Feed the Future Sierra Leone Farmer to Farmer Program

Feed the Future Sierra Leone Farmer to Farmer Program Volunteer Assignment Scope of Work

NOTE: SCOPE OF WORK AWAITING FINAL EDITS.

Summary Information Assignment Code SL 19 Country Sierra Leone Country Project Horticulture Country Project Host Organization Community Aid - Sierra Leone Assignment Title Vegetable production Type of Volunteer Assistance: Technology Transfer (T)

Type of Value Chain Activity: On Farm Production (F) Assignment preferred dates August to September, 2017 Objective: Provide technical support to Community Aid SL and its partner Farmer Based Organization (FBO) members on improved vegetable production Desired volunteer  Formal qualifications in agriculture skill/expertise  Good experience in horticulture/vegetables production for good marketing and consumption  Experience working with farmers on using improved inputs/technologies in vegetable production  Good communication skills

A. BACKGROUND

Community Aid-Sierra Leone (CASL) is a local Non-Governmental Organization, registered with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, and the Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations. The organization has its Head Office situated in Freetown, and branch offices in Tonkolili and Moyamba Districts. CASL targets youth, women, children, disabled persons, orphans and farmers.

CASL was formed in 2003It started as a community development association by the inhabitants of Gbonkolenken Chiefdom in Tonkolili District, with the initial goal of engaging in agricultural activities, health and sanitation, advocacy, governance and child welfare promotion in their localities. As a result of the organization’s expansion in membership, target beneficiaries and operational areas with a broader mandate to undertake sustainable development initiatives, CASL registered as a national NGO with the Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

CASL has the vision to strengthen the self-development capacities of target beneficiaries and communities for general improvement in their living conditions and life situation in the society. The organization has the mission of general improvement in the standard of living and welfare of target beneficiaries for the reduction in abject poverty, hunger, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and promotion of sustainable development, improved health and sanitation, and provision of quality education in their operational areas in Sierra Leone.

Core Values

CASL as an organization stands for certain values which have formed the very foundation of their existence and all their actions. The core values include:

 Promote participation of all stakeholders in all they do  As a result of their work, the people they serve must become gradually self-reliant in championing their own developments

Strategic Directions and Programs Building upon analysis of the problem in the country CASL recognized that its programing will require an integrated approach. Although many strategies and approaches will be cross-cutting and integrated into other programs, the organization will focus on the following areas:

EDUCATION  Sensitization on Girl Child Education and the rights of the child in rural communities  Hygiene education and promotion in schools  Formation and training of School Health Clubs for hygiene promotion in primary schools  Training of School Management Committee members on the management of their schools

FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS  Agricultural inputs support to youth and women farmers for improved food production and marketing  Training of target farmers on improved crop cultivation for increased productivity  Training of target farmers in business techniques/methods for sustainability  Provision of small ruminants to target farmers for restocking anf marketing  Construction of fish ponds and Aquaculture

HEALTH AND SANITATION  Community health education and common diseases prevention training  Sensitization on behavioral change and adoption of hygiene best practices in communities and schools  Awareness raising on Reproductive Health among youth, adolescents and women

HIV/AIDS/TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND

 Awareness raising campaign in rural communities and schools  HIV/AIDS prevention training among adolescents, youth and Traditional Birth Attendants  Income generating ventures for high-risk groups such as commercial sex workers, war widows, etc. Operational Areas

CASL operates in two districts in Sierra Leone; Tonkolili and Moyamba Districts. In Tonkolili, CASL works in Gbonkolenken Chiefdom, with small scale producers of rice, vegetables and livestock. In Moyamba District, CASL works in 3 chiefdoms, on IVS rehabilitation.

