Page 1 of 12

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

RFP/040/SC/2021

Consultancy for the support of Implementing the Youth and Women in

Agribusiness Flagship Programme in Malawi

CLIENT: ALLIANCE FOR GREEN REVOLUTION IN AFRICA (AGRA)

___________________________________________________________________________ AGRA reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, number of short-listed participants, the right to withdraw from the proposal process, the right to change this timetable at any time without

notice and reserves the right to withdraw this tender at any time, without prior notice and without liability to compensate and/or reimburse any party.

Page 2 of 12

Synopsis of the Request for Proposal (Individual Consultants)

Solicitation Reference No. RFP-040-SC-2021

Title of Solicitation Consultancy for the support of Implementing the Youth and Women in

Agribusiness Flagship Programme in Malawi

Issuing Office & Address Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

Website: www.agra.org

Point of contact for

clarifications, questions and

amendments

AGRA General Procurement,

Procurement@agra.org Email Address for submission

of Proposals/Quotes

AGRA General Procurement,

Procurement@agra.org

Solicitation Issue Date July 22nd, 2021

Deadline for submission

questions and clarifications

July 27th, 2021,5:00PM, East African Time.

Deadline for Answering

questions and clarifications

July 30 th, 2021,5:00PM, East African Time.

Deadline for Submission of

Proposals

August 6th, 2021, 5:00PM, East African Time.

Please include the subject line “RFP-040-SC-2021” of the email.

Type of Consultant Individual Consultancy

Anticipated Award Type Consultancy Agreement

Submission and Evaluation

Criteria

Bidders are encouraged to register (if not already registered) as a vendor via the link provided below and submit the below mandatory requirements in their proposal: https://ekjd.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/fscmUI/faces/PrcPosRegisterSupplier?prcBuId=300000001758868

Mandatory pre-registration documents:

1. Curriculum Vitae 2. Copy of ID/Passport

Mandatory Eligibility Requirement:

• Detailed Curriculum Vitae including at least 3 referees. • Copy of academic certificate. • Copy of your passport or National Identification Card.

Evaluation Criteria summary:

1. Qualifications and Competencies…...................................20%

2. Experience of the Consultant………………………………50% 3. Consultant’s methodology, work plan and understanding of the

assignment………………………………………………….30%

NB. Only the candidate with the best technical proposal equal or above 75%

shall be considered for financial negotiations

Page 3 of 12

A. Introduction

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), is an African-led, African-based organization

founded in 2006, focused on putting smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing

economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that

thrives. AGRA aims to ensure that smallholders have what they need to succeed; good seeds and healthy

soils, access to markets, information, financing, storage and transport and policies that provide them

with comprehensive support. Through developing Africa's high-potential breadbasket areas, while also

boosting farm productivity across more challenging environments, AGRA works to transform

smallholder agriculture into a highly productive, efficient, sustainable and competitive system, while

protecting the environment. AGRA works across several African Countries including Burkina Faso,

Gana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

AGRA’s work in Malawi complements that of the government and its other partners in bringing about

an agricultural transformation. In addition to supporting the Government of Malawi in creating a

policy environment that encourages private sector participation in agricultural value chains, AGRA

has made major investments in systems that give farmers easy access to better inputs, advisory

services, more markets and financial support.

AGRA is providing technical assistance to the implementation of the Youth and Women in

Agribusiness flagship programme. The goal of this programme is to contribute to improved well-being

and livelihoods of women and youth engaged in agriculture in Malawi. To achieve this goal, the main

objective of this programme is to increase women and youth economic empowerment through enhanced

engagement in priority agriculture value chains which will result in significant growth of the agricultural

sector, increased incomes, and improved food and nutrition security for all.

Specific Programme objectives to be achieved include the following:

1. Increased women’s and youth’s access to, ownership of, and control of productive

agricultural assets.

2. Increased access and use of new agricultural technologies, innovations and services (advisory

and finance) by women and youth farmers.

3. Effective and increased engagement of women and youth in priority and profitable value

chains and value chain processes.

4. Increased agricultural production and consumption (crops, fisheries and livestock) by women

and youth.

