1.0 INTRODUCTION
Preamble
Solidaridad is an international network organization with eight regional expertise centers worldwide. Its mission is to bring together commodity supply chain actors and to engage them to develop innovative solutions to improve production, thereby ensuring the transition to a sustainable and inclusive economy that maximizes the benefit for all. Solidaridad strives to be an organization that understands the signs of modern times, seeking to be a Civil Society Organization (CSO) with its own place and role in society, while simultaneously interacting with Governments and markets. With 50 years of experience Globally in facilitating the development of socially responsible, ecologically sound and profitable supply chains, Solidaridad is a frontrunner in the area of sustainable economic development. Solidaridad envisions a world in which all we produce, and all we consume, can sustain us while respecting the planet, each other and the next generations. Solidaridad embraces the public-private and people partnerships (PPPP) in order to test innovations, speed up change, and take success to scale. Globally, Solidaridad works around coffee and other 12 commodities/sectors (http://www.solidaridadnetwork.org)
Program Summary
Solidaridad Network with the financial support of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs intends to urgently embark on a food security program titled: ACTING NOW FOR FOOD SECURITY AND RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEMS (ACTING NOW PROGRAM)
The program will run from 2023-2025 and will be implemented across 6 countries; Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Solidaridad East and Central Africa will handle the implementation of the program in Kenya and Ethiopia. In Kenya, under this new program will be able to reach out to 70,000 smallholder farmers (of which 60% are women) from Kajiado, Kwale, Makueni and Taita Taveta Counties. The program intends to support 20 cooperatives and producer hubs that can deliver production and marketing services in the mentioned counties. In Ethiopia, we aim to improve the resilience of 20,000 smallholder farmers (of which 60% are women), from Butajira and Arbaminch in the Southern Nations region). 15 cooperatives and producer hubs will be supported to deliver production and marketing services.
Action is needed now to help relieve the acute food insecurity in Africa. Priority is to ensure seeds, alternative fertilizers, planting material, agri-inputs and advisory services are readily available to boost food production. But more importantly, the current crises have made it even more apparent that food systems need a structural transformation. Farmers play a vital role not only in food production and therefore food security, but also in economic growth and climate change mitigation. Solidaridad can contribute to transitioning the region’s food system towards a strong and resilient food system that is less dependent on imports and less vulnerable to drought. We will build more resilient farms prepared for future climate change impact.
2.3 The Survey Objectives and Methodology
2.3.1 Stakeholder Analysis: Step 1
Stakeholder analysis ensures that project interventions consider all stakeholders in the project’s target area and increases the chance that projects will ‘do no harm’ and hopefully create positive change for excluded stakeholders. In general – the more stakeholders involved in the project’s design/implementation, the more successful and sustainable the project results will be.
The stakeholder analysis should aim to accomplish the following:
1. Map the key stakeholders and their interests (supportive or unsupportive) in the project
2. Note the relationships and power dynamics between different key stakeholders
3. Assess the relevance of the project to each stakeholder as well as their influence on the project
4. Identify if/how to engage stakeholders
The stakeholder analysis matrix (to be given to the consultant) can be used to synthesize the information gathered for the analysis. Based on the stakeholder mapping, the project team should decide which stakeholders the project interventions should prioritize and how they should be engaged to strengthen inclusive impact.
2.3.2 Gender Analysis: Step 2
With reference to Solidaridad Gender Inclusivity Buckets Book (to be provided) a gender analysis shall be conducted following the Step 1 on stakeholder analysis. A simplified gender analysis matrix has been developed to inform project design and ideally with the participation of key local stakeholders/partners. The matrix provides guidance and step-by-step instructions on how to complete the matrix as well as the analysis of the information captured.
2.3.3 Problem Analysis: Step 3
After having mapped the project’s key stakeholders and their relationships/influence, as well as analyzing the specific Gender considerations in the project’s context through a gender analysis, the program team should be ready to identify the overarching main problems the project wants to address.
The main problem we are trying to address through this programme is food insecurity mainly as a result of low production volumes, weak storage, conservation and distribution infrastructure, and low access to affordable inputs (seeds and fertilizer), high dependency on imports. Current
food systems are very vulnerable to shocks, which is very visible in the backdrop of COVID-19 and the current Ukraine-Russian war, and related current world economic crises. Acting Now aims to firstly boost food production and volumes so as to boost food availability, and aims to address the main bottlenecks or structural weaknesses that stand in the way of sustaining higher volumes of safe food.
Taking into account the above, see what are the main root causes of the current vulnerable food systems of interest: You may want to think about economic, political, environmental and social root causes.
2.4 Responsibilities of Consultants/Scope of Work
The composition of the survey team is left up to the consultant/ organization based on their internal system, ideas, and logic. However, Solidaridad recommends that the team comprise one Team Leader (TL) to coordinate/conduct the overall study and liaise with Solidaridad. To collect information from the field using an adequate number of Field Enumerators (FEs). Supervision of the fieldwork and the quality (reliability and validity) of the data/information collected from the field is the primary responsibility of the TL. The TL will work closely with Solidaridad M&E Officers, Gender Officers, and Country managers. In each step and process, consultation with the Solidaridad team is vital.
In Kenya the survey will be conducted in Kajiado, Makueni, Taita Taveta and Kwale Counties and in Ethiopia the survey shall be carried out in Butajira and Arbaminch in the Southern Nations region.
2.6 Deliverables
The Consultant should deliver the following:
A. Work plan and expression of interest (EOI) for the research study, outlining;
● A detailed methodology for implementation of the survey.
● Draft data collection tools
● A detailed work plan for the research study
B. Draft Report: One report containing three sub reports to merge the 3 Steps in section 2.3 above will be needed. The Annexes (Stakeholder Analysis Matrix and Gender Analysis Matrix) shall also be completed by the consultant.
2.7 Expert/Consultant’s Profile:
Consultancy firms/companies with verifiable research work and who fulfill the following requirements are encouraged to express their interests.
● The consulting firm should have teams in both countries
● Demonstrated experience in analytical research in the fields of policy, industry, agriculture and environment.
● The consulting firm should have better understanding of food security issues.
How to apply
2.6 Application process:
Applications should be submitted by 22/01/2023. All applicants must meet the minimum requirements described above, those unable to meet the requirement will not be considered.
Remember that Solidaridad is an equal opportunity employer.
Submissions are by email to procurement.eca@solidaridadnetwork.orgwhile addressed to:
Attn: Managing Director
Solidaridad Eastern and Central Africa Expertise Centre Kilimani Business Centre, Kirichwa Road,
P.O. Box 42234 – 00100 GPO Nairobi
