CONSULTANCY FOR MID-TERM REVIEW OF THE BIOVISION AFRICA TRUST’S FARMER COMMUNICATION PROGRAMME

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Website biovisionafrica Biovision Africa Trust

1. INTRODUCTION

Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT) seeks to recruit a qualified and competent consultant to undertake a mid-term review of its Farmer Communication Programme (FCP) currently implemented in Kenya and Tanzania.

2. BACKGROUND

Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT) is a not-for-profit organization established in Kenya in 2009, with its head office located within the main campus of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Kasarani, Nairobi. The Trust’s goal is to sustainably improve the health and prosperity of people in Africa while conserving the environment with agroecology and ecological organic agriculture as a basis for all life. Its mission is to alleviate poverty and improve the livelihoods of rural communities in Africa through disseminating relevant information and building the capacity of farmers and partners for the ecological transformation of African agriculture and food systems. A food secure African continent with healthy people living in a healthy environment is the vision of the Trust.

BvAT implements the Farmer Communication Programme in East Africa, the African Union Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) initiative in 9 countries (five in Eastern Africa and four in West Africa). In collaboration with PELUM Uganda BvAT coordinates the Knowledge Hub for Eastern Africa (KHEA) under the global Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture in Africa (KCOA) covering the five regions of Africa – West, East, North, Central and Southern Africa. Consequently, BvAT has strengthened its position as a leading organization championing the development of agroecology in Kenya and the African continent.

The FCP uses Integrated Communication and Capacity Development (ICCD) approach to guide programme implementation in the new phase running from 2023 – 2025. The multi-actor co-designing interventions approach is premised on a structured engagement with various key actors within the county governments responsible for the agriculture sector. The approach endeavours to align FCP’s work with ongoing initiatives and programmes in the counties to address farmers’ including improved productivity and sustainable livelihoods. Implementation tools have been developed to support the co-designing processes for agroecology sensitization, coordination of multistakeholder participation, content development and dissemination. The development of ICCD approach was inspired by the principles of participation, inclusion, learning, capacity development, and accountability. By implementing the ICCD approach, FCP aims to achieve the following outcomes:

  1.  Relevant subnational and national actors’ (government, research institutions, civil society, private sector, etc.) interest, capacity, and ownership for co-creating and disseminating common knowledge related to agroecology and ecological organic agriculture increased.
  2. Awareness and knowledge of agroecology and ecological organic agriculture among various target groups (smallholder farmers, consumers, youth & women, trainers, and others) in regions of intervention increased.
  3. Sustained adoption of agroecology practices and technologies and reduction of use of synthetic chemical-based inputs among smallholder farmers reached.

3. OVERALL OBJECTIVES OF THE EVALUATION

The ICCD approach was rolled out in 2023 and is now due for mid-term review. The purpose of this review is to:

  1. Assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of the FCP project/programme and the value the ICCD approach has created.
  2. Assess the efficacy of the ICCD approach in delivering agroecology and ecological organic agriculture knowledge and support to farmers.
  3. Provide insights and recommendations for improvements for the remaining implementation period and strategies for potential scale-up.

4. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE EVALUATION

The specific objectives of the evaluation are:

  1. Determine the extent to which the FCP programme has achieved its stated objectives and outcomes.
  2. Evaluate the processes, methodologies and tools of ICCD approach with a critical look at the farmer communication co-design activities and farmer training.
  3. Assess the outcomes achieved under the ICCD approach to June 2024
  4. Identify lessons learned and the best practices to integrate in the FCP programme.
  5. Make recommendations on needed improvements on approach, and strategies for scale up.

5. SCOPE OF WORK

The assignment scope of work will include the following core activities:

  • Conducting a comprehensive review of project/programme documents and reports.
  • Designing the review/evaluation framework and methodology, including data collection tools.
  • Collecting quantitative and qualitative data through surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, and field visits.
  • Analyzing the data and synthesizing findings in relation to the evaluation objectives.
  • Preparing a draft evaluation report and presenting it to the project/programme team for feedback.
  • Finalizing the evaluation report incorporating feedback from stakeholders.
  • Presenting the final report and recommendations to BvAT and stakeholders.

6. METHODOLOGY

The review is nuanced to examining key learning points in relation to implementation of the ICCD approach in the FCP programme. The learnings will be key in making necessary improvements in the overall programme for greater scalability and sustainability. The evaluation should employ a mixed-methods approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques. The consultant is expected to:

  • Review relevant literature and project/programme documentation.
  • Use appropriate sampling techniques to ensure adequate reliable representation.
  • Employ participatory methods and tools to gather insights from beneficiaries, project staff and other stakeholders.

7. DELIVERABLES

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

  • Inception Report: Outlining the evaluation design, methodology, work plan, and data collection tools.
  • Draft Review Report: Comprehensive report including findings, analysis, conclusions, and recommendations.
  • Final Evaluation Report: Revised report incorporating feedback from BvAT/FCP team.
  • Presentation: A presentation of key findings and recommendations in a workshop with Programme staff.

8. TIMELINE

The review is expected to be completed within one month (October until end of November) from the start date. The consultant will provide a detailed timeline with clear milestones as part of the inception report.

9. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The consultant should possess:

  • Advanced degree in social sciences, development studies, or a related field.
  • At least 5 years of experience in project/programme reviews and evaluation.
  • Proven track record in conducting evaluations of similar nature.
  • Strong analytical and report writing skills.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills.
  • Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
    Familiarity with the region and context of the project/programme implementation.

10. HOW TO APPLY

If interested and you meet the required qualifications, send your application including your proposal which should include a detailed budget and assignment timelines. Send your application to procurement@biovisionafrica.org with the subject heading: Mid-Term Review of BvAT’s FCP. The closing date for applications is September 30, 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Download the printable Version here

Biovision Africa Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer

To apply for this job email your details to procurement@biovisionafrica.org

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