As one of the support activities to the Government of Malawi, AGRA wishes to recruit a Senior Private

Sector Engagement Specialist, as a consultant for a period of seven months. The Specialist will support

Page 4 of 12

the Government of Malawi to mobilize private sector groups and entities for effective implementation

of the flagship.

B. Objective of the Consultancy

To support the Government of Malawi (the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Trade) in

implementing a comprehensive approach to private sector engagement and partnerships to maximize

flagship impact and sustainability.

C. Scope of Work

i. Private Sector Engagement

a) Be the main counterpart/focal point for developing proposals and initiatives designed to build

private sector mobilisation into a programmatic business line for the flagship;

b) Provide expertise on private sector development relevant for acceleration of agricultural

transformation in Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and Ministry of Trade (MoT);

c) Provide policy advice to MOA and MoT on private sector issues;

d) Identify, assess and recommend potential private sector partners and partnership opportunities;

e) Support the MoT in designing and conducting background assessments under COGA to inform

trade policies;

f) Provide technical input in leading private sector engagement design and implementation

components for government flagships including liaising with private sector actors to identify

engagement opportunities and key entry points;

g) Provide technical support to the country for the design, formalization, and management of

innovative public-private partnerships (PPPs);

h) Provide technical assistance to MOA and MOT on the structuring of PPPs and outreach to the

private sector;

i) Ensure and strengthen the alignment of private sector initiatives of the flagship and government

strategic documents and programmes;

j) Maintain a database of public-private partnership activities in the agricultural sector

implemented in Malawi;

k) Provide technical support to the government in the coordination of interventions to support

involvement of youth and women in agriculture;

l) Develop and implement outreach strategies to the private sector;

m) Support the MoA and MoT in coordinating private sector participation in sector engagements.

Page 5 of 12

ii. Support the government in resource mobilization

a) Support the government in resource mobilization for the different flagship intervention areas

leveraging on a broad range of public, donor and private sector funding and technical

opportunities. This will involve assisting government with development of funding proposals

in support of specific components of the flagship. It will also involve systematic and continuous

engagement of different current/potential partners to secure their buy-in and commitment to

provide technical and financial support for the implementation of the flagship. Specific focus

will be to bring more private sector engagement to strengthen partnership with government and

tap on private sector funding for the flagship investments.

b) Facilitate government to have sustained focus on and ensure the necessary alignment within

flagship framework during sector short-term, medium-term and long-term planning. This will

include alignment with the government budgetary framework such as the MTEF planning

process.

c) The consultant will also support the establishment of a live map of all partners investing in the

flagship program. The consultant will therefore be required to carry out activities to engage

private sector partners at national and sub-national levels. To effectively deliver on this mandate

the consultant in close coordination with government will be expected to set clear resource

mobilization targets for each of the value chains and meet the targets to ensure successful

implementation.

D. Qualification and Experience

The ideal candidate is someone appreciative of and insightful about the role of the private sector in

agricultural development. S/he is also familiar with private entities’ contributions to achieving development

goals, such as the SDGs, CAADP and the Malabo declaration whether through directly engaging in

collaborative processes or by providing innovative technology or solutions. The candidate should be

interested in and passionate about mobilizing others and facilitating a new consensus, supporting the

Ministry’s engagement approach at the global to national levels, whilst also building a portfolio of projects

and strategic partnerships with other related initiatives.

i. Technical Requirements

a. At least a Masters degree in a field related to agricultural economics, Trade and rural

development. Specific areas of study could be: international development, development

economics, economics, agriculture economics, trade, business administration, marketing,

finance, or another relevant discipline from an accredited university.

b. Experience in the Field of Agriculture as well as private sector engagement in agriculture

demonstrated by previous active role in:

Page 6 of 12

working with government ministries (particularly, ministries of agriculture, trade,

livestock, industries, fisheries and other related ministries) in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Excellent knowledge of agriculture and trade sector issues in Malawi will be a plus;

At least eight years of experience with private sector development and facilitation of

public-private partnerships, preferably in the international development context;

Substantive knowledge and experience in working as part of a donor-funded project to

facilitate partnerships with the private and public sector stakeholders;

In-depth knowledge or experience in investment climate and business regulation reform,

strong theoretical base in the investment climate/private sector development area,

combining a broad grasp of relevant theory and principles;

