CLOSED:
PROJECT BACKGROUND:
PIND’s Market Development project is a vital initiative focused on strengthening agricultural productivity and uplifting the economic status of farmers and small enterprises across the diverse landscapes of the Niger Delta region. Through the adoption of a market systems development (MSD) approach, the project strategically targets the root causes of market under-performance, ensuring sustainable enhancements in key agricultural sectors.
Following a mid-line technical review in Q3 2022, PIND received valuable recommendations advocating for a transition towards a cross-cutting strategy that focuses on thematic areas as against the current focus on sector specific value chains. This strategic shift aims to address overarching challenges that permeate multiple agricultural value chains like cassava, oil palm, cocoa, Poultry etc. While commodity-specific solutions have been instrumental, they often exhibit cross-cutting impacts that could be leveraged across various sectors.
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES OF THE ACTIVITY:
This activity aims to conduct a scoping study of the assessment of agricultural technical and business support services and other actors to understand the dynamics of these services within the region. It aims to provide insights into the availability, accessibility, and affordability including innovations and financing mechanisms, crucial for enhancing agricultural productivity and improving the livelihoods of farmers/MSMEs and other stakeholders.
OBJECTIVES:
- To give a thorough picture of the support market for technical and business development services provision, assess the state of technical and business development service delivery in the Niger Delta region at the moment, taking into account both public and commercial agricultural technical and general business development services.
- Gain further insight into the PIND-developed models of technical and business development service providers. Taking stock of the current commercial technical and business development service providers in the region, their typologies, their existing service offerings, their clientele and client base, their locations, the actors they collaborate with to provide technical and business support services to farmers/MSMEs, actors such as farmers/MSMEs, commercial technical service providers, public extension agents, input suppliers, farmers groups/cooperatives, research institutes, business development service providers, financial institutions, certification. institutions, government agencies (policymakers), business associations, regulatory bodies, insurance companies within and outside the region.
- Assess the availability, accessibility, and affordability of agricultural technical and business development services to farmers/MSMEs to help understand the market dynamics and challenges associated with accessing technical and business development services. These include access to finance for farmers/MSMEs in the region.
- To better understand the dynamics of both markets and the difficulties involved in obtaining technical and business development services, including finance by farmers/MSMEs.
- Identify and map out the kind of agricultural technical and business development services available to farmers/MSMEs in the region.
- Identify the elements impacting the use of technical and business support services by farmers/MSMEs in the region
- Identify the various sources of technical and business development services available to farmers/MSMEs in the region.
- Identify and examine the constraints to technical and business development service delivery to farmers/MSMEs in the region.
- Identify the access to finance needs and evaluate the challenges MSMEs encounter in obtaining financing, including loan application processes, interest rates, and collateral requirements.
- Identify the main barriers and constraints farmers/MSMEs face in accessing business development support services and financial products.
- Identify systemic issues, including policy, regulatory, and infrastructural challenges, that hinder service delivery, as well as the sustainability of Farmers/MSMEs.
- Identify opportunities for partnerships and joint initiatives to improve agricultural technical and business development service delivery and financial inclusion.
- Identify opportunities for policy reforms to create a more supportive environment for farmers/MSMEs development.
- Conduct interviews, surveys, and focus group discussions with farmers/MSMEs, commercial technical service providers, public extension agents, input suppliers, farmers groups/cooperatives, research institutes, business development service providers, financial institutions, certification institutions, government agencies (policymakers), business associations, regulatory bodies, insurance companies and other relevant market actors to gain insightful information about the technical and business support services market in the Niger Delta region.
- Make suggestions for enhancing the region’s technical and business development service delivery market’s efficacy and efficiency based on the information acquired from the evaluation and stakeholder engagement processes.
CONSULTANT QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERTISE:
PIND is seeking to engage the services of a consultant who will work together with PIND team that meet the criteria outlined in the scope of work and deliverables for this project. Qualified Consultant should possess the following qualifications and expertise:
- Educational Qualification: A minimum of a Master’s degree in agricultural economics, agribusiness, rural development, or a related field.
- Professional Experience:
- Extensive experience (at least 5 years) in conducting research and analysis in the agricultural sector, particularly in market systems development and value chain analysis.
- Proven track record of successfully leading similar assessments or studies related to agricultural input markets.
- Experience working in the Niger Delta region or similar contexts with a thorough understanding of the local agricultural landscape and market dynamics.
- Technical Skills:
- Proficiency in conducting literature reviews, data analysis, and market assessments.
- Strong analytical skills to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities within agricultural input markets.
- Familiarity with qualitative and quantitative research methods, including surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions.
- Ability to develop comprehensive reports with actionable recommendations for stakeholders.
- Stakeholder Engagement:
- Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, including input suppliers, farmers, services providers, government agencies, and civil society organizations.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to facilitate interviews, surveys, and focus group discussions.
- Experience in developing stakeholder engagement plans and conducting outreach activities.
- Project Management:
- Strong project management skills to oversee the entire research process from inception to final deliverables.
- Ability to develop work plans, manage timelines, and coordinate fieldwork activities.
- Attention to detail and ability to adhere to project deadlines and budgets.
- Language Proficiency: Proficiency in English is required, and knowledge of local languages spoken in the Niger Delta region would be an advantage for effective communication with stakeholders.
- Ethical Standards: Commitment to upholding ethical standards in research, including obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality, and respecting the rights and dignity of research participants.
HOW TO APPLY:
The application and cost proposal should be emailed to procurement@pindfoundation.org along with the following mandatory items/supporting documents latest by 5PM Nigerian time on July 8, 2024 (It is advisable to apply immediately as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis).