PROJECTS/ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED

Years Name of project implemented Sources of funding 2003 Vegetable production for war affected women, supported by WFP WFP 2005 Agricultural inputs distribution to returnee farmers in IFAD Gbonkolenken Chiefdom 2005 Provision of seeds and agricultural tools to war affected IFAD farmers 2010 HIV/AIDS Awareness and Animal Restocking for women National Aid Secretariat farmers 2013 Construction of Fish Ponds for rural communities in Tonkolili DFPP district 2008 HIV/AIDS campaign among fisher men and fish mongers in West Africa Fishery and Tombo and Goderich Development Program 2009 HIV/AIDS campaign among fisher men and fish mongers in West Africa Fishery and Shenge Development Program 2013 IVS rice cultivation for women and youth farmers in GAFSP Moyamba 2016 Water management and seed management training for CUM, Netherland women and youth farmers in Moyamba 2015 Training on IVS rehabilitation and development for women GAFSP and youth farmers in Moyamba District 2016 Water management training for women and youth farmers in Moyamba district

B. ISSUE DESCRIPTION

Sierra Leone is a favorable country for vegetable production. It has huge potentials for improved production that will provide variety of products for consumption and marketing. There are several locations in the country that have good soil and favorable weather conditions particularly rainfall and temperature for improved vegetable production. With all the potentials vegetable production is mainly practiced in small scale by mostly women in the rural communities. Tonkolili is one of the 14 districts of Sierra Leone with potentials for vegetable production. Vegetables can be cultivated for 2 to 3 times per year in most parts of the country.

However, vegetable production in Sierra Leone by smallholder farmers is faced with many challenges that affect production and productivity. Below are some of the issues around vegetable production:

Inadequate knowledge and skills of vegetable producers in improved agronomic practices. The application of improved agronomic practices is key to improving vegetable production and productivity. This will ensure that farmers use appropriate methodologies and practices to improve their production. However, majority of the producers in Sierra Leone do not have access to improved extension services that will build their capacity in vegetable production. Local producers use traditional methods of planting vegetables without appropriate dimensions, and application of fertilizers without specifications and scale. Farmers do not know the exact time to apply fertilizers, if they had access to them, and the quantity and methods of application. Farmers need knowledge in the appropriate technologies for improved vegetable production.

CASL staff and farmer leaders do not have enough knowledge and skills in improved methodologies and good agronomic practices for improved vegetable production. They need capacity building support in the best agronomic practices that will enhance vegetable production in their areas of operation. They need a training material or guide that they will use to refresh and transfer knowledge to others.

Lack of inputs by vegetable producers for improved production. Vegetable farmers face challenges with the quality of seeds to produce. Most the seeds available to them are less productive due to continued use as seed for several years. Farmers do not have access to seed banks, where they could go in the communities and get to produce vegetables. Vegetable seeds are retail in some of the local markets, and the prices, some of them cannot afford. Imported seeds are expensive and some of the producers cannot afford, and prefer to continue using their local seeds which are not very productive. Vegetable producers lack the appropriate tools and equipment required for good vegetable production. The use of good and the appropriate tools will help to improve the quality of the soil and water availability for good utilization of nutrients and water by the crops. Vegetable producers are constrained by the lack of access to improved fertilizers for improved productivity. Lack of knowledge on the type of fertilizer to apply is also affecting production. Most of the fertilizers available in the country are supplied by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) through their District offices. Due to Government bureaucracies, the fertilizers sometimes the farmers late. Vegetable producers also face challenges with pest control. They do not have good access to the appropriate chemicals for pest and disease control.

Lack of finance by vegetable producers for investment in their production. Most of the vegetable producers in the rural areas of Sierra Leone do not have access to finance, to enable them to buy inputs and pay for services for improved production. Smallholder farmers who do not have access to credits and loans from financial service providers cannot afford the cost of good quality of seeds and other quality inputs that will improve vegetable production. This leads to farmers paying less attention to vegetable production and consider other livelihoods options. This makes vegetable production in the rural areas mostly on backyard gardens by women for their home consumption.

Climate change is also another factor that is affecting vegetable production in Sierra Leone. Climate change has caused erratic weather conditions ranging from early rainfall, flooding of low lands to heavy winds destroying crops in the field. The issues of flood and heavy winds are usually envisaged during the period of maturity of the crops to harvest, causing serious losses to the producers. Farmers require knowledge that they will use to produce their vegetables in a way that will not be adversely affected by the unpredictable weather conditions. Marketing of vegetable products is also a challenge to the smallholder farmers in Sierra Leone. In order to access market, producers face challenges with transportation of their products from farm gates to distant market locations where they can sell their produce at good prices. Poor road network and high costs of transportation affect the capacity of vegetable producers in transporting their products to value markets. This leads to their products being perished and eventually farmers losing money.

Lack of good storage facilities for vegetable products in rural communities also affect the incomes of farmers. Vegetables get perished within a few days and without good storage facilities producers lose money, or sell their produce at low prices in order to realize some incomes from their investments.

