Background

The African Union’s Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) is a specialized Technical Office of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (DARBE) of the African Union Commission (AUC). The vision of AU-IBAR is: “An Africa in which animal resources contribute significantly to integration, prosperity and peace”. Its Mission is: to provide leadership and integrated support services for the development of animal resources in Africa.

Its mandate is to support and coordinate the sustainable development and utilization of animal resources (livestock, fisheries and wildlife) to enhance nutrition and food security and contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of the people in the Member States of the African Union (AU). AU-IBAR accomplishes its mandate through supporting and empowering the AU Member States, the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and other stakeholders in the livestock sector.

Under this mandate, the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (B&MGF) is establishing and operationalizing the African Pastoral Markets Development (APMD) Platform. This 4-year pan-African initiative is pivotal in enabling market-driven, adaptive transformations in pastoralism, and plays a critical role in fostering Inclusive Agricultural Transformation across Africa, by focusing on critical three pillars of action: 1) Strengthening Enabling Policy Environment and strategic implementation, 2) Strengthening private sector integration in pastoral livestock markets; and 3) Strengthening and diffusing of functional data ecosystems.

Within the context of pastoral sector potential for development, AU-IBAR recognizes that pastoralists are critical for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa as:

• Demand for meat and milk in SSA expected to increase by more than 250% by 2050.
• Pastoralists account for 2 – 7% of national GDP and contribute 60 – 80% of meat across Africa (up to 50% of meat exports in many geographies).
• Pastoralists provide valuable ecosystem services, using indigenous climate adaptive practices on marginal lands, sequestering carbon, and managing water in ASAL regions.
• However, pastoralists are severely marginalized, their contribution to the Agriculture GDP is undervalues (mainly due to lack of information) and disproportionately impacted by climate change. Historic investments, though significant, have had limited impact.

The APMD Platform will strategically influence, promote and provide visibility of market-focused interventions to enhance pastoral integration into livestock markets, among key stakeholders. The platform will achieve that by convening and coordinated actions through multi-stakeholder fora designed to implement priority actions under the three pillars below:

• Strengthening the pastoralists integration in livestock marketing,
• Policy strengthening and strategic implementation, and
• Strengthening and diffusing functional data ecosystems

The APMD Platform will ensure focus and impact by prioritizing THREE sector focus areas and THREE cross-cutting lenses

• Improve feed security and production inputs with a focus on innovative, market-oriented mechanisms and policies to promote inclusive land use and governance
• Facilitate formal market integration, increase value addition and promote investments in pastoral livestock sector
• Remove trade barriers, promote harmonization and improve regional and international livestock trade

The Cross-cutting Lenses:

• Improve economic power of women and youth in pastoral communities
• Improve availability, access, and affordability of nutritious, quality food in pastoral communities
• Improve climate resilience and adaptation in pastoral communities and ASAL regions

Justification and Scope of the Consultation

Justification

The baseline study on the current status of the pastoral livestock marketing in Kenya and Nigeria is crucial for understanding the existing conditions of the livestock marketing chains and will provide valuable insights into the barriers and opportunities within the sector. This information is essential for designing targeted interventions that can improve market efficiency, enhance value addition, and increase competitiveness in local, regional and international markets. Moreover, the study will identify key stakeholders and their roles, enabling better coordination and collaboration among governmental agencies, private sector players, and development partners. Additionally, a comprehensive baseline study will offer a benchmark against which the impact of future projects and policies can be measured. This will ensure that interventions are evidence-based, strategically focused, and capable of delivering measurable improvements. By establishing a clear understanding of the current status, the study will facilitate the development of a robust strategy aimed at enhancing the resilience and sustainability of the pastoral livestock marketing systems, and will indicate opportunities of improvement to influence, promote and provide market-focused interventions to enhance pastoral integration into livestock markets, and the transformation of the sector in Kenya and Nigeria.

