Terms of Reference (ToR) for Conducting Rapid Market Assessments in Empowering and Innovative Designing for Protecting Nutrient-Dense Food: Rural Market Development project

Terms of Reference (ToR) 

for

Conducting Rapid Market Assessments in

Empowering and Innovative Designing for Protecting Nutrient-Dense Food: Rural Market Development project

The Multidisciplinary Institute for Livelihood Enhancement and Natural Resource Management (MILAN) aims to create prosperous and equitable societies by providing quality services for human rights, environment, livelihoods, health, nutrition, and women's empowerment. MILAN collaborates with various donors on projects across livelihood, women's economic empowerment, health, education, and more, focusing on marginalized communities, women, and low-income groups. Post-federalism, MILAN partners with local governments to promote integrated community development.

MILAN is implementing “Empowering and Innovative Designing for Protecting Nutrient-Dense Food: Rural Market Development Project (herewith Referred to as FSNIL) funded by FSNIL and iDE Nepal in Kaski, Syanja and Myagdi districts.

iDE is a global organization that advances market-based approaches in agriculture, finance and WASH to create income and livelihood opportunities for low-income rural households.

iDE has worked in Nepal since 1992. From irrigation and good-quality seeds to integrated pest management and rural collection centers where farmers can sell their produce, we provide simple innovations that help rural communities get out of poverty and adapt to climate change. Ide believes that for entrepreneurs in low-income countries to succeed, they must participate in market ecosystems that are economically competitive, inclusive of all people, and resilient to shocks such as conflict or changing climates. By listening to all stakeholders - producers, suppliers, retailers, and customers - we can overcome critical bottlenecks and develop lasting solutions.

MILAN Myagdi hereby invites qualified and interested consulting firms or VAT-registered individuals to submit proposals for a consulting assignment.

Objectives of the Rapid Market Assessment

The rapid market assessment aims to achieve several key objectives to enhance the supply chain of fresh fruits and vegetables in the Myagdi, Kaski, and Syangja districts. Firstly, it seeks to identify the various fresh fruits and vegetables produced, processed, and marketed within these districts. The assessment will also map the market actors involved in the value chain, including producers, processors, traders, and other key stakeholders such as transportation providers and financial institutions. Understanding the value, volume, and distribution channels of these products is essential, as is identifying government stakeholders and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that play a role in the value chain. The assessment will focus on listing farmer groups and cooperatives, particularly those involving women and youth while identifying issues and challenges faced by these groups. Additionally, it will explore market opportunities, evaluate the current use of post-harvest technologies, and assess the demand and supply dynamics. The project will also evaluate government support and its impact, conduct feasibility studies for potential micro-enterprises, and assess the financial service requirements for SMEs. Finally, the assessment will include a review of post-harvest technology service providers and their business models to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the entire value chain.

The specific objectives of the rapid market assessment are the following:

• Identification of Products: To identify fresh fruits and vegetables produced, processed, and marketed in the project working districts (Myagdi, Kaski, and Syangja).
• Market Actor Mapping: To identify and map market actors involved in the value chain, including producers, processors, traders, transportation providers, storage facilities/providers, banks, and financial institutions.
• Value, Volume, and Distribution: To assess the value, volume, and distribution channels of the identified value chains.
• Government Stakeholders: To identify government stakeholders involved in the value chain of the identified products.
• SMEs Identification: To identify Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) involved in the value chain of the identified products and their capacity for technology adoption.
• Farmer Groups and Cooperatives: To identify and list farmer groups and cooperatives, with a focus on women and youth groups, involved in the production and processing of the identified value chains.
• Issues and Challenges: To identify issues and challenges in the value chain of the identified products.
• Market Opportunities: To identify market opportunities, assess business needs, and value-addition opportunities to support SMEs and farmers in the identified value chains.
• Post-Harvest Technologies: To assess various post-harvest technologies currently being used and adopted in the identified value chains.
• Demand and Supply Assessment: To assess the demand and supply dynamics for the identified value chains.
• Government Support Assessment: To evaluate government support, activities, and their contributions to the identified value chains.
• Feasibility and Market Assessment: To conduct feasibility and market assessments for initiating or start-up micro-enterprises in targeted areas.
• Financial Services Assessment: To assess the financial services requirements for identified or recommended SMEs.
• Post-Harvest Technology Service Providers: To assess and identify post-harvest technology service providers and their business models.

3. Scope of Work

The assessment will be conducted in the districts of Myagdi, Kaski, and Syangja and will involve:

• Data Collection: Gathering primary data through surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions with relevant stakeholders including producers, processors, traders, and consumers.
• Data Analysis: Analyzing data to identify market trends, challenges, opportunities, and the overall dynamics of the fresh fruits and vegetables market.
• Reporting: Compiling and presenting findings in a comprehensive report, including recommendations for strengthening the supply chain and opportunities for technology commercialization.

