Background

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is planning to conduct an evaluation of an agricultural input financing project through the One CGIAR Rethinking Food Markets and Value Chains for Inclusion and Sustainability Research Initiative. This initiative seeks to evaluate innovative projects that extend finance and logistics services across value chains in several countries including Nigeria.

As part of this initiative, IFPRI will be evaluating a financial product that provides loans to smallholder farmers. The contracted party will be responsible for managing and conducting all implementation-related tasks, in consultation with the IFPRI research team.

Scope of work

• Prior to the beginning of implementation, agree with the IFPRI research team on a protocol manual and adhere to all guidelines.
• Identify potential study participants via regular assessments of ongoing input loan applications and share a dataset with the IFPRI research team on all farmers with approved loan applications.
• The IFPRI research team will randomly select farmers who will be offered an additional cash loan equivalent to a pre-determined percentage of the input loan amount. This random assignment will be done by the IFPRI research team using the dataset provided by the implementing organization.
• The IFPRI research team will work with the implementing organization to prepare the script that will be used while interacting with farmers (so that the message is consistent across treatment groups).
• The implementing organization will work with the IFPRI research team to assist and monitor project implementation.
• The implementing organization will share all relevant project data with the IFPRI research team. This includes, but is not limited to, data on loan repayment of farmers and other administrative data relating to the loan application and the service of the loan.
• The IFPRI team will contract a third-party data collection firm to conduct the follow-up survey at the end of the agricultural season.

Deliverables for this work will include:

• An intervention summary document and plan.
• A list of farmers who have applied and are eligible for an input loan.
• All relevant administrative data on take-up of project, repayment, interest rates, input loan use, etc.
• Cost sheet of the implementation.
• Regular updates during field work.

Required qualifications of the consultant / survey team leader

• Ability and appropriate authorizations to carry the implementation work in Nigeria.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience providing access to financial services to smallholder farmers in rural areas.
• Project managers should be fluent in English and able to communicate verbally and in writing with IFPRI researchers.
• Established network of local agents in rural areas of Nigeria.

Preferred qualifications

• Proven track record of collaboration with international organizations and donors.
• Proficiency in local languages in Northern Nigeria.

To apply: Please send a short proposal with a proposed data collection plan, estimated timeline, a proposed budget, details on the firm and qualifications/CVs of primary team members in response to this posting.

Application Deadline: June 28, 2024