FIELD ASSISTANTS TO SUPPORT THE GEAP PROGRAM (NYANDARUA, KISII AND TRANS NZOIA COUNTIES)

TENDER TITLE:

FIELD ASSISTANTS TO SUPPORT THE GEAP PROGRAM( NYANDARUA, KISII AND TRANS NZOIA COUNTIES)

(SELECTION OF NATIONAL INDIVIDUAL PROFESIONAL CONSULTANTS ONLY)

TENDER NUMBER: MESPT/005/GEAP/2021

ISSUE DATE: 25TH AUGUST 2021

DUE DATE: 23RD SEPTEMBER 2021 (5:00 PM KENYAN TIME)

I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

MEPST was established in 2002 by the Government of Kenya and European Union. EU later relinquished their position to the Royal Danish Embassy in Kenya, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (DANIDA) through a Trust Deed of 2013. The Trust is a development organization with a purpose to grow small holder farmers and Agri SMEs to increase productivity, income and enhance competitiveness for job creation especially for youth and women. This is achieved through capacity building which includes skills development, technical support, business advisory, financial and market linkages. Our focus is to facilitate support and provision of integrated financial and business development services for small holder farmers and Agri SMEs in Kenya.

About GEAP Programme

The Green Employment in Agriculture Programme (GEAP); 2021 – 2025 is a DANIDA funded programme whose outputs ride on key workstreams of the GGEP programme 2016 – 2020 and AGRIFI programme; 2018 – 2023. The programme is aligned to and fits the mandate of MESPT, Kenya Vision 2030 as well as the Danish Strategy for Development Cooperation and humanitarian action “The World 2030”. Through implementation of GEAP, MESPT envisions to facilitate increased commercialization, decent employment, and green transformation through targeted interventions in selected value chains.

GEAP programme is partitioned into four output areas: i.) market access and MSME development, ii) improved access to finance/credit, iii) improved food safety and increased productivity and iv) green transformation. Under these output areas, MESPT activities will contribute towards i.) increased farmer and MSME capacity for aggregation, storage, value addition and market Linkages ii.) increased awareness and access for financial services for the value chain actors iii.) enhanced knowledge & competences on food safety and good agricultural practices (GAP) and iv.) increased awareness and commercialization of identified innovative green technologies. To accelerate outreach and impact, the trust intends to achieve the following targets:

a. 3,000 jobs created in the value chains.

b. 40,000 farmers linked to market.

c. KES 6 billion (DKK 381 million) additional sales turnover of value chains aggregated by the targeted SMEs.

d. MESPT capital base increased to KES 4 billion (DKK 255 million).

e. Value chain stakeholders have accessed loans worth KES 4 billion.

f. 20,000 farmers have accessed financial services.

This engagement will ultimately contribute to accelerated decent employment creation in MSMEs and improved competitiveness of the selected value chains in agriculture consequently, transforming the economy towards greener and more inclusive growth.

II. PURPOSE

MESPT is at the inception phase of implementation of the Green Employment in Agriculture Programme (GEAP) which has a coverage of 12 counties, viz, Kakamega, Kisii, Siaya, Nyandarua, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Bungoma, Machakos, Kilifi, Trans Nzoia, Makueni and Kwale. One of the key activities has been sensitization and mobilization of relevant and strategic stakeholders in line with the programme objectives. The programme is currently validating target farmer organization (FO) and SMEs for onboarding and setting capacity development plans. Crucial to fast tracking the initiation of key programme activities in line with the capacity development plans, is the profiling of individual target beneficiaries within the Farmer Organizations as well as setting basic record parameters relevant to reporting on programme targets. Therefore, interested resource persons are encouraged to apply indicating which county they prefer to work in.

III. OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY

The overall objective of this assignment is to provide grassroot coordination for targeted value chain activities across GEAP counties. This includes provision of training, agribusiness support, data management, reporting and monitoring as required.

