Consultancy assignment

CONSULTANCY ASSIGNMENT TO CONDUCT A REVIEW OF THE OUTREACH AND IMPACT OF SELECTED CTA PROJECTS, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

The Technical Centre for Rural and Agricultural Cooperation (CTA) urgently requests expressions of interest from consultancy firms based in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) and European Union (EU) states for the above-mentioned assignment.

1. BACKGROUND

CTA regularly conducts well-targeted reviews and evaluations aimed at providing information on key strategic issues such as:

• whether its products and services are known in a given country / in potential partner organisations
• how the products and services are appreciated by previous participants and/or beneficiaries
• how previous beneficiaries rate the performance and impact of CTA's projects, products and services
• whether potential beneficiaries would have different priority needs, and hence require different information products and services to those currently provided by CTA, whilst ensuring that the Centre stays within its mandated field of operation.

The proposed review will focus on a selection of eight projects, products and services that the Centre implements annually:

i) Rural radio resource packs

ii) TV and video

iii) Digital satellite broadcasting programme

iv) Publications Distribution Service (including DORA)

v) Question and Answer Service

vi) Selective Dissemination of Information Service

vii) Database Subscription Service

viii) Training courses in information and communication management (ICM)

The review will be complemented by a comparative study of costs which will focus on a much wider range of projects, products and services and will be carried out by CTA staff as an internal exercise.

2. PURPOSE

CTA’s projects, products and services (P/P/S) efficiency will be improved and better adapted to the needs expressed by current and potential beneficiaries.

3. SCOPE / Approach OF REVIEW

The review will involve case studies in 10 countries in the six ACP regions:

• West Africa: Ghana & Mali
• Central Africa: Cameroon & Chad
• Eastern Africa: Kenya & Madagascar
• Southern Africa: South Africa & Malawi
• Caribbean: Jamaica
• Pacific: Papua New Guinea

The consultant should be prepared to collaborate with a CTA representative during the assessment each country.

4. EXPECTED RESULTS

• Up-to-date understanding of how the selected P/P/S are known and used
• An understanding of how these P/P/S compare to other institutions' assistance programmes (i.e. in terms of CTA's niche in the market and its comparative advantage)
• Potential and tangible impacts of the selected P/P/S identified
• Shortcoming of existing P/P/S identified and guidance obtained on how the P/P/S can be improved / made more efficient (future orientation);
• Elements for reviewing CTA’s internal policy relating to the selected P/P/S identified

5. DURATION & DATES

• February/March 2008: Appointment of consultants
• April – June 2008: Implementation of review/ submission of draft report
• July 2008: Submission of final report

6. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Key requirements for the lead consultant:

• University degree or equivalent
• At least 10 years experience in conducting marketing studies or similar reviews
• Knowledge of the role of information projects in agricultural development
• Fluency in English or French and a working knowledge of the other
• Ability to use Web2 tools (especially D-groups and wikis) and IT-based M&E tools (especially survey monkey)
• Experience in coordinating a multinational team of consultants
• Working experience in ACP countries
• National of an ACP or EU state

Key requirements for other team members:

• University degree or equivalent
• At least 5 years experience in marketing studies or similar reviews
• Knowledge of the role of information projects in agricultural development (with particular reference to the products and services mentioned covered by the review - see under point 1 above)
• Fluency in English or French and a working knowledge of the other
• Ability to use Web2 tools (especially D-groups and wikis) and IT-based M&E tools (especially survey monkey)
• Specific country / regional experience

7. SUBMISSIONS OF EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Interested consultancy firms having the relevant expertise are invited to submit their application to CTA by Thursday 31 January 2008 at the latest with a brief résumé (not more than 3 pages) outlining their capacity to undertake the assignment. The letter of interest and résumé should be sent to:

Dr Ibrahim Khadar

Manager, Planning & Corporate Services - CTA

E-mail: khadar@cta.int; Fax: +31 317 460067 ; website: www.cta.int

Only short-listed firms will be contacted, provided with the detailed terms of reference and requested to submit a complete proposal.