Job Title: Terms of Reference (TOR) for Endline of Farm Africa’s Youth Empowerment Project in Kanungu District and Baseline of Enhancing the resilience of smallholder farmers through promoting diversified technologies in the maize, beans, horticulture, and   poultry value chains in North Eastern Uganda (Kabelebyong, Amuria and Katakwi)  

Organisation: Farm Africa

Duty Station: Uganda

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1.0 Background

About Farm Africa

Farm Africa is an innovative charity dedicated to reducing poverty in rural eastern Africa by empowering farmers grow more, sell more and sell for more: we support farmers to not only boost yields, but also gain access to markets, and add value to their produce.  We place a high priority on environmental sustainability and develop approaches that help farmers to improve their yields and incomes without degrading their natural resources. Our programmes vary hugely, ranging from helping crops farmers to boost harvests, livestock keepers to improve animal health, and forest coffee growers to reach export markets, but core to all of them is a focus on the financial sustainability of the farmers’ businesses and environmental sustainability.

About the projects

1. Youth Empowerment project (YEP) – Kanungu District

The Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) aims to improve income and employment opportunities for 500 young individuals in Kanungu District, Uganda, across coffee, honey, horticulture, and poultry value chains.

The project aims to achieve two objectives:

1. 1. To increase the production and productivity of coffee, apiary, poultry, and horticulture by providing peer-to-peer extension services, increasing access to technologies, and improving production resources.
   2. To create jobs for 500 young people within different nodes of the coffee, beekeeping, and horticulture value chains.

The activities for each objective are outlined in the attached log frame

YEP, is in its final phase and requires a rigorous endline evaluation to measure project outcomes against baseline values, assess performance against OECD-DAC criteria, and extract lessons for future programme design.

1. About the FIPS Agricultural Resilience Project – Teso Sub-Region

Implemented by Farm Africa in partnership with Farm Input Promotions Africa (FIPS), the project is enhancing the resilience of smallholder farmers through promoting diversified technologies in the maize, beans, horticulture, and poultry value chains in North Eastern. It is working with 10,000 smallholder farmers (50% women, 40% youth) across Kabelebyong, Amuria, and Katakwi districts in the Teso Sub-Region, as one of Uganda’s most food-insecure areas. The project will deploy 80 Village Based Advisors (VBAs) to establish demonstration plots and distribute small packs of certified, drought-tolerant seed varieties for maize, beans, vegetables, and sweet potatoes, while also scaling up poultry interventions for youth.

The project sets to achieve three objectives that include:

• Improving farmer awareness and adoption of viable agricultural technologies;
• Strengthening financing mechanisms including 400 Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) to support access to inputs and resources;
• Building the capacity of VBAs for inclusive last-mile service delivery. A dedicated youth component targets 4,000 young people, supporting them through incubation hubs, business skills training, and a small-pack chick distribution model to foster entrepreneurship and reduce rural unemployment

As the FIPS project is at inception stage, a baseline and market assessment are required to establish starting conditions, map the market landscape, and ground project interventions in local realities before full implementation commences.

2. 0 Objectives and End Evaluations questions

Farm Africa is commissioning a single, integrated consultancy to deliver two distinct but interrelated assignments, scheduled for May–June 2026.

Assignment 1 – YEP, Endline Evaluation (Kanungu district)

To assess YEP’s achievements against planned objectives, measure indicator values at project close, evaluate performance against OECD-DAC criteria, and extract lessons for future programming.

Assignment 2 – FIPS Baseline Evaluation and Market assessment (Teso Sub-Region)

To establish baseline values for FIPS project indicators, document the pre-intervention situation of target beneficiaries, and create a reference point against which future evaluations can assess project impact. Additionally, the consultant will map the market landscape of the four targeted value chains (maize, beans, horticulture, poultry), identify opportunities and constraints, and provide actionable recommendations to inform project design and implementation strategy.

