Consultancy - Annual Monitoring and Evaluation of Business Case Partner Implementation at SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

Project background

The Climate Resilient Agribusiness for Tomorrow (CRAFT) Project is a 5-year, project being implemented in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The project is implemented by SNV (lead partner), in consortium with Wageningen University & Environmental Research (WUR & WEnR), the CGIAR research programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), Agriterra and Rabo Partnerships. It is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS).

The programme is implemented around three main pillars or work streams.

• Adoption of CSA practices & technologies in arable crop production farming systems.
• Acceleration of investments and business growth in selected value chains.
• Improved enabling environment for scaling out of CSA.

Climate change has resulted in extremely poor yields and low return to farmers, and other actors (e.g. buyers, processors) in the target value chains (sorghum, potato, green grams and common beans). CRAFT’s inclusive business approach supports international and national efforts to address the effects of climate change and to promote sustainable production in arable crop value chains. The project works with and through the private sector (SMEs) and supports public sector partners to create an enabling environment for large-scale adoption of climate smart practices and technologies. CRAFT’s strategic approach is to invest in the interests of private sector partners including guaranteed buyers of food crops, service providers, and cooperatives to integrate climate smart practices into respective supply chains. It is anticipated CRAFT’s economic incentives will form the basis for large-scale adoption of climate smart agricultural (CSA) practices and technologies.

The CRAFT project engages the private sector through business cases that seek to increase crop productivity within the target value chains, improve market access for smallholder farmers, and enhance quality of produce marketed through fostering the adoption of climate smart practices. The business cases are expected to benefit smallholder farmers, women, and youth directly involved in the production and marketing of the crops resulting in increased incomes and improved food security. Example interventions in the business cases include provision of quality inputs (improved seed, fertilizer), climate smart extension services, post-harvest handling practices, linkage with financial institutions to access credit, labour saving technologies, aggregation of produce, renewable and efficient energy application, provision of weather information & index based insurance services, etc. CRAFT then provides grants in a matching fund arrangement with successful SMEs and cooperatives in the relevant value chains.

CRAFT has several business cases being implemented and monitored. The purpose of this assignment is to procure the services of a consultant or consultancy firm to support the review of business case against the expected results and milestones within the framework and theory of change of CRAFT.

Job Description

This assignment is intended to contribute to the measurement of outcomes, impact and documentation of significant change stories for the business cases in implementation in Kenya. The process will include desk review of the business case write-up – expected results and milestones, and business case baseline data. The annual review will use the project’s mid-line and result measurement tools (climate resilience score card, user satisfaction survey and business performance score card) among others that the consultant will require to develop. The review will determine the extent to which the specific business case is contributing to CRAFT’s objectives. It is anticipated that the first business case annual review will be conducted in March 2021 followed with the learning workshop in April 2021.

The specific objectives of the assignment are:

• To determine the extent to which the business case under implementation was effective in delivering desired/planned results
• To provide an opinion based on the review of the result measured on the set targets and milestones provide an opinion on the performance of the business case.
• To describe the changes that have happened, collect evidence of what has been changed and determine whether and how business case interventions have contributed to this change. These outcomes can be small or big, intended, or unintended, positive, or negative, directly, or indirectly related to the business case activities.
• To collect data using the provided tools on business case indicators from the business case and it partners in the project.
• To upload the collected data on CRAFT MIS platform.
• To assess the adequacy of strategies implemented by the business case on continuation and sustainability so far of the outcomes and benefits.
• Where applicable, document four (4) draft stories for the most significant changes.

Scope of Work

CRAFT will provide the consultant with requisite documents, reports, and tools to support the production of an inception report. The inception report is expected to detail the methodology and workplan for the assignment as follows:

• Desk review of the BC write-up, baseline, and result measurement tools.
• Data collection – mid-line farmer questionnaire and resilience score card.
• Focus group discussions – user satisfaction survey for climate smart services provided.
• Interview – BC owner with respect to a business performance score card.
• Interview -BC participants in respect to their role in the business case and the contribution /benefits drawn from the partnership – Key informant interview will require to be formulated.
• Data analysis and reporting.
• Presentation of the annual review findings in the learning workshop.

Deliverables

The expected outputs of this assignment will be an annual review report including:

• Data collected and uploaded on CRAFT MIS platform.
• Annexes of the result measurement tools – resilience score card, user satisfaction survey and the business performance score card.
• Annex of 4 draft significant change stories.
• Presentation of the annual review report to the business case participants and the joint monitoring team.

Location and duration of Assignment

The assignment will require travel as advised, location of the business champion, and to interact with business case participants and stakeholders. SNV will provide transport and logistics (except meals) to facilitate travel. Consultants will be introduced to SME representatives, farmer organizations linked to SME’s, financial institutions that SME’s are banking with, agri-input dealers etc. It is anticipated that the review of each complete business case will take 15 effective working days (excluding travel days).

Qualifications

A Kenya-based consultant (s) with the following skills and experience:

• At least 10 years’ experience in monitoring and evaluation in agriculture sectors with a focus on private sector development, market systems and or inclusive business approaches.
• Experience in climate smart agriculture and review of interventions focussed climate smart technologies and services.
• Experience and awareness of gender and youth issues in agriculture including assessment of responsiveness of interventions to women and youth.
• Ability to analyse data and presentation of findings and recommendation to a wide diverse audience
• Experience working with diverse cultural and skills background
• Ability to follow strict time frame
• Good working experience in Kenya’s agricultural sector