Tenders are invited for National Consultant on Food Systems Gap Analysis and Policy. Location: Kigali Deadline: Friday, 18/04/2025 23:59 Terms of Reference (ToR) National Consultant on Food Systems Gap Analysis and Policy Recommendations Duty Station: Kigali, Rwanda (with possible field visits to access stakeholders in different Districts) Duration: 87 working days over 4 months Contract Type: Individual Consultant Reporting to: Project Manager, APEFA, with technical oversight from FAO Rwanda Request for Proposal Activities Dates RFP Release Date: 14/04/2025 Question/ Inquiry Submission Deadline: 16/04/2025 Proposal Submission Deadline: 18/04/2025 Selection Committee review 21/04/2025 Notification of award 22/04/2025 Award agreement negotiation and signing 23/04/2025 Electronic submission to the attention of: procurement@apefarwanda.org Contact information for inquiries about this RFP: info@apefarwanda.org Background Action pour la Protection de lEnvironnement et la Promotion des Filières Agricoles (APEFA) is a Rwandan non-governmental organization that has been working since 2001 to advance community-driven solutions addressing deforestation, land degradation, and unsustainable agricultural practices. With a mission rooted in empowering rural communities and blending indigenous wisdom with modern sustainable practices, APEFA focuses on forest restoration, watershed management, sustainable agriculture, livelihood improvement, and climate change adaptation. With a secured funding support and in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) under the project Strengthening Institutions and Systems to Accelerate Agrifood Transformation in Eastern Africa, APEFA is implementing a national-level activity in Rwanda aimed at accelerating the implementation of the countrys food systems transformation pathway. This initiative focuses on identifying institutional, policy, and capacity gaps; validating findings through national stakeholder dialogue; formulating policy recommendations; and building the capacity of key actors in Rwandas food systems space. APEFA is now seeking to hire a national consultant to provide technical leadership in this process. Purpose of the Assignment The consultant will lead the technical process of identifying and prioritizing gaps in food systems transformation in Rwanda. The outputs will include a gap analysis report and an evidence-based policy brief to guide decision-makers. Scope of Work The national consultant will provide technical expertise to support Rwandas food systems transformation pathway, focusing on both analytical and capacity-building tasks. Responsibilities include: Conduct a desk review of national food systems strategies, previous assessments, and institutional frameworks. Identify and prioritize policy, institutional, and technical gaps in implementing the national food systems pathway. Conduct consultations with key stakeholders, including government agencies, CSOs, development partners, and private sector actors involved in food systems. Analyse institutional, policy, and technical gaps hindering the implementation of the national food systems transformation pathway. Produce a comprehensive gap analysis report, including recommendations. Support and present at a national validation workshop to discuss and validate findings with stakeholders. Develop a policy brief based on validated findings, providing actionable recommendations for government and stakeholders. Incorporate stakeholder feedback into the final report and the policy brief after feedback from key experts. Contribute to capacity building by: Designing training content tailored to the identified gaps. Supporting the facilitation of a national capacity-building training workshop for stakeholders. Producing training materials, presentations, and tools. Evaluating participant feedback and refining capacity-building approaches accordingly. Any other duty assigned by his supervisor Deliverables Deliverables Description Timeline Inception Report Outline of methodology and timeline Within 7 days of contract start Gap Analysis Report Draft based on document review and consultations By the end of month 2 Validation Workshop Support Technical presentation and facilitation support As per the agreed schedule Validation workshop report Produce the validation workshop report within 7 days after the workshop Final Gap Analysis Report Incorporating stakeholder feedback from workshop By the end of month 2 and half Draft Policy Brief Structured document: intro, findings, recommendations, call to action Within 10 days after validation Final Policy Brief Based on stakeholder inputs Within 10 days of draft Capacity Building Content Training modules, PowerPoints, and learning materials 10 days Before Training workshop Training Delivery Report Summary of facilitation, participant feedback, and lessons learned Within 7 days post-workshop Qualifications and Experience The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated and experienced professional with a strong background in food systems, agricultural policy, or sustainable development and a proven track record of working with diverse stakeholders to deliver high-impact analytical and capacity-building assignments. This includes: Post-graduate degree (Masters) in Agriculture, Food Policy, Development Studies, Public Policy, or a related field; a PhD is preferred. Minimum of 10 years of experience in food systems, agricultural policy, or development planning. Demonstrated experience conducting policy analysis and stakeholder consultations. Strong analytical and report-writing skills with the ability to translate technical findings into practical policy recommendations. Excellent writing and communication skills in English. Working knowledge of French or Kinyarwanda is an asset. Experience in designing and delivering capacity-building workshops and training programs. Familiarity with Rwandas food systems context and national development strategies is a strong asset. Familiarity with FAO, UN frameworks, and SDG processes is desirable. Reporting & Supervision The consultant will work under the direct supervision of APEFAs Project Manager. Remuneration and Payment The consultants remuneration will be discussed and agreed upon based on qualifications and experience, in line with APEFA based on similar work standards. Payment will be made in installments, subject to the timely delivery and approval of agreed deliverables. Requirements for interested consultants Interested individual consultants should provide a motivation letter, an updated CV with academic credentials attached, certificates of good completion for similar assignments, and technical and financial proposals. Proposals submissions requirements Interested consultants must submit both technical and financial proposals separately. Technical proposal: The Consultant should incorporate the following in the technical proposal Title, methodology, understanding the tasks, expected deliverables, and timelines (max 3 pages); Financial Proposal: The Consultant should submit a detailed financial proposal priced in Rwanda Francs (Rwf) and submitted separately electronically. Administrative Requirements The bid documents must include the following administrative documents at a minimum. Academic credentials Certificates of good completion Etc. Note: Failure to meet a single administrative requirement will result in the disqualification of the Service provider. Evaluation of Proposals: Selection method: The procurement selection committee will evaluate the proposals using the Quality-Cost Based methodology as detailed below: Preliminary examination of administrative requirements compliance to this Request for Proposals on a pass/fail basis. Detailed Technical evaluation will contribute 80%. Financial scores will be allocated 20% to determine the best evaluated bid. Proposals failing any stage will be eliminated and not considered in subsequent stages. Minimum technical score: The mark required to pass the technical evaluation is 70% of the Technical Score. Total scores: Total scores shall be determined using a weighting of 80% for technical proposals and a weighting of 20% for financial proposals. Selection Criteria Technical proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria: Evaluation Criteria Score Part A - Technical Proposal 80 Understanding of the task 10 Analytical framework 20 Approach & Methodology 20 Data collection and analysis 10 Operational plan 10 At least ten (10) years of experience of the consultants in similar work 10 Part B -Financial 20 Total 100 Late submissions and verification Proposals received after the submission deadline will not be considered. Bidders are responsible for ensuring their proposals are submitted according to the instructions stated herein. APEFA retains the right to terminate this RFP or modify the requirements upon notification to the bidders. Done at Kigali, April 14, 2025 APEFA (Action pour la Protection de lEnvironnement et la Promotion des Filières Agricoles) Tender Link : https://www.jobinrwanda.com/job/terms-reference-tor-national-consultant-food-systems-gap-analysis-and-policy
