Applications due by July 2, 2015
Context:
Mercy Corps is an international humanitarian and development organization whose mission is to reduce suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Mercy Corps has been working in Mali since 2012, with programs that contribute to the humanitarian response in the north of the country with a vision to help people to meet their basic needs, boost their economic activities and enhance their resilience to recurring shocks. Mercy Corps has a global experience in working in countries undergoing transition, and aims to play a key role in Mali’s transition toward stability and development, especially in the North. Mercy Corps (MC) currently implements programs in Gao, Timbuktu and Mopti Regions with funding from USAID and UNHCR.
Mali’s multi-dimensional crisis has had a devastating impact on the population in the north of the country. The combined impact of insecurity and repeated droughts has caused successive food crises, which have eroded household assets, savings and livelihoods. The majority of the population in the Gao Region consists of agro-pastoralists who depend on both cereal farming and livestock raising for their livelihoods. Preliminary evidence and local experience indicate that there is a strong relationship between economic security and food security. As a result, many households have undertaken a strategy of diversifying livelihoods to reduce and diversify risk, engaging in a combination of agricultural production, livestock raising and off-farm livelihoods to reduce exposure to shocks. To enhance this natural coping strategy, Mercy Corps has supported gardening groups to undertake off-season vegetable farming, focused particularly on potatoes, shallots, onions, tomatoes, okr
a and pepper, but also including carrots, eggplant, salad and cabbage, and has seen promising results of increased productivity. In addition, Mercy Corps has supported livestock herders to increase access to animal health services, to improve fodder storage practices to prepare for the lean season, and has intervened in emergencies to provide fodder access to maintain herd health.
Mercy Corps is undertaking an assessment of market opportunities and constraints within two market systems in Gao (value chains):
1 Vegetables (in particular potatoes, shallots, onions, tomato, okra and pepper)
2 Livestock
The assessment will identify opportunities to: enhance production; improve access to quality inputs and services; enhance access to output markets; strengthen market linkages; improve availability and usage of effective storage; and otherwise add value to current production in order to allow farmers and herders within the targeted areas to improve yields, and increase sales and profits.
These detailed market assessments will be used by Mercy Corps to develop an intervention strategy for the agricultural sector in Gao, with the aim of driving social and economic development in the region. The assessments will also be used to design strategic interventions for the two target market systems, for use in current programming and over the next five years.
Mercy Corps is seeking a consultant(s) to lead the market assessment of the target vegetable market systems and livestock market system in Gao, which will include the following:
* Undertake desktop research and interviews to identify the key trends of the Gao vegetable and livestock sub sectors: annual production, volumes of trade from Gao, end market quality requirements (exports, regional and national markets), emerging market trends in vegetables and livestock and relevant byproducts, major trends affecting the farming industry and production costs.
* Conduct a market mapping of the key actors in the target vegetable market systems and livestock market system. This will include primary actors along the value chain (producers, input suppliers, traders, processors, retailers and end consumers) and secondary supporting actors (financial service providers, business development services (BDS) extension providers, regulating authorities etc). Identify who they are, estimated numbers, their key functions and the nature of market interactions with other actors Where possible, indicate the changes in prices along the identified value chains together with the margins and other economic aspects like market share of the key product.
* Undertake analysis of the capacities and constraints of the key market actors from the market mapping. Identify any gaps or deficiencies that currently exist in the functions or services of the market systems, and evaluate why those services are absent or sub-optimally delivered; who can possibly provide such services. This should include generalized analysis for each category of actors and also specific information about key real world businesses or market actors that are prominent in the market systems
* Examine relevant components of the regulatory and policy framework as well as important informal norms /rules that affect the Gao vegetable and livestock market systems.
* Analyze the over-all business environment under which the vegetable and livestock sub-sectors are operating in Gao and link this to the national level. Provide a SWOT analysis of the vegetable and livestock marketing structures in Gao Region and link to cross-border value chains.
* Assess the overall competitiveness of the vegetable and livestock sectors in Gao, in relation to other regional, national and cross-border production, including unique selling points (USP) where they exist. Identify alternative potential output markets for Gao vegetable and livestock production, assessing the viability for each.
* Undertake a comprehensive analysis of vegetable storage and processing business/market model and advise on the feasibility of replication of the model in other production areas of Gao. Specify possible products, possible sites for future development, the costing of future developments and possible target market outlets.
Based on the detailed analysis of the above, the study will provide:
* A detailed analysis of the vegetable and livestock market systems, assessing constraints and opportunities that Mercy Corps can work to address: locations, quantities, quality and other product requirements. Of particular interest to Mercy Corps is how to improve the functioning of interconnected markets such as input supply, extension services, output markets and business services.
* Advise on coordination and information sharing mechanisms in the vegetable and livestock sub-sectors and propose possible coordination models that improve collaboration, information sharing and learning between actors to improve the effectiveness and opportunities along the value chain.
* Data that can be used to make decisions on future investment opportunities especially in regard to value added opportunities in the vegetable and livestock sub-sectors.
* Delineate and examine the different market channels of Gao’s vegetable and livestock value chains and their products, outlining potential opportunities, additional investments, challenges and possible interventions.
