Consultant - Assessment of Knowledge transfer

Job Description

SNV KENYA/KENYA MARKET-LED DAIRY PROGRAMME

TERMS OF REFERENCE

ASSESSMENT OF KMDP’s KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AND T&E APPROACH

1. PREAMBLE

SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) is an international not-for-profit development organisation that provides capacity development services to nearly 2,500 organisations in 36 countries worldwide. SNV engages with stakeholders at different levels in local economies and agricultural value chains, with the objective to help enhance competitiveness, incomes and employment by inclusion of small and medium sized farmers and SMEs. In the East & Southern African region, SNV has offices and programs in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. In Kenya, SNV focuses on horticulture, dairy and extensive livestock, water and sanitation and renewable energy (biogas). In the dairy sector SNV Kenya is implementing the Kenya Market-led Dairy Program (KMDP). This Terms of Reference concerns an assessment of and recommendations for the Knowledge Transfer and Training & Extension approach of KMDP.

2. KENYA MARKET-LED DAIRY PROGRAMME (KMDP)

The Kenya Market-led Dairy Programme (KMDP) is a 4.5 year programme funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The programme started 1st July 2012 and is implemented by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation in collaboration with stake-holders in the dairy industry. The overall goal of KMDP as stated in the project document is to contribute to the development of a vibrant and competitive dairy sector with beneficiaries across the value chain. KMDP acknowledges and appreciates that the dairy industry in Kenya is private sector driven and has two pillars or strategic intervention levels:

I. Smallholder Dairy Value Chain

The objective here is to increase efficiency, effectiveness & inclusiveness of the smallholder dominated dairy value chain, which is responsible for an estimated 80% of milk production in the country. KMDP works in a number of milk sheds with processors and – predominantly - dairy societies (also referred to as milk Collection and Bulking Enterprises or CBEs). Currently SNV/KMDP collaborates with 2 processors and 19 dairy societies in Eastern (Meru), Central (Kiambu, Nyandarua-Kinangop and North Rift regions. KMDP supports the design and implementation of more inclusive business models, with an emphasis on embedded Training & Extension and input supply services for CBE members/farmers. In addition to that SNV/KMDP provides business development services to enhance management capacity and governance of CBEs at their level.

II. Sector issues

At this level KMDP promotes and support interventions and innovations that address systemic issues that cut across the sector. These are related to e.g. feed & fodder, milk quality (e.g. piloting Quality Based Milk Payment systems) and practical dairy skills development. This includes:

• support to the Dairy Training Institute in Naivasha to become a (semi-) autonomous institution, the programme aims to link DTI, agricultural universities and colleges to DTC Oenkerk from the Netherlands (Electronic Information Platform and franchising model)
• support to Practical Dairy Training Centres or training farms with adopting good farm practices, training materials, training of trainers, and business development
• deployment of international experts to build capacity of local dairy advisors (also referred to as Local Capacity Builders)
• an internship program for local and Dutch students.

3. KMDP’s TRAINING & EXTENSION APPROACH AND INTERVENTIONS

KMDP has piloted a number of different interventions in the area of knowledge transfer and training and extension (T&E), targeting different categories of clients:

a) Work with 18 smallholder dairy cooperative societies (or CBEs) in setting up T&E units using a lead farmer approach and local capacity builders (LCBs).

b) Work with medium scale dairy farmer organizations in three areas: North Rift, Central, and Meru regions. Work with CBEs and medium-scale farmers, both focus on fodder production, total dairy management, and linkages to dairy input suppliers.

c) In the work with commercial fodder producers and MSF farmers, KMDP has worked with PUM experts who train and coach CFPs /MSFs and (LCBs) that give follow up support in between these missions. These MSFs in turn organized themselves in EDFA (North Rift) and study groups in Central and Eastern and engage in demos and field days for other farmers (MSF and Smallholders).

d) KMDP also works with the model of Practical Dairy Training Centres (PDTCs) and Training Farms, which are MSFs farms that have gone into training in more and less structured manners (PDTCs: one week training with qualified trainers and training modules in place, Training Farms: one-day non-structured trainings and farm/exposure visits.

e) At the national level, KMDP works with DTI and agricultural colleges and Universities, whereby the project gives support to good farm practices and linkages with Dutch training institutes like DTC Oenkerk.

Innovation is key to KMDP and so are private sector/commercially driven business models.

4. DOCUMENTATION AND LEARNING FOR IMPROVED DESIGN

KMDP’s Management Team has suggested that now that the program is 3.5 years old, with less than 1 year to go, it is time to review the various interventions and models put in place for knowledge transfer and T&E activities, and to advise the program on a coherent design or scaling up for a T&E approach that could be implemented in a next phase of the program.

This review will have the following objectives:

I. To assess progress made in training/knowledge transfer related interventions and in extension/advisory services improvements (see planned outcomes)

II. To assess the strengths and weaknesses of the approaches used so far for the different client categories- why has there been success or not?

III. To make recommendations for a knowledge transfer and T&E approach (or approaches) for KMDP II, that:

• Connects different types of farmers and/or client categories in an area for mutual learning (smallholders, smallholder lead farmers, medium and large scale farmers)
• Is essentially private sector-driven.
• Allows for pluriformity, with potential for various dairy value chain actors to take the lead in knowledge transfer and training: dairy processors, dairy cooperative societies/CBEs, input suppliers (like feed companies), or service providers (like financial institutions)
• Addresses knowledge transfer, training, skill development, and incorporation of new knowledge into the dairy innovation system, from Kenya and from abroad.

