Consultancy to Establish a Regional Farmer Field School Curriculum on Climate Smart Agriculture

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTERST

CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION

BOTSWANA

Assignment Title: Consultancy to Establish a Regional Farmer Field School Curriculum on Climate Smart Agriculture.

Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): BW-CCARDESA-2023116-CS-INDV

The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) has received financing from the World Bank toward cost of the facilitation of the implementation of the Food Systems Resilience Project (FSRP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds to engage an individual consultant to Establish a regional Farmer Field School Curriculum on Climate Smart Agriculture.

The overall objective of the consultancy is to develop a regional Farmer Field School (FFS) Curriculum on CSA using a holistic approach to experiential learning model for demonstration, practicals, and application of learning content on farmers’own plots.

The consultant will be expected to, among others, to undertake the following tasks :

• Review existing relevant learning materials on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) and Farmer Field Schools (FFS) developed in the region, by SADC Member States or international partners;
• In liaison with CCARDESA, set up a curriculum development team with experts from relevant regional institutions to make systematic decisions about the target audience, the scope and depth of the curriculum, learning objectives, modules, content, lessons, duration, teaching points, intended outcomes, methods and evaluation strategies;
• Develop the CSA curriculum package using the principles of non-formal adult learning and ensure compliance with curriculum standards and best practices;
• Develop the Facilitator’s manual and a Participant’s manual;
• Develop the delivery mechanism including the training systems and tools, teaching methodologies (including experiential methods) and support material;
• Develop a tracking system to allow CCARDESA and stakeholders to track whether the CSA curriculum is effectively incorporated into FFS events on the ground;
• In collaboration with CCARDESA, organise and facilitate a consultative validation workshop for the draft curriculum, draft facilitator’s manual and draft participant’s manual;
• Compile contributions from the validation workshop and provide a report of the meeting;
• Incorporate inputs from the validation workshop to produce a final Training Curriculum Package on CSA to be used by SADC Member States;

• In liaison with CCARDESA, select test sites and conduct a formative evaluation of the curriculum materials developed; and
• In liaison with CCARDESA, recruit and train facilitators from SADC Member States.

The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested consultants should provide information (Comprehensive CVs that show description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions) demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The shortlisting criteria are:

The Consultant Team Leader shall be required to have the following qualifications and experience:

• At least a Master’s degree in Agricultural Education, Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Sciences, or related fields. Holder of a PhD in the above will be an added advantage;
• A qualification in Competency-Based Education Training (CBED) will serve as an added advantage;
• At least 15 years of working experience in any of the above fields, including at least 10 years of practical experience in CSA;
• Sound knowledge of CSA principles, practices, and approaches, including recommendations for climate-resilient crops, crop diversification, sustainable water management, and soil conservation;
• Proof of Evidence in training materials development including curriculum design, and/or delivering training programs in CSA;
• Demonstrable ability to write concise technical papers, adapting the content to the knowledge level and cultural context of the target audience.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Further information (terms of reference) can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0900 to 1630 hours.

Interested Individual Consultants should submit their expressions of interest, detailed curriculum vitae and a brief technical proposal to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) not later than 01st February 2024. Applications should bear the name of the assignment in the subject field.

The Procurement Officer

Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research in Southern Africa (CCARDESA)

Ground Floor, Red Brick Building

Plot 4701 Station Exit Road

Private Bag 00357

Gaborone, Botswana

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: +267 3914997