Understanding of public sector and government institutions’ role in private sector

development and partnerships;

Experience in private sector/SME development initiatives;

Experience in building and brokering partnerships across companies/parties in Africa;

Professional connections and extensive private sector network in various industries;

Strong relationship building skills;

Demonstrated ability to work across teams and effectively promote information-sharing,

collaboration and cooperation;

c. Project Management: Proven capacity to design, implement and monitor portfolio of projects

with tangible results. Strong project management and communication skills. Highly

developed interpersonal skills and demonstrated competence in negotiation at the highest

level. Experience of having worked in or with multi-cultural settings.

d. Continental and Global processes: Proven understanding of and experience with global

processes and financing such as the SDGs and donor funding, and private sector financing for

sustainability (preferably agricultural related).

e. Leadership: Track record of facilitating collaborative processes and/or leading teams, as well

as working with senior staff in partner organisations.

f. Communication in business terms: Strong ability to describe technical, policy or

programmatic issues in a business oriented and intuitively understandable way; ability to

integrate different experiences, methodologies, and approaches from a diverse range of

stakeholders from multiple sectors and ability to communicate these convincingly, succinctly

and appropriate to a business audience.

g. Relationship Management: Evidenced ability to build effective and sustainable relationships

internally and externally.

h. Fluency in written and spoken English

Page 7 of 12

ii. Non-technical Requirements

a. Professionalism: Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity. Demonstrates corporate

knowledge, self-development and initiative-taking. Ability to work in a multi-cultural and

international environment based on mutual respect and tolerance. Ability to exercise good

judgement, discretion and tact in handling sensitive issues.

b. Planning and Organizing: Excellent organizational and task management skills, with

appropriate attention to details and ability to prioritize work among multiple competing

demands, and under tight deadlines. Ability to manage multiple workflows at the same time.

Ability to thrive in a fast-paced work environment where adaptability is essential.

c. E-literacy: Excellent e-skills, including the ability to use modern office technology and related

software. Practical knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software is

required. Ability to do internet research, compile information and find solutions online to

information gaps is essential.

d. Teamwork: Support colleagues, contribute to team culture, and share responsibility for

decision-making and results. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in

accordance with final group decision; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint

responsibility. Ability to “lead from behind” and work without direct authority to deliver

timely and high-quality products.

e. Personal: Willingness to ‘get the job’ done with a positive attitude to take on a wide range of

tasks. Availability for longer travel to attend meetings.

E. Deliverables of the Assignment

Deliverables Means of Verification

1. Communication products on private sector role in

financing the flagship programme

Communication products (Presentation

decks, briefs, blogs)

2. An Operational Framework for de-risking private

investments in youth in agri-business activities in

Malawi

Technical report/ An operational framework

3. 1-2 deals of Private Sector working with the

Government in implementing the flagship

programme

Periodic Reports of private sector

engagements and outcomes

4. At least 2 proposals that include a strong private

sector engagement component supported

Project Concept notes and Project Proposals

5. Technical assistance to the Ministry of Agriculture

and Ministry of Trade in different aspects of

planning and implementation of agriculture sector

policies and programmes

Written contribution and technical advice to

the activities of the Ministry of Agriculture

and Ministry of Trade

Page 8 of 12

6. Contribution to the Ministry of Agriculture in

results measurement, learning and mutual

accountability system (With a focus on tracking

of priority activities implemented to implement

flagship aligned activities)

Evidence of contribution of the consultant to

the result measurement and mutual

accountability

7. Ministry of Agriculture supported to strengthen

sector coordination platforms (Contribution to the

organisation of the regular flagship coordination

meetings)

Minutes of coordination meetings with other

government Ministries, Private sector, Civil

Society

8. Database of public-private partnership activities

in the agricultural sector implemented in Malawi

Database/ progress reports of database

development

9. Capacity development of government staff (Moa

and MoT) in terms of incorporating PSE

components into the design of projects to

implement the youth and women in agribusiness

flagship programme

Minutes/ reports of capacity building events

F. Reporting Arrangement

The consultant will report to the Head of State Capability Unit of AGRA, while ensuring continuous

reporting to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture in Malawi.

