A. Project Specifications
1. Background
Ranked 186 out of 188 countries on the Human Development Index, Chad hosts 685,000 displaced persons (OCHA, 2017). The displaced persons include 485,000 refugees, 105,000 internally displaced persons and 110,000 Chadian returnees who fled regional conflicts. For more than a decade, conflicts in the Central African Republic, Sudan (Darfur) and more recently in Nigeria have forced these people to flee to find refuge in Chad, mainly in the Lake, Eastern and Southern regions. Chad is the 4th largest country in the world regarding the proportion of refugees it hosts in relation to its indigenous population.
In Chad, the deterioration of the economic and financial situation since 2016 exacerbates economic and social tensions: access to basic services is difficult and there is an insufficient public infrastructure as well as a lack of economic opportunities, especially for young people. These factors weaken the situation of host populations as well as refugees and returnees. The arrival of refugees and returnees increases the pressure on natural resources, which are a source of recurrent conflicts and which the climatic hazards of recent years, aggravate. Finally, the increased concentration of people increases the intensive use of land and reduces agricultural productivity.
In instances, particularly in the East of Chad, the vulnerability of the local population is sometimes greater than that of the refugee population: while the local population is poorly served by basic social services, the refugees benefit from free health care and better access to education, as well as food assistance. This imbalance can manifest as a source of tension.
Eastern Chad (Wadi Fira, Ouaddaï, Sila, Salamat, Eastern Ennedi) hosts approximately 324,000 Sudanese refugees in 12 camps and host villages. These regions, which are particularly vulnerable to agro-climatic hazards, are affected by food and nutritional crises. 430,000 people are in a situation of great food vulnerability and 1,725,000 people are marked by malnutrition rates above emergency thresholds. Indeed, 49% of the severely food insecure people in Chad are in the refugee hosting regions in the East.
The DIZA programme (Inclusive Development in Host Areas) is being implemented in eastern Chad. It aims to improve the living conditions of host, refugee and returnee populations within host areas, through inclusive local development, improving access to social protection and livelihood options whilst aiming to minimise factors contributing to inter-community tensions, instability and the risk of increased forced displacement and conflict.
2. Agriculture Value Chains in Concern target areas
Agriculture employs 80% of the country’s active population, while this sector of the economy accounts for almost half of the GDP[1]. With the exception of cotton production, some small-scale sugar cane production, and a portion of the peanut crop, Chad's agriculture consists of subsistence food production. Poor rural people have to overcome poor infrastructure, low rainfall and climatic variations. Moreover farmers lack access to the services, knowledge and technology they need to improve productivity. Inadequate access to rural financial services also prevents poor farmers from developing alternative income opportunities or improving productivity[2].
However, several studies on agriculture value chains have been conducted in the provinces where Concern is operational, or in their close proximity, namely in South and Eastern Chad, and they showed economic viability and opportunities for income and employment. These studies explored the value chain of specific agriculture produces, such as sesame, groundnuts and groundnuts oil, garlic and onion in the East and South areas of the country[3][4]; vegetables (okra, tomato, onion, chilli, pepper) and fruits (mango, orange and guava) in Salamat Province[5], among others. Arabic gum is also widely produced in Chad as this is the second largest global exporter, after Sudan[6]. These agriculture value chains, which benefit from established markets links and viable economic openings, may represent an interesting economic and employment opportunity for vulnerable groups that are currently supported by Concern within the DIZA-Est Programme, such as poor farmers, including women, unemployed rural youth, refugees and returnees.
3. Purpose of the Consultancy
Concern aims to contract a consultant to design agriculture value chain (AVC) interventions that include vulnerable groups supported by the current DIZA-Est programme. The aim of the consultancy is to review existing studies and data on agriculture value chains that are deemed viable in the three provinces where the DIZA-Est programme is operational, Ouaddai, Sila and Salamat, and formulate a set of interventions that would enable the actors involved in those AVCs, and vulnerable categories in particular, to benefit from increased productivity, market opportunities, produce’s value addition and income.