2.1 YEP Evaluations objectives

1. To gather Endline and baseline values for project indicators to ensure the completion of Farm Africa’s Monitoring and Learning Plan for the project.

1. To review Assess YEP’s overall and objective-level performance against OECD-DAC criteria:
   1. Relevance: To what extent did the project meet the needs of the targeted beneficiaries?
   2. Efficiency: Were the financial resources and other inputs used efficiently to achieve outputs?
   3. Effectiveness: Have the planned objectives been achieved and to what extent can this be attributed to the project? Do the outcomes demonstrate return on investment? By taking into account the grant size and corresponding outcomes?
   4. Impact: What has happened among the beneficiary community as a result of the project, including both intended and unintended effects?
   5. Sustainability: To what extent will the project continue to have an impact beyond project close?

1. 1. To capture learnings and lessons learnt from YEP project, in terms of successes and best practices, but also projects’ failures to help inform future project designs and/or scaling-up strategies.
   2. Document the hub/incubation centre model by Assessment of financial and sales records, governance structures, operational systems, business performance, market engagement, and access to financial services.
   3. Review of the VBA model for refinement in Uganda’s context by assessing reach, types of services provided, volume of sales, market linkages established, and overall model sustainability.

• FIPS Baseline Evaluation Objectives

The baseline evaluation following the against OECD-DAC criteria (Relevancy, efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability):

• • Establish baseline values for all FIPS project indicators as defined in the Monitoring and Learning Plan.
  • Establish the current knowledge and practices of smallholder farmers, youth, and VBAs in production activities across the targeted enterprises (maize, beans, horticulture, and poultry) before the intervention commences.
  • Document the pre-intervention situation of targeted smallholder farmers, youth, and VBAs in the Teso Sub-Region with respect to technology adoption, productivity, income, and access to financial services.

2.3 FIPS Market Assessment Objectives

The market assessment will:

• Analyse contextual challenges and opportunities within each value chain and critically examine them against proposed project interventions to trace expected change pathways.
• Map existing and past similar interventions in the project area and assess their influence on the proposed project’s prospects.
• Identify and map key Market actors within each value chain, highlighting nodes where youth and women can position themselves for profitable agribusiness engagement, in service provision, product development, and market-related activities.
• Provide actionable recommendations for developing viable, sustainable, and locally appropriate strategies to strengthen technology adoption and market participation among youth and women, including priority actions, partnerships, and investments required.

3 0 YEP and FIPs Evaluations Methodology

The project implements a routine monitoring system based on a Linear Log Frame (LLF) approach and corresponding monitoring and learning plan (MLP) to collect data against key impact and outcome indicators. The external evaluator will be expected to capture primary data against the following indicator values for each project respectively:

YEP Project

Impact Indicators

• • A. Number of Jobs created/maintained for the youth as result of the intervention

Outcome Indicators

• A. Percentage increase in the production of Coffee (Kgs), Poultry (Number of birds), Horticulture (Kgs), and Honey (Kgs).
• A. Percentage of young people (aged 18-35) reporting increase in income (UGX),
• B. Percentage of youth (aged 18-35) earning average gross income of UGX200,000 per month,
• C. Number of young people receiving extension services for increased production and productivity,
• D. Percentage of young people receiving extension services for increased production and productivity

FIPS Project

Impact indicators

• Percentage of smallholder farmers adopting the promoted technologies
• Number of jobs created as result of project intervention

• Percentage or Number of SHFs adopt climate-smart and productivity-enhancing
• Percentage/Number of youth businesses supported and engaged in viable agri-enterprises.
• Diversified investment in viable opportunities along the Maize, Beans, and poultry value chain for the youth and rural MSMEs (Number of enterprises creating job opportunities for youth and rural MSMEs)

The consultant will also be given access to secondary data against all other indicators to ensure comprehensive Evaluations. The consultant will gather qualitative and quantitative data on farm productivity, adoption, sales, price, income and employment to update the values for farmer level outcome and impact indicators to support Farm Africa’s internal monitoring and external reporting.

