ToR Baseline Survey

8/12/2019 ToR Baseline Survey

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High Value Agriculture Project (HVAP)

HVAP/baseline survey/ToRs Page 1

Terms of Reference for Baseline Study

1. General Background

The High Value Agriculture Project in Hill and Mountain Areas (HVAP) is a market led initiative that seeks

to provide income and employment benefits to poor small holder farmers, landless and agribusinessthrough development and upgrading of pro-poor value chains in the Mid and Far Western Region of the

country. Following the Inclusive Business (IB) approach, the project focuses on facilitating mutually

beneficial and profitable marketing arrangements between the suppliers and buyers of High Value

Commodity (HVC) value chains and inclusion of excluded groups. Based on the newly constructed road

corridors, the project is being implemented in Dailekh, Jajarkot, Jumla, Kalikot, Salyan, Surkhet, and

Accham; and will expand to Dolpa, Humla, and Mugu as the road extends thereby serving 10 districts of

the Mid and Far Western Development Region. Funded by the International Fund for Agriculture

Development (IFAD) and executed by Ministry of Agriculture Development (MoAD), SNV Netherlands

Development Organisation and Agro Enterprise Centre (AEC) of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of

Commerce and Industries (FNCCI)are the implementing partners of the project.

Relying on the approach of value chain development and inclusive business, the project aims to reduce

poverty and vulnerability of women and men in hill and mountain areas of the Mid-Western

Development Region by integrating the rural poor, especially women and marginal groups in high value

agriculture and NTFP/MAP value chains and markets thereby offering them the opportunities for

improved income, employment opportunities and ability to respond to market demand and

opportunities.

As of now, HVAP has selected value chains and developed intervention strategies for some value chains,

the interventions of which are about to commence. Prior to implementing the value chain development

strategies it is imperative that baselines be established for selected indicators to enable periodic

reporting, monitoring and evaluation purposes. Hence, this ToR has been developed to facilitate

interested consultant (s) and firms to submit proposals to carryout baseline studies for apples, vegetable

seeds, and ginger in the project districts. The study is expected to establish baselines for IFAD RIMS

indicators and other value chain specific indicators. Broadly, the baselinewill cover socio-economic and

demographic conditions, food security, nutrition, assets ownership, and value chain indicators including

production, margins, value addition, (primary) processing, and market arrangements inter alia.





2. Objective of the Study

The overall objective of this study is to support the project in establishing baselines for selected RIMS

and VC specific indicators as reflected in the project log-frame and results chain(s).

The specific objectives are to:

Develop ready-to-use survey instruments capturing RIMS and VC specific indicators: The RIMS

and VC specific indicators are defined and interview schedules have been prepared. As a part of

developing ready-to-use instruments, the consultant (s) is expected to translate, field test, and

finalize those instruments.

Run a quick pre-test and make necessary adjustments in the survey instruments (if required).

Undertake required number of Focus Group Discussions, Key Informant Interviews, surveys and

other tools to collect reliable information

Establish HHsbaselines for selected indicators at output, outcomes, and impact level covering

(but not limiting to): demographic conditions, assets, food (in)security, nutrition, general

agriculture conditions, and apple, vegetable seeds, and ginger VC specific indicators.

Establish baselines on relevant indicators at groups/cooperative level and at broader market

level;

Establish baselines on prevalent marketing practices, market infrastructures, and services at

district level.

3. Expected Output

The consultant (s) is expected to furnisha comprehensive and analytical baseline report that is

sufficiently disaggregated on caste, ethnicity, gender, and economic status of the anticipated

beneficiaries and value chains. The baseline report should be able to report on the indicators as set out

into the project log-frame and results chains. In addition to electronic and hard copies of final report,

consultant (s) is expected to submit clean data electronically.

4. Study MethodologyThe study will make use of qualitative and quantitative methods to obtain required information. A

combination of but not limiting to (sample) household surveys, key informant interviews, and focus

group discussion is required. The study will make use of following methodology:





1. Sample Survey: It is proposed that a total of 120 respondents (4 clusters or pockets/ VC and 30

respondents/ cluster) will be interviewed for each value chain. Thus the total sample for this study will

be 360. It is advised that a respondent stratification exercise be undertaken in each pockets/clusters

prior to the interviews, preferably using participatory tools like socio-economic well- being. Based on the

stratification exercise, sample should consist of respondents representing at least three economic strata

(poor, moderately poor, and relatively well off).

2. Focus group discussions: At least one focus group discussion per pockets is advised. The focus group

discussion should be able to verify the information collected through the HH surveys and report on

indicators that can’t be done through household surveys.

3. Group/ cooperative interviews: At least one cooperative and few groups should be interviewed ineach production pockets/ clusters that will help report on institutional aspects of agriculture production

and marketing in the districts.