Scope of the Consultation

In light of the foregoing, AU-IBAR, the APMD-Platform is seeking to engage the services of a consulting firm to:

1. The consultation firm will carry out the in-depth (baseline) study and develop the national/cluster reports for the pastoral livestock marketing chain (livestock source; production; collection and local primary marketing; aggregation and transportation; secondary/terminal/cross-border markets: local and/or export; slaughterhouse, processing and value add; sales/distribution), in Kenya and Nigeria, within the context of two Pastoral Livestock marketing Clusters. The two considered clusters are: 1) Horn of Africa (HoA) represented by Kenya (as the Focus or Light-house country), and outreach countries (source of pastoral livestock) of Ethiopia, Somalia, and Tanzania; 2) The Sahel cluster, represented by Nigeria (as the Focal/Light-house country) and outreach countries of Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The assessment is expected to focus on the in-depth study in the two lighthouses countries (Kenya and Nigeria) with sufficient information and analysis covering the phases of the pastoral livestock marketing chain in the livestock-source/outreach countries in the identified cluster. This may include type and source of pastoral livestock to be mobilized to lighthouse countries; production system, production challenges, etc.; mobility to the lighthouse countries, rest-points facilities, mobility-triggered conflict and rustling, etc.; cross-border aggregation, grading, health and quality standards compliance services, etc.; and primary marketing system (mediators, registration, pricing, etc.) considering the Three pillars.
2. The in-depth Assessment of the Pastoral Livestock Chain (PLC) will indicate gaps, barriers/ challenges, and opportunities for improvement in the THREE (3) main pillars and cross-cutting issues. The main pillars are: 1) The enabling policy environment and strategic implementation; 2) Functional data ecosystem, diffusion and utilization of shared knowledge/data; and 3) the pastoralist’s integration into sustainable livestock marketing in Africa and internationally. While the THREE (3) cross cutting lenses are: 1) Improved climate-change resilience (adaptation and mitigation measures, practices and impacts) in pastoral communities and ASAL regions; 2) Women and youth empowerment (by supporting their active incorporation in, and benefit sharing from the PLC; and 3) Improved availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutritious, quality food in pastoral communities.
3. The consultation team will use assessment measures and indications of different phases of the pastoral livestock marketing chain (Annexes 2 and 3 provide guidance on this matter) that will be completed / exhausts by the team in the Inception Report. The inception report will be delivered to AU-IBAR for approval within one week of the contract signature by the selected consultation firm.
4. The consultation Team will design methodology, tasks, and tools; travel and stakeholder’s mapping; type and source of information / data to be collected from each type of stakeholders; data analytical approaches, tabulating/demonstration, and reporting formats; and final deliverables. This will be included in the “Consultation Implementation Inception and Action Plan” (Inception Report)
5. The consultation team will follow the methodology, measures, tools, statistical approach, etc. of the approved Consultation Implementation Inception and Action Plan (Inception Report) in conducting and reporting the study.
6. Following the delivery of acceptable consultation reports(s), the consultation team will facilitate the stakeholder’s validation (workshop) of the study findings and recommendations, that will be organized by AU-IBAR, and its cost is not included in the consultation budget. The team will use the stakeholder’s inputs and comments to update the national and cluster reports.

Objectives of the Consultation

The overall objective

To assess the current status of the Pastoral Livestock Marketing Chain in Kenya, within the Horn of Africa (HoA) cluster, and in Nigeria within the Sahel clusters.

Note: The two targeted clusters are: 1) Horn of Africa (HoA) represented by Kenya (as the Focus or Light-house country), and outreach countries (source of marketing livestock) of Ethiopia, Somalia, and Tanzania; 2) The Sahel cluster, represented by Nigeria (as the Focal/Light-house country) and outreach countries of Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Specific Objectives (according to each of the APMD outputs)

The specific objectives align with the overall goal of strengthening the integration of pastoralists in livestock marketing, policy strengthening and strategic implementation, and enhancing functional data ecosystems and diffusion within the pastoral livestock markets in the HoA and Sahel clusters.

