Consultancy for Inclusive Business Plan
TechnoServe (TNS)
Nơi làm việc
Mbeya
Hình thức tuyển dụng
Toàn thời gian
Chi tiết công việc
About the job
TechnoServe is seeking proposals from qualified consultants for the following scope of work. For information on timeline, application requirements, and evaluation criteria, please review the full Request for Proposals P0018332 here.Please submit your proposal for this consultancy to buy+KE+P0018332@tns.orgby March 14, 2023.I. Background and Project PurposeTechnoServe is a leader in harnessing the power of the private sector to help people improve theirlivelihoods. A nonprofit founded in 1968 and operating in 26 countries, we work with enterprisingwomen and men in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. Bylinking people to information, capital, and markets, we have helped millions to create lastingprosperity for their families and communities. In 2019 alone, 317,493 people (38% women) andbusinesses saw over $200 million in increased financial benefits as a result of our work, andbusinesses and farmers accessed more than $27 million in loans and equity from financialinstitutions.TechnoServe has worked extensively over the last 10 years with food processors and otheragricultural intermediaries in Sub-Saharan Africa to grow their small and micro businesses (SMBs)by deploying commercially viable, inclusive business models that create markets for smallholderfarmers (SHFs) and jobs for workers, while supplying safe and nutritious food for consumers. Thesefirms are the linchpin of food systems, and their growth, particularly those that are farmer-allied (i.e.,strategically investing in smallholder productivity and livelihoods) is critical to unlocking the potentialof Africa’s agricultural sector and building inclusive, resilient food systems.In March 2021 the Visa Foundation awarded TechnoServe funding to expand the pilot to additionalfarmer-allied intermediaries (FAIs) in Sub-Saharan Africa. Through a competitive process,Resilience Grants of $20k-$50k were awarded to 8 small food processing companies across Eastand Southern Africa, coupled with customized technical assistance. In addition, funding from theVisa Foundation allowed TechnoServe to pilot an Inclusive Business Plan (IBP) for two of theResiliency Grant recipients. IBPs diagnose FAIs’ smallholder supply chain constraints and identifyinclusive solutions, with particular attention to assessing opportunities to more positively impactwomen in supply chains. TechnoServe used IBPs successfully with larger agribusinesses which hashelped us adapt the process for SMBs and test/refine replicable, scalable models for inclusive SMBintermediary growth.Based on the pilots’ success,Visa Foundation has awarded TechnoServe funding to work with 20+SMEs from our installed base of nutritious food processors in Kenya and Tanzania to drive inclusivegrowth through two approaches: strengthening smallholder farmer sourcing models using theInclusive Business Plan (IBP) tool; and penetrating base-of-the-pyramid (BoP) markets using theInclusive Marketing Plan (IMP) tool.TechnoServe aims to achieve two long-term goals through this grant: 1) Catalyze inclusive growth,both up and downstream, of gender-diverse SME agri-businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa; and 2)Increase women-led business’ access to resources (finance and technical knowledge/skills) andprofitability to fuel women’s economic empowerment across Sub-Saharan Africa. To achieve this,TechnoServe will provide customized technical assistance, co-develop and implement an Inclusive2Business Plan (IBP) and/or an Inclusive Marketing Plan (IMP) and cost-share funding to genderdiverse SME food processors in East Africa to catalyze inclusive growth through targeted upstreamand downstream interventions.II. Consultant’s RoleThe individual consultant will develop an Inclusive Business Plan (IBP) for selected processors inKenya or Tanzania. The objectives of the IBP are to:
• Diagnose the processor’s smallholder supply chain constraints.
• Identify opportunities to deepen and/or expand client’s linkages with smallholder farmers.
• Specifically assess opportunities to deepen/expand linkages to smallholders farmers
including women.
• Define a roadmap for implementing these opportunities, including the financial investment
and technical assistance required.