* Segment the market and recommend (based on evidence) the best sub sector and or supporting markets to focus on, especially for women and youth.
* An analysis of the supporting functions needed to strengthen the market system for poor producers. Identify existing service gaps and indicate who or what might fill them.
* Based on the observed market conditions and opportunities, outline key future strategic interventions to trigger and stimulate development of the vegetable and livestock sub-sectors in the next five years. The proposed strategic interventions will be critically examined for their suitability and sustainability and should also be aligned to other national strategies.
Consultant Deliverables:
* An inception report (maximum five pages) outlining the approach/method and work timetable submitted for review and approval by MC three (3) days after signing the contract, before commencing work.
* Data collection tools submitted within two days of approval of inception report.
* Market assessment draft report submitted within ten days of completion of fieldwork.
* Internal presentation and discussion of key findings with MC.
* Final report submitted within five days of receiving written and verbal feedback from MC integrating feedback received. The final report should not be more than 30 pages maximum, others may be put in annexes.
Timeframe / Schedule:
Expected 35 total consultant days with work starting around 10 July 2015 with the final report produced by 15 August 2015.
The Value Chains Analysis will take approximately 20 days and includes interactions, interviews, and report writing.
The Consultant will report to: Mali Country Director and will interact with MC Mali management team, Irtoun project staff, field teams, beneficiaries, and key stakeholders. Technical guidance will be provided remotely by Mercy Corps’ Economic and Market Development team.
Consultant/ team qualifications:
The consultant / team must be multidisciplinary (the key consultant must have a agricultural industry background) as the analysis is an opportunity to set the overall direction of Mercy Corps’ Agriculture recovery program in the North. At the minimum, the consultant(s) must possess the following:
* A Master’s degree in business-related disciplines, development studies or economics
* A minimum five (5) years demonstrated experience in Agribusiness research and/or work requiring a good understanding of market and value chain development.
* A good understanding of the Sahelian, arid, and desert context with practical working experience in such environments.
* Successful experience with local and national institutions, government departments, and business service providers.
* Conversant with current business models and practice in the regions’ Agriculture sub-sector.
* Practical application of cross cutting themes like gender mainstreaming, youth employment, M&E, advocacy.
* Good spoken and written communication skills in English or French; French skills strongly preferred, but if needed, translation can be arranged at the consultant’s expense
* Proven experience of using participatory tools and methodologies.
* Excellent analytical and report writing skills.
* Past experience working on the vegetable or livestock sub-sector market and value chain development will be an added advantage.
All candidates should be submitted no later than 2nd of July 2015 at 17.00 GMT
Organization Description:
Context:
Mercy Corps is an international humanitarian and development organization whose mission is to reduce suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Mercy Corps has been working in Mali since 2012, with programs that contribute to the humanitarian response in the north of the country with a vision to help people to meet their basic needs, boost their economic activities and enhance their resilience to recurring shocks. Mercy Corps has a global experience in working in countries undergoing transition, and aims to play a key role in Mali’s transition toward stability and development, especially in the North. Mercy Corps (MC) currently implements programs in Gao, Timbuktu and Mopti Regions with funding from USAID and UNHCR.
Mali’s multi-dimensional crisis has had a devastating impact on the population in the north of the country. The combined impact of insecurity and repeated droughts has caused successive food crises, which have eroded household assets, savings and livelihoods. The majority of the population in the Gao Region consists of agro-pastoralists who depend on both cereal farming and livestock raising for their livelihoods. Preliminary evidence and local experience indicate that there is a strong relationship between economic security and food security. As a result, many households have undertaken a strategy of diversifying livelihoods to reduce and diversify risk, engaging in a combination of agricultural production, livestock raising and off-farm livelihoods to reduce exposure to shocks. To enhance this natural coping strategy, Mercy Corps has supported gardening groups to undertake off-season vegetable farming, focused particularly on potatoes, shallots, onions, tomatoes, okr
a and pepper, but also including carrots, eggplant, salad and cabbage, and has seen promising results of increased productivity. In addition, Mercy Corps has supported livestock herders to increase access to animal health services, to improve fodder storage practices to prepare for the lean season, and has intervened in emergencies to provide fodder access to maintain herd health.
Mercy Corps is undertaking an assessment of market opportunities and constraints within two market systems in Gao (value chains):
1. Vegetables (in particular potatoes, shallots, onions, tomato, okra and pepper)
2. Livestock
The assessment will identify opportunities to: enhance production; improve access to quality inputs and services; enhance access to output markets; strengthen market linkages; improve availability and usage of effective storage; and otherwise add value to current production in order to allow farmers and herders within the targeted areas to improve yields, and increase sales and profits.
These detailed market assessments will be used by Mercy Corps to develop an intervention strategy for the agricultural sector in Gao, with the aim of driving social and economic development in the region. The assessments will also be used to design strategic interventions for the two target market systems, for use in current programming and over the next five years.
