Value Chain Assessor for Cocoa at SNV Netherlands Development

The overall objective of the assignment is to conduct a value chain assessment for the two main companion crops, cassava and plantain, and at least two common permanent shade/timber trees in cocoa systems in Bia West District of the Western North Region in order to understand opportunities and limitations for market development, and an action plan to improve contribution of companion crops and timber trees to farmers livelihoods and uptake of cocoa replanting services.

Details on the Task include:

•       Conduct a desk review of project documentation and discuss with key SNV project staff to gain an understanding of the project’s theory of change, objectives, approach and activities (particularly those involving smallholder cocoa farmers,  work on the cocoa replanting process, and cocoa agroforestry systems).
•      Identify, collect, review and analyse relevant existing data related to the cassava, plantain, maize and shade/timber tree value chains in a mixed cocoa agroforestry system already available from secondary sources and from key informants.
•      Develop a detailed approach/methodology and work plan for the conduct of the assessment, including specification of inputs/support from local government partners and other stakeholders, as required, and a plan for data collection mission in the project area, taking into consideration restrictions associated with covid-19 and other risks prevention. Agree on proposed report content and format, using the template provided by SNV as a foundation.
•      Conduct a stakeholder mapping exercise with a particular focus on identifying different actors in the value chain in Bia West district, of Western North Region and beyond (middlemen/traders, processing firms, buying companies (international and domestic) etc.). Identify entities in the supply chain interested in supporting inclusive business projects and sustainable value chain approaches.
•       Conduct a detailed analysis of cassava, plantain, maize, shade/timber tree supply chains (particularly in cocoa agroforestry systems and off-reserve cocoa timber tree mixed systems) in Bia West district: their dynamics, activities of each entity/stakeholder group, linkages between different entities/stakeholders, their capacities, constraints/issues and identify areas where support is needed for further market development. This will include:
•       Meeting with donor agencies and key government officials active in the cassava, plantain, maize and timber  value chains to gain an understanding of their strategies and approaches, their current plans for new investments and initiatives, and their perceptions about risks, opportunities, enablers etc.
•      Interview key private sector buyers, manufacturers, input suppliers, processors and traders to determine constraints and opportunities, product quality and standards, relationships among actors and other details about the current operations of and anticipated changes including risks associated with the value chains.
•        Examine strategic foreign and local investments as well as other considerations at the upstream (inputs, farmers and organization of production units); midstream (processing and wholesaling); and downstream (retailing, local markets as well as international trade) segments.
•    Analyse barriers to and incentives for greater upgrading, competition and cooperation between and among firms (including smallholder farmers).
•     Conduct a participatory baseline assessment of (a sample of) producers in the supply chain. This is expected to include the collection of both quantitative and qualitative information on smallholder farmer production knowledge, methods, yields, inputs, quality of production, standards, farm economics, technical problems, other challenges, constraints/issues etc.
•    Present findings at a stakeholder’s consultation workshop, to ‘ground truth’ findings with public and private sector stakeholders and collaboratively develop a list of potential solutions to problems.
•   Prepare a report and presentation on the research and the stakeholder consultation, including a profitability model of the cost/income, or gross margin analysis in excel format.

Expected Deliverables include:

• Develop a detailed approach/methodology and work plan for the conduct of the assessment, including specification of inputs/support from local government partners and other stakeholders, as required, and a plan for data collection mission on the project area (as per task iii);
• Agree to proposed report content and format, using the template provided by SNV as a foundation (as per task iii);
• Report on  mission to project area for primary research, stakeholder interviews, and delivery of baseline assessment of producers (task v);
• Deliver stakeholder’s consultation workshop (task vi);
• Final report, presentation and profitability model (task vii).

Time frame for the assignment:

• The work specified in this term of reference is expected to be completed within a period of 30 man-days (between July and August 2020).

Qualifications

Firms/organisations or groups of consultants are free to propose a mix of expertise they intend to use for the delivery of the assignment and division of labour amongst experts.

• Master’s Degree in Economics, Development Studies, Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Agroforestry or related field;
• Excellent knowledge of value chains, marketing systems and private sector development;
• Evidence of delivering similar assignment;
• Strong analytical, research and presentation skills;
• Excellent report writing skills.