Community Aid Sierra Leone is requesting a partnership with the Feed the Future Sierra Leone Farmer to Farmer program, to build the capacity of their staff and partner FBO members on improved vegetable production in Gbokolenken chiefdom, Tonkolili district. This request is a result of the inadequate knowledge and skills of their staff and partner FBO members on improved vegetable production.

C. OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Provide technical support to Community Aid Sierra Leone and its partner Farmer Based Organization members on improved vegetable production.

The specific objectives of this assignment are stated below: 1. Train CASL staff and their partner FBO members on good agronomic practices for improved vegetable production, including seed selection, weeding and soil fertility maintenance and improvement for increased productivity 2. Provide training to CASL staff and partner FBO members on the best practices of land preparation for improved vegetable production, including improved ploughing and harrowing, preparation of nurseries and transplanting sites with technical specifications, and appropriate dimensions of planting spaces 3. Train CASL staff and their partner FBO members on improved methodologies of vegetable production, such as methodological packages developed by research institutions 4. Train CASL staff and their partner FBO members on sustainable methodologies that will make vegetables resilient to unpredictable weather conditions. Use of Climate Smart Agriculture knowledge and skills 5. Prepare on farm demonstration for the participants on the use of improved agronomic practices and methodologies of vegetable production for improved production and productivity

By the end of the training CASL staff and their partner FBO members will have improved knowledge and skills on good agronomic practices and improved methodologies of vegetable production. Participants will gain good understanding of improved methodological packages of vegetable production that is adaptable to the local conditions of the producers. By the end of the assignment, participants will gain good knowledge in Climate Smart Agriculture to tackle the adverse effects of Climate Change.

D. HOST CONTRIBUTION  CASL will assign staff to work closely with the volunteer during the assignment  CASL will use its financial resources to mobilize staff and partner FBO members to effectively participate training sessions.  CASL will conduct in-country induction training for the volunteer. E. ANTICIPATED RESULTS FROM THE ASSIGNMENT

 Increased capacity of CASL staff and their partner FBO members on improved agronomic practices and methodologies of vegetable production. Participants will have good understanding of technical specifications for preparing land and planting seedlings for improved vegetable production. Participants will have good understanding of climate smart agriculture approaches to tackle erratic weather conditions against vegetable production.  Partner FBO members of CASL will adopt the improved practices and methodologies of vegetable production gained from the training.  CASL staff and partner FBO members will cascade the training to other farmers for improved vegetable production in their communities

F. DELIVERABLES  Volunteer develops user friendly training manual/guide for the participants to enable them refresh their knowledge and transfer knowledge and skills to other farmers  Established demonstration plot for improved vegetable production  Volunteer developed simple structure reports that will be shared with stakeholders.  Volunteer make a Power Point presentation at CRS Country Office in Freetown on the assignment

G. SCHEDULE OF VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES IN SIERRA LEONE Upon arrival at the Lungi International Airport, the Feed the Future Sierra Leone Farmer to Farmer Volunteer Logistician, Alie Timbo (cell phone: +23276648010/+23230506922) and CRS Expeditor, Bai Bai Kamara (cell phone: +23279735330) will receive the volunteer, and assist him or her with movements and luggage within the airport before taken to the hotel.

Day Activity Day 1 Volunteer leaves home country (US) Day 2 Volunteer arrives at the Lungi International Airport and is assisted by the CRS Expeditor to be accommodated at the Lungi Airport Hotel, if he or she arrives in the evening, to pass the night Day 3 Volunteer is taken to Makeni from the Airport Hotel by the F2F Logistician and is accommodated at the CRS Guest House, where he/she will stay throughout the assignment. Day 4 Volunteer is taken to the Feed the Future field office in Magburaka for introductions and security briefing. Volunteer is taken by the F2F Program Coordinator to the host office location in Magburaka for introductions and local cultural briefing Day 5-8 Volunteer train CASL staff and their partner FBO members on good agronomic practices for improved vegetable production, including seed selection, weeding and soil fertility maintenance and improvement for increased productivity Day 9 Volunteer rest for the weekend and prepare for work on the next day Day 10-13 Volunteer train CASL staff and their partner FBO members on the best practices of land preparation for improved vegetable production, including improved ploughing and harrowing, preparation of nurseries and transplanting sites with technical specifications, and appropriate dimensions of planting spaces Day 14-15 Volunteer train CASL staff and their partner FBO members on improved methodologies of vegetable production, such as methodological packages developed by research institutions Day 16 Volunteer rest for the weekend and prepare for work on the next day Day 17-18 Train CASL staff and their partner FBO members on sustainable methodologies that will make vegetables resilient to unpredictable weather conditions. Use of Climate Smart Agriculture knowledge and skills Day 19 Volunteer close training Day 20 Volunteer submits draft power point presentation and end of assignment report to CRS, and travel to Freetown for debriefing at the CRS Country Office Day 21 Volunteer debrief at CRS office in Freetown, and depart later in the day for home country TBD Outreach event in the US