• Work with the client and TechnoServe staff to implement immediate recommendations; the
individual consultant is not expected to implement the full IBP.By adapting the IBP tool for this smaller agribusiness, the individual consultant will help TechnoServein its implementation with selected clients.Specifically, the individual consultant will:
• Work with the client to review and refine their existing business plan and other related
materials.
• Map the client’s current raw material sourcing model and analyze recent historical financials
to understand key drivers of commercial performance.
• In collaboration with the client and local TechnoServe staff, identify opportunities for adjusting
what, where, and how they source raw materials to improve both commercial performanceand smallholder impact, with emphasis on women smallholder farmers.
• Build a financial model that quantifies the commercial impact of potential sourcing models for
the client, and the associated impact on smallholder farmers in its supply chain.
• Work with the client and TechnoServe staff to implement immediate recommendations.
• Identify requirements for further investment or technical assistance to achieve commercial
and inclusive impact objectives.
• Summarize the overall business plan in a comprehensive document.
Client Profile:
• Leadership: Women owned, women led, committed to gender balanced workforce
• Products: Dairy, livestock, staples, fish, pulses and legumes, fruits, vegetables, fortified flour,
spices, animal feed
• Raw materials: Nuts, maize, millet, wheat, salt sorghum, milk, legumes, fruits, vegetables,
• Sourcing: Inclusive sourcing, locally (national), currently source from smallholder farmers or
has interest to source from smallholder farmers.
• Annual revenue: $100,000 to $ 5 million with room for flexibility
• # Employees: gender balanced workforce
• Challenges:
• Poor quality and yield of raw materials from SHFs,
• Low quantity of raw materials,
• Inconsistent supply of raw materials,
• Side-selling,
• Crop failure as a result of drought, floods, locusts,
• Logistics challenges due to poor road and technology infrastructure,
• Post-harvest losses due to poor storage and produce handling practices,
• Poor linkages,
• Punitive government intervention through, taxation and regulations,
3
• Price instability,
• Processing capacity not meeting market demand,
• Inadequate working capital
• Opportunities:
• Increase in quantity of raw materials as a result of local sourcing and enhanced production
capacity of SHFs.
• Improved quality of raw materials through adoption of best farming practices by SHFs.
• Improved product quantity and quality to meet market demand and nutritional needs of
the BoP households.III. DeliverablesFormal deliverables:
• Interim milestone deliverables, i.e. diagnostic report after first month
• Comprehensive IBP document, submitted to TechnoServe in not more than 3 months after
engagement.The IBP document should include:○ Client’s raw materials inclusive sourcing model for smallholder farmers, with emphasison women smallholder farmers.○ B2B linkage framework with financial institutions, logistical companies, technologyproviders, extension service providers, government entities.○ Action plan for the implementation of short and long term recommendations○ Financial model quantifying the commercial impact of potential sourcing models forthe business, and the associated impact on smallholder farmers in its supply chain.○ Requirements for further investment or technical assistance to achieve thesecommercial and inclusive impact objectives.Additionally, through a collaborative approach, the individual consultant, TechnoServe team, andclient will have informal frequent points to discuss the analysis, recommendations, andimplementation of immediate recommendations.IV. Duration1-3 monthsV. Skills & Requirements
• Currently based in Kenya and Tanzania
• Agronomic experience
• Post-harvest losses/cold chain solutions
• Agricultural economist/Business (farming) (MBA)
• Logistics/supply chain background
• Value chain/market systems
• Evidence/experience with business case development
• Experience in market analysis
• Experience in impact investment
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication
• Language (Kiswahili-Tanzania, KE-local)
• Should in be in a position to understand context & culture
• Significant experience working with smallholder farmers; strong understanding of smallholder
farmer cultivation and the opportunities/risks for processing companies of working with them4
• Significant experience in business operations; able to identify opportunities for marginal gains
• Proven analytical and quantitative skills
• Microsoft Excel
• Strong project management skills
• Ability to work independently and responsively
VI. CompensationTechnoServe, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer
