Expression of Interest For Project Impact Harvesting

Expression of Interest for Project Impact Harvesting Location: KIGALI Deadline: Friday, 31/07/2026 23:59 1. Project Description The Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA) is a WFP-led initiative in Rwanda that aims to make markets work better for smallholder farmers. With a strong focus on increasing incomes and resilience, FtMA supports smallholder farmers to participate in commercially viable value chains actively. The initiative uses a demand- and market-driven approach, linking farmers to reliable input suppliers, technologies, services, and structured markets. FtMAs vision is to build sustainable food systems by strengthening market linkages, empowering smallholders to boost productivity and income, and contributing to long-term food security and rural transformation. The FtMA model focuses on establishing strong market linkages through a pull effect that stimulates the development of small-scale farmers. Central to FtMAs approach are Farmer Service Centres (FSCs), which are agripreneurs bridging the gap between smallholder farmers, aggregators, and off takers. These centres provide essential services, including inputs, mechanization, and access to output markets. FtMA has successfully supported maize, beans, soybean, Irish potato, rice and Horticulture farmers, enabling them to supply high-quality raw materials to agro-processors by connecting them to a network of innovative aggregators, extension service providers, and quality-testing services. Since its inception in late 2015, FtMA has connected 480 cooperatives, representing over 172,725 smallholder farmers (37% women and 9% youth), to high-end markets. Operating in 30 districts across Rwanda, FtMA has continuously evolved to meet the needs of smallholder farmers. In 2023, the initiative shifted its strategy to include an agripreneur-led FSC model. This approach empowers micro- entrepreneurs to serve smallholder farmers, in cooperatives as well as individual farmers. According to the recent quarterly report, there are a total of 495 Farmer Service Centers (FSCs). Of the 495 currently active there are 59 that are individually led and 436 farmer organisations (cooperatives). 2. Assignment Summary SNV seeks to hire a qualified consultant or consulting firm to conduct a FtMA Project Impact Harvesting Exercise to generate evidence, strengthen accountability, and inform adaptive management. While routine Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) systems capture planned outputs and outcomes, there is a need to systematically identify, document, verify, and learn from significant changes both expected and unexpected resulting from project interventions. Impact Harvesting is a participatory approach used to collect evidence of meaningful changes influenced by the FTMA project and to understand how these changes occurred, who were affected, to what extent the effect was and what can be learned for future programming. 3. Purpose and Objectives of the study The assignment will specifically aim to: Identify significant changes resulting from FtMA interventions. Assess the contribution of FtMA to improved farmer incomes, productivity, and market access. Assess the effectiveness of trainings (Climate-Smart and regenerative Agriculture Practices) to targeted farmers Evaluate the effectiveness of the Farmer Service Centre model. Capture impacts on cooperatives, aggregators, agro-dealers, and off-takers. Document inclusion outcomes for women, youth, and underserved farmers. Assess resilience of outcomes linked to input access, markets, and service delivery. Identify unintended positive or negative effects. Generate lessons and recommendations for scaling and sustainability. 4. Scope of work The Consultant/Consulting Firm shall undertake the following tasks: Phase 1: Inception and Assignment Design The Consultant shall: Review relevant FtMA program documentation, including reports, dashboards, databases, quarterly progress reports, case studies, and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) tools. Assess the FtMA Theory of Change and map the intended pathways of impact. Develop a detailed inception report outlining the methodology, sampling approach, data collection tools, stakeholder engagement plan, and implementation of workplan. Phase 2: Harvesting of Outcomes and Impacts The Consultant shall undertake consultations and data collection with key stakeholders, including but not limited to: Smallholder farmers Farmer cooperatives and producer organizations Farmer Service Centres (FSCs) Aggregators Agro processors Input suppliers Local government representatives FtMA project staff Relevant private sector actors The Consultant shall identify and document evidence of change in the following areas: Level of adoption of regenerative agriculture practices Farmer income and profitability Agricultural productivity and output quality Market participation and