4. Methodology

• Desk Review: Initial review of existing data and reports relevant to the fresh fruits and vegetables market in the districts.
• Field Data Collection: Conducting surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions with stakeholders.
• Data Analysis: Analyzing collected data to assess market trends, value chains, and opportunities.
• Reporting: Preparing and presenting a detailed report with findings and recommendations.

5. Consultant Roles and Responsibilities

The consultant should work closely with the M&E Unit and Project Team. In each step and process, consultation with the M&E Lead is vital. The consultant team will be primarily responsible to: 

• Develop/design a study including a questionnaire for rapid market assessment and checklist and tools for group interaction, including FGD with target key stakeholders (agro-vets, collection centers, technical experts, etc) at district/municipality/rural municipality levels.
• Share the assessment design including process, methods, and questionnaires/checklist with the project team and partners, collect feedback, and finalize the assessment design, including programming required for mobile data collection.
• Orient the data collection team to the survey design and methodology, including questionnaire pre-testing.
• Collect data.
• Clean and analyze data.
• Triangulate and analyze questionnaire survey, FGD, and KII results.
• Write a report and submit a draft report structured as a formal research paper. The structure should include basic sections appropriate to a mixed-methods paper such as Background, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions.
• Edit the draft report based on feedback and submit a final report.

The detailed methodology and fieldwork schedule will be worked out in consultation with MILAN Myagdi, iDE M & E lead, MSD lead, partner organizations, and consultants.

6. Deliverables

The following deliverables are envisioned under this ToR:

• Methods and tools 
• Assessment design (sampling frame, selection and numbers of KII subjects, etc.)
• KII and FGD checklists
• Quantitative survey instrument
• ODK setup
• Data sets
• Transcript of KII and FGD surveys
• Final Reports and Presentations:
  • Inception Report: Detailed plan outlining the approach, methodology, and timeline.
  • Draft Report: Initial findings and analysis for review.
  • Final Report: Comprehensive report with detailed findings, analysis, and recommendations.
  • Presentation: Summary presentation of key findings and recommendations.

7. Eligibility Criteria

The consultancy should have experience in qualitative and quantitative research; a clear understanding of research methodology and experience in using different social research tools and techniques. Work experiences in rural and urban areas of the county will be an added advantage. The team leader should have an advanced university degree in agriculture or rural development or social sciences with experiences of having conducted at least five numbers of baseline surveys, endline surveys, or evaluations preferably of agricultural income generation-related projects.

8. Payment Schedule

• 25% of the contracted amount will be released upon the submission of inception reporting including the following deliverables (Methods and tools, Study design {sampling frame, selection, and numbers of KII subjects, etc.} KII and FGD checklists, Quantitative survey instrument and mobile data collection setup)
• 25% of the contracted amount will be released upon submission of the data set and draft report.
• 50% of the contracted amount will be released upon submission of the Final data set, Presentation, and Final report.
• Government tax regulation will apply and tax deduction at source will be made in each payment

9. Intellectual property, Copyright, and Ownership of all prepared information

All arising intellectual property, ideas, materials, processes, or processes formed in contemplation, course of, or as a result of this study shall be passed to iDE Nepal without restriction and shall not be used by the Consultant for any other purpose without express written permission of iDE Nepal.

Copyright of all arising documents, data, information, or reports produced by the Consultant under this agreement shall belong to iDE Nepal and will be passed to iDE Nepal without restriction. Such documents, data, information, and reports shall not be used by the Consultant for any other purpose other than in conjunction with this assignment, without the express written permission of iDE Nepal.

10. Work Schedule

A detailed plan will be worked out jointly with consultants and the project team. However, the work is expected to commence by September 1, 2024, for an estimated 30-day period, with the final report being submitted by September 30, 2024. 

Application Procedure

Interested and eligible candidates are requested to complete the form in the link provided below:

https://forms.gle/rhcNzEohx48rZj2c9. The proposal must be submitted no later than COB August 20, 2024. For any enquiries for this EOI, kindly email at milan.ngo@gmail.com or call at 069-520050.

Following documents need to be submitted:

• A brief technical proposal including:
  • An understanding of TOR, proposed methodology to accomplish the deliverable with tentative work and timeline,
  • Updated CV of the team members highlighting the relevant competency and professional experience as deemed by the TOR.
  • Firm profile outlining the relevant experience along with the clientele reference.
• Detailed financial proposal for the assignment. The financial proposal must include service fees as well as all other associated costs required for the completion of the assignment.
• Legal Registration and renewal documents. Tax Clearance Certificate of FY 2079.80 is mandatory.

Note: Technical and financial proposals must be provided separately. Failure to provide the above documents or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Evaluation process

All applicants will be screened against the educational qualifications, experience, and competencies set above and the financial quote in the proposal. The contract will be awarded to the candidate evaluated and determined as technically competent to the requirements of the ToR and receiving the highest cumulative (technical and financial) score.

• Technical Criteria- 70% of total evaluation- max. 70 points:

• Financial Criteria- 30% of total evaluation- max. 30 points.

Links Related to the TOR:

1. Annex 1: FSNIL Project Background
2. Annex 2: Theory of Change