TERMS OF REFERENCE
Baseline Study on the Markets and Seeds Access Project in Zambia
1. MASAP Project Background
NIRAS A/S Consulting, in partnership with the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and the Community Technology Development Organisation (CTDO) is implementing the second phase of the Markets and Seeds Access Project (MASAP) in Zimbabwe and Zambia, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The overall goal of the project is to improve resilience in food security of smallholder households (especially women) by increasing adoption and utilization of improved open and self-pollinated varieties of traditional grains (sorghum and millets) and legumes (cowpeas and groundnuts) through strengthening the seed and commodity value chains in three districts in Zambia (Sioma, Sesheke and Chipata) and two districts in Zimbabwe (Mudzi and Tsholotsho).
The first phase of the project covered the period December 2021 to June 2025 while the second phase covers the period July 2025 to June 2029. One of the first activities under MASAP Phase II is to conduct a baseline study to collect data on the project indicators and document the current situation in the target communities and institutions. NIRAS therefore seeks to engage a consultant to conduct the baseline study in the selected three districts to be focused on in Zambia in the second phase of the project. The three districts are Sioma, Sesheke, and Chipata.
2. Background to the Study
MASAP Phase II builds on the lessons learnt from Phase I which supported agribusinesses and community owned enterprises to work with smallholder farmers (SHF) to produce traditional grains (sorghum and millet) and legumes (groundnuts and cowpeas) seed and commodity. Under Phase I, MASAP supported 30 implementation partners (IPs) which work with 31,579 SHF as their customers/suppliers. The continued presence of IPs in target districts has created increased confidence among SHF, with more showing interest in getting contracted as outgrowers for traditional grains and legumes seed and commodity. MASAP's IPs and SHF have demonstrated their readiness to capitalize on the established relationships and aim to further consolidate and scale up the achievements made under Phase I. Strong relationships have also been created between MASAP IPs, government field extension staff and SHF.
3. MASAP Vision
The overall goal of MASAP is to improve resilience in food security of smallholder households (especially women and youth) by increasing adoption and utilization of improved open and self-pollinated varieties of traditional grains (sorghum and pearl millet) and legumes (cowpeas and groundnuts) through strengthening the seed and commodity value chains in Zambia and Zimbabwe. MASAP's long-term vision is the creation of a vibrant and community-driven seed and commodity market system, creating income opportunities and resilience for smallholder farmers particularly women and the youth, supported by strong institutions, national and regional policies, and innovative private sector actors.
4. MASAP Components and Specific Outcomes
Component 1: Adoption and utilization of traditional grain and legume seed by smallholder farmers-
Outcome 1: Sustainable producer groups and associations provide services that lead to smallholder farmers, in particular women and youth, having higher and diversified incomes resulting from the adoption and utilization of traditional grains and legume seeds and sales of these commodities.
Component 2: Private Sector Engagement:
Outcome 2: Sustainable and predictable availability of Early Generation Seeds (EGS), access to affordable quality seeds of traditional grain and legume, and related services by smallholder farmers through increased engagement of the private sector (market establishment and/or improvement).
Component 3: Policy engagement and action learning research:
Outcome 3: Gender and youth responsive enabling policy environment supportive of traditional grains and legumes sectors’ needs and interests developed
MASAP seeks to achieve these outcomes by facilitating market systems interventions that target the bottlenecks (underlying causes of market failure) in the seed value chains and challenges farmers face in accessing seeds of open-pollinated varieties (OPVs). The project will also support the formation and growth of well managed and governed community-owned enterprises (COEs) and associations which can contribute effectively to the development and growth of viable and resilient traditional grains and legumes seed and commodity markets. Ultimately, such markets will create a more diversified and resilient agricultural system which helps SHF to improve incomes, livelihoods, and food security and move out of poverty.
5. Purpose of the assignment and methodology
The purpose of the baseline survey is to develop baseline values which will provide a foundation for tracking and measuring project indicators in the project Logframe. The baseline study will focus on baseline data collection for the set of indicators outlined in the project Logframe attached to the ToR. The study findings and results will be used to monitor the project's progress against the set indicators throughout the project implementation period. While the baseline is set to measure the base values of the logframe indicators, it is important to note that some of the indicators are set to measure newly introduced initiatives by MASAP and the study needs to investigate the current situation with regards to those indicators and give some brief narratives where possible to inform how they will be measured by the project.
The following documents will be made available to the Consultant:
- The Seed Value Chain Demand Study Report
- MASAP Phase I Mid-Term Evaluation Report
- MASAP Phase I Annual Project Reports
- MASAP Phase I & II ProDoc
- Year 3 Outcome Impact Assessment Study
- MASAP Logframe
- Potential beneficiaries, MASAP- Zambia,
The targeted districts for the second phase of the project are Chipata, Sesheke, and Sioma in Zambia. Baseline data collection will target the same agricultural camps under phase 1 in the 3 target districts. The survey is expected to be conducted through Desk review, Household Survey, Key Informant interviews, and Focus group discussions.
Desk Review: The literature review will be guided by the project logframe and at a minimum involve review of the above-mentioned documents.
Household survey: Household questionnaire will be administered to a targeted population of SHF to be determined by populations in the mentioned Agricultural camps.
