Introduction & Background
Overview of Fairtrade Africa (FTA)
Established in 2005, Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is a member of Fairtrade International and the umbrella network organization representing Fairtrade-certified Producer Organizations in Africa and the Middle East. It has four (4) regional networks – Eastern & Central Africa; Southern Africa; West Africa; and the Middle East & North Africa. Fairtrade Africa currently represents 1,445,265 farmers and workers in 684 Producer Organizations spread across 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East by providing services to them that contribute to the improvement of their livelihoods. Fairtrade Africa’s interventions are guided by the Fairtrade Theory of Change which expresses how these ultimately lead to global Fairtrade Goals www.fairtradeafrica.net
Overview of The DONUTS Programme
The Dignified Opportunities Nurtured Through Trade and Sustainability (DONUTS) program is a four-year Development Cooperation Programme funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (MFA-Finland) with further support from National Fairtrade Organizations (NFOs) and Commercial partners.
The goal of the DONUTS programme is, ‘Farmers and agricultural workers’ right to sustainable livelihoods is realised’. The programme intends to achieve this goal by enhancing resilience of communities to risks; strengthening democracy and inclusion of civil society organizations; supporting realization of living income for producers and decent work for agricultural workers. In addition, the programme supports farmers, workers and other stakeholders in product value chains to mitigate climate change and protect nature.
Overview of the SANKOFA 2.0 Project
As part of the DONUTS programme, the SANKOFA 2.0 project aims to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers in Ghana. The goal of the project is to support farmers to realize sustainable livelihoods through implementation of the following 10 components, namely:
- Establishing and adoption of Dynamic Agroforestry (DAF), Food Agroforestry System (FAS) and Island approaches.
- Implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.
- Strengthening monitoring, evaluation, and research.
- Enhancing collaboration with The Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) & The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
- Embedding the Sankofa project within Kuapa Kokoo Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Union Limited (KKFU).
- Supporting digitalization at KKFU.
- Integration of living income approaches.
- Improving community engagement in biodiversity, ecosystem protection, and the production of food crops.
- Youth Inclusion.
- Replication at Landscape Level.
The project is implemented in the Ahafo and Western North Regions of Ghana by a consortium of partners including Fairtrade Africa, Kuapa Kokoo Farmers and Marketing Union Limited (KKFU), Nature and Development Foundation (NDF), International Trade Centre (ITC), and ECOTOP, and more. The project targets 3942 direct farmers from 4 primary cooperatives (Kasapin, Goaso, Sankore, Bibiani) of Fairtrade certified KKFU.
Evaluation Purpose and Key Evaluation Questions
The purpose of the evaluation is to assess the project based on the OECD DAC evaluation criteria: Relevance, Coherence, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Impact, and Sustainability. This evaluation will answer the following questions, relative to each element of the OECD DAC Criteria. In addition, questions on DONUTS cross-cutting objectives and learning, adaptation, and scaleup are included.
Relevance:
- How well did the project’s design align with the priorities, needs, and aspirations of the targeted rightsholders (cocoa producers, unions, and cooperatives?)
- Were the selected interventions contextually and culturally appropriate? Were risks to human rights considered in selected interventions?
Coherence:
- How effectively was the project integrated with existing local, national or regional, or policies?
- To what extent did the project complement or duplicate other donor-funded initiatives within KKFU [e.g., KKCLMRS project]?
- What mechanisms were in place to ensure alignment with external actors (government, NGOs, private sector)?
- Was the project adherent to the protection of human rights?
Effectiveness:
- To what extent has the project achieved its intended objectives and targets? (Please refer to Annex 3)
- What progress has been made towards key project outcomes and indicators (Please refer to Annex 3?
- What factors facilitated or hindered the achievement of intended results?
- How effectively were project strategies adjusted based on real-time feedback and learning?
- How flexible was the project in adapting to emerging needs and challenges during implementation?
- How did project management, governance, and decision-making structures contribute to effectiveness in implementation?
Efficiency:
- How efficiently were financial and human resources allocated and utilized?
- Were the project’s interventions cost-effective compared to alternative approaches?
- Were there any areas where resources could have been used more effectively?
- How did project management, governance, and decision-making structures contribute to efficiency in implementation?
Impact:
- How has the project contributed to improving the livelihoods, resilience, and well-being of beneficiaries?
- What behavioral, social, and economic changes have resulted from the interventions?
- Were there unintended positive or negative consequences arising from the project?
