Agricultural Extension and Advisory Service Assessment Consultant

Scope of Work Enabling Farmers for Agricultural Transformation (EFAT) Position: Agricultural Extension and Advisory Service Assessment Consultant Post category: Short-Term Consultant Reports to: EFAT Project Director Location: Zambia Period of Assignment: August 2023-January 2024 Number of LOE days: up to 34 working days This consultancy requires fieldwork in rural parts of Zambia. International consultants are eligible for this consultancy; national/regional consultants preferred. Background The Enabling Farmers for Agricultural Transformation (EFAT) Project, led by Winrock International and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), strengthens agricultural extension and advisory services and systems (EAS) as a pathway to boosting agricultural productivity among smallholder farmers and helping them diversify their livelihoods and strengthen their resilience in the face of adverse climate conditions. EFAT is supporting the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) to conduct an assessment of agricultural extension and advisory services in target locations in Zambia. IWMI works through the USAID-supported Accelerated Innovation Dissemination Initiative (AID-I) in Zambia to improve smallholder farmers’ access to proven maize, legumes and horticulture technologies and accelerate their uptake. Specifically, the advisory service component of AID-I seeks to provide critical information and knowledge on improved crop, soil, and water management working with a range of public and private sector service providers (including government extension agencies, NGOs, private firms, farmer groups and organizations and individual entrepreneurs) using multiple dissemination approaches and channels. More efficient agricultural service delivery requires in-depth and up-to-date information on extension and advisory services in Zambia. An assessment of EAS also calls for documenting farmers’ experiences with and perceptions of EAS provision. To help IWMI and partners strengthen EAS under AID-I, EFAT will conduct an assessment of extension and advisory services in four districts in Zambia. In each location, the assessment will identify key providers of EAS, including climate information services, their activities and linkages and will assess their strengths and weaknesses, the challenges and constraints they face in providing advisory services to farmers, particularly women and youth, and assess the capacity of these organizations and their staff. This information will be collected from staff of EAS organizations at different levels (managers, field staff).The analysis will also document farmers’ experience with and perceptions of agricultural services and recommendations on how these services could be improved to better meet their needs. Winrock International is looking for experienced consultants (2-3) to carry out the EAS assessment in 4 districts in Zambia. Target districts include: Chibombo and Chisamba Districts in Central Province and Chipata and Nyimba Districts in Eastern Province. Scope of work The consultants will work as a team of 3-4 consultants in carrying out the following activities: Document IWMI’s on-going activities under AID-I, its partners and objectives and strategies in relation to EAS through a review of documents and discussions with staff. Conduct a desk review of literature on the agricultural extension system in Zambia (e.g. 2014 MEAS study[1]), how EAS fits in the broader agricultural innovation system, agricultural plans of the target districts and provinces and EAS projects/activities in target locations to provide a current understanding and analysis of the local context and guide the design of the methodology for the assessment. Carry out selected key informant interviews with the Agricultural Advisory Service of Zambia’s Ministry of Agriculture to document the government’s strategy for advisory services, capacity development provision and challenges with EAS provision at the national level. Finalize the methodology for the assessment and develop data collection tools. With guidance from IWMI and other stakeholders (e.g. Zambia’s Ministry of Agriculture and stakeholders at provincial level), develop a list of EAS providers in the four target districts of interest to IWMI and make appointments for meeting them. With the support of local stakeholders, arrange for meetings with 2 groups of farmers in each of the four locations. Help organize logistics for fieldwork. Together with other team members carry out interviews with staff from EAS organizations in 4 locations. Together with other team member facilitate 2 group meetings with smallholder farmers in the four locations to document their perceptions and experiences with agricultural service provision in four locations, paying specific attention to the perceptions and experiences of women and youth. Together with other team member analyze the data from the assessment of EAS provision and farmer consultations. Contribute to preparing a report (no more than 60 pages) on the above activities and ensure the quality of the data, analysis and writing. Experience and qualifications The consultant should have the following experience and qualification: At least a Master’s degree in agricultural extension, agricultural economics, rural sociology, rural development or other related field of study. At least 5 years experience conducting value chain analysis, agricultural and other types of assessments in rural parts of Africa At least 5 years experience conducting desk reviews on agricultural topics At least 5 years experience analyzing qualitative data. Excellent writing skills in English Experience with public-private partnership, public sector agriculture agencies, research institutions, and civil society groups. Knowledge of gender and youth mainstreaming in agricultural development Experience with strengthening organizational and capacity development of rural organizations and private sector firms Fluency in English Knowledge and experience with Zambian agricultural extension and farming systems is preferred. Deliverables Notes from meetings with key informants and farmers. Tools for conducting the EAS assessment and farmer consultations. Report on the EAS assessment in target areas and farmers’ perceptions of EAS provision, with recommendations on how IWMI’s interventions could strengthen EAS. Please apply at: https://winrock.org/join-us/careers/job-openings/. Applicants should submit a current resume, cover letter and a writing sample where they were the first author by July 19th, 2023. [1]https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=bWVhcy1leHRlbnNpb24ub3JnfHB1YmxpY3xneDoxMDEzZjdmYzQ2MWVjNTQ0 Winrock is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people and value diversity and inclusiveness. Winrock recruits, employs, trains, promotes and compensates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, or any other basis protected by law. At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity and transformation. Winrock knows that its success comes from the hard work and steadfast dedication of its diverse workforce. Winrock remains committed to maintaining diversity, inclusion and equity across the entire organization