Foreign economic-aid-related services

Tender description

DFID intends to publish a new competition opportunity in November 2017 where we will be seeking partners for a medium sized programme which will stimulate agricultural transformation (Stepping Up) through improved productivity, increased market access for smallholder farmers and increased investment in agribusiness in DFID focus countries. The Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA) programme seeks to increase economic opportunities for smallholders by demonstrating the commercial viability of businesses with significant smallholder supply chains and attracting more investment into the sector. It will include several components, of which the following will go to tender: A) Country level value chain activities B) Smallholder Development Facility C) Learning, Communication and Monitoring activities. The objectives of Component A are to enable more, poorer smallholders with moderate to good potential to access commercial markets through involvement in appropriate value chains and to grow these markets by attracting investment into SME agribusinesses that trade with smallholder farmers and their organisations. The delivery of the programme will require the suppliers to scope, design and implement technical assistance in a targeted number of value chains supporting: — SME agribusinesses to improve their business operations and prepare for and access investment from impact investors and local banks; — Smallholders and organisations that represent them (e.g. cooperatives, producer organisations and contract farming schemes) to increase their trade with commercial markets and improve the productivity — Changes in the business enabling environment impacting on the target value chains Attention to and demonstration of impact on the cross-cutting priorities of women's economic empowerment in agriculture, nutrition impacts and climate-smart approaches are a must. Component A activities will take place in a limited number of target value chains (5-8) in up to 3 countries. Sector analysis studies are currently underway in 14 value chains in 7 countries and will be used by DFID to determine the final target value chains and countries. The objectives of Component C are to draw together and communicate a compelling case for increased investment in smallholder related agribusiness and agriculture using the learning from all CASA components, from DFID's wider commercial agriculture portfolio and from the experience of other organisations. This component includes — Conducting an annual learning programme of primary research, analysis and synthesis across a rolling set of themes and research questions — Conducting and updating an annual review of DFID's commercial agriculture portfolio and the key lessons emerging from it — Designing and implementing a communications strategy to influence investors, donors, governments, NGOs and academia to invest more resources and energy in smallholder related agribusiness and the commercialisation of smallholders — Monitoring of the whole CASA programme (Components A, B and C) and maximising synergies and cross learning to achieve the overall goal and deliver value for money in a complex, multi-component programme. The objectives of Component B are to increase the smallholder impact of existing development finance and impact investment deals and to thereby raise expectations regarding the level of development impact that can be achieved from future investments. The delivery of this component will require the establishment of a Smallholder Development Facility which will work with the investment community to identify, scope, design and implement projects with invested companies that benefit smallholder farmers. These benefits may include, amongst others, increasing the volume of purchases from smallholders, improving market access to poorer smallholders, including women in roles along the value chain, and improving the productivity and quality of smallholder suppliers and related to that their incomes. Component B also includes working with local communities to improve their engagement in agribusiness deals — these activities will be delivered through an accountable grant with IIED and are not part of this procurement exercise. However, the Smallholder Development Facility and IIED will work together to maximise impact wherever appropriate.