KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY
SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
(CONSULTING SERVICES- INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS SELECTION METHOD)
LOAN NO: P119432
CREDIT NO : IDA 61440-LS
ASSIGNMENT TITLE: Compilation of SADP grant program data base
REFERENCE NO: LS- SADP-50861-CS-INDV
DURATION: Three (3) Months.
Background
The Smallholder Agricultural Development Project (SADP) was launched in 2012 to support increased productivity and the commercialization of agriculture among Lesotho’s smallholder farmers. Project design and implementation was based on; (i) the use of Competitive Grants and technical guidance to increase agricultural market opportunities and, (ii) a second, larger grant-based Agricultural Investment Program (AIP) to encourage farmers to invest in innovative agricultural technology. The project placed a strong emphasis on developing farmer groups as the main vehicle for grant support, and selected four high potential districts (Buthe Butha, Leribe, Berea and Mafeteng) as the focus of project implementation. Total project funding amounted to $US 24.6 million, of which $US 10 million was from the World Bank, $US 10 million from IFAD and the balance from government and beneficiaries. Project completion was planned for March 2018.
The project was restructured and extended in September 2017, with further funding of $US 10 million from the World Bank. The AIP grant program was terminated due to inadequate farmer interest, the Competitive Grant program was expanded, and more emphasis was placed on support for the adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural technologies (CSA). A Contingency Emergency Response component was also added. Project coverage was extended to three more districts (Maseru, Mohale’s Hoek and Quthing) and project completion was re-scheduled to February 2020.
A follow-on project (SADP II) has recently been prepared by the World Bank and IFAD to continue their support for agricultural commercialization, agricultural productivity enhancement and climate resilience among Lesotho’s smallholder farmers. This follow-on project, with funding of approximately $US 60 million, will begin in mid-2019 and continue until mid-2026.
Analysis and evaluation of the Agricultural Investment Program (AIP) and the Competitive Grants Program (CGP) under SADP has been hampered by the dispersed nature of record keeping on these two grant-based initiatives. Basic information on the characteristics of the approximately 800 successful grants is collected and held by the project’s monitoring and evaluation unit, while information on project disbursement of funds to beneficiaries (milestone payments) is compiled by the Competitive Grant officer and the project accountant. These data sets apply only to beneficiaries. A further data set has recently been compiled by IFAD, which records information on all 1600 grant applications, irrespective of whether they were successful or not, and results of the technical and financial reviews used to determine whether or not the application was successful.
A complete data base compiled from these sources is now required to: (i) facilitate a comprehensive analysis of the characteristics and impact of grant-based project support under SADP, (ii) help identify beneficiaries who would benefit from further support under SADP II, and (iii) to allow an increased understanding of the factors contributing to successful use of grant funding.
Objective of the Assignment
The objective of this assignment is to compile a comprehensive data base of all grant applications and beneficiaries under the Agricultural Investment Program and the Competitive Grants Program, based on the data sources described above and any other relevant information.
Scope of the Data Base to be compiled is as follows:
The information compiled for each grant applicant/beneficiary will include, but not be limited to:
• The name or round number of the grant program
• The unique ID number for each applicant/beneficiary of the AIP and CGP programs
• The date that the original application was submitted to the PMU
• The characteristics of the applicant/beneficiary as declared in the application: district, whether an individual or a group, the nature of the group (association, cooperative, company etc), the number of group members, the age and sex of the applicant (for each group member for groups).
• The type of investment to be financed by the grant
• The total cost of the investment
• The value of the applicant’s contributions to the investment – cash and in-kind
• The result of the initial screening – accepted or rejected
- Reasons for rejection (incomplete documentation, false documentation, non-compliance with grant program guidelines etc The technical score from the technical review of the proposal
• The (financial) score of the Competitive Grant Committee
• The final decision by the Competitive Grant Committee (accepted or rejected)
• The result of the field verification (accepted or rejected)
• The current status of approved grant applications: complete, in progress, not working, closed, funds misappropriation
• The value of any funds misappropriated
• The status of any reimbursement of misappropriated funds; full reimbursement, partial reimbursement, no reimbursement
• The amount and date of the first milestone payment
• The amount and date of the second milestone payment
• The amount and date of the third milestone payment
• The amount and date of the fourth milestone payment
• The number of people who attended the technology demonstration by the grant beneficiary
• For grant beneficiaries, the most recent description of the characteristics of the beneficiary and the date of this assessment: district, whether an individual or a group, the nature of the group (association, cooperative, company etc), the number of group members, the age and sex of the applicant (for each group member for groups).
The Form and Structure of the Data Base
The data base will be compiled in excel or other data base format agreed with the Project Management Unit.
Once the raw data have been entered and compiled the contractor will structure and code the data base so that it can be readily disaggregated and analyzed by: round, district, type of investment, type of applicant (individual, cooperative, association, company etc.), gender of applicant, status of grant (rejected at screening, rejected at committee review, rejected at field verification, completed, in progress, not working, misappropriation) etc.
The data base will be compiled in a way that allows further data to be added, readily and simply.
Qualifications and Experience
Consultant with at least 5 years demonstrated experience of data base compilation and data base programs.
Under graduate degree in statistics, business management or economics.
Ability to communicate effectively with PMU staff and other stakeholders.
Ability to prepare a clear, brief written description of the database, in English, including the data base structure and the codes used.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III paragraph 3.14 to 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated July 2016 and revised in November 2017 and August 2018, setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
A consultant will be selected in accordance with selection of Individual Consultants Method set out in Procurement Regulations.
Expressions of interest accompanied by detailed CV must be delivered in a written form to the address below in person or by email by16:300 hrs local time on the 13th September 2019 clearly marked ‘’ Expression of Interest for Consulting Services LS- SADP-50861-CS-INDV.
To: Project Manager-SADP
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
Department of Livestock Services -Moshoeshoe 11
P.O.Box 24
Maseru 100 Lesotho.
Email: [email protected] copied to [email protected]
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.