CONSULTANT - KALRO/RAB SEED UNITS EARLY GENERATION SEED (EGS) BUSINESS ASSESSMENT

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) invites applications for CONSULTANT - KALRO/RAB SEED UNITS EARLY GENERATION SEED (EGS) BUSINESS ASSESSMENT for the Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa (VIRCA) Deployment program in Rwanda and Kenya.

MEDA’s work is built on a foundation of Mennonite business roots and faith-based values, within the global context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We believe business solutions are effective interventions to address poverty. Through a market-systems approach and strategic partnerships, MEDA enables access to finance and provides business and technical expertise to build transformative agri-food market systems that create decent jobs, allowing traditionally excluded groups to become active participants in a sustainable economy. MEDA welcomes all who share our values and want to join us in our mission. To find out more about MEDA, please visit our website at www.meda.org.

Job Details:

Job Status: Consultant (Short Term)

Duration of Engagement: May to December, 2024

Location: Hybrid – Kenya and Rwanda (Open to International Consultants)

Background

The greatest threat to improved production and yields for cassava has been Cassava Brown Streak (CBSD) and Cassava Mosaic (CMD) diseases, which have been responsible for cutting production by more than 80% threatening food security situation for millions of people across Africa including Rwanda and Kenya. The Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa (VIRCA) Deployment program envisions to address this challenge by developing and delivering CBSD and CMD resistant varieties to farmers in Rwanda, Kenya and other African countries.

In Rwanda and Kenya, this project is being implemented by Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (DDPSC),  National Research Agencies (KALRO and RAB), International Institute for Tropical Agriculture and Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA).

MEDA is leading the seed systems development for VIRCA Deployment activities in Rwanda and Kenya. By partnering with IITA and engaging with RAB, KALRO, KEPHIS and RICA, MEDA plans to coordinate development of a sustainable seed system in cassava growing regions of Rwanda and Kenya. This system will be initiated with elite conventional varieties and designed to be self-sustaining by the end of the project period. The system will be capable of distributing disease-free conventional and transgenic cassava planting materials to Rwandan and Kenyan farmers on a sustainable basis.

KALRO and RAB are responsible for production of early generation seed (pre- basic and basic seed) that flows to the other levels of the seed system. KALRO and RAB have business units with the mandate to engage in commercial production and marketing of seed including cassava Early Generation Seeds (EGS).  MEDA baseline analysis in Kenya and Rwanda revealed that one of the weakest links in the seed systems is access to early generation seed (EGS) by commercial seed multipliers. Additionally, the supply side is hampered by limited production capacity and low commercial orientation. However, there are challenges that KALRO and RAB Seed faces in running seed production as a business. Being government institutions and new in the cassava EGS space, these organizations are ill-positioned to produce EGS efficiently and effectively in a market-oriented manner. One of the key elements of VIRCA Deployment is ensuring a commercially viable seed system at all levels of the seed value chain.

MEDA is working with IITA both in Kenya and Rwanda to support expansion of EGS production capacity for the EGS actors in the form of Semi-autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) lab set-up in KALRO and expansion of screen houses for RAB in Rwanda.  MEDA envisages to support the business orientation of KALRO and RAB Seed Units but recognizes the need to understand their current models as a basis of making recommendations for business model refinement and relevant areas of business capacity development.

Effective EGS business models are critical for driving growth, sustainability and scale for EGS actors and ensuring consistent access to EGS for commercial seed multipliers (including CSEs). RAB and KARLO are expected to deliver on the CSE platform being set by VIRCA to supply high quality pre-basic seed to private commercial seed producers who will sell to next level seed multipliers as primary customers and other secondary customers.

It is against this background that MEDA wishes to commission an assessment aimed at understanding the current business models and structures of RAB and KALRO, associated potential risks, alignment to best practice and making recommendations on innovative business models that can be scaled given the changing operating environments.

Scope of Work

MEDA, intends to select individual, teams of consultants and/or specialized consulting firms to execute the services listed below:

• Phase 1: Produce inputs to EGS business model development:
  1. Compile best practices from existing EGS businesses or public-private partnership arrangments (e.g. TARI in Tanzania, IITA GoSeed, Umudike Seed).
  2. Produce demand projections for EGS from KALRO and RAB based on national production data, CSE recruitment scenarios and other data.
  3. Document current EGS production process used by KALRO and RAB. Conduct gap analysis against current practice and demand projections.
  4. Conduct opportunities and risks assessment (e.g. SWOT) of KALRO and RAB documenting possible opportunities for running successful EGS business, as well as risks or constraints to their operation (internal and external).
• Phase 2: Conduct EGS business model development
  1. Make recommendations for potential EGS business models based on Phase 1 findings.
  2. Develop and validate EGS business models for KALRO and RAB.
  3. Produce costed business model implementation plans in collaboration with representatives from KALRO and RAB. Include key performance indicators
• Phase 3: Advisory services
  1. Participate in periodic virtual meetings to receive updates on implementation and to provide advisory support.

The consultant will also participate in bi-weekly check in meetings: Virtual meetings with the MEDA ViRCA staff to discuss progress towards deliverables.

Deliverables

Work planning.

