one cooperative will be selected for the piloting. For the pilot we will work with Hitosa Farmers’ Cooperative Union in Arsi.

The piloting includes capacity building through training as well as hardware needed for data collection (Tablets) and data management (Desktops). CRS will loan tablets to data collectors and the consultant will train and supervise the data collection.

Description of Work

The objective of this consultancy is to support the piloting of the seed demand forecasting recommendations in select woredas and kebeles. To meet this objective the consultant will select woredas and kebeles for pilot, develop data collection instruments using Open Data Kit (ODK), define the variables for which data will be collected including the disaggregation necessary, create a data dictionary, train data collectors at the kebele levels, support the data collection processes in close collaboration with the development agents (DAs) at the kebele levels, and support with data analyses and interpretation. Throughout the process, the Consultant will facilitate discussions with local government entities and DAs as necessary and needed to secure local buy-in and sustained capacity building.

The output of this activity is recommendations piloted in 10 kebeles, feedback collected and documented how the pilot strengthened the system in these 10 kebeles.

Period of Performance: The period of performance is from December 2022 till April 2023. Maximum 101 billable days.

Payment Methodology: First payment after deliverables 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 have been completed and approved, second payment after deliverables 6, 7 and 8 have been completed and approved and final payment after deliverables 9-12 have been completed and approved.

Note: Travel costs will be reimbursed/ paid for by CRS upon prior written approval.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Master’s degree in economics, sustainable livestock production and sustainable bioeconomy, or another equivalent quantitative field.
• At least 15 years’ experience working in seed systems, forages and animal feed in Ethiopia.
• Established track-record of dealing with ODK and other open source data collection forms.
• Experience with CommCare is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in leading assessments and conducting Key Informant Interviews (KII) and Focus Group Discussions (FGD).
• Field experience in Ethiopia, working with national and regional governments, pastoral communities and partners.
• Superb collaboration skills to work with a diverse set of partners, especially with Ethiopian stakeholders.
• Must demonstrate national expertise and leadership.
• Excellent communication in English and a local vernacular.
• Must be an Ethiopian citizen.

Application procedure:

For consideration of this Scope of Work, submit the following information to [email protected] by December 18, 2022: Current Curriculum Vitae, (maximum 4 pages) which specifically addresses the points in the requirements above, three referees; proposed daily rate as well as daily rates/fees for last three clients. All submissions should include subject line: TENDER No. CRS-SC-2022-53

 Please visit the CRS.org website for the full scope of work and attachments.