Terms of Reference to Develop a Draft Forage Quality and Safety Standards for Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Areas of Ethiopia

Introduction

This term of reference contains background information, geographic focus, identified value chains, the desired methodology, including objectives, the timeframe, and a list of deliverables of the intended assignment. As well, it contains information about the kind of expertise that Heifer seeks for this activity and guidance on how to submit a proposal to conduct the activity. Heifer anticipates a fixed award for the study and make payments based on submission and Heifer’s approval of deliverables. The award agreement will include a payment schedule with specific deliverables; all payments require 10 business days processing after approval of deliverables.

BACKGROUND

Institutional Background

Heifer is an international non-governmental development organization working to end poverty & hunger in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Heifer has been in the development sector for more than 75 years. Heifer used to operate in 60 countries in the world but through time, Heifer came to focus to the most poverty and disaster affected 22 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Positioning small holder farmers at the center, Heifer has been working in a number of areas like, empowering farmers with agricultural development, climate change livelihoods resilience & caring for the earth, food security, strengthening agribusiness value chains and entrepreneurship opportunities, financial inclusion, business incubation, job 2creation, women empowerment, private sector engagement in rural development, etc. to close the living income gaps  of small holder farmers, youth & women which are Heifer’s priority targets. Heifer is currently operating in 11 countries in Africa.

HPI started operation in Ethiopia in 2004 partnering with international and local partners in the areas of agricultural projects including livelihoods improvement – vegetable production, dairy and livestock feed in SNNPR (Wolayita area) and since last year Heifer has been collaborating in agricultural development with partners.

The Task Background:

Currently HPI Ethiopia is rendering a Technical Assistance Service to the “Lowlands Livelihoods Resilience Project (LLRP)”as contracted by IFAD starting April 2021 for two years. The contract is a consultancy assignment given to Heifer Project International (HPI) Ethiopia by the donors: IFAD and the World Bank Group. The goal of the assignment is “to enable the development of viable commercial production systems for small-scale Pastoralists and Agro-pastoralists in the LLRP project area”, while LLRP is a flagship investment project implemented by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) and co-financed by the World Bank (WB) and IFAD with the objective of improving livelihood resilience of pastoral and agropastoral communities in Ethiopia. The implementation of LLRP commenced since 2019 and the Technical Assistance service by HPI stared in April 2021.

As depicted in the IFAD ToR for the TA service,  some of the key challenges and constraints to animal feed include: (i)poor quality of ingredients and lack of quality control services and/or poor implementation of the Ethiopian feed standards; (2) ) lack of inter-active and harmonized production systems with farmers producing fodder and forage for animals; and (3) lack of knowledge by livestock owners on how to apply the principles of providing their animals with appropriate feed (appropriate nutrition) for maximum productivity.

Recent studies by HPI on feed systems in the LLRP operation areas showed that a) the contributions of forages to the feed resource base in these area is extremely low b) the available feed from grazing and crop residues is not sufficient enough to maintain the existing livestock populations c) a significant quantity of non-conventional feed resources are available but not effectively utilized d) there is little use of conservation methods to reserve feed for scarcity periods e) there is a potential to improve the availability, quality of the natural grazing as well as crop residues and agro-industrial products f) there is opportunity to introduce cultivated forages and commercialization of feed  resources. Given the contributions of forages into the feed system in pastoral and agro-pastoral areas, HPI developed a business plan for commercialization of forages and conducted financial feasibility on investment in commercial forage production by Common Interest Groups (CIGs), cooperatives or big investors. However, information is missing on forage quality and safety standards that will support those going into the business as well as the government actors that do the regulation on quality and safety of the forages produced.   Hence, it is very rational to develop Forage Quality and Safety Standards for PAP areas, but also of relevance at national level.  Although feed quality and safety standard documents are there, these lack the forage aspect. 

The current assignment on preparing Forage Quality and Safety Standards for the PAP areas of Ethiopia is designed to fill the gap in quality and safety control of forages produced, sold, and fed to animals in the country. 

For more Detail follow the link: FINA_ToR_Forage_quality_safety_standards_Study.docx

Skill and knowledge base requirements

• Forage Agronomy and fodder preparation specialist, nutritionist, microbiologist, and related subjects MSc or PHD
• Strong analytical, report writing, and presentation skills.
• Evidence of success in conducting similar studies
• Strong qualitative/quantitative research and analytical skills
• Proven strong, clear technical writing and oral presentation skills in English
• Proven ability to prepare high-quality technical reports on time