Workplan submitted and approved by MEDA.

Expected Delivery Date: Within 1 week of contract signing

Phase 1: Report

A report submitted and approved by MEDA containing the following components:

a.      Promising practices used by existing EGS companies or public-private partnership arrangements.

b.      A minimum of 1 EGS demand projection each for KALRO and RAB (2 minimum total).

c.      A gap analysis documenting g (1) the current process for producing and distributing EGS by KALRO and RAB; (2) an analysis of the gaps existing between current practices and demand projections.

d.      Risks and Opportunities Analysis documenting the internal and external risks and opporuntities facing KALRO and RAB commercial EGS production.

Expected Delivery Date: Within 5 weeks of contract signing

Phase 2 Report: Business Models

A report submitted and approved by MEDA including:

a.      Recommendations for potential EGS models produced for RAB and KALRO.

b.      Two business models developed and validated: one each for KALRO and RAB.

Expected Delivery Date: Within 8 weeks of contract signing

Implementation Plans

Two costed implementation plans developed and validated: one each for KALRO and RAB. Implementation plans will include budgets, capacity building recommendations and key performance indicators for implementation.

Expected Delivery Date: Within 10 weeks of contract signing

Advisory Services

Periodic meetings with KALRO and RAB for a period of 6 months. Frequency to be mutually agreed upon by consultant with KALRO and RAB.

Expected End Date: Up until Dec. 15, 2024

Presentation of findings

PowerPoint presentations prepared and delivered at partner meetings or other relevant stakeholder gatherings. Frequency to be mutually agreed upon by consultant with MEDA.

Expected Delivery Date: Within 14 weeks of contract signing

*Delivery dates are dependent on contract signing.

Application Template

The Expressions of Interest may take the format below:

A. Contact Information

1. Organization’s Legal Name:
2. Mailing Address:
3. Main Contact Person and Title:
4. Telephone:
5. Email address:
6. Website, if available (Facebook, twitter):

B. Proposal Outline

1. Introduction (maximum half page): provide understanding of the ToR and how your organization or company can respond to the ToR’s requirements. Proponent to add a brief explanation on their motivation to partner with MEDA.
2. Capability Statement (maximum of three pages):

• Briefly describe your organization or company’s business services provided, in relation to the expertise required by this ToR, in the last three years with specific information on the beneficiaries, contracting company/organization, and results of your engagements.

• Provide demonstrated experience in seed value chain or and agribusiness in Kenya and Rwanda or any East African country with special focus on cassava as well as show strong technical understanding of the seed system . The following needs to be spelt out in the expression of interest:

• When applying as an individual Consultants: the applicant should demonstrate the capacity and capability to undertake the assignment with high levels of professional and technical competence. They should have sufficient and related experience in undertaking similar assignments In addition, the applicant should have the following:

  • Demonstrated understanding of the agronomic and business concerns in the production, multiplication and distribution of early generation seed for cassava.
  • Excellent business modelling
  • Primary and secondary data gathering
  • Excellent report writing skills
  • Great consulting skills or experience working in the cassava industry
  • Good understanding of cassava seed systems in Kenya and Rwanda. Understanding of other seed systems an added advantage.
  • Ability to build rapport and collaborate with ViRCA partners KALRO and RAB

• When applying as a consulting firm: the firm should demonstrate that it has carried out related consultancy services indicating key technically qualified professional staff. The firm should provide a list of similar services successfully executed, the firm should also demonstrate further that it has a set of professional staff with a sound technical qualification and competence who have successfully carried out similar projects/ services in the past with high reputation.  The firm must identify the team to undertake this assignment. The team members should have sufficient relevant experience on the assignment. An overview of their qualifications and experiences should be given in the application. Further, the application should indicate what will be the role of each member of the team on this assignment, their time commitment to this assignment and show their proven capacity to undertake the work.

• When tendering a joint application: The team must indicate the lead partner who should have sufficient relevant experience on this assignment. In the application, s/he must give detailed overview of their qualifications, the experience of the technically qualified professional teams should be highlighted. The application should indicate what will be the role of each member of the team on this assignment and prove of capability to successfully undertake the assignment.

• ********Please note that you can apply in only one of the above-mentioned categories********

• Briefly describe the financial position of the organization/company.

• Please include the contact details (contact person, phone, and email) of at least three (3) organizations/companies/cooperatives who can speak to the capability and credibility of your organization.

• 3. Proposed Methodology (maximum of one page).

• Describe how the proponent will implement the identified and agreed TA strategies in support of the action plan of target cooperatives and SMEs and ensure the deliverables in Section 3 are achieved within 1 year given any restrictions.

• Discuss the strategy to ensure participation of women, youth, and Indigenous peoples in the implementation of TA strategies and work plan.

1. Proposed Work Plan (maximum of one page). Outline the activities, timeline, expected outputs, resources and the expertise needed.
2. Estimated Cost of the Engagement (in matrix format): Itemized cost comprising of professional fees and reimbursable (travel, communication and accommodation) of up to $USD 22,000.

Note:

1. MEDA may request supplementary information or documentation for determining eligibility for qualification where necessary_._

Closing Date

April 26, 2024