1. Develop and Implement Methodology and Tools (Inception Report):
   • Design appropriate time plan, methodology, tools, and analytical approaches, stakeholders and source of information for the baseline assessment study.
   • Ensure the use of robust and standardized methods for data collection, analysis, and reporting.
2. Assess the Current Status of Pastoral Livestock Marketing Chains, and Integration into Markets:
   • Conduct a comprehensive baseline assessment of the pastoral livestock marketing chains in Kenya and Nigeria, focusing on the chain of: livestock source; production; primary collection and mobility; local/primary marketing; aggregation and mobility/transportation; secondary/terminal/cross-boards/slaughter markets (local and export); slaughterhouse, processing, and value addition; and sales and distribution.
   • Identify gaps, barriers, and challenges in the pastoral livestock marketing chains (in the three pillars) to provide a clear understanding of the existing conditions and priority areas of actions and interventions.
   • From the information above, draft a reliable livestock market-chain information / data structure to help informing the improvement of the pastoral livestock market knowledge and focus on market-based livestock production and marketing activities.
   • Carry out a comprehensive analysis of market dynamics in Kenya and Nigeria, including the patterns of pastoral livestock movements and marketing within the clusters (HoA, and Sahel) under survey (e.g., Pastoral livestock movements between Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, and Kenya, including reciprocal flows), policy and legislations frameworks affecting such dynamics; active stakeholders and institutions that support the integration of the HoA and the Sahel pastoralists into the markets of Kenya and Nigeria, respectively; and opportunities to access export markets, e.g., the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, North-Africa and other international markets, particularly for the HoA cluster.
3. Evaluate Enabling Policy and Legislation Environment and Strategic Implementation:
   • Analyze the existing policy and legislation frameworks and strategic implementation related to pastoral livestock markets in Kenya and Nigeria (within the HoA and Sahel pastoral livestock mobility and marketing).
   • Identify gaps and opportunities to enhance the enabling policy environment that supports sustainable pastoral livestock marketing, in the geographies studied.
4. Assess the Current Status of Functional Data Ecosystems:
   • Assess the current data ecosystem related to pastoral livestock marketing chain, including data collection, dissemination, and utilization practices in the geographies studied.
   • Propose strategies to enhance data sharing, diffusion, and utilization to support informed decision-making and policy formulation.
   • Insightful analysis of the available Data-Sharing Hubs; scope, functionality, efficiency and the need for upgrade, improvement or implementation of new hubs.
5. Assess the Pastoralists’ (Private-sector) Integration into Livestock Markets:
   • Examine the current level of Private-sector (pastoralists) integration into local, regional, and international livestock markets, and barriers or challenges for efficient integration, in Kenya and Nigeria within the HoA and Sahel pastoral livestock clusters.
   • Identify best practices and potential areas for improving market access, value addition, and investment opportunities for pastoralists.
6. Assess the Women & Youth active incorporation in; and benefit-sharing from the pastoral livestock marketing chain:
   • Investigate the roles and active participation of women and youth in the pastoral livestock marketing chains.
   • Accordingly, develop recommendations / priority actions to enhance their economic power and active involvement in the sector, ensuring equitable benefit sharing.
7. Assess the pastoral livestock sector resilience to the adverse effects of Climate Change:
   • Assess the impact of climate change on pastoral communities and their livestock marketing chain activities.
   • Identify adaptive practices and mitigation measures to improve the climate resilience of pastoral communities in Kenya and Nigeria.
8. Evaluate the Pastoral Livestock contribution to the Food Security and Nutrition:
   • Evaluate the availability of, accessibility to, and affordability of nutritious, quality food within pastoral communities.
   • Recommend strategies to improve food security and nutritional outcomes for pastoral populations, based on improving accessibility to markets.
9. Map / Identify active pastoral livestock marketing stakeholder and develop mechanisms for promoting their cooperation and engagement:
   • Map / Identify key stakeholders involved in the pastoral livestock marketing chains (including pastoralists, and pastoral associations/cooperatives, governmental agencies, private sector players, development partners, etc.).
   • Assess cooperation, partnership and coordinated actions between different pastoral livestock stakeholders.
   • Propose mechanisms/ interventions for enhanced coordination and collaboration among stakeholders to support the development of the pastoral livestock sector.
10. Facilitate Stakeholder Validation and Dissemination:
    • Support organizing and facilitate stakeholder validation workshops to present and discuss the study findings and recommendations.
    • Incorporate stakeholder inputs and feedback into the final national and cluster reports to ensure comprehensive and actionable outcomes.
11. Develop Monitoring and Impact Evaluation indicators:
    • Develop a baseline list of indicators (including those guided by Annex 2 and 3) and benchmarks to measure the impact of APMD interventions on the pastoral livestock marketing chains.
    • Develop a “Monitoring and Evaluation framework”, to be used to track progress and ensure that interventions are evidence-based and capable of delivering measurable improvements.

