1.0 The AECF
The AECF is a development institution that supports businesses to innovate, create jobs, leverage investments and markets in an effort to create resilience and sustainable incomes in rural and marginalized communities in Africa. To date, AECF has supported 292 businesses in more than 40 value chains and in 26 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. In the agribusiness sector, it has supported businesses across different value chains from improving seed varieties to livestock vaccines and introducing new farming systems and agribusiness models. In the renewable energy and adaptive climate change sector, we have supported businesses across home solar systems, mini and micro-grids, biogas, financial services, and adaptive climate change technologies.
2.0 The Investing in Women in Nigeria (IIW-Nigeria) programme
The Investing in Women in Nigeria (IIW-Nigeria) in the agriculture sector programme (presently at design stage) aims to enhance economic empowerment of women in the agricultural sector in Nigeria through
i) reducing gender-specific barriers for women’s participation in agricultural value chains,
ii) improving the environment and reducing systemic gender inequalities, discriminatory social norms and barriers that women entrepreneurs and their smallholder producers/suppliers, face in the agriculture sector, and iii) improving employment or livelihoods for women in agriculture and food systems. IIW-Nigeria will seek to stimulate sustainable business solutions to address socio-economic challenges faced by women in the agriculture sector in Nigeria and create a wider market systems development of the agriculture sector in the country. 3.0 Purpose and deliverables of the Assignment The purpose of the assignment is to conduct a market assessment that will inform the design of the Investing in Women in the agriculture sector in Nigeria programme in Nigeria. The work will be based on a comprehensive human centered design approach which includes an extensive market assessment, stakeholder analysis and consultation process. This assignment will be conducted in collaboration with members of the AECF team.
4.0 Scope of Work
The consultant will:
• Review and summarize existing research on the status of access to finance by women-led/owned enterprises in Nigeria.
• Conduct an analysis of the Nigerian agriculture sector against opportunities for women hence include a thorough gender assessment highlighting the opportunities and challenges faced by women within the agriculture/agribusiness sector across their different levels of participation
i.e., women as entrepreneurs, producers, processors, leaders, employees, consumers, and small holder farmers.
The analysis should include the specific context of women in the different regions of Nigeria, i.e. between the Southern and Northern regions of Nigeria.
• Conduct a comprehensive stakeholder mapping and undertake stakeholder consultation and analysis to inform design of the Investing in Women programme.
The stakeholder mapping should include stakeholders across the spectrum, i.e. government, private sector players, female entrepreneurs, women’s business associations, donors currently supporting women economic empowerment and gender equality programmes, etc.
• Identify the gaps and opportunities for investment and provide recommendations; on strategies to integrate assessment findings into program design;
• Provide recommendations on strategies to integrate assessment findings into program design;
5.0 Deliverables
• A comprehensive report detailing the market assessment, gender analysis, stakeholder analysis and outcomes of the consultation process.
• Recommendations on a suitable design of the IIW Nigeria programme, which includes a refined programme design of the proposed intervention.
• Provide a detailed list of the stakeholders consulted, highlighting potential partners for AECF to work with in the execution of the programme.
6.0 Duration of Service
The assignment will be conducted over the course of one month starting in July 2021. This assignment can be conducted by a team of experts or an individual expert.
7.0 Qualifications.
• A master’s in Development Finance, Economics, Agriculture, Gender, or related fields.
• At least 8-10 years of practical experience in conducting market assessments, stakeholder, and data analysis; stakeholder consultations, human centered design, and programme design in the development sector.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in one or more of the following areas: gender, private sector development, finance, agriculture, agribusiness, agriculture SME finance and rural financial services.
• Extensive experience in the agricultural sector in Nigeria.
• Be of Nigerian nationality and based in Nigeria.
• Be fluent in English and the relevant local languages.
8.0 Proposal submission Interested and qualified (individual or institutional) consultants are invited to submit their proposal(s) comprising the following:
• An understanding of the consultancy requirements.
• Methodology and work plan for performing the assignment.
• Detailed reference list indicating the scope and magnitude of similar assignments.
Relevant services undertaken in the past five (5) years.
• Letters of references from 3 previous companies/assignments.
• Registration and other relevant statutory documents (this applies to institutional consultants).
• Financial proposal clearly showing the budgeted cost for the work to be conducted by the consultant under the scope of work above.
• Technical and financial proposal to be submitted as separate documents.
9.0 Pricing
AECF is obliged by the Kenyan tax authorities to withhold taxes on service contract fees as well as ensure VAT, at 16%, is charged where applicable. Applicants are advised to ensure that they have a clear understanding of their tax position with regards to provisions of Kenya tax legislation when developing their proposals.
10.0 Evaluation Criteria An evaluation committee will be formed by the AECF which will include employees. All members will be bound by the same standards of confidentiality. Bidders should ensure that they fully respond to all criteria to be comprehensively evaluated. In deciding the final selection of qualified bidder, the technical quality of the proposal will be given a weighting of 70% based on the evaluation criteria below. Only the financial proposal of those bidders who qualify technically will be reviewed. The financial proposal will be allocated a weighting of 30% and the proposals will be ranked in terms of total points scored.
Evaluation Criteria Marks
Understanding of the Terms of Reference 5
Methodology and work - plan for performing the assignment 25 Demonstration of years of experience in similar work 25
Detailed reference letters indicating the scope and magnitude of similar assignments 15
Financial proposal; clarity, relevance, reality to market of value/ value for money of cost for the assignment (inclusive of any applicable tax). 30 TOTAL SCORE 100
11.0 Disclaimer AECF reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, number of short-listed participants, the right to withdraw from the proposal process, the right to change this timetable at any time without notice and reserves the right to withdraw this tender at any time, without prior notice and without liability to compensate and/or reimburse any party. In case you do not hear from us in one month, kindly consider your application unsuccessful. The AECF is an Equal Opportunity organization. The AECF considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, gender, colour, national origin, religion, age, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
12.0 Application
AECF invites qualified consultants/firms to send a proposal to aecfprocurement@aecfafrica.org ,clearly marked “Market Assessment, Stakeholder Analysis And Consultation For The Investing In Women In The Agriculture Sector Programme In Nigeria” to be received no later than 9 July 2021 by 5.00 pm East Africa Time (GMT +3) addressed to: The AECF, Procurement Department. All clarifications and or questions should be sent to aecfprocurement@aecfafrica.org
The AECF (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund) is a nonprofit institution supporting early and growth stage businesses to innovate, create jobs, leverage investments and markets in an effort to create resilience and sustainable incomes for rural poor and marginalized communities in Africa.
AECF’s strategy is focused on agribusiness/agriculture and renewable energy sectors with increased support to climate technologies, deepened focus on gender, youth, and employment, aimed at attaining the institution’s vision of ‘A Prosperous and Enterprising Rural Africa’.
Since 2008, AECF has invested in 292 businesses across sub-Sahara Africa focusing on Agribusiness, Renewable Energy and Climate Technologies. As at 2019, we have impacted more than 27.7 million lives and created over 26,000 jobs and leveraged over US$ 750 million in matching funds from the private sector.
AECF has implemented programs across Africa delivering tangible impact for communities most in need. We want to tell the AECF story and are looking for an experienced Communications Manager to support and amplify AECF’s program work.
AECF is headquartered in Kenya with offices in Cote d’ Ivoire and Tanzania.
