Tenders are invited for Endline Evaluation and Production Assessment Creating Shared Value in the Maize Value Chain (CSV-Maize) Project. Closing Date: 8 May 2026 Type: Consultancy Introduction Solidaridad Network is an international solution-oriented civil society organization working through eight regional expertise centers to transform markets to make them more sustainable and inclusive. Our eight regional expertise centers include Asia, Eastern and Central Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America, Southern Africa, South America, West Africa, and our global Secretariat in the Netherlands. Solidaridad Eastern and Central Africa, one of the regional centers, is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with country offices and programmes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda. We bring together supply chain players and engage them with innovative solutions to improve production, ensuring the transition to a sustainable and inclusive economy that maximizes the benefit for all. We facilitate strengthening of local capacity in developing countries, support the creation of enabling environments for economies to thrive, and improve market access. Creating Shared Value in the Maize Value Chain (CSV-Maize) Project Creating Shared Value in Maize Value Chain in Kenya (CSV Maize) project is a four-year food security and climate resilience project that aims to improve the livelihoods and resilience of 3,000 smallholder maize farmers (50% youth and women) by driving innovation towards sustainable maize production systems in Bungoma County, Kenya. The project is funded by the Louis Dreyfus Foundation (LDF) and implemented by Solidaridad Eastern & Central Africa in partnership with the Cereals Growers Association (CGA) and the County Government of Bungoma. The project goal is to improve the livelihoods (food security and income) and resilience of 3,000 smallholder maize farmers by innovating the maize business case and production systems through improved production, productivity, quality, and collective marketing practices. Project interventions are based on a theory of change combined with business cases that are built around smallholder farmers and producer organizations to sustainably increase maize productivity, build resilience to changing climate, and improve gender and social inclusion in the value chain. Creating Shared Value in the Maize Value Chain (CSV-Maize) Project Consortium: The consortium comprises the following organizations: Solidaridad East & Central Africa (ECA): part of the Solidaridad network and operates in agricultural, industrial, and mining supply chains across East and Central Africa. The organization facilitates local actors capacity strengthening, supports the creation of enabling environments, and promotes market transformation initiatives. Sustainable land use, improved working conditions and livelihoods, food security, and strong dynamic producer organizations are key priorities for Solidaridad ECA. The organizations delivery strategy combines boots and brains on the ground, interactive dialogue across platforms, community-based initiatives, and public-private partnerships in championing sustainable supply chains. Cereal Growers Association (CGA): is a national non-profit member-based farmer organization with 25 years experience in bringing together commercial cereal farmers to promote collective action for the sustained improvement of their farming enterprises and in addressing industry challenges in Kenya. CGA works with industry stakeholders such as government bodies, agricultural input suppliers, financial institutions, insurance companies, output buyers, development partners, NGOs, and others to provide services to its members. CGA delivers key services to its members, including; farmer representation in various platforms, training, research and advisory services, linkages to inputs, finances and markets, and information services. Bungoma County Government: Has a department of Agriculture, Livestock, Irrigation, Fisheries, and Co-operative Development, whose mandate include promoting and facilitating the improvement of productivity of crops for food security and agricultural raw materials, value addition, and access to an efficient market. To increase yield and improve food security, the County Government of Bungoma invested in 3 mobile soil laboratories which are used across the county to analyze farmers soils and provide a soil status report. The laboratories also raise farmers awareness of the importance of soil health and sustainable soil management. Creating Shared Value in the Maize Value Chain (CSV-Maize) Project Background Similar to many African countries, Kenya is mainly an agricultural country, with maize providing a basic diet to millions of people in the country. Maize remains to be the most important cereal crop in sub-Saharan Africa because it is a staple food to an estimated 50% of the total population of Sub-Saharan Africa. In Bungoma County, maize