The consultancy should focus on pro-poor approaches for market system strengthening and value chain development, such as Make the Market Work for the Poor approach, to ensure that poorest, female-headed households, the refugees, the youth, and other vulnerable categories can benefit from the proposed intervention, in line with Concern’s mission and strategic objectives. However, the interventions will engage with all relevant market actors to strengthen the identified value chains.
The AVCs that have been pre-selected by the programme team, based on the review of the above mentioned studies and reports, and internal studies and consultations carried out during the BRACED programme (2015-2017), are as follow:
§ Groundnuts, sesame, and onion in the Ouaddai Province
§ Groundnuts and sesame in the Sila Province
§ Vegetables (okra, tomato, onion, chilli, pepper) in the Salamat Province
§ Arabic Gum across the three Provinces
These AVCs are already established in these regions and characterised by large-scale production, strong market linkages, and good levels of economic returns[7], therefore they are deemed economically viable for involving new actors, or to work on strengthening the positions of the existing ones.
4. Objectives and Specific Tasks to be undertaken by the Consultant(s)
The specific objectives and tasks of this AVC study are the following:
Ø Obj 1: To select established and viable AVCs to support in Ouaddai, Sila and Salamat Provinces, in which vulnerable groups could benefit from;
§ Task 1.1: To review relevant data, studies and reports on AVCs in the target geographical areas to see their appropriateness for targeting vulnerable categories;
§ Task 1.2: To either confirm the above identified AVCs, or replace them with others that show a more robust viability and economic potential for vulnerable groups (with strong justification).
Ø Obj 2: To identify the main barriers faced and opportunities arising for the main actors engaged in the identified AVCs as well as for the vulnerable groups (extreme poor, female-headed households, refugees, IDPs, youth) in order to strengthen their role in the chain;
§ Task 2.1: to consult with all relevant actors and vulnerable groups through round table discussion, Focus Group Discussions, Informant interviews and other consultative methodologies;
§ Task 2.2: to explore barriers and bottlenecks that each actor faces (producers, harvester, collectors, transporters, processors, traders, wholesalers, retailers, etc.) at different levels of the value chain, in each Province, and for each AVC;
§ Task 2.3: to explore points of strengths and opportunities emerging at different levels of the value chain for the various actors (producers, harvester, collectors, transporters, processors, traders, wholesalers, retailers, etc.), in each Province, and for each AVC;
§ Task 2.4: Investigate existing levels of engagement of vulnerable categories (see above groups), in each Province, and for each AVC, and assess the main existing challenges and barriers - or potential ones for those not yet involved in that AVC - these groups face when engaging in the identified AVCs; **
Ø Obj 3: To develop a set of interventions aimed at strengthening the role of the different actors engaged in the identified AVCs, and vulnerable groups in particular, in order to increase their economic and employment opportunities.
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§ Task 3.1**: to improve access to inputs for the identified AVCs, by for example increasing input providers’ capacities to stock and supply good quality inputs and strengthening the linkages between famers/producers and existing input suppliers;**
§ Task 3.2: to increase crop productivity by strengthening farmers’ technical capacities for identified crops, ensuring access to good quality inputs and small scale mechanisation;
§ Task 3.3: to explore ways to add value to the primary produce by promoting post-harvest management and storing practices, processing technologies and mechanisation;
§ Task 3.4: to increase output market linkages and opportunities among different actors for identified AVCs, for example by promoting produce aggregation and bulking, strengthening producers marketing and agri-business capacities, sharing of market information (prices, stocks, etc.) among market actors (farmers/producers, transporters, traders, wholesalers, retailers), improving buyers’ capacities to purchase in bulk, etc.;
§ Task 3.5: to improve access to finance for key market actors and vulnerable groups in particular by exploring viable options such as micro-credit institutions, provision of small grants to producers groups and to other key actors (e.g. traders) in the value chain, Village Saving and Lending Associations (VSLA), among others; **
The set of interventions might not need to cover all the above mentioned aspects of the AVC, but rather focusing at those stages and aspects that are deemed more strategic in order to support vulnerable groups’ engagement in the value chain, while seeking to strengthen the position of other key actors in the chain.