G. Duration of the Assignment

The assignment is expected to take seven months, estimated to start in mid-August 2021 or early

September 2021.

H. Evaluation criteria

The proposals for this contract will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

i. Qualifications & Competencies…...................................................................20%

Relevant academic qualifications as indicated above

ii. Experience of the consultant………………………….............................50%

Meet requirements as outlined under qualification and experience

Detailed reference list indicating the scope and magnitude of similar assignments

carried out.

iii. Consultant’s methodology, work plan and understanding of the assignment……30%.

NB. Only the candidate with the best technical proposal equal or above 75% shall be considered

for financial negotiations.

Page 9 of 12

I. Application Submission Requirements

i. Technical Proposal

a. Detailed Curriculum Vitae.

b. Detailed reference list indicating the scope and magnitude of similar assignments carried

out.

c. Demonstration of possession of qualification and experience required.

d. Methodology, work plan and understanding of the assignment (not exceeding 5pages).

ii. Financial Proposal

a. The consultant shall provide a monthly fee in USD, number of months and total cost for

carrying out the assignment. Use the templates provided under Annex A and B for the

financial proposal.

b. Reimbursable costs if applicable shall be quoted separately. These will be reimbursed

based on actual cost incurred.

c. All applicable taxes (withholding taxes & VAT) should be quoted separately. If the

financial proposal is silent on taxes, AGRA shall assume that these are inclusive.

d. Prices must be quoted in USD ($).

e. Financial proposal shall be sent as a separate attachment and MUST be password

protected.

J. Guidelines for Preparations and Submission of Proposals

a. The proposals SHALL be submitted to procurement@agra.org by the deadline

indicated in the synopsis.

b. The proposal and ALL Attachments submitted via email SHALL NOT exceed 10MB.

c. VALIDITY of the proposal shall be for a period of 90 days from the date of bid closure.

d. Financial proposal shall be sent as a separate attachment and MUST be password

protected. The password shall be requested from the best technically qualified

individual (s).

Page 10 of 12

ANNEX A: FINANCIAL PROPOSAL FORM FPF-1 SUMMARY OF COSTS

Item

Cost

{Insert Foreign

Currency # 1} USD value Total cost

Cost of the Financial Proposal,

including

(1) Remuneration

(2) [Reimbursables]

Total Cost of the Financial

Proposal:

Indirect Local Tax Estimates – to be discussed and finalized at the negotiations if the Contract is

awarded

i.{insert type of tax. e.g., VAT or

sales tax}

ii.{e.g., income tax on non-

resident experts}

iii.{insert type of tax}

Total Estimate for Indirect Local

Tax:

Note: Payments will be made in USD

Page 11 of 12

ANNEX B: FINANCIAL PROPOSAL FORM FPF-2 BREAKDOWN OF REMUNERATION

When used for Lump-Sum contract assignment, information to be provided in this Form shall only be

used to demonstrate the basis for the calculation of the Contract’s amount; to calculate applicable

taxes at contract negotiations; and, if needed, to establish payments to the Consultant for possible

additional services requested by the AGRA. This Form shall not be used as a basis for payments

under Lump-Sum contracts.

A. Remuneration

No.

Name Position Daily Remuneration

Rate

Time

Input in

Person-

days

Currency USD Total

USD cost

Lead Consultant

K-1

[Home]

[Field]

Technical Counterpart

K-2 [Home]

[Field]

Total

Costs

Page 12 of 12

ANNEX C: FINANCIAL PROPOSAL FORM FPF-3 BREAKDOWN OF [REIMBURSABLE

EXPENSES]

When used for Lump-Sum contract assignment, information to be provided in this Form shall only be

used to demonstrate the basis for calculation of the Contract amount, to calculate applicable taxes at

contract negotiations and, if needed, to establish payments to the Consultant for possible additional

services

N° Type of

[Reimbursable Expenses] Unit Unit Cost Quantity {Currency}

Total value in

USD

{e.g., Per diem

allowances**} {Day}

{e.g., International flights} {Ticket}

{e.g., In/out airport

transportation} {Trip}

{e.g., Communication costs

between Insert

place and Insert place}

{ e.g., reproduction of

reports}

{e.g consumables

Total Costs