Key Informant Interviews: The following list of stakeholders is expected to be consulted using the KII tools;
- Smallholder farmers: Individual farmers identified from outgrower schemes of different IPs through consultation with the MASAP team.
- Processors: Millers and other processors identified in the desk review and initial consultation with the MASAP team. There are local and small-scale processors, and the larger off-takers.
- NGOs and CBOs: Mapped and interviewed at the national and community level. These are critical for mapping gaps in interventions and providing insight into lessons and best practices from previous similar interventions.
- Community-owned enterprises: the baseline will assess their presence, state of functionality, and issues of concern.
- Emerging and large seed companies: The experiences of emerging and large seed companies are likely to be different, and therefore, the sample must seek to capture both perspectives.
- Outgrowers: Their views on whether the work with the IPs is helping them to improve adoption and implementation of GAP, CSA and their impact on productivity, output and incomes.
- Seed certification bodies: The specific challenges and opportunities regarding seed certification, especially considering farmer-led seed systems
- Breeders: the opportunities and challenges relating to the production of traditional grains and legumes ESG.
- Research Institutions: These will include institutions such as ICRISAT that are involved in conducting research into breeding, seed systems, seed policy and trade, and farmers’ seed rights.
- Government bodies: These will be interviewed from the perspective of relevant seed policies and government seed programmes, and their views on how projects such as MASAP can complement their activities.
- Financiers: Recognising the need for finance, the baseline will interview formal and non-formal institutions and individuals that provide finance, credit, and insurance to various stakeholders, especially smallholder farmers.
Focused Group Discussions: These are expected to be conducted with SHF at the community level to interrogate and triangulate issues emerging from the household survey.
6. Duration and Location of the Assignment
This assignment will be carried out in three districts with 15 intervention partners (Chipata, Sioma, and Sesheke) with travels to the Eastern Province (Chipata district) and Western Province (Sioma and Sesheke districts). Any missions outside Chipata, Sioma, and Sesheke districts will be subject to authorisation by the contracting authority
The assignment is expected to start on the 1st October 2025. It is estimated that the assignment will require a total of 25 working days. The consultant(s) will primarily report to the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Manager and the Team Leader.
7. Deliverables
The assignment will be implemented through a series of structured tasks, each with specific deliverables and timelines.
a)
Introductory Meetings
Deliverable
- Inception report with proposed work plan for implementation of the assignment
Timeline
- 2 days after the inception meeting
b)
Development of data collection tools
Deliverable
- Data collection tools
- Develop a Performance Indicator Reference Sheet document for the project that defines all indicators, frequency of data collection, and methods of data collection.
Timeline
- 5 days after signed of contract by both parties
c)
Quantitative and Qualitative data collection
Deliverable
- Quantitative and Qualitative data collected
Timeline
- 15 days after signing of contract by both parties
d)
Develop a draft report with findings related to all the objectives
Deliverable
- Draft Baseline Study Report and validation meeting
- Updated Logframe with missing baseline figures.
Timeline
- 21 days after contracting
e)
Overall technical reporting
Deliverable
Final Report with the following headings:
- Executive summary
- Background
- Methodology
- Study challenges and limitations
- Key findings and results
- Conclusions
- Lessons,
- Recommendations, and annexes (key stakeholders interviewed, documents consulted, data collection instruments applied, appendices, and dataset (Excel or STATA or SPSS)
- Finalised Logframe with agreed baseline figures. (Annex)
Timeline
- 25 days after contracting
8. Consultant Qualifications and Experience
Minimum educational requirements and experience:
- Proven understanding of the seed sector in Zambia
- Proven previous experience in conducting surveys related to the seed sector in Zambia
- Proven excellent qualitative and quantitative research skills;
- Proven excellent communication skills
- Demonstrated understanding of the macro-economic and political issues in Zambia
- Demonstrated experience in Program Management
- Proven expertise in baseline/evaluation studies, qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
- Have good facilitation skills and be sensitive to cross cutting issues affecting developmental work (gender, youth and disability issues and environmental management).
- Command of local language(s) of the targeted districts among members of the team
- Team must be Gender sensitive -mixed team preferably
- Team must be committed to implementing gender and Leaving No One
- Behind practices during the baseline study.
- Demonstration of the consultants understanding of the terms of reference
- Clearly stated and traceable references for previous similar work done
9. How to apply
Interested candidates should submit the following to FINANCE.ADMIN.ZM@niras.com by
26th September 2025 at
23:59 hours.
a) A brief Technical Proposal indicating your understanding of the assignment and methodology, including gender aspects and work plan for successfully conducting the study.
b) Financial Proposal showing the cost of conducting the study, breakdown of consultancy costs, and any other costs associated with this assignment.
c) At least one report of a similar assignment conducted in the past three years.
d) Concise CVs of proposed consultants. A gender balanced team would be preferred.
e) Names and contacts of three referees (phone numbers and email).
Please indicate in e-mail subject field:
MASAP BASELINE STUDY ZAMBIA
All attachments should be saved as:
MASAP BASELINE STUDY_NAME OF DOCUMENT_NAME OF CONSULTANT