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Ø Obj 4: To include critical cross cutting issues in the set of interventions proposed that are central to Concern’s work and values.
§ Task 4.1: Equality considerations, in terms of gender and physical abilities for example, will need to guide the strategy of the interventions. Women are the backbone of the agriculture sector in Chad, but have negligible control over productive assets and little decision-making power on how to use income derived from farming activities. Ways in which women will be able to benefit from the AVC development interventions will need to be clearly articulated through this piece of work.**
§ Task 4.2: How the youth can benefit from the reinforcement of the identified AVC should also be considered and articulated in the set of interventions, by increasing their job and income opportunities in the value chains.**
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**§ ***Task 4.3:*** The set of interventions will also need to pursue** environmental protection and sustainability whenever possible by promoting for example, environmentally friendly methods for crop protection, land restoration or water conservation activities.
§ Task 4.4: Certain development projects may trigger conflicts between different interest and livelihood groups, for the utilisation of natural resources that are usually shared among these. The proposed interventions should focus on building social cohesions while adopting a conflict-sensitive approach, in order to minimise/mitigate any potential conflict risks arising from the activities proposed. This can be achieved for example through mapping the users of shared natural resources and engaging in consultative processes where their management and utilisation is discussed and agreed.
The set of interventions proposed will need to consider relevant agricultural programmes in the target areas in order to create synergies wherever possible. A couple of examples are the GIZ-funded Programme for the Operationalisation of the Seed Sector in Chad, which is improving access to high quality seeds for groundnuts and other crops, and positively impacting crop productivity[8] and the PASTOR programme - Programme d'appui structurant de développement pastoral[9] an integrated initiative promoting sustainable use of pastoral resources, resilience and jobs creation, especially for youth. Participatory and inclusive models for developing the identified AVCs should be encouraged as much as possible, such as the Innovation Platforms[10] [11]approach.
The Arabic Gum value chain.
Several studies and propositions for programming have been conducted on the Arabic Gum value chain in Chad[12] [13] [14][15]. There are two types of Arabic gums harvested and commercialised - la gomme dure (Acacia senegal) and la gomme friable (Acacia seyal). The former is the most valuable and it’s usually harvested from plantations that are often privately owned and usually established around the wadis (bas-fonds). Revenues are quite high as household engaged in this activity usually employs family labour in order to reduce the costs. However, there seems to be competition with other crops/ farm activities during harvest time, which could potentially open up possibility for the provision of (paid) labour by households in the surrounding areas. La gomme friable instead is less valuable (lower price) and is usually harvested in communal rangelands by nomadic people/ pastoralists during their itineraries, yet it represents an additional source of income for them.
The consultants, in relation to the Arabic gum, before developing the set of interventions, would need to specifically investigate the following aspects in Concern target areas:
§ Whether Concern’s target groups are engaged in this value chain, in which roles, and to what extent (with which benefits);
§ If they are not already engaged in this AVC, explore what are the potential entry points for vulnerable target groups and opportunities for their engagement (considering that poorest households are usually “land-poor” and “labour-poor”(e.g. men migration))
If opportunities for a beneficial engagement in this value chain by vulnerable groups is deemed viable and existing barriers can be reasonably addressed, then the consultants will be tasked also to develop a set of interventions on this AVC.
5. Essential and Desirable Experience/Qualifications
Essential
§ Skilled in agribusiness and agriculture value chain systems
§ Experienced of the Sahelian agribusiness systems (or experience from working in Chad)
§ Experienced in carrying out previous agriculture value chain assessment and value chain development interventions
§ Experienced in having worked in the International Development sector and knowledgeable of pro-poor market development and participatory approaches
§ Fluent in French (and fluent English desirable)
§ Ability to provide examples of work carried out for other INGOs, UN or research organisations
§ Available between April – May 2022
6. Outputs
1) Desk review of existing research on agriculture value chains in Concern target areas or similar contexts
Confirmation or proposition of amendments of the pre-identified list of AVCs to support. Discussion and agreement with Consortium Coordinator and other key Concern staff - April 2022
2) Agriculture Value Chain field work, including meetings and interviews with key informants, value chain actors, farmers and producers groups and vulnerable targeted households, among others.
