(Agricultural) Market Systems Consultant

Terms of Reference for a Study on Market systems assessment (Study 2)

Position Title: (Agricultural) Market Systems Consultant
Location: Hanoi, Lao Cai, and Son La
Period: 16 January 2018 to 15 June 2018
Inputs: Approximately 35 days for 01 national consultant (with additional 18 days for 02 research assistants to assist the fieldwork)
Reporting To: Team Leader with coordination to Technical Panel Coordinator

Background: CowaterSogema is recruiting a (agricultural) market systems consultant to conduct a background study for the Aus4Equality (GREAT) project. This is a socio-economic development initiative working in Son La and Lao Cai provinces and funded through the Australian Aid Program in Vietnam. The Program aims to increase women’s economic participation and decision-making through improved access to markets and more effective engagement in the agriculture and tourism value chains in ethnic minority regions of North-West Vietnam.

This study is expected to provide evidence for shaping the project’s focuses on which market systems or value chains to be targeted during the course of the project implementation. Within a group of most potential products or services in the two sectors, this study will further provide entry points and suggestions for the project’s interventions.

The study will use the Market for the Poor (M4P) and women’s empowerment (such as WEAMS, WEAI, GALS etc.) as the main analytical frameworks. Some indicative study questions to be addressed are as below:

• What are potential products/services in agriculture and tourism sectors that can bring economic benefits for ethnic minority, women and attract private sector investment?
• Who are key actors in the most promising product/service? Their roles and relationship?
• What are the main markets for tourism products/services in the two provinces?
• What are the demand for tourism products and services?
• What is the current market system for each product and services? What are major constraints for ethnic minority women to participate in the market of selected products/services?
• What are the current formal and informal engagement in the market of the poor particularly for women of different ethnic minority groups
• What kind of policies, programs of the GoV, projects by development partners, and investments of the private sector that could be relevant and useful for the project to leverage and cooperate?

There is a long list of potential products and services in the agriculture and tourism sectors in the North-West and many of these have been subject to previous and existing interventions. Hence, a scoping exercise is first needed in order to shortlist most potential products/services (and the market systems underlying these products and services) for further analysis. The GREAT team will provide an indicative list of selection criteria for the consultants to re-visit and verify these criteria in order to scope down the wide range of potential products/services. Of these criteria, being inclusive for ethnic minority women and potential to attract private sector investment especially those from women-led enterprises and/or enterprises which potentially could employ or engage with EM women as suppliers are two important ones to consider.

Once the scoping exercise is completed, the consultants will analyze the products/services shortlisted, using a gender perspective. The consultants might pursue an assessment of market systems related to these products/services. They might also conduct value chain analysis. If a market system approach is employed, it is important to make sure that attention should also place on specific value chains within the selected market systems. If a value chain approach is used, the consultants should also ensure that adequate attention will be paid also on sub-sectors (rather than exclusively on specific value chains) and the aim for sustainability and large scale.

It is also noted that the current understanding on the market systems or value chains in the tourism sector is quite limited relative to what exists in the agriculture sector. In addition, the link between agriculture and tourism sectors are hardly analyzed in the current literature. The understanding of tourism market demand is extremely limited given the growing market, both domestic and international, for the tourism services in the North West. Hence, the consultants might be required to focus more on the tourism sector (e.g. market demand for the tourist services that are inclusive for EM women, handicraft and food supply chains etc.). This will be jointly agreed once the desk review is completed (see below).

 Regardless which approaches are used, this analysis will provide suggestions for the entry points for the Aus4Equality (GREAT) project. In addition, when relevant and possible, this analysis should also provide suggestions on issues that could be useful for the Project such as who should be potential partners for the project to consider partnership development, what are the main obstacles for women economic empowerment, where are women concentrated in various value chains, where (which type of enterprises and in what roles) are they working and where are women-led enterprises and what are their profiles etc.

The study will led by the GREAT team (mainly the Deputy Team Leader, Tourism Sector Advisor, with inputs from other senior management and the project’s Technical Panel). An (agricultural) market system consultant will be recruited to collaborate with the GREAT team in some parts of this study. Two research assistants will also be mobilized to support the fieldwork.

Specific duties of the market systems consultant

The GREAT team will lead the study. The(agriculture) market system specialist is expected to perform the following duties:

TASK 1: Getting on board

• The GREAT team will organize an orientation week between 15-19 Jan to discuss among the team about the background studies (including this study) and other strategic inputs for the Inception Phase of the project. In particular, the team will discuss the existing evidence on the study questions, the gaps for next steps, as well as design of the tools for data collection. The outlines of the deliverables (e.g. Aide Memoire, Final Report, Policy Brief etc.) will also be discussed. If possible the consultant will attend the orientation on Tuesday-Thursday 18 (am). Otherwise, the consultant will be briefed by GREAT team on the study’s methodology, data collection and analysis tools, fieldwork plan etc. The consultant should contribute his/her expertise to finalise the data collection tools;
• To get on board fully, the consultant will also spare some work days to review the existing literature etc. This is to ensure that the consultant and the GREAT team will be on the same ‘footing’ before conducting the fieldwork (below).
• Given the understanding of the study design and the requirement for the fieldwork, the consultant will propose candidates for 02 research assistants to assist the fieldwork. The GREAT team will approve these 02 research assistants.