Mercy Corps is seeking a consultant(s) to lead the market assessment of the target vegetable market systems and livestock market system in Gao, which will include the following:
-Undertake desktop research and interviews to identify the key trends of the Gao vegetable and livestock sub sectors: annual production, volumes of trade from Gao, end market quality requirements (exports, regional and national markets), emerging market trends in vegetables and livestock and relevant byproducts, major trends affecting the farming industry and production costs.
-Conduct a market mapping of the key actors in the target vegetable market systems and livestock market system. This will include primary actors along the value chain (producers, input suppliers, traders, processors, retailers and end consumers) and secondary supporting actors (financial service providers, business development services (BDS) extension providers, regulating authorities etc). Identify who they are, estimated numbers, their key functions and the nature of market interactions with other actors Where possible, indicate the changes in prices along the identified value chains together with the margins and other economic aspects like market share of the key product.
-Undertake analysis of the capacities and constraints of the key market actors from the market mapping. Identify any gaps or deficiencies that currently exist in the functions or services of the market systems, and evaluate why those services are absent or sub-optimally delivered; who can possibly provide such services. This should include generalized analysis for each category of actors and also specific information about key real world businesses or market actors that are prominent in the market systems
-Examine relevant components of the regulatory and policy framework as well as important informal norms /rules that affect the Gao vegetable and livestock market systems.
-Analyze the over-all business environment under which the vegetable and livestock sub-sectors are operating in Gao and link this to the national level. Provide a SWOT analysis of the vegetable and livestock marketing structures in Gao Region and link to cross-border value chains.
-Assess the overall competitiveness of the vegetable and livestock sectors in Gao, in relation to other regional, national and cross-border production, including unique selling points (USP) where they exist. Identify alternative potential output markets for Gao vegetable and livestock production, assessing the viability for each.
-Undertake a comprehensive analysis of vegetable storage and processing business/market model and advise on the feasibility of replication of the model in other production areas of Gao. Specify possible products, possible sites for future development, the costing of future developments and possible target market outlets.
Based on the detailed analysis of the above, the study will provide:
-A detailed analysis of the vegetable and livestock market systems, assessing constraints and opportunities that Mercy Corps can work to address: locations, quantities, quality and other product requirements. Of particular interest to Mercy Corps is how to improve the functioning of interconnected markets such as input supply, extension services, output markets and business services.
-Advise on coordination and information sharing mechanisms in the vegetable and livestock sub-sectors and propose possible coordination models that improve collaboration, information sharing and learning between actors to improve the effectiveness and opportunities along the value chain.
-Data that can be used to make decisions on future investment opportunities especially in regard to value added opportunities in the vegetable and livestock sub-sectors.
-Delineate and examine the different market channels of Gao’s vegetable and livestock value chains and their products, outlining potential opportunities, additional investments, challenges and possible interventions.
Segment the market and recommend (based on evidence) the best sub sector and or supporting markets to focus on, especially for women and youth.
-An analysis of the supporting functions needed to strengthen the market system for poor producers. Identify existing service gaps and indicate who or what might fill them.
-Based on the observed market conditions and opportunities, outline key future strategic interventions to trigger and stimulate development of the vegetable and livestock sub-sectors in the next five years. The proposed strategic interventions will be critically examined for their suitability and sustainability and should also be aligned to other national strategies.
Consultant Deliverables:
-An inception report (maximum five pages) outlining the approach/method and work timetable submitted for review and approval by MC three (3) days after signing the contract, before commencing work.
-Data collection tools submitted within two days of approval of inception report.
-Market assessment draft report submitted within ten days of completion of fieldwork.
-Internal presentation and discussion of key findings with MC.
-Final report submitted within five days of receiving written and verbal feedback from MC integrating feedback received. The final report should not be more than 30 pages maximum, others may be put in annexes.
Timeframe / Schedule:
Expected 35 total consultant days with work starting around 10 July 2015 with the final report produced by 15 August 2015.
The Value Chains Analysis will take approximately 20 days and includes interactions, interviews, and report writing.
The Consultant will report to: Mali Country Director and will interact with MC Mali management team, Irtoun project staff, field teams, beneficiaries, and key stakeholders. Technical guidance will be provided remotely by Mercy Corps’ Economic and Market Development team.
Consultant/ team qualifications:
The consultant / team must be multidisciplinary (the key consultant must have a agricultural industry background) as the analysis is an opportunity to set the overall direction of Mercy Corps’ Agriculture recovery program in the North. At the minimum, the consultant(s) must possess the following:
-A Master’s degree in business-related disciplines, development studies or economics
-A minimum five (5) years demonstrated experience in Agribusiness research and/or work requiring a good understanding of market and value chain development.
-A good understanding of the Sahelian, arid, and desert context with practical working experience in such environments.
-Successful experience with local and national institutions, government departments, and business service providers.
-Conversant with current business models and practice in the regions’ Agriculture sub-sector.
-Practical application of cross cutting themes like gender mainstreaming, youth employment, M&E, advocacy.
-Good spoken and written communication skills in English or French; French skills strongly preferred, but if needed, translation can be arranged at the consultant’s expense
-Proven experience of using participatory tools and methodologies.
-Excellent analytical and report writing skills.
-Past experience working on the vegetable or livestock sub-sector market and value chain development will be an added advantage.
