Cash Transfers for Seed Security Consultant (International)

Feed the Future Global Supporting Seed Systems for Development (S34D) activity
Issued on July 21,2021
Reference Number US2831
For: Cash Transfers for Seed Security Consultant (International)

Submission Deadline August 4,2021

I. Introduction: Supporting Seed Systems for Development (S34D)
The Feed the Future Global Supporting Seed Systems for Development (S34D) initiative is a five-year Leader with Associates Cooperative Agreement Award, funded by Feed the Future through the Bureau of Resilience and Food Security (RFS) and by USAID through the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). Catholic Relief Services is leading this consortium with the support of a team of Consortium Partners: The Alliance for Bioversity International and CIAT (ABC), the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA), Opportunity International (OI), and Agri Experience (AE). S34D’s Life of Activity runs from August 2018 through August 2023. The overarching goal of S34D is to improve the functioning of national seed sectors in an inclusive manner in our focus countries. The initiative aims to meet its goals by increasing the capacity of seed systems to sustainably offer quality, affordable seeds of a range of crops (Objective 1) and increasing collaboration and coordination among all seed systems actors and actions (Objective 2). The S34D initiative is structured according to three inter-related seed systems: the formal seed system; the informal seed system; and emergency seed provisioning. This integrated approach is further strengthened by cross-cutting intermediate results that seek to improve policies and practices that support pluralistic seed systems, rather than focusing on individual parts of each system.

II. Background: Cash Transfers for Seed Security (CTSS)
S34D Activity 2.2.3.1 focuses on market-based seed security interventions in emergency contexts. As part of this activity, S34D will undertake a review of recent emergency cash transfer interventions for seed security. Within the emergency seed sector, voucher-based approaches have been the main type of market-based programming for some 20 years, and experience with cash transfers for seed security appears to have expanded in the past few years. In 2019, S34D published a review of cash transfers for seed security. 1This review found that there is potential to expand the use of cash transfers for seed security. Cash transfers offer flexible market-led interventions to support farmers’ access to seed in emergency contexts. Available evidence suggests that cash offers promise for seed security interventions, particularly when combined with complementary programming such as technical or business training. Mixed modalities (cash and vouchers, or cash and direct seed distribution) can broaden crop choices. Cash can prepare the way for farmers to continue true market engagement post-relief, spur business development in subsequent seasons, and offer opportunities for financial inclusion. Good needs assessments, response analysis and program design can help ensure that farmers spend cash on what implementers anticipate they will. Investment in preparedness provides a better foundation to implement impactful cash for seed security response.
Preliminary consultations suggest that experience of cash transfers for seed security has expanded since the S34D review was undertaken, particularly as a result of the COVID pandemic, which has prevented the large gatherings that typify seed fair interventions. It is expected that much can be learned from a review of the more recent cash-based interventions for seed security.

III. Objective of the consultancy
The consultant will work with the CRS Emergency and Resilience Seed Systems Advisor and CRS Cash Transfer Expert to identify and document recent experiences, lessons and recommendations on cash transfers for seed security (CTSS) in emergency contexts.

IV. Scope of Work (SOW)
The consultant will identify recent cash transfers for seed security interventions (those not already included in the 2019 review) through existing cash-based fora and communities of practice (e.g., Markets in Crisis D-Group, Cash Learning Partnership, etc.) and their own professional networks. The CRS Seed Systems Expert and CRS Cash Transfer Expert will help to identify relevant interventions through consultation with gFSC partners in the Agriculture Working Group and Cash and Markets Working Group, among other fora.
Having identified relevant interventions, existing documentation will be reviewed, and remote interviews will be conducted with relevant project staff to compile additional details. The S34D Seed Systems Expert and Gender Advisor and the CRS Cash Transfer Expert will assist in developing appropriate interview questions and may also take part in some of the interviews.

The information compiled will be documented in a report that details the range of relevant interventions and the lessons learned, using an appropriate framework for analysis. The following points will be included, paying particular attention to gender and youth dimensions. Women play vital roles within informal seed markets, whether as farmers who produce, purchase or exchange seed of specific crops, or as traders who purchase, store and sell potential seed.

In some contexts, youth also play an important role as last mile providers.
a) Which agencies have implemented CTSS, and what levels of expertise / experience do they have in cash transfers and seed interventions respectively? What other types of modalities for emergency seed interventions have they implemented?
b) In what contexts have CTSS been implemented? Were there any context-specific features that prompted the decision to implement CTSS?
c) What types of assessments were done prior to the interventions? What other response options were considered? What influenced the decision to implement CTSS?
d) How were the interventions designed, and who was involved in the design process? How were they implemented, and what type of technical support was provided? What changes, if any, were made during implementation, and why?
e) Apart from the use of cash, how did the CTSS intervention differ from other modalities for emergency seed provisioning that may have been used? [Refer to Qu. (a) above]
f) Were any complementary interventions implemented alongside the CTSS?
g) What kind of training and/or awareness creation was provided to support CTSS implementation including non-seed specific training?
h) What kinds of post distribution and outcome monitoring data were collected? How? Is it possible to share the monitoring / outcome measurement tools?
i) What were the outcomes of each intervention? How did farmers spend their cash? Were there any differences by gender and/or age? What were the intended outcomes, and did these differ from the actual outcomes?
j) What types of seed were purchased? From which sources? Were there any differences by gender and/or age?
k) How was seed quality considered?
l) For each intervention, what was considered to have worked well? What didn’t work well? What were the successes and the challenges? What were the lessons learned from each intervention?
m) Overall, what lessons emerge? Are there any gaps in experience/evidence? What are the recommendations for future piloting and research/evidence building?

V. Deliverables and Timeframe
I. A list of cash transfer for seed security interventions, including the implementing organization, the donor, project start and end dates, location, emergency context, project description, number of target beneficiaries (sex and age disaggregated if available), amount of cash transferred, available documentation, and contact details for appropriate key informant. By October 15, 2021.
II. A draft report documenting the experiences and lessons on cash transfers for seed security. By October 30, 2021.
III. A final, revised report with responses to comments by the CRS/S34D reviewers. Within one week of receipt of comments.

VI. Period of Performance
max 20 billable days executed between September 1, 2021 and 30 November 2021.

VII. Requirements/Qualifications
➢ Post-graduate degree in relevant subject
➢ Knowledge of cash transfers and rural livelihood interventions in the humanitarian sector
➢ Background in humanitarian programming, rural livelihoods, food security, agriculture, emergencies with more than 5 years’ experience in research, assessment, evaluation, analysis and learning
➢ Experience working with NGOs and UN agencies in emergency settings
➢ Ability to read technical documents in French
➢ Excellent writing skills (in English)

VIII. Submission Deadline
All submissions must be received by CRS no later than August 4, 2021 [11:59 PM for electronic submission] to [email protected] . The solicitation number indicated above must be included in the subject line.

IX. Payment Terms
Time and Materials CRS anticipates entering into a consultancy agreement with the selected consultant. Payment will be made upon completion.
V. Submissions should include the following information:
a. A copy of your CV
b. Two (2) examples of your written work
c. Three (3) client references with contact details
d. Daily Rate
e. Relationship disclosure
i. Describe any current or past relationships you or your organization may have with CRS.
ii. Describe any personal or familial relationships any employee of the Contractor has with any employee of CRS.

X. Agreement
Any resulting consulting agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions contained in the attached Form of Contract (See Annex A).