TASK 2: Fieldwork

The intensive fieldwork will be organized in both Son La and Lao Cai provinces. The purpose of the fieldwork will be:

• To collect data on the market systems of the potential products and services with a focus on inclusion of EM women, roles of key actors and relationships, related policies of the GoV and other initiatives by development partners, private sector;
• To collect information to assess the constraints for ethnic minority women to participate in the markets of selected products/services;
• Other related information to address the study questions (see above).

Debriefing(s) are organized right after the completion of the fieldwork in each province. This is an opportunity for the GREAT team to present the preliminary findings,
observations as well as strategic recommendation with the relevant stakeholders, partners for the discussion of provincial strategy

Participating in this task, the consultant will support the team to do data collection. Assignment of work between the GREAT team and the consultant will be discussed and jointly agreed. It is likely that the consultant will focus on conducting qualitative data collection tools for power and gender analysis. In addition, the consultants might also be required to coordinate inputs from the 02 research assistants.

TASK 3: Data analysis and report writing

The consultant will contribute to data analysis and writing up the deliverables. Task assignment between the GREAT team members and the consultant will be discussed and jointly agreed at the orientation sessions. It is likely that the consultant will contribute to the following deliverables:

• Aide Memoire: this is required before submission of the study report for to provide the GREAT team with main findings and recommendations which could then be inputs for the GREAT team to develop a number of deliverables required for the Inception Phase (to be completed before the Mid of April 2018) including provincial engagement strategies, GESI plan, innovation plan, theory of change etc.;
• Final report: after the submission of the Aide Memoire, the fina report with more detailed analysis (compared to the Aide Memoire) will be developed;

Workplan and Deliverables

Workplan: the study workplan is outlined below (the consultant is not required to participate in all the stages of this workplan):

• Jan 16-19, 2018: Orientation, discussion on study methodologies
• Jan 30, 2018: Desk review, methodology and work plan, and report outlines;
• Feb 05, 2018: Finalise data collection instruments with detailed field work plan
• February 26-Mar 18, 2018: Fieldwork and debriefing
• Mar 31, 2018: Submission of the Aide Memoire with key findings and recommendations;
• April 15 2018: GREAT team utilize the Aide Memoire and other related information generated from this study to revise/enhance the project strategies and plans required for the Inception Phase;
• May 05, 2018: First draft of the report;
• May or Jun, 2018 (to be confirmed): Presentation at workshop as parts of the project kick-off;
• Jun 15, 2018: Final report and a 2-page Policy Brief.

Deliverables: the consultant will not be required to submit any complete deliverables. Instead, his/her input will be parts of some key deliverables (mainly Aide Memoire, draft and Final Report). Details will be discussed and jointly agreed between the GREAT team and the consultant. It is likely that the consultant will submit:

• All the fieldnotes (in all forms) from the meetings, interviews, or focus group discussions that the consultant and the 02 research assistants are assigned for the fieldwork;
• Parts of Aide Memoire and Final Reports that are assigned to the consultant;
• In addition, some technical inputs from the consultant will also be required such as slides for workshops, inputs for the deliverables of the Inception Phase etc.

Required Qualifications:

For the consultant:

Required Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• Postgraduate derees in relevant field such as business administration, marketing;
• At least 5 years experience with proven track record on conducting studies in the agriculture and/or tourism sector; value chains,
• Experience in conducting studies on ethnic minority and gender;
• Intensive experience in working with government agencies, private sector, development partners;
• Clarity of analysis and written expression;
• Ability to work under pressure of strict timeframe and deadlines;
• Fluency in Vietnamese and English;

Desired Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• Knowledge and experience in the North-West region, especially in Lao Cai and Son La; understanding the local EM language, culture is an asset;
• Having intension to contribute in the resource network of consultants that will be developed and maintained by the project;
• Female and EM candidates strongly encouraged to apply.

For 02 research assistants:

• University derees in relevant subjects;
• At least 03 years experience in conducting various data collection tools for market systems assessment and/or value chain analysis;
• Ability to work under pressure of strict timeframe and deadlines;
• Knowledge and experience in the North-West region, especially in Lao Cai and Son La; understanding the local EM languages and culture are an asset; cultural awareness, sensitivity and a respectful attitude are essential
• Female and EM candidates strongly encouraged to apply.

Application

Interested consultants should send their most update CV (with details of at least two referees), max 3-page CVs of the proposed research assistants (if assistants are also included at this stage), a letter of interest, and at least one sample of previous work in English.

The consultant should propose the candidates for 02 research assistants as part of his/her application (another option is to propose the 02 assistants after recruitment). The contract will be awarded to the most qualified consultant, who will also sign the contract on behalf of the 02 research assistants that he/she proposes.

The letter of interest should not be more than 5 pages with the followings:

• Demonstration of in-depth knowledge and experience related to the duties of this study;
• Proposed consultancy rates (other cost such as travel etc. will be covered by the Project).

Interested candidates should submit to [email protected], indicating “Market system analysis” in the subject, before COB Jan 14, 2018.

Successful candidate should be prepared to make his/herself available to attend the orientation sessions between 16-18 Jan, 2018.