Annex 2 and 3 indicate some detailed measures and parameters that will be used as guidance, and to be completed/exhausted by the consultancy team and reflected in the Inception Report.

Methodology

The methodology of the consultation process will include Desk (literature, official census and database) reviews, individual interviews and group-discussions with stakeholders and strategic actors of the pastoral livestock marketing chain and analysis of quantitative data and qualitative observations in proper approaches to achieve the objectives of the study. Data will be collected according to the tools, form, questionnaires and/or guidelines, to be developed by the consultation team, in the inception report, and approved by IBAR lead. Interviews and group-discussion sessions will use the participatory process that allows the ideas of individuals/groups to be tested, argued, amplified and refined through constructive discussions. The consultation team will perform the consultation services with the highest standards of professional and ethical competence and integrity.

Responsibilities and Expected Outcomes from the Consultation Firm

At the application phase, the consultancy firm team is expected to provide both Technical and Financial Proposals (as indicated in the Application Procedures below). After contracting the following responsibilities will be considered in executing the consultation:

1. Design of and develop the consultation plan: list of contents, stakeholders and source of information, travel plan, selection of tools and analysis approaches, results and demonstrations forms, etc., that best secure the progress towards obtaining the desired outcomes.
2. Produce and conduct comprehensive (3 pillar-oriented) survey’s forms and questionnaires, and guidelines for collection of data (according to the methodology’s parameters), analysis and forms of results. IBAR will lease the consultation team with the National Focal Persons
3. Carry-out desk reviews (secondary data collection), interviews with KIIs, and group discussions (Primary data collection) as per the agreed upon methodology and TOR, using developed tools
4. Carry-out quantitative data / qualitative information analyses according to agreed-upon approaches.
5. Facilitate both the “Debriefing on Main Findings” and the Stakeholders’ Validation Workshop and updating the reports accordingly.
6. Facilitating all needed stakeholders convenings including the debriefing on main findings sessions, and the stakeholder’s validation workshops, and updating reports accordingly.
7. Presence and presenting finding of the study at the Stakeholder Inception and Launch Workshop
8. Producing and delivery of the inception report, the national and cluster draft and final reports (in English), to AU-IBAR, according to the List of Contents and time plan agreed upon, in the technical proposal and the Inception Report.
9. Delivery of all produced/used data, its source, and contact information of the stakeholders interviewed or communicated in the study.

Deliverables

1. “Consultation Implementation Inception and Action Plan” Report (Inception Report).
   This report will indicate methodology; stakeholders map and target groups; informants for primary data collection; type and source of secondary information/ data to be collected; tools, form and questionnaires to be utilized; analysis approach, tabulation and demonstration models; cost and time frame for executing the consultation; and list of content and report outline. This report will be delivered to AU-IBAR in One-week period from the date of contract signature.
2. Draft and final national and cluster reports (according to the approved inception report).
3. Data and information collected and sources utilized (uploaded in a cloud facility).
4. List and contact information for the stakeholders interviewed and information providers.

Duration & Location

The assignment should be completed within Two and half (2.5) calendar months from the commencement date.

By way of guidance, the table below, and the chart in Annex (1) present a proposed timetable of actual working days for the implementation of this consultancy, within the total duration mentioned above.

Task Duration (actual working day)

Development of and delivery of Inception Report 5

Discussion with AU-IBAR and update of the Inception report 2

Secondary data collection (Desk Review)
(This activity is expected to be conducted consecutively in each country by local data collection teams.) 5

Primary Data collection (interviews and discussion groups)
(This activity is expected to be conducted consecutively in each country by local data collection teams.) 5

Debriefing on main data findings and input (IBAR and Stakeholders) 2

Draft report 5

Editing and final report 3

Stakeholders validation and finalizing the report 3

Total 30

The assignment will be home-based from the Consultant’s location. Any travel to other countries or locations (to be included in the Inception Report) will be agreed with AU-IBAR.

