Mid-Term Evaluation and Production Assessment Creating Shared Value in the Maize Value Chain (CSV-Maize) Project Full Time

1. Introduction

Solidaridad Network is an international solution-oriented civil society organization working through eight regional expertise centers to transform markets to make them more sustainable and inclusive. Our eight regional expertise centers include Asia, Eastern and Central Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America, Southern Africa, South America, West Africa, and our global Secretariat in the Netherlands. Solidaridad Eastern and Central Africa, one of the regional centers, is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with country offices and programmes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda. We bring together supply chain players and engage them with innovative solutions to improve production, ensuring the transition to a sustainable and inclusive economy that maximizes the benefit for all. We facilitate strengthening of local capacity in developing countries, support the creation of enabling environments for economies to thrive, and improve market access.

1. Creating Shared Value in the Maize Value Chain (CSV-Maize) Project

Creating Shared Value in Maize Value Chain in Kenya (‘CSV Maize’) project is a four-year food security and climate resilience project that aims to improve the livelihoods and resilience of 3,000 smallholder maize farmers (50% youth and women) by driving innovation towards sustainable maize production systems in Bungoma County, Kenya. The project is funded by the Louis Dreyfus Foundation (LDF) and implemented by Solidaridad Eastern & Central Africa in partnership with the Cereals Growers Association (CGA) and the County Government of Bungoma.

The project goal is to improve the livelihoods (food security and income) and resilience of 3,000 smallholder maize farmers by innovating the maize business case and production systems through improved production, productivity, quality, and collective marketing practices. Project interventions are based on a theory of change combined with business cases that are built around smallholder farmers and producer organizations to sustainably increase maize productivity, build resilience to changing climate, and improve gender and social inclusion in the value chain.

1. Creating Shared Value in the Maize Value Chain (CSV-Maize) Project Consortium:

The consortium comprises the following organizations:

1. Solidaridad East & Central Africa (ECA): part of the Solidaridad network and operates in agricultural, industrial, and mining supply chains across East and Central Africa. The organization facilitates local actors’ capacity strengthening, supports the creation of enabling environments, and promotes market transformation initiatives. Sustainable land use, improved working conditions and livelihoods, food security, and strong dynamic producer organizations are key priorities for Solidaridad ECA. The organization’s delivery strategy combines boots and brains on the ground, interactive dialogue across platforms, community-based initiatives, and public-private partnerships in championing sustainable supply chains.
2. Cereal Growers Association (CGA): is a national non-profit member-based farmer organization with 25 years’ experience in bringing together commercial cereal farmers to promote collective action for the sustained improvement of their farming enterprises and in addressing industry challenges in Kenya. CGA works with industry stakeholders such as government bodies, agricultural input suppliers, financial institutions, insurance companies, output buyers, development partners, NGOs, and others to provide services to its members. CGA delivers key services to its members, including; farmer representation in various platforms, training, research and advisory services, linkages to inputs, finances and markets, and information services.
3. Bungoma County Government: Has a department of Agriculture, Livestock, Irrigation, Fisheries, and Co-operative Development, whose mandate include promoting and facilitating the improvement of productivity of crops for food security and agricultural raw materials, value addition, and access to an efficient market. To increase yield and improve food security, the County Government of Bungoma invested in 3 mobile soil laboratories which are used across the county to analyze farmers’ soils and provide a soil status report. The laboratories also raise farmers’ awareness of the importance of soil health and sustainable soil management.
4. Creating Shared Value in the Maize Value Chain (CSV-Maize) Project
   1. Background

Similar to many African countries, Kenya is mainly an agricultural country, with maize providing a basic diet to millions of people in the country. Maize remains to be the most important cereal crop in sub-Saharan Africa because it is a staple food to an estimated 50% of the total population of Sub-Saharan Africa. In Bungoma County, maize is the staple food; hence most of it is produced mainly for local consumption. Smallholder maize farmers depend on rain-fed maize farming. Currently, the total area under food crops in Bungoma County is 201,654.6 Ha, of which 110,912 Ha (55%) is under maize cultivation.

Efforts to increase household incomes through intensive and sustainable maize production in the county are hindered by multiple challenges, including low productivity due to poor agronomic practices, degraded soils from agrochemical overuse, high post-harvest losses, poor waste management, and severe pest and disease pressures. Soil degradation is further driven by continuous cultivation, limited knowledge on fertility management, climate change, and high input costs. These issues are compounded by inefficient marketing systems and a fragmented value chain, leaving rural households vulnerable to food insecurity.

