Description

 

Name of Signature Program:	Naija Unlock
Agresso Work order:	NG1001
Country:	Nigeria
RFP No.

 

 

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

 

Funded by:

Heifer International

 

RFP Release Date:	January10th 2024
Question/ Inquiry Submission Deadline:	January 19th2024
Proposal Submission Deadline:	January29th2024
Performance Period:	February 26th – May 31st 2024
Electronic submission to the attention of:	[email protected]
Contact information for inquiries about this RFP:	[email protected]

 

Terms of Reference

 

I.General Information

This document is being issued to solicit applications from either an individual consultant or a consulting firm with key technical staff who have substantial experience in the implementation of youth development programs. More specifically, the consultant or lead consultant should have a proven track record in the implementation of innovative youth-focused tech programs. The bidder is free to seek any clarification on the expected deliverables prior to the preparation and submission of the proposal. While Heifer understands that completing this assignment will require the experience of an individual or a single firm with all the requisite expertise, the successful candidate can sub-contract components of the assignment to appropriate qualified firms. However, Heifer Nigeria should be duly informed of the plan from the onset, and this should be clearly stated in the bid as appropriate. It should also be noted that Heifer will make payments to each of the contractors based on submission and Heifer’s approval of deliverables. The award agreement will include a payment schedule with specific deliverables; all payments require 15 business days for processing after approval of deliverables.

 

II. Background

About Heifer International

Heifer International is a global non-profit organization on a mission to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way. Since 1944, Heifer International through its work in 21 countries (in Africa, Asia, and the Americas) has supported more than 39 million people around the world to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way, and millions more now on a pathway to living incomes. Working with rural communities across Africa for 48 years, Heifer International supports farmers and local food producers to strengthen local economies and build secure livelihoods that provide a living income. Heifer’s foundation was built on the belief that ending hunger begins with giving people the means to feed themselves, generate income and achieve sustainable livelihoods for their households. Heifer’s global vision for 2020 – 2030 is to close the living income gap for additional 10 million families. This vision is a focused approach for the African continent to support at least 6 million smallholder farmers in Africa reach sustainable living income. As a part of this commitment, Heifer has expanded its presence in Africa to include Nigeria, with a goal of supporting at least two million households to achieve sustainable living income, through (a) strategic private and public sector partnerships, (b) unlocking demand and market opportunities, (c) investing in priority value chains, and (d) leveraging innovation and emerging agricultural technologies to reach transformational scale. More information about Heifer is available at: www.heifer.org

Heifer Nigeria Country Program

Heifer International established its Nigeria Country Program in 2021, and its Signature Program for Nigeria, named “Naija Unlock”, was designed and launched. Naija Unlock program’s aim is to support the unlocking of the potential in Nigeria’s agricultural sector to achieve food self-sufficiency by working with smallholder farmers and local value chain actors to increase their productivity to meet local demand for food and raw material while closing the living income gap for families in the rice, tomato, and poultry value chains, with plans to add cattle, and small ruminant value chains. Naija Unlockis an evidence-based Signature Program designed to close the living income gap of smallholder farmers at scale with permanence of impact. The goal is to assist more than one million households to achieve sustainable living income by 2025, and scale to two million households by 2030, through strategic private and public sector partnerships to (a) build the social capital of smallholder farmers, (b) unlock farmers’ access to innovative financing, (c) unlock demand and market opportunities, (d) increase farmers access to mechanization and emerging agricultural innovations, and (e) increase farmers knowledge and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices. Naija Unlock program activities are being implemented currently in five (5) states in Nigeria (Ogun, Edo, Nasarawa, Benue, and Lagos States) with plans to scale to other states with the potential to make an impact at a transformational scale.

 

AYuTe (Agriculture Youth and Technology) Africa Challenge Nigeria

There is a transformation going on in the agricultural sector in Africa, Nigeria inclusive.Youth and Technology have been at the heart of these transformations, causing a radical change in the sector. Heifer’s recent survey on The Future of Africa’s Agriculture; An Assessment of the Role of Youth and Technology reveals that youth-led agricultural technology innovations are emerging, capable of transforming the productivity and competitiveness of agriculture in Nigeria. However, poor access to finance and technical assistance is one of the major constraints making it difficult to get them to the scale that would bring about these transformational impacts.

The AYuTe (Agriculture Youth and Technology) Africa Challenge serves as a springboard for identifying outstanding young agritech innovators in various Heifer countries, as well as assisting in the formation of strong partnerships. As a result, the competition will increase visibility for growth and improve smallholder farmers’ productivity.

Through a regional competition, Heifer International awards up to US$1.5 million each year to leading agritech innovators across Africa.National competitions in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and Uganda also award up to $20,000 in each country.

Like the Regional Champions competition, the AYuTe National Champions competition offers prize money and mentorship, helping translate the energy and ideas of young Nigerian agritech innovators into meaningful impact for smallholder farmers across the country, and supporting winners to grow their businesses and profile.

The AYuTe Africa Challenge Nigeria is an opportunity to identify young, creative entrepreneurs who have launched promising new tech solutions to transform African agriculture for smallholder farmers.

Following the successful execution of the 2022 and 2023 editionsof AYuTe Africa Challenge Nigeria, Heifer Nigeria seeks the services of a consultant to design and implement the 2024 edition ofAYuTe Africa Challenge Nigeria.

 

 

III. Description of Expected Professional Services

a. Purpose

The purpose is to identify a consultant to design and implement the 2024 (Fiscal Year 2024) edition of AYuTe Africa Challenge Nigeria.

 

1. Objectives: this assignment is designed to enable Heifer Nigeria:

• Develop and design the project implementation strategy
• Develop and fully implement a work plan for the competition
• Design and implement a communications strategy for the project
• Generate data and reports to inform decision making

 

 

1. Deliverables: The expected deliverables of this project are as follows:

Strategic Counsel and Coordination

 

• Provide technical support and strategic planning around goals and objectives.
• Provide updates around key upcoming activities, events, tactics, and outreach.
• Provide in-depth stakeholder map that is critical to audience segmentation for the Heifer Country team

Media Strategy and Coverage to Raise Awareness

• Provide top-tier Media list
• Develop and disseminate press kit to major press houses
• Arrange media interviews for Country Director (pre and post competition)
• Create a minimum of three (3) press releases (preferably announcing the start of the competition, announcing the top 5 and announcing winners at the end)
• Ensure coverage of competition both on Radio, TV, Print and Online
• Top-tier news bulletin on at least 20 electronic and print media platforms for all 3 press releases
• At least (20) publications one online/digital news media outlets for all 3 press releases
• Comprehensive media engagement report

 

Op-Ed

• Review and research background information for at least two Op-eds
• Draft the piece, finalize, pitch and ensure publishing.

 

Social Media/Digital

• Paid social media adverts promoting op-eds, national competition, and increased followership of country team social accounts (minimum of 4 sponsored ads including on X, formerly Twitter)
• Creation of new, refreshing and engaging copy and visual content, including stories that profile the champions, show impact and generate engagement i.e. video documentary of winners, competition process, graphics etc (minimum of 2 videos, 10 graphics per month)
• Provision of winners’ bio, pictures and details to be used on the regional AYuTe website page
• Build asset library of images, videos of winners and necessary Heifer key stakeholders
• Recruit at least 4 online (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) influencers or influencer accounts to promote competition
• Banner ads on websites with high affinity with the target audience
• Curate monthly engagement reports covering the different Heifer country social pages

 

Stakeholder Engagement/Events

• Coordinate and implement at least one (1) live chat/fireside chat with winners and Country Director.
• Facilitate a minimum of two (2) speaking opportunities at high-level agricultural/development sector conferences or summits for the Heifer Nigeria team
• Organise high-level project launch and grand finale/winners’ prize award events, curating a digital-savvy immersive agritech experience for not less than 100 invitees.

 

Post-Competition Report

• For every physical or virtual activity, send a detailed report which will include pictures, an attendance sheet, and other appendixes in line with agreed reporting templates
• Send through a thorough and in-depth post-competition/engagement report that details activities, impact, reach, expectations, and key learnings. The narrative report is to be accompanied by a financial report

 

1. Duration: The implementation period for the AYuTe Africa Nigeria Challenge 2024 is from February 2024 to May 2024

 

 

1. Expected Roles of Heifer Nigeria

• Finalize and sign the contract with the consultant.
• Participate in project inception meeting with consultant
• Participate in weekly progress meetings with consultant
• Provide technical guidance and support
• Review and validate all resources that will be proposed by the consultant before deployment
• Ensure that all payments are done as stated in the contract

 

 

1. Expertise

Heifer Nigeria is looking for either an individual consultant or a consulting firm with key technical staff who have substantial experience in the implementation of youth development programs. More specifically, the consultant or lead consultant should have a proven track record in the implementation of innovative youth-focused tech programs. The consultant should have expertise in analytical skills and report writing skills in English.

 

 

(a)Academic Qualifications

• At least a master’s degree in a relevant field in project management, sociology, agroecology, crop science, horticulture science, agricultural economics, or any other equivalent qualifications from a recognized university.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience with a proven professional record in organizing similar competitions
• The consultant should have a relevant background in journalism/or communication /or marketing/PR and an ability to work with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Excellent spoken and written English with a working knowledge of the other local languages

 

 

(b)Experience

• Experience building positioning strategies for organizations/events, engaging youth, expert and donor audiences
• Fast, accurate, creative and versatile writing skills, including for digital media
• Strong ability to see newsworthy stories quickly and easily
• Experience in creating and engaging social media assets and image editing.
• Good understanding of the issues relating to Youth Innovation and agriculture
• Ability to analyze information quickly and simply for audiences.
• Strong national and regional media contacts and demonstrable experience getting stories picked up by print and broadcast.
• Proven record delivering highly visible competitions/events, securing local, national and regional coverage.
• Evidence of having undertaken similar assignments; and
• Ability to work efficiently and deliver committed outputs under the assignment within agreed timelines and deadlines.
• Eligible to work in Nigeria

VII. Application Process

Individual or Consulting Firm Submission Requirements: Allinterested individuals or firmswillsubmittheirorganization’sprofilewiththefollowinginformation:

TechnicalProposal(nottoexceed10pages)

• General information (not to exceed 2 pages)
  • Organization or highly experienced individuals overview highlighting related assignments completed with client name, contact person and mobile number
  • Capacity statement
  • Legal registration to work inNigeria

• Technical Approach (not exceeding 8 pages)
  • A detailed methodology on how the assignment will be conducted, including implementation strategy, media and visibility plan, project participants selection procedures, quality control strategies, etc.
  • List and briefly describe the team and its proposed personnel, indicating what role each proposed individual will have; CVs of team members to be provided in an attachment. Maximum of 3-page CV for the Lead Consultant (who will lead the assignment) highlighting related assignments completed, role in the completed assignment. 2 paragraph short CV for other team members (who will be involved in the assignment) highlighting related assignments completed and roles
  • A clear and comprehensive work plan (draft), outlining the major activities, people responsible and time schedule.
  • Organizational or individual capacity statement, including past experiences and activities related to the theme of the study. Reference information must include the location, award numbers, and brief description of work performed.
  • At least three references of other clients for whic<s