Debrief to Concern staff on the findings and outcomes of the field work - April 2022
3) Workshop/s with Concern’s and partners’ relevant staff to present field work outcomes and broad recommendations for pro-poor programming on the identified AVCs in each operational area
Organised workshops in each province with key consortium staff - April/May2022
4) Provide detailed recommendations on how to develop pro-poor programming aimed at strengthening identified AVCs while supporting targeted vulnerable groups
Final report with detailed recommendations as per Specific Objectives and *Task*s (see section 4 above) for developing a pro-poor agriculture value chain programme, for each identified value chain
Draft Mid-May 2022
Final May 2022
Final payment is dependent on the submission of a good quality, well-written final report and completion of agreed outputs (as detailed in the ToR). In addition to methodology, findings and discussion, the report should include a comprehensive executive summary and a section outlining clear and concise conclusions and recommendations.
A digital copy of all reports will be required by Concern at the end of the piece of work.
- Lines of Communication
The consultant will report to the Consortium Coordinator during their time in Chad.
8. Timeframe
The consultancy shall be 6 weeks in duration with a minimum of 4 weeks field work, 1 week of preparation and 1 week of write up.
[1] https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS?locations=TD
[2] https://www.ifad.org/en/web/operations/country/id/chad
[3] Rapport Final. Etude de marché et analyse de chaines de valeur. AFC International Consultants. UNHCR.
prometteuses dans le sud et l’est du Tchad
[4] Rapport final sur la formation à l'approche filière/chaine de valeur. RONGEAD 2015.
[5] Étude sur la chaine de valeur des secteurs maraicher et fruitier dans la province du Salamat. Programme DIZA., Groupe des Consultants pour les Initiatives de Développement au Tchad (GCIDT), 2020.
[6] Commodities at a glance. Special issue on gum Arabic. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 2018.
[7] Idib.
[8] https://www.giz.de/en/downloads/Factsheet_Tchad_PROFISEM_Sept%202019.pdf
[9] http://www.food-security.net/en/projet/structurer-le-developpement-pastoral-pastor/
[10] https://cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/handle/10568/34160/Brief6.pdf?sequence=1
[11] An Innovation Platform is a space for learning, action, and change. It is a group of individuals (who often represent organizations) with different backgrounds, expertise, and interests: farmers, traders, food processors, researchers, government officials, and so forth. The members come together to diagnose problems, identify opportunities, and find ways to achieve their goals. (Homann-Kee Tui et al., 2013).
[12] La filière gomme arabique au Tchad Rapport de mission SOS Sahel / RONGEAD, Mai 2014.
[13] Acacia Senegal, RONGEAD, 2014.
[14] Note de synthèse: Marché de la gomme arabique, N'Kalô/Rongead/ETC Terra, 2017.
[15] FISONG DEVELOPPEMENT RURAL 2019, Facilité d’innovation sectorielle – ONG Appel à propositions
The Consultant or the consulting firm must provide a file including:
a) Administrative documents:
A letter of motivation/submission duly signed and addressed to the Country Director of Concern Worldwide in Chad;
CVs of the proposed personnel, including the detailed CV of the team leader;
Certified copies of the diplomas of the entire team;
Copies of any other administrative documents deemed important;
b) Technical Documents:
Details of the recommended work methodology, supplementing or clarifying the present terms of reference;
A provisional timetable of the tasks for the realization of the various stages of the service, specifying in detail the human and material resources assigned to each of these stages.
Copies of previous similar studies;
c) Financial Proposal:
A financial offer including all costs related to the execution of the service (fees, travel, supplies, secretarial/reporting, transportation, communication, training of investigators, etc.) within the time frame targeted by the evaluation (6 weeks in total)
A financial offer including the overall budget and detailed prices (fees H/D per category of persons, allowances, per diem, etc.) dated and signed.
Submission of applications
The complete application (including the documents in point a, b and c above), shall be sent to the following email address, mentioning in the subject: DIZA Est – Agriculture Value Chain