4. Traders survey: Using the traders’ survey interview schedule, key traders involved in value chains

should be interviewed.

5. Service provider mapping and interviews: Key private and public service providers to be mapped and

interviewed. The study should be able to describe the number of active service providers, service

offered and their outreach.

6. Desk study: Information on broader socio-economic, market, and livelihoods indicators be established

through the desk study.

7. Data analysis and reporting: At the end, an analytical report is expected. Hence, the study should

make use of proven data collection and analysis tools and techniques to make plausible and inferential

estimation of indicators contained in the log frame and results chain by extrapolating the information

obtained from sample surveys. It is advised that dependent variables be correlated and regressed

against key independent variable like socio-economic status, gender, and ethnicity to the extent

possible. The report should make use of pictures, graphs, diagrams, narrative analysis, and other

inferential statements that sufficiently extrapolate the prevailing baseline status of selected indicators.





5. Study Team

The proposed team should comprise of reasonable number of experts having proven track record in

designing and implementing socio-economic research, baseline studies and/ or evaluation studies and

having good depth of understanding of selected value chains and gender and social inclusion. It is

advised that following experts be made available for the study.

Team Leader (Socio-economist and/or value chain expert-1): The team leader is responsible for

ensuring that the study is rightly designed, implemented, and reported. S/he is expected to have a

minimum Master’s Degree in relevant disciplinewithproven track record in designing and implementing

socio-economic research, baseline studies and/or project evaluation. It is the responsibility of the team

leader to ensure that Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) perspectives are also adequately captured in the

study.

Team member (Technical expert-1): Minimum Master’s Degree in agriculture (preferably horticulture or

agribusiness) or related fields with proven experience in market led agriculture development. A

substantial experience in baseline studies, feasibility assessment, and/or impact studies is required.

Team member (Data Analyst-1): Master’s Degree in Statistics, MBA or relevant field with demonstrated

experience in socio-economic data analysis using credible tools, techniques and software.

Team members (Enumerators): Preferably local inhabitants having experience in PRA tools and

household survey enumerations. Fluency in local language and dialects is required.

6. Tentative time frame

The study is expected to commence from third week of August and completed by third week of October.

The study will follow the rough time line as mentioned below:





6. Service Provider’s reporting obligations and deliverables

The consultant (s) or firms are required to produce following deliverables during the contract period.

a. Inception Report along with translated survey instruments, study methodology (including data

analysis design),and report structure.

b. Short pre-test report and finalized interview schedules (in Nepali).

c. Draft baseline study report

d. Final report (digital and hard copies) along with Clean Data

7. Budget

Budget should cover all costs for remuneration,travel, workshops, and meetings. If the applicant is a

firm or a company, VAT certificate is a must. Prevailing GoN rules will be applied for tax purpose and any

conflict arising throughout the study.

Mode of payment : payments will be made in the following three installments -

30% of the agreed budget as an advance upon signing of the agreement

50 % of the agreed amount one week after the submission of the 1st draft report.

Remaining 20 % after satisfactory quality check by HVAP after submitting the final

report after incorporating the feedback and comments after 2 weeks of receiving the

feedback.

8. Conditions of the Contract

This ToR is guided by the SNV Nepal’s General Terms and Conditions Governing Contracts with local

capacity builders (LCB Contract). The proposals will be selected through Quality Cost Based

Systemsmethod. The following evaluation criteria will be used to assess proposals:

Technical strength of the proposal (methodological clarity, data analysis plan, approach): 25%

Team composition: 25%

Experience in similar assignments: 10%

Interview: 20%

Cost efficiency: 20% (based on financial proposal)

Shortlisting will take place based on the first three criteria. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a

presentation and interview. Basedon the five criteria above, the final selection will be made. The

proposed team composition can’t be changed during the study period without prior approval from

HVAP.





9. Dead line for submission of proposal

Interested consultancy firms or local capacity builders are requested to submit their financial and

technical proposals separately in clearly marked sealed envelopes. A Quality and Cost Based System

(QCBS) will be followed for evaluation. The consultant (s) must furnish the detailed CVs with copies of

testimonials that justify the academic and professional experiences of the staff proposed in thetechnical proposal. The proposals have to be submitted, latest by 1700 Hours, on Monday30 July

2012, to one the following addresses along with copies of latest tax clearance, registration certificate,

VAT certificate for private firm or company, and a one page organisational profile. Proposals can be

submitted to one of the following addresses:

SNV Nepal

P.O.Box: 1966

Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal

Phone: 015523444

OrHVAP/ Project Management Unit

Birendranagar Municipality

Ward no. 8

Itaram, Surkhet

Phone: 083520038

Or

HVAP liaison office

Kumaripati, Lalitpur, Nepal

Phone: 015252977

Documents

ToR Baseline Survey