Remuneration

The all-inclusive fees for the performance of the assignment (inclusive of approved travel) shall not exceed US$ 49,500.

Payment Terms:

1. Initial Payment: An initial payment equivalent to twenty percent (20%) of the total contract value will be disbursed upon the submission and formal acceptance of the Inception Report.
2. Interim Payment: A subsequent payment of fifteen percent (15%) of the total contract value will be made upon the submission and acceptance of the First Draft Report, along with a PowerPoint presentation detailing the methodology and key findings. This presentation will be delivered at the Stakeholders Inception Meeting.
3. Final Payment: The final payment, representing sixty-five percent (65%) of the total contract value, will be released upon the submission and acceptance of the Final Report.
4. Penalty for Late Submission of Draft or Final Report: AU-IBAR reserves the right to enforce penalties for late submission of the Draft and/or Final Report. Specifically, a penalty of 2% of the total approved amount in the Inception Report will be deducted for each week of delay, unless the delay is justified and accepted by AU-IBAR.

Supervision

1. Technical Supervision: The consultation team (team leader) will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the Project Coordinator and the overall supervision of the AU-IBAR Director.
2. Administrative supervision: The consultation team (team leader) should share technical deliverables and all correspondence associated with this consultancy with the Project Coordinator and other responsible IBAR focal points teams including AU-IBAR procurement, finance and M&E. The focal points contacts will be shared in the contract.

Requirements

Competences and experience of the consultation firm and team

The consultation team should reflect the following capacities and competencies:

Experience in conducting Research and Analytical Skills:

• Expertise in designing and implementing in-depth studies, including the development of research tools, data collection methodologies, and analytical approaches.
• Ability to analyze complex data sets and translate findings into actionable insights and recommendations.

Experience in Consultancy Management and Reporting:

• Demonstrated capability in managing consultancies, including developing and adhering to detailed work plans and timelines.
• Experience in timely producing high-quality reports and deliverables that meet the expectations of international organizations and donors.

Experience in Stakeholder Engagement and Facilitation of Convenings:

• Experience in engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including pastoral communities, government agencies, private sector actors, and non-governmental organizations.
• Skilled in facilitating stakeholder workshops and validation meetings to discuss study results and gather feedback.

Regional Knowledge and Presence in the study region:

• Familiarity with the socio-economic, cultural, and political contexts of Kenya and/or Nigeria; knowledge of the broader HoA and Sahel regions will be an added advantage.
• Has established networks within these regions, in previous consultations, to facilitate effective data collection and stakeholder engagement.

Technical Expertise in Pastoral / Livestock Sector and Marketing:

• Demonstrated experience in conducting comprehensive assessments of livestock sector, production system, and / or livestock marketing chains.
• In-depth understanding of the dynamics and challenges of agricultural / pastoral livestock markets; ideally in the Horn of Africa (HoA) and/or Sahel regions.

Experience in assessing Climate Change, Gender empowerment, and Nutrition aspects under the rural and/or pastoral sector:

• Experience in analyzing the impacts of climate change on pastoral livestock sector, pastoral communities and developing adaptive strategies.
• Preferable ability to integrate cross-cutting lenses of climate change, women and youth empowerment, and nutrition into livestock market studies.

Assessment of Capacity and/or Designing Capacity Building programs:

• Experience in assessing capacity and knowledge of local stakeholders to ensure sustainable impact and continuity of project outcomes.

Language and Report Writing Proficiency:

• Proven proficiency in English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills. Knowledge of local languages in the target regions is an added advantage.

Evaluation Criteria

No. Criteria Score

General Experience of the Firm (30 points)

1 Firm’s technical expertise in pastoral livestock sector 15

2 Relevant Firm Experience 10

3 References and Past Performance 5

Approach (25 points)

4 Approach & methodology 10

5 Work plan and schedule 15

Team (35 points)

6 Team Composition and Competence 15

7 Qualification and experience of team leader 15

8 Language skills of team members 5

Budget (10 points)

9 Financial Proposal 10

Total 100