The following preliminary research questions will structure the assignment:

1. What are key elements and integrating factors for a T&E system that targets smallholder dairy farmers (SDFs), medium & large scale farmers? – What T&E elements are currently being used? What are the demands/needs with regard to advisory services for the different types of farmers? What can different types of farmers learn from each other? What tools can be developed to integrate the different elements into a T&E system and to make it sustainable?
2. What can be learned from the lead farmer approach used by CBE T&E units? What is the current profile of lead farmers? How are lead farmers doing in terms of adoption of innovation and in terms of advising fellow farmers? How does sharing/spill-over happen? What hinders and what facilitates this? What are expectations from the CBE as supplier of T&E? What is the willingness to pay for advisory services? What lessons can be drawn as input for an integrated lead farmer approach?
3. Which elements of a Practical Dairy Training Centre and its context contribute to the development of a sustained supply of extension support? Which farmers demand for training at a PDTC? What is the impact of PDTCs? What demands do farmers have/opportunities are there for other ToT? How can the PDTCs be linked more structurally to (i) CBEs and processors, (ii) LCBs and (iii) formal training institutions?
4. What roles do private dairy advisory services (LCBs) play in T&E? What roles are LCBs/local advisory firms currently playing? What clients are willing to pay for their services? What are effective methodologies? What are the (potential) roles and opportunities for international advisory services to link up with LCB entities (e.g. what are opportunities for linking LCB to PUM, farmers’ organisations, agricultural colleges (for internship programs), input suppliers from the Netherlands?)? What are possible cost-effective ways to engage them long-term?
5. What are critical conditions for success of T&E units for different types of CBEs (stand-alone, part of union)? What does a T&E unit consist of (minimum)? What are key characteristics and sustainability factors of a T&E unit? What are effective ratios for number of T&E officers : number of lead farmers : total number of active milk suppliers? What role do processors have in a T&E unit? What are the benefits of a T&E unit for every stakeholder in the smallholder DVC?
6. What are success factors in linking input suppliers and (the T&E units of) cooperatives? Which linkages are made? How are these linkages made? What are the interests, opportunities and limitations of the parties involved (SNV/input suppliers/CBE/farmers)?
7. What can be learned from T&E models in other commodities (i.e. horticulture, tea, coffee) and in other dairy initiatives (KAVES, GIZ, Land O’ Lakes, EADD etc.)? What T&E models are used in other value chains? What T&E models do other stakeholders in the dairy chain experiment with (e.g. Equity group, NKCC, Counties, colleges)? What could be useful elements for T&E in KMDP? What are success factors and sustainability characteristics?

5. DELIVERABLE(S) FOR THE DOCUMENTATION AND DESIGN EXERCISE

The deliverable(s) for this documentation and design exercise would consist of:

I. A report that addresses and captures the objectives spelled out above, using the research questions as outline.

II. A presentation on the recommended T&E approach or approaches for KMDP II (which will need to be described in detail in the report)

III. Input in case studies that are being drawn up on subjects addressed in the research.

6. CONTENT OF THE PROPOSAL / EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

The consultant’s proposal/expression of interest should contain the following information:

a) Company profile(s) and capability statement and/or CV(s) of appointed consultant(s).

b) Methodology for effective implementation of the assignment, as regards gathering and analyzing information and data necessary; suggestion for sampling from 18 CBEs, 3 PDTCs, 10 MSFs supported by KMDP in North-Rift, Central, Eastern regions.

• Total budget for this assignment, including details on:
• Number of days required by the consultant or consultants and timeline for submitting a draft and a final report, plus start date and end date
• Professional fees of the consultant or consultants per day and DSA. NB: Budget for this part should not exceed KES 800,000.
• Other reimbursable costs related to the scope of work such as transport, production/photo materials, printing of documents, etc.

7. PROFILE OF CONSULTANT(S)

The consultant(s) proposed should meet the following criteria:

a) Proven familiarity with key concepts of value chain, agricultural information systems, knowledge transfer, T&E models, value-chain approaches.

b) Proven experience in field research using mixed methods/methodologies.

c) Proven experience in advisory work on approaches for development projects, evidenced by references.

d) Understanding of the Kenyan dairy sector, its current opportunities and challenges.

8. COLLABORATION

The consultant will work on the ground with the KMDP DVC Coordinator and will report to Mr Jan van der Lee, the person from Wageningen UR responsible for this assignment.

9. TIMING AND DURATION

The start of the assignment should be no later than 1st of April 2016. A draft report shall be submitted before 20th of May 2016. The final report is due no later than 10th of June 2016.

10. HOW TO APPLY

Please send your proposal for this ToR before 15 March 2016 by clicking on the APPLY tab on this page with reference to “ToR T&E Approach” as subject and on the cover letter.

11. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SNV KENYA

For more information about SNV Kenya and KMDP please refer to the SNV website: http://www.snv.org/project/kenya-market-led-dairy-programme

http://www.snv.org/explore-more (select: Country - Kenya - Topic – Dairy)

Upon request a copy of the KMDP Theory of Change, Results Framework and KMDP Brochure can be derived from Cosmas Muchina, cmuchina@snvworld.org.