Consultancy - Capacity Gap Assessment of Existing Primary Cooperatives and Unions in Dire, Miyo, Guchi and Moyale woredas of Borena Zone - Ethiopia

Term of References for Capacity Gap Assessment of Existing Primary Cooperatives and Unions in Dire, Miyo, Guchi and Moyale woredas of Borena Zone - Ethiopia

Introduction:

Ayuda en Accion is an international non-governmental organisation with the headquarters in Madrid, Spain. Between 2002 and 2017, the organisation implemented development and humanitarian interventions in Ethiopia through local partnerships. In 2018, it was officially registered as Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia. The national office in Addis Ababa coordinates the country programme implemented in Oromia (Borena and Arsi), Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (Wolaita) and Afar. The country programme strategy for 2023 – 2025 includes three programme areas: 1) Economic Development: Sustainable Livelihoods and Resilient Food Systems; 2) Quality, Inclusive and Equitable Education; and 3) Emergency Response and Resilience Building. The country programme has identified three cross-cutting themes: Innovation, Gender Equality, and Climate Change.

Ayuda en Acción (AeA) in partnership with CIFA and ILRI has launched a new project entitled “Supporting Borena pastoralists and agro pastoralists to Integrate into Inclusive Market System and to build their Resilience to Climate induced shocks and stresses” in Dire, Guchi and Moyale districts of Borana zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia with the financial support from Spanish Development Cooperation (AECID). The general objective of this 24-month project (March 2024 to February 2026) is to Increase resilience of climate-affected (agro)pastoralists in Borena zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia.

The project aims to strengthen the resilience capacity of (agro)pastoralist households to withstand the negative impacts of climate change and other vulnerabilities affecting the lives and livelihoods of the target (agro)pastoralist communities. The proposed project has three interconnected outcomes: empowering women and men in the livestock market system (R1), improving livestock production performance (R2) and building resilience capacities to reduce vulnerability to shocks (R3)

The project is being implemented with the active involvement of government, private sectors (financial institution, CAHWs, Agro-vet, input suppliers, and livestock buyers), NGOs, cooperatives, and Unions.  Cooperatives play crucial roles in economic and social development. The participation of cooperatives in agro-processing, livestock marketing, and finance (saving, credit and banking) is increasing. The social role of cooperatives is to promote through voicing of common goals, enhance participation in value chains, and protection of producers from unfair pricing. Cooperatives also create opportunities for networking and working in partnership with other agencies.

Objectives:

Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia is now seeking an experienced partner to Conduct internal assessment, develop assessment report, design training manual and provide capacity building training of primary cooperatives and unions which will be implemented in Borena program operational areas. The intervention targets 8 Multipurpose cooperative, 2 unions and 5 SACCOs.

The consultancy firm who conducts the assessment will be responsible for developing assessment checklist, guides and coaches the team on field assessment, timely reporting and provide consecutive capacity building to cooperative and union members and board members based on the assessment result as well as provide technical support up on request by cooperatives and unions.

Main Objective:

• Conduct internal assessment of eight multi-purpose cooperatives, two unions, five SACCOs in three woredas.

Specific objectives:

• To develop assessment report and design training manual
• To capacitate cooperatives and union through providing different capacity building trainings based on identified capacity gaps.

Scope:

• The study will be conducted in Dire, Guchi and Moyale districts. Major gaps related to relevance, effectiveness, governance, material resource and financial viability of the cooperative/ unions will be thoroughly assessed.
• Major operational gaps which hinder cooperatives and unions from providing the required service to members will be assessed.
• An in-depth analysis will include internal assessment of eight multi-purpose cooperatives, two unions, five SACCOs, develop assessment report and design training manual, provide training and reporting, two rounds coaching and completion of final report at the end of the project period.

Deliverables:

The successful candidate for this consultancy assignment will deliver the following:

1. A briefing meeting between the consultant(s) and the project team: Ayuda en acción country office program team to provide a detailed explanation of the assignment.
2. A detailed implementation plan before the actual cooperative assessment begins, the methodology and specific tools for each method, including respondents targeted by each tool must be approved by the project team overseeing this assignment.
3. The consulting firm will produce and submit cooperatives assessment report.
4. The consultant will design training manuals based on the finding of the assessment findings
5. The consultant will deliver capacity building trainings and conduct two round coaching of cooperatives and unions.
6. The consultant will submit draft and final assessment report-a comprehensive report presented in soft copy in English in line with this ToR.
7. The consultant will present the report during final workshop.

Methodology

The selected consultancy firm will propose an appropriate methodology while integrating the methods and tools proposed below. The consultant will undertake collection of all the required data/information from various sources, including project targeted multipurpose cooperatives, unions, SACCOs, and Government Sector offices (district cooperative promotion office and other relevant sources.

Timeframe

The project will need to be completed within the below explicitly mentioned time frame.

The consultancy for the consultancy firm is 68 calendar days.

Responsibilities of Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia

Ayuda en Accion Ethiopia will provide:

1)    Clarification and all the necessary information and documents

2)    Relevant project and context specific documents.

3)    Logistical arrangement for all field travels and share the guidelines for visitors travel (e.g. code of conduct and security plan).

4)    Workshop, trainees’ subsistence allowance, stationaries, accommodation, training hall rent, refreshment.

5)    Facilitation with required key stakeholders both at regional and field level.

6)    A contact person(s) for the consultants responsible to facilitate communication and the undertaking of activities that support the achievement of this assignment in an effective and efficient manner.

7)    Comments and feedback when relevant, and approval of all key deliverables within agreed timeline.