INVITATION FOR CONSULTANCY BIDS

1.0 Introduction

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. TNC has been working in Tanzania and Africa at large for the last seven years.

Under the auspices of the Tuungane Program, TNC invites qualified consultancy firms/institutions or individual consultant to undertake a feasibility study on approaches/models for promoting and supporting sustainable agriculture intensifications practices in the Tuungane program area in Western Tanzania to reduce sediment loading into Lake Tanganyika as detailed in the Terms of reference below.

2.0 Terms of Reference for a Feasibility Study on approaches/models for promoting and supporting sustainable agriculture intensification practices in Western Tanzania

Lake Tanganyika, one of Africa’s Great Lakes, holds 17 percent of the world’s available freshwater and is home to over 250 species of fish found nowhere else in the world. This amazing ecological system in its own right forms the western boundary of Tanzania’s Greater Mahale Ecosystem (GME) - a 4.8-million-acre forested landscape that is home to approximately 93 per-cents of Tanzania’s 2,800 endangered chimpanzees. The GME is one of very few places in Africa where globally significant freshwater and terrestrial eco-regional priorities overlap. Local communities of small-share farmers and fishers live close to the land; their lives and livelihoods depend upon the area’s rich natural resources. But, productivity in the lake’s deep water fishery-the source of 40 percent of the protein consumed by local families-has decreased 30 percent over the last few decades. As village populations expand their settlements and farms into the wild lands, steep forested hillsides are cleared, causing sediment to enter the lake and reduce the productivity of fish breeding and nursery areas. According to the Lake Tanganyika Authority, sediment loading, destructive fishing practices and climate change are the leading causes of pressure on the fishery and Lake Tanganyika’s biological richness. Consequently, decline in fisheries yields leads to further clearance upland which in turn leads to further sedimentation, repeating the circle and escalating the problems. Without protection and better management, this valuable ecosystem, and all that depend on it, will be placed in increasing jeopardy.

TNC recognizes that successful protection efforts must include both the forest and the lake while balancing the resource needs of people. The Nature Conservancy has partnered with Pathfinder International and Frankfurt Zoological Society to share the tools these communities seek to help them live healthy lives in balance with their environment. We call this collaborative effort Tuungane (Kiswahili for “Let’s Unite!”). Through a grassroots, community approach we are empowering local people to sustainably manage their own natural resources through village land-use planning, co-operative fisheries management and micro-finance programs. In turn, improving access to primary and reproductive health for people provides increased capacity for sustainably managing their natural resources.

To supplement the above efforts, TNC believes that it is important to address the threats emanating from rampant unsustainable agricultural practices in the area, particularly the sediment loading into Lake Tanganyika. TNC intends to promote and support sustainable and climate-smart agriculture intensification practices to reduce soil erosion from the farms in order to reduce sediment loading into the lake and retain soil productivity which will enable the community to produce more food and other agricultural products sustainably. This will contribute in improving household food security and poverty reduction with less impact on the environment, building resilience and ensuring the natural resource base is sustained. Therefore, TNC is looking for suitable approaches/models for promoting and supporting sustainable agriculture intensification practices in Tuungane Project area in a manner that measurably reduces sedimentation of Lake Tanganyika.

Currently the Project operates in six coastal villages namely: Buhingu, Katumbi and Nkonkwa (located north of Mahale National Park) and Sibwesa, Kalya and Kashagulu (South of the park). The introduction of sustainable agriculture intensification practices to reduce sediment loading into the lake will target these six villages plus other new ones villages which are being considered.

2.1 Study objectives

The purpose of the study is to:

A. Provide TNC with a detailed report outlining the:

• Agricultural conditions and farming practices existing in the villages in the Tuungane Project area.
• An analysis of agricultural practices that are the most likely sources of soil erosion and sediment loading into Lake Tanganyika.  
• Detailed analysis of approaches/models that could be used to promote and encourage more sustainable agriculture practices which will contribute in reduction of soil erosion and lake sedimentation. This analysis should include a review other assessment of documented soil erosion reduction projects that have taken place in the Lake Tanganyika basin.
• Prioritization of the villages (with justification) to pilot these sustainable agriculture intensification practices taking into account logistical and financial factors.
• Strategy to reduce sediment loading to the lake
•  Recommendations on investments that would be needed to set up the pilots in the selected villages.

B. Set up pilot demonstration farms

Based on the report above, and TNC’s feedback, set up pilot demonstration farms in selected villages to test acceptability within the community and suitability in the local environment.

