(Tor) Assessment of Production, Economic and Social Impact of Interventions with Innovations on Selected Fa
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Terms of Reference (ToR) Assessment of production, economic and social impact of interventions with Innovations on selected farms with wheat and faba bean production in Arsi 1. Background Ethiopia has very diverse bio-physical environment with a variety of ecosystems, with significant differences in climate, soil properties, vegetation types, agricultural potential, biodiversity and water resources. That results in different farming systems and farming products. The crop subsector which, on average, accounted for about 30 percent of GDP has been the major contributor to the growth of the agricultural value added during the period of the GTP (Growth and Transformation Plan). The productivity of major food crops (Cereals, Pulses, and Oil seeds) reached an annual average level of 17.6 quintal (100 kg) per hectare. Further increase in production and productivity of major crops will continue to be a priority in the next five years (2016-2020) by fully implementing strategies such as delivering effective extension services, supplying agricultural inputs and conducting famers training. The participation of several actors like international partners and private business will be encouraged and supported as well by the government. In general, during the period of the second Growth and Transformation Plan, objectives are broadly set in terms of increasing crop and livestock production and productivity, promoting natural resource conservation and utilization, ensuring food security and disaster prevention and preparedness. In this regard, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has launched the Project “Green Innovation Centre – Ethiopia: Innovations for Agricultural Productivity in Arsi” (IFAP – Arsi)” in the Arsi zone. “ This project has the targets to enhance productivity in the agricultural sector through promotion of Wheat and Faba bean value chains by up-scaling of innovations and best practices with following major intervention areas: Up-scaling of technical, organizational and economic innovations with broad scale, positive impact on income and productivity of smallholder farmers Strengthening service provision for smallholder farmers (e.g. through strengthening extension services; training institutions; up- and downstream agribusinesses). Strengthening organizations of value chain actors and promoting their lobbyism at political level. The project is implemented in 5 woredas (Digeluna Tijo, Tiyo, Hitosa, Lude Hitosa, Arsi Robe) of the Arsi zone. Proven and economically efficient innovations will be demonstrated by the project through training and capacity building via existing institutions in the extension service, the cooperative system and the private sector. The up-scaling of “Good Farming Practice” is one of the core activities in these woredas. For that, two main pillars (pillar 1 and pillar 2) are carried out in 2016. About 20,000 farmers will be trained on selected “host farms” (farmers-to-farmers 1 schools) with improved farming skills via training courses (pillar 1) and observable interventions with innovations (pillar 2). With pillar 2 selected innovations will be implemented on these 500 host farms, to improve training via observing (demonstration and promotion). These interventions shall be done on the approach “with and without”: one part of a selected crop field will be done with one innovation (mono-factorial approach) and the other part will be managed as usual. This will allow the direct comparison and is not depended to weather and management. This interventions (“with and without”) shall be documented for further activities in the coming years. 2. Objective of the project This project is designed to enhance understanding and build evidence of the impact of these innovations on 500 host farmers through comparatively measured data on a) agronomic impact (outcome: productivity via yield per hectare etc.), b) economic impact (outcome: profitability through cost efficiency and effectiveness) and c) social impact (outcome: what do trained farmers and host farmers like: acceptance, expectations and perceptions). 3. Tasks of the National Consultant A team of national consultants will undertake the study in five woredas. The team is expected to fulfill the following key tasks: 1. Organize, manage and execute the activities and key tasks of the study described in this Terms of Reference. 2. During its inception phase, the team may suggest modifications and/or revisions to the Terms of Reference, which must be agreed with the Green Innovation Center prior to implementation. 3. Develop and implement acceptable and appropriate data collection methodologies for specific interventions and deploy staff to collect, analyze and report findings on 500 host farmers in five woredas. 4. Conduct data collection, analysis and reporting from all participating farmers in the field sites. 5. Liaise with relevant stakeholders and partners of the Green Innovation Center to implement effective field monitoring tools for successful promotion of interventions (e.g. with IP consult as implementing partner). 6. Hand over all data and information collected during the study. 7. Hand over all monthly and final study reports. 2 4. Expected Results The consultant is expected to: 1. Submit a brief Inception Report after the first field visit to the host farmers and implementing woredas which demonstrates the Team’s basic understanding of the context and subject matter of focus, as well as its appreciation of potential constraints for the task at hand. The report will also include a detailed and realistic work-plan leading to its final output. The inception report should also include a detailed description of the methodology, tools and procedure to be followed for the participatory assessment of the selected innovations. 2. Submit monthly reports on time as stated in the Terms of Reference and conduct regular meetings with Green Innovation Center on the basis of reports and prepare minutes. 3. Submit a final Study Report. This report should consist of the following chapters: 1. Introduction 2. Materilas and Methods used 3. Results and discussions 3.1. Agronomic measures (comparative statstics on innovations Vs controls on yield and other measures) 3.2. Economic measures (cost benefit analysis and statstics of innovations Vs controls measurments) 3.3. Social impacts (measurments and statstics on acceptnce, perception and expectaions of innovations Vs controls) 4. Merged comparisons (prioritization) of innovations based on the parameters measured (agronomic and socio-economic) 5. Conclusions and recommendations of the results (what lessons have been learned from the project and what Green Innovation Center fulfill overall project targets) 5. Duration and Phases of Study The study will be conducted from May 1 to November 15, 2016. Upon completion of the study, the consultant will submit final report and other data, documents and information in hard and soft copies. All feedbacks, comments to and ownership (incl. copyright) of the final report and subsequent publications of results rests with the Green Innovation Center. 6. Implementation Strategy/Modalities The following strategy/modalities will be executed in the study. Activities below are not necessarily sequential. The Team Leader and members will be selected by the national consultant and confirmed by the Green Innovation Center. The Team Leader will be the principal contact person with the Green Innovation Centre program leader and will be responsible for the overall and direct 3 supervision and coordination of the team and any administrative and decision making tasks on behalf of the team. The Team Leader and members will together deliver the key outputs spelled out in the Terms of Reference. The team will work and consult closely with Green Innovation Center and its partners in the woredas. The Green Innovation Center will provide liaison and coordination support with IP-consult and other partners. 7. Roles and Responsibilities Obligation and Responsibilities of Green Innovation Center The Green Innovation Center shall have the following obligations and responsibilities: The Green Innovation Center is the lead organization for the study, and will be responsible for its overall policy guidance. Receive, review and discuss plans and reports (monthly and final) submitted by the consultant detailing activities accomplished and challenges encountered to ensure activities are being executed as planned. Obligations and responsibilities of the consultant The Consultant shall have the following obligations and responsibilities: Have the overall responsibility for the planning, implementation, reporting and monitoring of the project activities and financial issues. Assign one person to be directly responsible for the implementation and communication matters related to the project. Develop and implement clear methodologies and strategies for implementaion of the project majorly focusing on comparative measurment of interventions, proper data analysis methods, reporting schedule and formats etc with the prior approval of Green Innovation Center. Ensure that result based monthly progress and final reports are submitted on time. Consult Green Innovation Center before any change is recommended on the project document that would affect the work being performed. Follow all “Do-Not-Harm”, security and other consultancy standards of GIZ (submitted by request). 8. Submission for The deadline for submitting the expression of interest for implementing the above