After the volunteer debrief at the CRS Country Office in Freetown, depending on the departure time, he or she will have a 15 minutes’ drive from the CRS Office in Freetown to Aberdeen to board a water taxi that will take him/her to Lungi for departure. The water taxi takes about 20 to 30 minutes to land on the shore in Lungi. At the shore, the passengers will wait for about 10 to 15 minutes for the luggage to be transferred to a mini-bus that will take them to the airport and the passengers will board another mini- bus to the airport for checking and departure. At the airport, it takes an hour or more for the airport authorities to complete checking. However, some flights may delay for about an hour or more, and passengers will be encouraged to exercise patience by the airline.

H. DESIRABLE VOLUNTEERS SKILLS  Formal qualifications in agriculture  Good experience in horticulture/vegetables production for good marketing and consumption  Experience working with farmers on using improved inputs/technologies in vegetable production  Good communication skills

I. ACCOMMODATION AND OTHER IN-COUNTRY LOGISTICS

Volunteers arriving at the airport before 4 pm will be taken by Alie in a CRS car to Makeni for accommodation at the CRS Guest House. When the volunteer arrives after 5:00 pm, the Logistician or CRS Expeditor will take the guest to the Lungi Airport Hotel, E-mail: ([email protected]) for passing the night. In the morning around 10, the volunteer will be taken by a CRS car to Makeni where he/she will stay at the CRS Guest House throughout the period of the assignment. CRS will provide transportation for the volunteer from the hotel to the host throughout the assignment. CRS will provide the volunteer with per diem which will not be accounted for, to be used as expenses for meals and incidentals. For more information, please refer to the country information that will be provided.

J. RECOMMENDED ASSIGNMENT PREPARATIONS The volunteer should prepare materials for hand-outs, which can be printed at CRS office in Makeni before commencement of the assignment. Flip charts, markers, masking tapes can be obtained at CRS offices in case the volunteer wishes to make some illustrations. Depending on the training venue the volunteer may use a laptop and projector for power point presentations. However if the training venue is in the community, it will be difficult to use PowerPoint. In this case the volunteer will be expected to prepare training materials and have hand-outs printed at CRS offices for distribution to the participants. CRS strongly recommends that the volunteer becomes familiar with the Sierra Leone Feed the Future EAIN F2F Program description prior to arrival in the country as well as country information that will be provided.

K. KEY CONTACTS CRS Baltimore Bruce White Priyanka Subba Project Director Volunteer Recruiter EA Farmer to Farmer Program Sierra Leone Farmer to Farmer Program 228 W. Lexington Street 228 W. Lexington Street Baltimore, MD 21201 Baltimore, MD 21201 410-951-7249 / 410-428-4224 Cell 410-951-7366 Skype: brucew219 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] http://farmertofarmer.crs.org CRS Sierra Leone Program Nikaj Van Wee Nathaniel G. Lamin Chief of Party Program Coordinator Feed the Future Sierra Leone Entrepreneurial Sierra Leone Farmer to Farmer Program Agriculture for Improved Nutrition Project 41 Riverside Drive, Brook Fields, Freetown 41 Riverside Drive, Brook Fields, Freetown Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Skype: natglamin ACT-S/L Manfred Musa Ibrahim J. Turay Program Director Program Manager Community Aid-Sierra Leone (CASL) Community Aid-Sierra Leone (CASL) 213 Bai Bureh Road, Grass Field, Freetown 213 Bai Bureh Road, Grass Field, Freetown Mobile: +232 78 829966 +232 76 739006 Email: [email protected]