REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
(CONSULTANT SERVICES)
FORUM FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN AFRICA (FARA)
Multi Donor Trust Fund for Support to the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) MDTF Grant No. TF095129
Project ID No. P0 P112684
CONSULTING SERVICES TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF REGIONAL AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION AND LEARNING SYSTEM
Expressions of interest
This request for expressions of interest follows the general procurement notice for this project that appeared in dg Market, issue no. 4577029 of November 10, 2009.
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) has received a grant from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) in the amount of US$ 17,244,320 equivalent toward the cost of implementation of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) Pillar IV strategy of the African Union’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AU-NEPAD), for revitalizing, expanding and reforming Africa’s agricultural research, and technology dissemination and adoption efforts and intends to apply part of the proceeds for the following consultant services under its Monitoring and Evaluation Unit:
The Assessment of the Impact of Regional Agricultural Information and Learning System.
Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa is an umbrella organization and its services include bringing together and forming coalitions of major stakeholders in agricultural research and development in Africa. FARA complements the innovative activities of national, sub-regional and international research institutions to deliver more responsive and effective services to its stakeholders.
FARA’s activities are organized under five Networking Support Functions, namely (i) Advocacy and Resource Mobilization; (ii) Access to Knowledge and Technologies; (iii) Regional Policies and Markets; (iv) Capacity Strengthening; and (v) Partnerships and Strategic Alliances.
In addition, FARA is undertaking the Promotion of Science and Technology for Agricultural Development in Africa (PSTAD) project. This is a partnership arrangement with the African Development Bank (AfDB). PSTAD is a 6-year project which supports the implementation of two African-wide initiatives; the Regional Agricultural Information and Learning Systems (RAILS) and Dissemination of New Agricultural Technologies in Africa (DONATA). RAILS and DONATA initiatives aim to improve knowledge management and enhance the adoption and use of proven technologies / innovations by the various stakeholders in agriculture. The project is being implemented in 34 low income African countries that are eligible beneficiaries
The FARA M&E strategy identifies the establishment and documentation of outcomes and impacts as the key outputs for improving performance and enhancing accountability. To this end, FARA plans to commission an outcome and evaluation of RAILS initiative, to deliver on the M&E result on Outcomes and impacts of selected FARA R&D investments established.
The overall objective of the assignment is to evaluate the outcomes and possible impacts of Rails initiative, based on the strategic objectives in the Promotion of Science and Technology for Agricultural Development (PSTAD) in Africa (PSTAD) Program.. The results of this study will feed into the Mid-Term Review of FARAs Medium Term Operational Plan (MTOP) and the End of Project Review of PSTAD Project.
Proposed Scope
1. To review the FARA planning documents including MTOP and Strategic Plan.
2. To review existing approaches to outcome and impact evaluation of agricultural research and dissemination; and knowledge management initiatives.
3. To review the PSTAD project documents including; Project Appraisal Document, external review reports and progress reports.
4. To develop a conceptual framework for evaluating the outcomes and impacts of FARA’s knowledge management initiatives.
5. To implement the conceptual framework by conducting and outcome and impact assessment of Regional Agricultural Information and Learning System (RAILS) Project.
6. To produce a report on the outcome and impact of RAILS initiative
The FARA now invites eligible consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services. The submission of the interested consultants will include the firm’s brochures, information on firm’s qualifications in the field of the assignment such as core business area and years in business, experience of the firm in similar assignment, experience in similar condition, technical and managerial capabilities of the firm, availability of appropriate skills among staff etc. For each project performed the consultant shall provide the name and address of the client, date(s) of execution, name(s) of lead and associate firms, value of assignment and financing sources. The inclusion of a two- page concept note on the methodology will be part of the selection criteria. Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications
A consultant will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank’s Selection and Employment of Consultants by the World Bank Borrowers, January 1997, (Revised September 1997, January 1999, May 2002, May 2004, October 2006 May 2010.
Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours. 0900 to 1500 hours.
Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below by June 20, 2011.
Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
Attn: Dr. Monty Jones, Executive Director
PMB CT 173, Cantonment-Accra, Ghana
Tel.: +233 21 772823
Fax.: +233 21 773676
Email: ed@fara-africa.org
Web site: www.fara-africa.org
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