is the staple food; hence, most of it is produced mainly for local consumption. Smallholder maize farmers depend on rain-fed maize farming. Currently, the total area under food crops in Bungoma County is 201,654.6 Ha, of which 110,912 Ha (55%) is under maize cultivation. Efforts to increase household incomes through intensive and sustainable maize production in the county are hindered by multiple challenges, including low productivity due to poor agronomic practices, degraded soils from agrochemical overuse, high post-harvest losses, poor waste management, and severe pest and disease pressures. Soil degradation is further driven by continuous cultivation, limited knowledge on fertility management, climate change, and high input costs. These issues are compounded by inefficient marketing systems and a fragmented value chain, leaving rural households vulnerable to food insecurity. The CSV-Maize Project aims to promote sustainable maize production in Bungoma County by addressing systemic challenges in the maize production ecosystem. The project focuses on enhancing market access for smallholder farmers through efficient aggregation, building resilience to climate variability, and reducing gender and social disparities across the maize value chain. The overall objective of the CSV Maize project is to promote sustainable production of maize while building resilience to climate risks and addressing the barriers to youth and womens inclusion in the maize sector in Kenya. Expected Project Outcomes Increase availability of sustainably and safely produced maize by 50% for household and commercial consumption. Increase access to market for smallholder maize farmers in Bungoma through efficient aggregation at the farmer-led centers. Increase the ability of smallholder maize farmers to manage climate variability effects in the long term. Reduced gender disparities due to strengthened gender-responsive mechanisms in the maize value chain. Evaluation Objectives OUTCOME AREA 1 Increase availability of sustainably and safely produced maize by 50% for household and commercial consumption. Availability Yield trajectory (Changes in the Volume of maize available for both home use and sale over the years in targeted households ) Key indicators ( not limited to) Total kg annual maize production by targeted HH Average yield per unit acre Volume of marketed surplus Months of HH maize self-sufficiency (a hh can rely on its own sustainably produced maize before needing to buy from the market) Post-harvest loss reduction Sustainably and safely produced maize Maize production using economically and environmentally viable methods Key indicators ( not limited to) Adoption of climate smart/ sustainable practices ( conservation tillage, crop rotation, organic fertilizers, adoption of safe storage technologies hermetic bags) Resource use efficiency where applicable( water, energy, ) Input- output profitability Pesticide use compliance % of HH including maize in a balanced diet Quality grading % of maize sold that meet premium standards OUTCOME AREA 2 Increase access to market for smallholder maize farmers in Bungoma through efficient aggregation at the farmer-led centers. Market Access and Connectivity Effective transition from farm gate sales to formal markets Key indicators ( not limited to) No of SHF actively using the aggregation centers; % of women Volume of maize aggregated and delivered by farmers to market centres No of formal market linkages established ( supply agreements with off takers, input suppliers , access to credit etc) Changes in Price ( farm gate versus aggregation center) Net maize income per household 2.Functionality and efficiency of the Farmer-led centres Key indicators ( not limited to) Comparisons; % change in production marketed through aggregation centers versus sold individually/ middlemen % change in handling and processing of maize to improve grading Changes in Percentage reduction in grain damage or rot during storage at the center compared to traditional farm-level storage. OUTCOME AREA 3 Increase the ability of smallholder maize farmers to manage climate variability effects in the long term. measuring Resilience and Adaptive Capacity Measure of the farmer to withstand climate shifts) This will be largely covered by the CVA study but for triangulation it may be important to capture indicators of Key indicators ( not limited to) Bounce-back time: Average number of weeks/months it takes for a household to return to pre-shock income or food consumption levels after an extreme climate event Diversification:Number of climate-resilient crop varieties or alternative income sources (e.g., poultry, bees) adopted per household to spread climate risk. Adoption Rate of Stress-Tolerant Varieties: Percentage of total acreage planted with drought-tolerant or early-maturing maize Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4208960/endline-evaluation-and-production-assessment-creating-shared-value-maize-value-chain-csv-maize-project