2.2 Assignment 1: Analysis and assessment of the target villages.

2.2.1 Scope of Work to be undertaken

The Scope of Work includes analysis and assessment of the target areas in terms of:

• Agriculture land use - production systems, land tenure, farm sizes, crops and livestock produced, agricultural stakeholders, farmer support systems – extension services and marketing systems.
• Soil erosion and sediment loading to the lake and other agriculture-related threats to environmental conservation.
• Non-agricultural land use types
• Natural resources management systems
• Socio-economic analysis of the area

The Scope of Work also includes a summary of lessons learned from previous erosion and sediment reductions projects in the Lake Tanganyika basin, and their likely applicability to the Tuungane project area. 

Based on the above analysis and assessments; prioritize the entry villages for promotion of sustainable agriculture intensification to reduce soil erosion and sedimentation of the lake.

2.2.2 Duration:

The duration for analysis/assessment of the target areas and writing the report is 10 days.

2.3 Expected outcomes and deliverables

• Inception Report

The consultant shall submit an Inception report within 3 days after signing the contract.

• Draft Report

The Draft report shall be submitted within 10 days after submission and acceptance of the Inception report.

• Workshop presentation of Draft Report

The Consultant shall make a power point presentation of the draft report to a single day meeting to be organized by TNC within 3 days after submission of the Draft report. The meeting will deliberate on the findings and discuss next steps to be undertaken by the consultant.

• Final Report

The consultant shall submit the Final Report within 3 days after the workshop

All reports shall be submitted electronically to Petro Masolwa (pmasolwa@tnc.org)

2.4 Qualification/ Expertise Requirements

 The assignment requires the following expertise:

• Agronomist with proven experience in soil conservation and conservation agriculture.
• Agricultural Education and Extension Expert with proven experience in agricultural extension and work including working with small scale farmers.

The minimum qualification for the team members shall be Master’s degree in their respective areas of expertise and at least 5 years of relevant work experience. They should have proven consultancy experience in a similar study or related consultancy in Sub-Saharan Africa in the last 5 years.

3.0 Assignment 2: Setting up pilot demonstration farms in the prioritized villages

3.1 Scope of Work to be undertaken

 Based on the report of Assignment 1 above, undertake the following.

• Organize community sensitization  meetings in the target villages 
• Identify and recruit farm (s) to host the demonstration pilots in each target village.
• Identity crops and agricultural technologies for erosion and sedimentation reduction to be demonstrated in the pilot farms.
• Organize target farmers into learning groups/farmer field schools
• Determine the budgetary requirements (start up and operational expenses)
• Operationalize the demo the pilot farms

3.2 Duration:

• The duration for setting up all the pilots in the target villages is 45 days.
• After setting up, the piloting duration for each demo farm will be 6 months after which there will be an evaluation.

3.3 Expected outcomes and deliverables

• Inception Report

The consultant shall submit an Inception report within 5 days after signing the contract.

• First Progress Report

The first progress report on setting up the pilot demos shall be submitted within 15 days after submission and acceptance of the Inception report.

• Second Progress Report

The second progress report on setting up the pilot demos shall be submitted within 30 days after submission and acceptance of the first progress report.

• Third and Subsequent Progress Report

The third progress report on setting up the pilot demos shall be submitted within 30 days after submission and acceptance of the second progress report. After submission and acceptance of the third progress report, the subsequent progress reports shall be submitted after every 30 days for the next 5 months subject to acceptance of the report for the preceding period.

All reports shall be submitted electronically to Petro Masolwa (pmasolwa@tnc.org)

3.4 Qualification/ Expertise Requirements

This assignment shall preferably be undertaken by an NGO or a private agriculture company with proven experience in working with small scale framers. The entity should deploy the following experts in this assignment: Agronomist, agricultural education and extension expert, and a sociologist. They should all have proven work experience of not less than 5 years preferably working with small scale farmers.

4. Work plan

On the basis of the scope of work the consultants for the two assignments shall prepare work plans for the assignments and include them in their offer.

5.0 Reporting

The Consultants for the two assignments shall throughout the duration of the assignment be answerable to the Manager of Tuungane Project, Mr Petro Masolwa. (pmasolwa@tnc.org)

6.0 Bidding for the Consultancy

The bidding for the consultancy for the two assignments shall be through submission of a technical and a financial bid in line with TNC’s procurement regulations. The technical bid shall detail the technical aspects and modalities including the work plans for undertaking the assignments. The financial bid shall give the cost details for the consultancy which shall include the professional fees and a budget for operational expenses.