IV. SCOPE OF WORK AND METHODOLOGY

The assignment will be carried out in context of GEAP programme’ s thematic areas of focus and objectives, targeted outputs, and outcomes as well as the trust’s strategic focus.

Reporting to the Project Officer and the GEAP Programme Manager, the TA will:

i. Support Project officers in mobilization of target beneficiaries along the target value chains

ii. Map and Profile target beneficiaries within the selected farmer organization capturing their Bio data

iii. Draft customized capacity development plans for the farmer organizations

iv. Review and support farmer organization establish record system for reporting in line with the GEAP programme targets and objectives

v. Support the GEAP programme in beneficiary sensitization on programme objectives and organizing schedule meetings and trainings.

vi. Together with the project officers and relevant county staff, provide value chain development support to targeted agro-enterprises

vii. Support the GEAP programme in building the capacity of the targeted farmer organizations using the TOT model

viii. Support data collection

ix. Report as per programme requirements.

V. KEY DELIVERABLES

Successful performance of this assignment will be based on the production and timely submission of the following deliverables:

1. Activity based reports for all activities conducted evidenced by a signed participant list by those in attendance detailing progress and challenges faced submitted to the respective MESPT Project Officers. This includes recommendations made and actual corrective actions undertaken.
2. Monthly progress report documenting key activities undertaken in the month and challenges/ lessons learnt
3. Final reports and capacity development plans shared to MESPT, at the end of the contract period using the template that will be provided.

VI. REQUIRED SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

The Field assistants will have the following minimum qualifications:

1) University qualification (Bachelor’s/ Masters) in Agriculture, Agribusiness Management, Community Development, Cooperative Development, Environmental Science, or their equivalent. Prior training and qualification as a TOT is an added advantage.

2) Satisfactory understanding of sustainable development issues including green growth.

3) Practical experience in value chain and market systems development and training for not less than 3 years

4) Knowledge of the devolved county governance structure and experience in working with small holder farmers

5) Ability to work with minimal supervision and under pressure

6) Conversant with result-based facilitation.

7) Excellent communication and reporting skills

VII. DURATION OF ASSIGMENT

The assignment will commence from the date of contract signing and be completed not later than 30th November 2021. There will be monthly review of progress and the technical assistant is expected to work for 15 days every month from the contract signing date. The activities undertaken should be within the framework of practicable work plan, checked by the Project Officers and approved by the Programme Manager and will be accounted for through signed timesheets.

VIII. PAYMENT PLAN

The Field Assistant(s) will be paid by the end of every month upon submission and approval of a monthly report that has been reviewed and approved by PM. Appropriate tax withholding of 5% payable to KRA will apply.

SECTION IV – TECHNICAL PROPOSAL (TP)

Notes on the Preparation of Technical Proposal

The technical proposal shall be prepared and submitted by the consultants.

It shall contain the following:-

(a) Submission letter

(b) Particulars of the consultant including Curriculum vitae (CV)

(c) Comments and suggestions of the consultant on the terms of reference, personnel, facility and other requirements to be provided by MESPT.

(d) Description of the methodology and work plan for performing the assignment

(e) Any proposed staff to assist in the assignment

(f) Consultancy services activities times schedule.

(to be prepared by the consultant as appropriate)

SECTION V- FINANCIAL PROPOSAL (FP)

Notes on the Preparation Financial Proposal

The financial proposal shall be prepared and submitted by the consultants. It shall contain the following.

(a) Submission letter indicating total fees

(b) Summary of costs

(c) Breakdown of fees per activity

(d) Breakdown of reimbursable costs/expenses per activity

(e) Miscellaneous expenses

(to be prepared by the consultant as appropriate)

GEAP priority value chains are export vegetables, dairy, indigenous chicken, aquaculture, fruits (mango, avocado and banana) and coconut. Additional value chains at the coast (Kilifi and Kwale) include pineapple, cassava and moringa.