CONSULTANT FEASIBILITY STUDY

Job Description

CARE would therefore like to carry out a feasibility study in Mali to determine the potential and possibility of setting up a similar last mile tractors dealership franchise model. For this end a consultant will be recruited. While the main focus of the study is on tractor, CARE would like to use the opportunity to also understand other constraints the smallholder farmers targeted by CARE, especially women, face in accessing other agriculture inputs and services such as seed, fertilizer, pest control and others. The study will cover both flooded and non flooded zones. It is anticipated that this feasibility study will guide CARE on the possibility and processes of setting up a comprehensive and sustainable network/system in Mali based on the Mali context analysis and learning from the experience in Ghana and elsewhere.

Primary Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Technical Advisor Market Engagement and Economic Development, the consultant will work with the CARE Mali Team to conduct a feasibility study to further understand the demand from the targeted farmers for agricultural equipment’s (tractors) and other agriculture inputs and services and explore the possibilities for developing a micro dealer franchise network in Mali.

Prior to the feasibility study:

• Review existing and relevant documents related to CARE and other actors programs in Mali as well as other important documents on CARE’s experience elsewhere and the overall literature on input and the micro franchise concept.
• Review CARE Ghana experience through documentation review and speaking with key players in the experimentation.
• Review CARE Bangladesh agriculture input and services micro franchise network
• Meet and or havea phone call with the CARE team (Mali, WARMU and CARE USA) to discuss the concept and CARE’s vision for the establishment of a micro dealership franchise network and to agree on ways to conduct the feasibility study.
• Pay a visit to the field in Mopti and in Segou to assess the potential and opportunities and challenges
• Meet key stakeholders from government, private sectors, other NGOs and farmers
• Develop and submit a plan and timeline for conducting the feasibility study.

The feasibility study:

Study the demand side for tractors and other agriculture input and services needed by underserved farmers operating in CARE’s program areas (this is not exclusively limited to farmers CARE is currently working with). The demand side will include among others the following with an attempt to disaggregate the data by gender: profile of the targeted farmers, size of area under cultivation, types of tractors available to targeted farmers, availability of fuel and prices, availability of local artisans for maintenance and adaptation; availability of spare parts and prices, crop or spices produced, availability and accessibility of other type of input and services for targeted farmers; average annual income; current mode of procurement, key barriers, etc.

• Understand the supply side of the agriculture tractors, input and services and major constrains that prevent existing agro-dealers (or other entrepreneurs) to provide timely, cost effectively and a quality wide range of tractors and other agriculture input and services to the targeted farmers. In doing so, the consultant will:
• establish who the major agro input dealers in Maliare, their reach and area of operation
• Establish what gap exists in the service offerings, from the perspective of medium and small scale farmers, including women
• Identify the distribution mechanism to reach out to farmers in those areas.
• Determine whether there is a potential to develop last mile distribution using micro-entrepreneurs in those communities as part of a franchise business model?
• Understand the potential implications of this tractor model on gender issues within rural small holder farmer setting.
• Determine the interest of some of the major dealer’s in having a network of micro franchise sub dealers in the working areas, and whether they would be willing to invest in the process of setting up such a network in areas where they have low coverage.
• Recommend other stakeholders that could be interested in supporting this micro-franchise development, in terms of private equity, financing, donor money, technical assistance, etc?
• Develop criteria for identifying and recruiting potential micro dealers from the CARE’s program areas.
• Identify a key relationship that need to be developed with mainstream actors interested in participating and investing resources in the micro-dealership program.
• Develop a business model of what the micro-franchise network of micro-dealer will look like and how it would function, building on similar experience CARE and other are developing in this area.
• Depending of the study recommendations the consultant will be expected to develop a concept notes (maximum 10 pages) to start discussion with potential donors

Required Skills:

• The consultant should have at least 6-8 years track record experience in agriculture value chain system, most specifically in last mile business oriented agriculture inputs distribution system.
• The knowledge of the Sahel context and French language skill are a plus.

About the Organization

CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. We place special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty. Women are at the heart of CARE's community-based efforts to improve basic education, prevent the spread of disease, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity and protect natural resources. CARE also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and helps people rebuild their lives.

Our diversity is our strength; we encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences, particularly women, to apply.

CARE USA is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you’d like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please click here.

The closing date for this posting, if listed, is approximate. Job postings may be removed from CARE's career website at any time.