RTI International seeks a Drought Tolerant Crops (DTC) Consultant for Kenya Crops and Dairy Markets Systems Activity (KCDMS), a USAID-funded program that works to increase agricultural production and incomes, and reduce malnutrition in Kenya by spurring competitive, inclusive, and resilient market systems in the horticulture and dairy sectors. KCDMS is implemented by RTI International in partnership with East Africa Market Development Associates (EAMDA) and Farm Input Promotions (FIPs). Other partners in the past five years included International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Busara Center for Behavioral Economics, Making Cents and Open Capital Advisors (OCA). The project works in 12 counties and has partnered with over 200 agribusinesses and reached over 300,000 farmers. The drought tolerant crops (DTC) consultant will assess factors in the uptake of Drought Tolerant Crop (DTC) certified seeds by smallholders and recommend ways to increase demand.
Objective
The objective of this consultancy is to investigate factors in the uptake of certified DTC legume seeds, specifically, pigeon peas, green gram, cowpeas and groundnut). The factors should be through the value chain nodes and should include policy and behavioral aspects. The consultants will also identify and give recommendations on how to increase uptake of DTC pulse seeds by farmers.
Responsibilities Responsibilities
The qualified consultant will undertake an assessment using qualitative methods with farmers, seed merchants, breeders and other key informants to understand hinderances and opportunities to increasing procurement and adopting best farming practices in the use of certified DTC legume seeds. The main reason to use of certified DTC seeds is increase productivity and hence the food security and economic situation for those who produce to sell. The consultant will also assess the DTC seed system from breeding, multiplication, processing, marketing and distribution, and farmers demands to identify constraints and opportunities to improve the DTC seed system.
The consultant should be able to advise on the most demanded seed varieties and how to increase that farmer demand, where seed merchants can invest in, and roles for policy makers and seed breeders. The consultant should be able to estimate market demand trends for those seeds projected in 4 years under different scenarios, the systemic enablers that need to be addressed and risk like to be involved in investing on DTC seed by seed merchants. This assignment should be not more than 30 days over a period of three months. The assessment is proposed for Southeastern Kenya (SEK) counties (Kitui, Makueni and Taita Taveta).
Specific Activities
- Literature review on DTC legume seeds value chain—from breeding, multiplication, work with seed merchants, and marketing; sales and roles of civil society, private sector and county government. Should look priorities and plans of counties in CIDPs and plans of WFP, other NGOs working in this sector, agro-delears, and seed companies and research institutions (KALRO, Universities, CYMIT, etc).
- Estimate demand trends for certified pulse seeds in Kenya/SEK in last 4 years and identify gaps at each level that can be addressed to increase certified seed uptake by farmers especially in the ASAL areas of Kenya.
- Develop a methodology for collecting any additional data/information needed to respond to the objectives of the consultancy. To be representative of the SEK counties of Makueni, Kitui and Taita-Taveta
- Conduct data collection activities and analysis
- A stakeholder validation workshop on the findings (place/county to be determined jointly with KCDMS)
- Provide a comprehensive DTC seed market system report with implementable actions that can spur adoption and use of certified seeds
Deliverables
- Inception report (max 8 pages +Annexes) within 8 calendar days of signing the contract. To include:
- Findings of literature review (5 pages) on a) key players and roles (giving quantities and value where possible) on DTC seed production and marketing in SEK; b) estimated seasonal production, sales by private sector, and demand by farmers/civil society/government for DTC seeds in Kenya/SEK, c) potential challenges and opportunities, and d) gaps in that the assessment will be feeling
- Methodology to be used (max 3 pages), category of respondents to be interviewed, workplan, tools for data collection and categories of respondents whom information will be collected.
- Feedback collection from KCDMS team and selected seed actors (Breeder, Seed merchants and a county representative) and comments shared within 7 days of submission of the report by the consultant. This will include:
- Virtual brief back (max 1 hour) to selected audience (within 30 days of response to #1)
- Minutes of any modifications to be considered/made to findings/report back.
- Data collection activities undertaken, and analysis completed.
- Draft report ahead of the presentation
- A face-to-face presentation (max 45 minutes and 45+ minutes discussion) to a selected audience (by May 15, 2023)
- Final report – (max 16 pages) incorporating feedback from the presentation. Please include any cleaned data that was collected from the assessment i.e., FGD or KII notes.
Estimated Level of Effort Level of effort is a maximum of 30 days.
Period of Performance April 1–June 15, 2023QualificationsQualifications
- Master’s degree and 6 years of experience in agriculture or related fields
- At least 4 years of experience in qualitative research approaches
- Experience in working in ASALS and understanding the dynamics in agriculture led economic growth and resilience,
- Experience working in seed production systems, specifically DTCs seed production, marketing, dynamics around supply and demand
- Fluency is spoken and written English and Swahili
Application instructions
Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, March 21, 2023. any applications after the submission deadline will not be considered. RTI International will contact finalists.
EEO & Pay Equity Statements
As a global employer of choice, RTI is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging in the workplace and the communities and markets where we serve our mission. We value diversity of thought, culture, background and perspective and welcome applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, creed, citizenship status, disability, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable discrimination laws or RTI policy.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Further information is available here .RTI International is an independent, nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach and one that integrates expertise across the social and laboratory sciences, engineering, and international development. We believe in the promise of science, and we are inspired every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses around the world. For more information, visit www.rti.org .