The CSV-Maize Project aims to promote sustainable maize production in Bungoma County by addressing systemic challenges in the maize production ecosystem. The project focuses on enhancing market access for smallholder farmers through efficient aggregation, building resilience to climate variability, and reducing gender and social disparities across the maize value chain. The overall objective of the ‘CSV Maize’ project is to promote sustainable production of maize while building resilience to climate risks and addressing the barriers to youth and women’s inclusion in the maize sector in Kenya.

1. Expected Project Outcomes

• Increase availability of sustainably and safely produced maize by 50% for household and commercial consumption.
• Increase access to market for smallholder maize farmers in Bungoma through efficient aggregation at the farmer-led centers.
• Increase the ability of smallholder maize farmers to manage climate variability effects in the long term.
• Reduced gender disparities due to strengthened gender-responsive mechanisms in the maize value chain.

1. Evaluation Objectives

The evaluation will serve both programming and management functions for similar future interventions. As an independent exercise, it will generate valuable findings, lessons, and recommendations for a range of stakeholders. Primary users of the evaluation include the Louis Dreyfus Foundation (LDF), Solidaridad ECA, the Cereal Growers Association (CGA), and the County Government of Bungoma.

The evaluation will aim to:

• Assess progress against the project’s stated outputs, outcomes, and indicators.
• Evaluate maize production levels among participating farmer households.
• Identify key factors influencing maize productivity, including the use of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices, input utilization, and the impact of climate variability.
• Assess the effectiveness of core project interventions, such as training delivery, farmer aggregation efforts, and gender mainstreaming activities.
• Provide actionable recommendations to guide and improve the second phase of project implementation.
• Determine project performance and value for money, by examining:
  • The extent to which the project met its objectives.
  • The application of value-for-money principles—effectiveness, economy, and efficiency—in delivering outcomes;
  • The added value created through LDF’s funding—i.e., what was achieved that would not have happened otherwise;
  • The project’s alignment with LDF’s overarching goal of empowering smallholder farmers, their families, and communities to enhance global food security.

1. Survey Methodology

The evaluation will adopt a mixed-methods approach, combining both direct and indirect data collection, triangulation, and thematic and area-specific analysis. The Consultant will refine and finalize the methodology in alignment with the assessment scope, in consultation with the project management team during the inception meeting.

Key methodological components will include, but not be limited to the following:

• Desk Review: Examination of relevant secondary data and reports related to maize production in Bungoma County.
• Document Analysis: Review of previous project-level documents and reports from Solidaridad and partner organizations.
• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs): Engagements with Solidaridad staff, implementing partners, and other stakeholders at both office and field levels.
• Field Visits: Site-level visits to collect primary data, conduct observations, and validate findings through triangulation.
• Participatory Approaches: Facilitation of community-level participatory meetings and focus group discussions to gather insights from beneficiaries.
• Household Surveys: Administration of structured questionnaires to a representative sample of farmer households.
• Data Analysis and Validation: Systematic analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, followed by verification to ensure accuracy and reliability.

1. Responsibilities of Consultants/Scope of Work

The composition of the survey team will be determined by the selected consultant or organization, based on their internal systems, logic, and proposed approach. However, Solidaridad recommends the inclusion of the following key roles:

• Team Leader (TL): Responsible for overall coordination and execution of the study, as well as serving as the primary liaison with Solidaridad. The TL will ensure the reliability and validity of data collected and will supervise all field activities.
• Field Enumerators (FEs): An adequate number of trained enumerators will be engaged to conduct data collection in the target areas.

The Team Leader will work in close collaboration with Solidaridad’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer and the Project Team, with ongoing consultation at every step of the process. The TL will also ensure proper oversight and quality assurance throughout the fieldwork.