Sustainability:
- How likely are the project’s benefits, skills, and resources to be sustained after funding ends?
- To what extent have local actors (government, CSOs, community leaders) taken ownership of interventions?
- What measures were in place to ensure accountability and transparency in project implementation? Could they be improved? If so, how?
- What strategies were put in place to ensure institutionalization and long-term sustainability?
- What are the key risks or barriers to sustaining project outcomes, and how can they be mitigated?
- Has the project established sustainable mechanisms for inclusion?
Cross – cutting objectives: Gender, youth, vulnerable persons
- To what extent did the project influence gender equality, youth participation, and inclusion of vulnerable persons in the cocoa producing cooperatives?
- Did the chosen approaches enhance inclusion of women, youth and vulnerable persons affected by the project? How well? Could the approaches be improved? How?
Learning & Adaptation, Scaling Up & Replication:
- What best practices and lessons can inform future program design and implementation?
- How can collaborative learning approaches be enhanced to support continuous improvement?
- What elements of the project have been most effective and scalable?
- What challenges need to be addressed before expanding the intervention to new areas or communities?
Methodology
- The evaluation will use a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data collection methods that will support an in-depth analysis of the project in accordance with OECD DAC criteria.
- The consultant will select an appropriate sampling method (s) to obtain a representative sample from targeted rightsholders.
- Desk Review & Comparative Analysis: analysis of project reports, baseline assessments as well as the comparison of the baseline and endline findings to assess change over time.
- Detailed information on the methods to be used will be developed by the consultant during the Inception period.
Evaluation Deliverables
- Inception Report: This report will outline the evaluation methodology, work plan, and data collection tools (Detailed format in Annex 1).
- Draft Report: This report will present the preliminary findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the evaluation (Detailed format in Annex 2). The draft report will be presented to the project stakeholders for feedback.
- Final Report: This report will incorporate feedback from project stakeholders and will be the final version of the evaluation report (Detailed format in Annex 2).
- Dissemination Plan: This plan will outline how the evaluation findings will be shared with stakeholders.
Timelines
The expected start date of this consultancy is 15th July 2025, and the consultant is expected to complete the assignment by or before 31st October 2025.
Ethical Considerations
- The evaluation will be conducted in an ethical and transparent manner, and in accordance with FTA policies (including Data protection policy, Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy, Child Protection Policy).
- The evaluation team will obtain informed consent from all participants and will ensure the confidentiality of all data collected.
- The evaluation team will adhere to the highest standards of professional conduct.
Consultant Specifications
Fairtrade Africa seeks an experienced, proactive and dedicated consultant to undertake this assignment. We welcome applications from interested people / groups with:
- A minimum of 5 years’ experience in carrying out surveys or impact evaluations, with a focus on agriculture development programs using the OECD DAC approach. Familiarity with MEL in relation to Cocoa value chains is desirable.
- An evaluation team will be composed of qualified evaluators with experience in agricultural development, climate change, human rights and gender equality.
- Demonstrable experience in qualitative and quantitative research methodology, survey/evaluation design, and implementation.
- Strong analytical, facilitation, communication, and reporting skills.
- The consultant MUST be based in Ghana and available to undertake the assignment starting from 15th July 2025.
- Proficiency in English and local language
How to apply
Submission guidelines
Technical and Financial proposals from interested consultants or consultancy firms should include as a minimum the following elements:
- A cover letter introducing the submission.
- Complete CV of the consultant(s) outlining the relevant skills, experience and role on the assignment
- Three references from organizations with whom similar assignments were carried out in the last three (3) years outlining the consultant’s role, performance, and project deliverables.
- Technical proposal detailing consultants’ proposed methodology and work plan.
- Financial proposal with a detailed budget for the assignment; this should include all costs and applicable taxes.
- The financial and technical proposals should be submitted as separate documents.
- Consultant(s) are encouraged to include any additional information they believe demonstrates added value for Fairtrade Africa within the scope of this assignment.
- Technical and business license of the consulting firm.
To apply please submit a technical and financial proposal with the above specifications to [email protected] by 30th June 2025. Indicate in the email subject line SANKOFA 2.0 End-Term Evaluation. Bids are evaluated by assessing both technical criteria (like experience, methodology, and compliance) and price competitiveness.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If Fairtrade Africa has not contacted you by July 15th, 2025, consider your proposal unsuccessful.
Fairtrade Africa reserves the right to interview and appoint applicants prior to the closing date of this consultancy.
