Openings at Hand in Hand Eastern Africa (HiH EA)

The key objectives of the evaluations include;

• To assess the relevance of the project design and implementation, in terms of meeting the needs and priorities of the target group;
• To assess the coherence of the project design and implementation, in terms of coordination with, or duplication of, other efforts in the area;
• To assess the effectiveness of the project design and implementation in achieving its objectives and results, according to the indicators set forth in the project MEL plan;
• The assess the efficiency of the project design and implementation, in terms of resource utilization and cost-effectiveness;
• To assess the impact of the project on the target group, in terms of improved household quality of life.
• To assess the sustainability of the project outcomes, in terms of the ability of the target group to maintain the improvements after the project ends.
• To assess the impact of the project on gender dynamics, capacities and vulnerabilities in relation to project focus areas;
• Where relevant, draw recommendations to strengthen the project.

Role of the consultant

The consultant will be required to undertake at a minimum the following;

• Desk review of the project documents to understand the design;
• Develop the sample design and strategy for the surveys and any qualitative data collection;
• Design/adapt/refine (as appropriate) the data collection tools – both quantitative and qualitative;
• Map the relevant evaluation questions and indicators to the data collection tools (e.g. each survey/interview/focus group question must clearly correspond with an evaluation question or indicator);
• Program the survey in Kobo or another approved data collection platform;
• Conduct a pre-test of the tools and finalize them, incorporating changes;
• Select and train enumerators and field supervisors for data collection, including developing user guide documentation e.g. enumerator supervision manuals, etc.;
• Plan the field work logistics;
• Supervise survey implementation and ensure quality control, including consistent identification and treatment of non-responses, out-of-range responses, coding errors, and outliers;
• Clean and analyze all quantitative and qualitative datasets;
• Following each evaluation phase, write/update one evaluation report per cohort, and one final comparative evaluation report bringing together the quantitative and qualitative findings of all cohorts (four reports total), using the HiH evaluation report template provided;
• Submit raw, cleaned, and worked datasets to HiH in .xlsx or .csv format;
• Submit qualitative transcripts/notes to HiH in .xlsx or .docx format;
• Submit the report for review and feedback;
• Hold a validation workshop (virtual/physical);
• Incorporate feedback from HIHEA and HIHI;
• Submit a final report.

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Deliverables:

1. Review and Profile target POs (using CPI tool) to identify their capacity needs, and initiate an organizational development process to improve their governance and management capacities to become bankable and sustainable businesses.
2. Facilitate the POs to formulate strategy plans to guide their operations, identify demanded services by their member farmers and undertake growth (joint selling, Buying and membership) outreach programs.
3. Work with POs management and HiH EA team to Set 3 – 6 month’s growth target milestones.
4. In collaboration with the Business Development Officers; Organize financial literacy programs with POs to help smallholders understand how to manage their enterprise finances, appreciate use financial services including insurance and facilitate them to form viable SACCOs in their respective localities.
5. Guide in development fundable investment plans for financing by mainstream financial institutions subsidized agricultural financing programs.
6. Guide CBOs to public participation channels to ensure the member’s voice is heard by relevant stakeholder and decisions made in their locality have their considerations included.
7. Assist FOs management to conduct simple stakeholder analysis to help them understand how their activities can influence or be influenced by different stakeholders, signing of collaborative/joint agreements.
8. Promote gender inclusivity in the CBOs with a focus to joint decision making and participation of women in CBO leadership and activities.
9. Work with the program manager to collect and document lessons and best practices, organize sharing and learning platforms for FOs, and publish best practices.

Expected Outputs:

1. Growth in joint buying of inputs by POs members by 20% ( farmers and volumes) each season or every 6 months
2. Growth in joint selling of harvested produce by 30% ( farmers and volumes) each season or every 6 months
3. Promote diversification by producer organizations ( Minimum 2 value chains per PO)
4. Enhance proper governance and leadership structures within the POs
5. Signed collaborative agreements between POs and relevant stakeholders ; at least one agreement every season

Person Specification

1. At least a diploma in agribusiness, agricultural economics, development finance or any other related field.
2. At least 5 -years of working experience with Producer Organizations (Cooperatives and CBOs), farmer SACCOs or in agricultural financial institutions facilitating access to finance.
3. Experience with commonly used tools for value chain analysis and finance, business appraisal and business planning.
4. Experience in conducting stakeholder analysis with smallholder producer organizations.
5. Demonstrated experience in facilitating linkage of value chain businesses to the appropriate markets and market information sources.
6. Solid understanding of agriculture, small, medium and micro enterprises, economics, monitoring and evaluation and value chains.
7. Demonstrated experience in conducting monitoring and evaluation of smallholder producer organizations promoting value chains (preferably both crop & livestock).