structured market access Access to agricultural services and inputs Growth of agribusiness enterprises Inclusion of women, youth, and marginalized groups Household and enterprise resilience Strengthening of market systems and institutional linkages Phase 3: Verification and Validation The Consultant shall: Verify harvested outcomes using documentary evidence, project records, and stakeholder testimony. Triangulate findings using both quantitative and qualitative sources of evidence. Facilitate stakeholder validation sessions/workshops to confirm findings, interpretations and emerging lessons. Phase 4: Analysis and Synthesis The Consultant shall analyze findings to determine: What significant changes have occurred; Which stakeholders or groups have experienced change; The extent to which FtMA interventions contributed to the observed changes; Which delivery models or approaches have been most effective; Key barriers, constraints, and unintended effects; Which models and practices demonstrate potential for scale and sustainability. Phase 5: Reporting and Dissemination The Consultant shall prepare and submit the following: Draft Impact Harvesting Report; Presentation of findings for validation; Final Impact Harvesting Report incorporating feedback; A database/logbook of harvested outcomes and impact stories. Methodology & Sample size calculation The methodology and sample size calculation will be guided by the below parameters; Sites and Sample: The survey shall cover all 28 districts where FtMA operates in Rwanda (minus kicukiro and Nyarugenge). Tools: A structured questionnaire has been developed by SNV in line with the FtMA logframe and will be shared to the consultant. Techniques: Data will be collected from a diverse range of stakeholders, including 179 cooperatives randomly selected from the 495 FtMA-supported cooperatives and Farmer Service Centres (FSCs), 716 individual farmers (four farmers per cooperative/FSC), and 10 FtMA buyers. Additionally, the consultant should apply mixed methods: Outcome Harvesting Key Informant Interviews Focus Group Discussions Cooperative scorecards FSC performance assessment Most Significant Change technique Secondary data review Case studies Market systems mapping 6. Roles and Responsibilities The FtMA Impact Harvesting exercise will be undertaken through close collaboration between SNV Rwanda and the consultant firm. SNV Rwanda will serve as a strategic partner and co-implementer to ensure that the exercise aligns with FtMA programme objectives, learning priorities, and existing Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning systems. The consultant firm will provide the technical expertise required to design and facilitate the Impact Harvesting process, collect and verify evidence of change, analyze outcomes, and document key impacts, lessons learned, and recommendations to strengthen programme performance, accountability, and future strategic direction. Responsibilities of the Consultant / Firm Review FtMA programme documents and assess the Theory of Change Develop an inception report including methodology, workplan, and data collection tools Conduct interviews and focus group discussions with farmers, cooperatives/FSCs, aggregators, input suppliers, government representatives, and private sector actors Collect and document evidence of significant change across all thematic areas of the programme Verify and triangulate harvested outcomes using records, documents, and stakeholder testimony Facilitate validation workshops with key stakeholders to confirm findings Analyse findings and identify what changed, who benefited, and what worked best Identify barriers, unintended effects, and opportunities for scale and sustainability Prepare and submit all required deliverables including reports, logbook, and success stories Participate in all meetings with SNV Rwanda throughout the assignment Comply with safeguarding, data protection, and ethical research standards Responsibilities of SNV SNV Rwanda shall serve as the client, strategic partner, and focal institution for the FtMA Impact Harvesting exercise. SNV Rwanda will provide overall guidance, coordination, and oversight to ensure the assignment is aligned with programme priorities and completed successfully. Specific roles and responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, the following: Provide strategic direction and ensure alignment with FtMA objectives and priorities. Define scope, expectations, timelines, and key deliverables. Manage the consultancy contract, approvals, and administrative processes. Share programme documents, data, and MEL tools, and facilitate access to stakeholders. Coordinate field engagement, interviews, and validation activities. Participate in key meetings and provide technical guidance and contextual input. Review and validate deliverables, ensuring quality and relevan Tender Link : https://www.jobinrwanda.com/job/terms-reference-tor-project-impact-harvesting