The survey will be conducted across selected wards in Bungoma County, Kenya, specifically:

1. Mt. Elgon Sub County: Cheptais Ward
2. Kimilili Sub County: Kamukuywa Ward
3. Bumula Sub County: Siboti, Kimaeti, Bumula, South Bukusu, and Khasoko Wards

The consultant team will be primarily responsible for the following tasks:

• Development and Design: Design and develop Mid-Term Evaluation and Production Assessment monitoring and evaluation tools, including questionnaires for household surveys, checklists, and tools for group interactions (e.g., Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with target beneficiaries at the village level).
• Study Design Review: Share the study design—including processes, methods, and tools (questionnaires and checklists)—with the project team, gather feedback, and finalize the design accordingly.
• Pre-Testing of Tools: Pre-test the questionnaires and other data collection tools at one of the project sites.
• Inception Report: Submit an inception report outlining the methodology, tools, and detailed work plan.
• Debrief and Feedback: Debrief the project team on the effectiveness of the pre-tested tools, collect feedback, and finalize the tools for the full study.
• Training and Supervision:
  • Provide orientation and training to enumerators, ensuring they are adequately prepared for data collection.
  • Supervise the enumerators during fieldwork to ensure data quality and consistency.
• Field Data Collection: Carry out fieldwork in collaboration with the enumerators, ensuring the collection of reliable and valid data.
• Quality Control and Data Verification: Oversee the quality of the data collected, cross-checking for validity, and revising or verifying data as needed.
• Progress Reporting: Provide weekly updates on the progress of the study to the Project Officer.
• Data Analysis and Reporting: Analyze the data collected and prepare comprehensive, high-quality reports.
• Draft Report Presentation: Present the draft evaluation report to Solidaridad and key stakeholders.
• Final Report Submission: Submit the final report, incorporating feedback and suggestions from Solidaridad and the Cereal Growers Association (CGA). The final report will be provided in an electronic version (pdf format).

1. Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The selected consultant will be expected to prepare and submit the following:

• Proposal for the evaluation to be submitted to Solidaridad before the deadline as stated below. The proposal should contain the methodology (including data collection tools, sampling, sample size, and a detailed end-line evaluation matrix), detailed planning of activities, and the budget
• Revised proposal based on the inception meeting, within five (5) working days after the inception meeting
• Inception report
• Developed tools (to be reviewed by the project management team)
• Draft evaluation report (to be reviewed by the project management team).
• Final evaluation report: comprehensive and well-organized, complete with standard reporting formats. The report should be not more than 30 pages within 30 days of the assignment. (Outline of the report to be shared with the successful consultant)
• A presentation synthesizing the main findings of the study for validation with the project team and other stakeholders as agreed with the project team.
• Data files including quantitative data sets (raw and refined products) and transcripts of qualitative data in an easy-to-read format (maintaining naming conventions and labelling for use by Solidaridad and key stakeholders).

1. Technical Support

The successful consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and will receive technical support from the Project Officer and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Officer. The Project Officer will facilitate the process by providing relevant information and making the necessary linkages to project beneficiaries and stakeholders at the sub-county and community levels.

1. Expert/Consultant’s Profile

Consultancy firms or companies with verifiable research experience are invited to express their interest, provided they meet the following requirements:

1. Academic Qualifications: A relevant degree(s) in Social Sciences, Agriculture, or development studies
2. Professional Qualifications
   1. Demonstrated experience in results-based monitoring and evaluation.
   2. Proven ability to design and implement evaluation frameworks using both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
   3. Experience in impact evaluation, including the use of experimental or quasi-experimental techniques.
   4. Proficiency in statistical analysis and the use of data analysis software (e.g., SPSS, STATA, R etc).
   5. A track record of conducting end-of-project evaluations, impact assessments, or monitoring studies, preferably within the cereals industry in Kenya.
   6. Subject matter expertise related to maize farming or research with maize farmers is an added advantage.
   7. Strong knowledge of county-level dynamics and an understanding of the local context in the project’s implementation areas.
   8. Excellent communication and report writing skills in both English and Swahili.

Consultancy Period

The overall time frame of the survey will be 30 days (including Saturdays), which will include inception meetings, finalizing the survey methodology, training of enumerators, data collection, data analysis, report writing, and presenting findings of the survey.

1. Interested parties should submit a Technical and Financial proposal (Budget proposals should include logistics costs (transport, communications, meals, and accommodation) on 23rd May 2025, 5:00 pm (EAT)
2. Decision on the selected consultant – only selected candidates will be contacted – 1st June 2025
3. Signing of Contract – 5th June 2025
4. Inception report and meeting (in-person) – 10th June 202
5. Field Work – 15th June 2025
6. Draft report submitted –1st July 2025
7. Validation meeting and final report (in-person) – 10th July 2025

Tagged as: Kenya, Solidaridad East & Central Africa