Request for Proposal (RFP) – FY24 Annual Survey - Malawi: Market Transitions To Enable New Growth Opportunities (MTENGO)

Winrock International seeks proposals from qualified local and international firms with experience conducting surveys on agribusiness and economic growth-related activities. Qualified firms are those that have been involved in similar engagements in the past, particularly within the last 3-5 years. Winrock International (WI) is a non-profit organization that works with people around the world to increase economic opportunity, sustain natural resources, and protect the environment, among other goals. Winrock strengthens the capacity of women, children, youth, and civil society organizations to actively participate in local and national development and to transform their societies. Winrock International (Winrock) is implementing the Market Transitions to Enable New Growth Opportunities (MTENGO) program, a five-year project under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress (FFPr) program. The Market Transitions to Enable New Growth Opportunities (MTENGO) project uses a farmer-first approach grounded in market incentives to increase resource-efficient, reliable agricultural production in Malawi in the face of climate unpredictability. MTENGO enables farmers to adopt climate smart agriculture and supports medium-sized farmers whose market orientation offers a strong incentive for adoption of climate smart agriculture activities. MTENGO will enable farmers to: 1) Diversify and achieve stable returns from their farming portfolio through climate smart farming by responding to market demands with diversified production; 2) Increase access to water for productive purposes through improved water management practices; 3) Make ecosystem services work for farmers by improving farmer access to, and collective management of, water, soil, and forest products; 4) Increase access to markets and finance so farmers can make climate smart investments. As part of assessing MTENGO’s overall performance, the Fiscal Year 2024 Participant-Based Survey (PBS) will be used as a primary method for measuring progress toward key outcome indicator targets. MTENGO reports on 17 standard USDA Food for Progress indicators and 4 custom indicators, six of which are covered through the PBS. The selected firm will survey MTENGO participants to gather data and measure outcome indicators for the October 2023 to September 2024 period, covering a 12-month reporting period. The survey shall be representative of each of MTENGO’s four supported commodities (i.e., bananas, chili, honey, and soy) in key project districts (Ntchisi, Nkhata Bay, Rumphi and Mzimba). MTENGO’s existing surveys from the baseline evaluation and further details about the composition of survey participants will be provided to the selected firm. Additional participant feedback and Year 2 Learning Agenda-related questions may also be included in the FY24 Participant-Based Survey to report on the project’s learning priorities. The selected firm will implement the following activities: Collect data with an inclusion and gender perspective including collection of socio-demographic data and disaggregation by gender and age among other USDA required disaggregates. The survey firm is responsible for creating an enabling environment for female and male, youth and adult participation. Review project documents (participant data, baseline evaluation and previously used data collection tools, USDA performance indicator definitions, etc.) In collaboration with MTENGO, develop a detailed survey plan including sampling protocols, data collection tools, data analysis plan and timeline for the execution of the survey tasks. Working with MTENGO, co-develop the FY24 survey tools (in English and local language(s)) ensuring clarity of questions and appropriateness based on the respondent type. Conduct pilot testing of all survey tools. Hire a field team (supervisors and enumerators), preferably recruiting experienced staff with similar data collection experience in Malawi. Prepare reference documents for training and data collection, then train enumerators. Work collaboratively with MTENGO to arrange fieldwork logistics. Oversee data collection and any required data entry or transcription, using appropriate quality control measures and providing supervision. Consolidate participant-based survey data into an Excel database, ensuring anonymity of data, human subject research concerns (Do No Harm - dignity, right, safety, and privacy concerns), and confidentiality. Submit cleaned datasets using the prescribed indicator template. Submit to MTENGO all the documents related to the data collection (electronic versions of the collected data in English, enumerator training manual, fieldwork logs, datasets, etc.) Hold weekly status calls with MTENGO and HO MEL technical staff. Working with MTENGO, prepare an 8-10-page stand-alone summary brief describing the survey design, sampling, and summarizing FY24 results for each indicator. The summary should be written in a language that is easy to understand by non-technical staff and with appropriate graphics and tables. A template will be provided Download a copy of the full Request for Proposals for more information on the assignment and how to apply here: https://winrock.org/contracts/request-for-proposal-rfp-fy24-annual-survey/. The deadline to apply is March 29, 2024. 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