Identify local service providers/LSPs/

Program Description

Background:

RTI International (RTI) is implementing the market systems development component of the 5-year USAID-funded Ethiopia, Poverty Reduced Sustainably in an Environment of Resilient and Vibrant Economy (PReSERVE). PReSERVE is an integrated activity to improve food security of vulnerable households in targeted Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) communities in the Amhara Region and contribute to a sustained reduction in rural poverty. The market systems development component of PReSERVE must bring vital market access and growth to livelihoods deepening HHs in Sahila district. 

Goat rearing is the major livelihood source of the community in the Sahila district, Wag Himira Zone. From the goat value chain analysis study results, the community rear goat traditionally as low input and low output subsistence business.  The critical constraints identified by the study to improve smallholder’s farmers goat production, resilience, and overall livelihood improvement are feed and water problems due to recurrent drought; market problems due to illegal trade, limited access to sustainable market, poor goat husbandry practices /housing, record keeping, etc./ and prevalence of animal diseases.  

To address these constraints, the PRSERVE project planned to enhance target HHs livelihoods through linking Local Service Provider(s) and support the improvement of goat production and marketing system. That is, to enhance the skills, knowledge and income of target households on goat husbandry and sustainable market; by emplacing goat out grower’s model, execute market oriented good goat husbandry practices, execute traceable goat rearing, provide training, veterinary services tailor to the scheme, and establish goat ranch/collection pen in the district. 

Objective:

The overall objective of this RFA is:

• To identify local service provider(s) that support and execute goat out grower model business and create sustainable goat market for 1509 targeted households in Sahila district,
• To improve the livelihood of the target communities in partnership with the local service provider/LSPs/ by establishing goat ranch/collection pen, executing a good goat husbandry practice, and sustainable market-oriented goat rearing business and vet services.
• Working through LSPs, PReSERVE intends to support and build sustainable market linkage between small holder farmers goat out grower scheme and the private business firm/goat exporter/Abattoir that will stay beyond the life of the project.

Intended Results:

The LSP’s will accomplish the following expected outputs:

•   Organized market-oriented out growers
• out grower groups established in 11/eleven kebeles
• A total of 1509 households/primarily 302 HH and secondarily 1207 HHs targeted in eleven kebeles  
• Model farmers selected that can be used for model goat husbandry and goat supply (e.g., at least 2-3 model farmers per kebele up to 50% women and youth)
• Organized and conducted multistakeholder platform  
• Established and organize three multistakeholder platform (MSP) (one MSP per year) at Zone level for goat value chain
• wider awareness created (Zone, woreda, and kebele) on the proposed establishment and sustainably functioning of the out-grower Model, benefits the exporter/abattoir brings to the communities in the woreda, kebeles. In general, its contribution towards modernizing the goat market in the area.
• Target farmers/1509/ knowledge and skills for market-oriented goat production improved
•  Training on feed resources, feeding practices, housing, goat health, and record keeping and for 1509 HHs 
• Training on market-oriented goat husbandry practices for 1509 HHs
• Training modules prepared for out grower development scheme
• At least two exposure visits organized, 6 farmer field days conducted and peer learning events
• Forty-four demonstrations organized on (1) good husbandry practices (2) market requirements of the abattoir (goat specifications), 3) feeding practice and 4) vet. Services
• Good goat husbandry practices manual prepared tailor to the areas:
• The modules should focus on the women’s and youth role and participation in value chain.
• Simple business plan, record keeping (financial and production and reproduction record keeping) and market requirement of abattoir for out grower.
• The training should closely into the inherent understanding of the immediate benefits of cost-effective production improvement, and improved community animal health services.
• Good husbandry practice modules should include goat mating systems and technique. selection and culling; Kid management (kidding seasons, kid rearing, kid housing, feeding kids, health care, weaning, castration); Feed requirements and sources; forage production and conservation (different browses species, their production techniques.
• Market linkage established for goat out growers and ranch/collection pen facilitated
• At least one goat ranch/collection pen established to facilitate the goat market linkage
•  Contractual agreement Signed between out growers and abators/exporter (e.g., price, collection and delivery point and related costs) 
•  Farmers encouraged, in the actual delivery of animals by monitoring the delivery system and sales of farmers.
• Veterinary inputs and services accessed to 1509 HHs
• Coaching (Continuous follow up)
•  one to one as well as peer coaching conducted for out growers on goat production.
•  Each group visited at least every month and updated.     
•  Coaching sessions documented very well using a proper tool. 

Application Information

• In addition to discussing the above-named intermediate results, successful applicants will include the following in their application:
• The applicant’s understanding of the “development challenge,” opportunity, or problem including the political, social, economic, and environmental conditions(s) require(s) changing
• Previous experience working in the area and how they knew what needs to be changed in the context of the RFA
• A needs analysis and any appraisals which may be required to understand what changes and how goat out growers, value chains should be engaged.

Implementation Plan

• A standard Implementation Plan should show how the anticipated results would be achieved. What activities, processes, or strategies are essential to achieve the results? Why will the planned work lead to the intended results? What is the anticipated timetable for the achievement of the results?

Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

• A standard Monitoring and Evaluation Plan should contain a set of indicators that would permit continuous measurement of progress toward targeted results. For each result, what is the performance indicator? What is the baseline data? What is the performance target? What is the timetable for achieving results? For each performance indicator, what is the definition and what is the unit of measurement? What are the plans for reporting and using the performance information?
• The framework and scope for monitoring, evaluation and assessment of stated results should demonstrate how implementation of activities will contribute to achieve intermediate outcomes of inclusive use of goat out grower model for men, women, and youth.

Financial

• Each application must contain a detailed line-item budget accompanied by a budget narrative explaining all costs. An acceptable budget will have all costs broken out  by unit costs and clearly. show the number of units used for each line item. The narrative will describe how the grantee arrived at each unit cost and the number of units for each line item. See the grant application form for instructions on submitting a detailed budget and narrative and their cost sharing plan required to the grant.

Past Performance

• All applicants are subject to a past performance reference check. Therefore, they must provide the name, address, and other contact information of at least three (3) past performance references, as required by the grant application form.

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI, or Unique Entity ID)

• Grantees that receive more than $25,000 from RTI are required to have a UEI before receiving a grant award. See the Grant Application Form for instructions on requesting a UEI.

Evaluation and Award process

• RTI International will provide award/grant to responsible applicants whose proposals conform to the RFA and will be most advantageous to RTI International, price and other factors considered.

Required Qualifications:

• RTI International will target primarily Local Service Providers (LSP) with business activities, which are owned and/or operated by individuals, entrepreneurs, or cooperatives, and are officially registered as private enterprises and legally allowed to conduct business in Ethiopia.

In addition, applicants must have:

• A functioning governance and management structure
• Physical presence in the intervention areas
• Other co-investment for the project (e.g., by owners, members, or others)
• A clear and compelling business/project and financing plan.
• Proven technical experience in implementing the proposed grant activity in the target sector and Landscape.

Evaluation Criteria for the Proposals:

• Technical approach – 40 points
• Organization’s capacity – 10 points
• Implementation Plan – 20 points
• Organization’s Experience (Past Performance) – 10 points
• Monitoring and Evaluation Plan -10 Points
• Budget – 10 points

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• Total Score – 100 points