Description:

Job Title: Baseline Survey of Sustainable Rice Intensification (SRI) Intervention

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
Propcom+ is seeking the services of firms or individual consultants to conduct a baseline survey for the intervention. The survey will primarily follow a quasi-experimental design featuring comparison groups, qualitative approaches will also be included to provide more depth and context to the quantitative results.

Key focus areas
The survey will aim to establish the status of the programme and intervention-specific outcome-level indicators and results. The survey will focus on smallholder rice farmers. Five key areas of focus include:
Socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, including a disability classification using the WGSS questionnaire.
Poverty level classification of the rice farmers – using the Poverty Probability Index (PPI).
Nature and scope of agricultural activities undertaken by the farmers in the past 2 agricultural seasons – including climate mitigation and adaption activities/practices adopted.
Gender-based information – gender roles, barriers, and constraints in rice production, etc
Gross income from rice production, processing, and marketing – from at least 2 production cycles.

Targeted intervention outreach data

States (3)
Kano
Jigawa
Adamawa
LGAs (7)
3 LGAs
3 LGAs
1 LGA
Targeted outreach
2,500 farmers per LGA

SCOPE
Deriving from the survey purpose, key focus areas and outreach information, the consultant is expected to carry out the following tasks.
Review programme information including SRI intervention concept notes and implementation updates.
Review related MERL information – SRI intervention results chains, indicators, and indicator reference guidelines.
Prepare an inception report which includes:
Methodology – mixed method research design (quasi-experimental and qualitative methods), sampling strategy, survey work plan.
Survey questionnaire (soft copy MS Excel file – coded for KoboToolbox)
Data analysis plan for each outcome indicator.
Survey reporting template.
Recruit and train a team of experienced data collectors.
Carryout data collection and analysis
Develop and submit the baseline survey report for programme review.
Update and re-submit the baseline report, addressing all the review feedback received.
Key notes:
The methodology and tools developed should align with the programme indicator measurement guidelines. Copies of the indicator reference guides will be made available to the successful bidder.
The programme’s approval is needed before the commencement of field data collection. The following process applies:
Post-enumerator training, each enumerator should be asked to complete 5 full interviews.
The consultant should analyse the data generated and present it to the programme for validation and approval.
Data collection will be done using the programme’s mobile data collection application/software. Appropriate user account access will be granted to the consultants and enumerators. The MERL team will provide support and training where required.

TIMELINES, LoE, AND DELIVERABLES
This assignment is expected to start in the third week of January 2024. We envisage a total LoE of 30 days, however, this may be updated slightly following a review of the work plan presented.
Expected deliverables include:
Inception report with annexes.
Soft copy of survey questionnaire (MS Excel file)
Baseline survey report with annexes.
Raw and cleaned datasets.

MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
The consultant will report to the MERL Manager who will be closely supported by the MERL Director. Close collaboration is expected with members of the SRI intervention implementation team. 

Required Qualifications:

LEAD CONSULTANT PROFILE REQUIREMENTS
Advanced degree in social sciences and related fields
Demonstrated strong research, analytical and technical writing skills:
Evidence of at least 1 completed baseline survey in agricultural settings in Northern Nigeria.
Evidence of at least 2 other socio-economic or livelihood surveys in agricultural settings in Northern Nigeria.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Interested individuals and firms can respond to this call by submitting the following:
Capacity statement which includes:
Details of previous agricultural project baseline surveys (and other similar studies) conducted. Annex the reports where possible.
References (contact phone numbers and emails) for each of the previous surveys.
CVs of the specific individuals that will lead on the assignment.

Technical proposal containing the following:
Proposed methodology – mixed methods research design (quasi-experimental and qualitative methods), sampling strategy, and sample size.
Questionnaire for measuring gross margin in rice production only (don’t include demography information, and other four focus areas)
Proposed survey work plan indicating the detailed activities and the overall timeline.

Financial proposal (in Microsoft Excel, amounts in Nigerian Naira), noting the following:
The budget should align with the work plan provided. Each work plan item should have the LoE (in days).
Both the number of days for the assignment and the consultant’s daily rate should be specified.
The consultant is expected to execute the assignment completely, hence, all related costs must be included and aligned with the work plan.
Include narrative explanations for each budget item.
Each budget item should indicate the unit cost and total costs.
Please send your response to joshua.agbele@thepalladiumgroup.com on 31 December 2023 by 5pm with the subject “Quotation for SRI Baseline Survey”. The quotation should be sent with a cover letter addressed to:
The Programme Officer
FCDO Propcom+ Programme
20 Port Harcourt Crescent, off Gimbiya Street, Area 11, Abuja

EVALUATION CRITERIA
The overall rating of each submission will be based on the available score of 1-100 marks, using the assessment criteria below. Specifically, each criterion is to be rated against the weight assigned to it. The overall rating shall be as follows: 0 – 40 (unsatisfactory); 41 – 50 (satisfactory); 51 – 60 (average); 61 – 80 (above average) and 81 – 100 (exceptional)

Criteria Weighting (%)
Consultant’s capacity statement (evidence and references of previous studies) 30
Quality of the technical proposal (methodology, gross margin questionnaire, work plan) 40
Financial proposal (clarity of budget and competitiveness – number of assignment days, daily rate and overall cost quoted)  30

Company Overview:

About Palladium – Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value.  We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people’s lives.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion – Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.  

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss. 

Safeguarding – We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.