Vacancy: Call for Consultants – Market study for Income Generating Activities (IGA) Introduction

Established in 2005, Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is the independent non-profit umbrella organization representing all Fairtrade certified producers in Africa. Fairtrade Africa is owned by its members, who are African producer organizations certified against international Fairtrade standards producing traditional export commodities such as flowers, coffee, cocoa, tea, cotton, bananas, mango, and non-traditional commodities including shea butter and rooibos tea. Currently, the organization represents over 1 million smallholder farmers and workers across 33 countries in Africa.

 

A world in which all producers can enjoy secure and sustainable livelihoods, fulfill their potential and decide on their future. 

 

Our Strategic Plan 2016-2020 provides a comprehensive long-term outline towards achieving our commitment to smallholder farmers, workers, and artisanal miners. By working within the Fairtrade system and with strategic partnerships through country and producer networks, we will deliver on the following: 

WHERE WE OPERATE 

We operate four regional networks: Eastern Africa Network (FTA-ECAN) based in Nairobi, Kenya; West Africa Network (FTA-WAN) based in Accra, Ghana and Southern Africa Network (FTA-SAN) based in Cape Town, South Africa. The North Africa & Middle East Network is through partnerships that are coordinated from the secretariat in Nairobi.

Terms of Reference

Market study for Income Generating Activities (IGA) Introduction

 

GIZ - Sustainable Cocoa Initiative Support Programme (SCISP)

The Sustainable Cocoa Initiative Support Programme (SCISP), with a co-financing from EU and BMZ, is a visionary and transformative initiative working on numerous aspects of the cocoa supply chain. Among others, SCISP aims at uplifting the livelihoods of cocoa farmers through the introduction of market oriented IGAs. A particular interest lies in cocoa by- products, in the sense of creating added value within the cocoa supply chain.

FTA and GIZ have joined hands for setting up a Living Income Project, addressing the longstanding challenge of inadequate income within the cocoa farming community. With the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED), the project has won a strong Governmental partner for this endeavour. The joint Living Income Project seeks to catalyse positive change by diversifying income streams and enhancing economic resilience among the farming population.

By diversifying income sources, the Living Income Project aims to reduce the vulnerability of cocoa farmers to market fluctuations, crop diseases, and other risks inherent to cocoa production. Moreover, this diversification enhances the farmers' ability to invest in sustainable farming practices and contribute to the overall development of their communities. Through its multifaceted approach, the project seeks to not only improve livelihoods but also promote a more resilient, sustainable, and prosperous cocoa farming sector that serves as a model for other regions and initiatives.

The core objective of the Living Income Project is to empower cocoa farmers to attain a living income – an income that ensures their basic needs are met, including food, education, healthcare, and housing, while also allowing for the ability to invest in their farms and communities. To achieve this, the project takes a holistic approach by promoting diversified income sources alongside cocoa farming.

Summary of Assignment

The consultant shall conduct a comprehensive market survey to assess the potentials and viability of various income-generating activities for cocoa farmers in the Fanteakwa Union. The consultant will explore the market capacities for the cultivation of pepper, (organic) fertilizer production, local soap production, snail rearing and other lucrative ventures that align with improving the livelihood of cocoa farmers.

Objective

The local and national market potential for four pre-identified products will be explored and min. one additional promising product will be added. Recommendations for the marketing shall be formulated.

Specific Objectives

The consultant delivers in-depth information on the below named pre-defined products. This must include a cost-benefit-analysis of the products, the variation of prices on the local/national market, the absorption capacity on the local/ national market, the number of farmers that can be included, the quantity of materials/ ingredients needed for the production and where to get them. The pre-defined products are:

1. Pepper Cultivation


2. (Organic) Fertilizer Production


3. Local Soap Production


4. Snail Rearing

Scope of Work

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

Activity Analysis:

• Research and gather information on snail rearing, pepper cultivation, (organic) fertilizer and local soap production. For local soap production, identify innovations (new (local) ingredients, eco-friendly production/ packaging) that could be incorporated into the final product.


• Identify potential income-generating activities suitable for cocoa farmers, using the following criteria: quick, regular economic impact, gender inclusivity, integration of youth, eco-friendliness, minimal/low initial investment and working time. The suggested activities should not distract farmers from their primary income source and should be without adverse effects to cocoa production.

Market Assessment:

• Identify target markets and consumer demand for each activity within the local, regional and national contexts. Identify which quantity of a product the market could absorb.


• Analyse market trends, pricing, and potential profitability for each identified activity.


• Evaluate competition and potential challenges in the chosen activities.


• Stakeholder mapping analysis.


• Include information on off-takers/companies open to contractual agriculture.

Feasibility Study:

• Assess the technical requirements, resources, and infrastructure needed for each income-generating activity.


• Determine the feasibility of integrating these activities alongside cocoa farming, considering labour, space, and other factors.

Risk Analysis:

• Identify potential risks and obstacles associated with each activity, including disease outbreaks, market fluctuations, and regulatory considerations.


• Provide recommendations for risk mitigation strategies.

Financial Projection:

• Develop financial projections for each income-generating activity, including estimated investment costs, operating expenses, and potential returns.


• Calculate the potential impact on cocoa farmers' overall income and livelihoods.

Report and Recommendations:

• Prepare a comprehensive market survey report outlining findings, analysis, and conclusions for each identified activity.


• Present recommendations for the most viable and promising income activities that can supplement cocoa farming.

Deliverables:

The consultant will provide the following deliverables:

• A comprehensive inception report.


• Detailed market survey report for each income-generating activity.


• Financial projections and return-on-investment analysis (cost-benefit).


• Recommendations for the most suitable activities, the number of persons to integrate and strategies for implementation.


• Presentation of findings and recommendations to FTA/SCISP/CHED.

Duration

The consultant is expected to complete the market survey and submit the final report by April 2024 to FTA.

Timelines

Key deliverables	Timelines
Contract Signing	N/A
Inception Report	3 days after contracting
Desktop Reviews	14 days after contracting
Setting up of CAPI systems for data collection	20 days after contracting
Data collection and analysis	21-30 days after contracting
Draft reports	40 days after contracting
Final reports and presentation	45 days after contracting