3.1 YEP and FIPs Evaluations Approach

Farm Africa will provide its standard survey tool in MS Word format for capturing farmer level income and production for both YEP and FIPs Africa project for adaptation by the consultant. All other data collection tools will be provided by the consultant. The methodology should disaggregate the data by location, age category and gender as appropriate, and build gender analysis into the study.

• Farmer Survey: Household structured survey questionnaires with a representative, random sample of the target population (1,742 farmers in Kanungu and 10,000 farmers in Teso sub-region). The consultant will be responsible for designing an appropriate sampling technique. The methodology should disaggregate the data by location, age category and gender as appropriate, and build gender analysis into the study. It is a requirement to use ODK/Kobo as CAPI.
• Document Review: Review of existing project documentation such as the project proposal, previous research/survey reports and relevant literature such as national policies, government reports, academic papers etc.
• Hub/incubation Centre Records Review: The consultants will review the financial and sales records of the Hub/incubation centres, the operational model (governance structure, systems and processes, financial management, business performance, market engagement, access to financial services, quality of services to members)
• Village Based Advisors Records (VBAs) Review: The consultants will review business records of the VBAs, especially on reach, type of services, volume of sales, functional linkages built, and generally sustainability of the model.
• Key Informant Interviews: Consultations with key project stakeholders, including field staff and partners. Guidance on appropriate stakeholders will be provided by field and Country Office staff as appropriate.
• Focus Group Discussions: With target groups and other stakeholders to assess current challenges faced

The market assessment should employ rigorous mixed-methods approaches that systematically integrate secondary data review, primary qualitative and quantitative data collection, and participatory validation. The methodology should generate actionable, context-specific insights across four priority value chains i.e. poultry, maize, beans, and horticultural high value crops within Teso subregion in Uganda. Analysis should be structured around six thematic areas: value chain structure and market potential; market systems analysis covering pricing, pathways, and inefficiencies; climate risk and adaptation practices; capacity gaps among producer groups and cooperatives; gender and social inclusion; and the enabling policy and institutional environment.

4.0 Expected Deliverables and Timeline for Endline/Baseline Evaluations

We anticipate the end line and Baseline survey will take up to 20 working days each and the consultant must submit the following deliverables outlined below.

The consultant will provide the following deliverables to the MEL team:

1. 1. Inception Report: Inception Report (YEP Endline): Methodology, data collection tools, sampling strategy, work plan, and revised budget. Also, Inception Report (FIPS Baseline & Market Assessment): Methodology, value chain mapping approach, data collection tools, sampling strategy, work plan. Data collection tools or questionnaire will also be submitted for review at this stage. Reporting template will be provided by Farm Africa.
   2. Revised Inception report: Farm Africa’s feedback must be incorporated into a revised inception reports that will be submitted to Farm Africa for approval.
   3. Cleaned data set: Raw and cleaned data must be submitted in Microsoft Excel format. Other data can be submitted in other software formats; however, clear workings must be supplied; please confirm with Farm Africa prior to contract signature the format you intend to supply the data in. Farm Africa will quality control the data analysis and provide feedback should any indicator values need to be revised. Any revisions to data sets and analysis etc. must be re-submitted. Once indicator values have been finalised the consultant will be expected to enter these into the Farm Africa Monitoring and Learning Plan document. Final data collection tools and sampling frames used should also be submitted to Farm Africa.
   4. Draft reports: The draft reports must be presented within 20 days after data collection by the consultant to the MEL team for reviews for at least three days. Two separate reports will be presented (Endline evaluation YEP and Baseline and Market Assessment report). The consolidated comments will then be reverted to the consultant to address.
   5. Findings Workshop: The consultant will lead a half day workshop with Farm Africa to present the final report and to facilitate discussion about how Farm Africa can incorporate the recommendations into the project and future opportunities.
   6. Final Reports: Consolidated feedback on the draft reports must be incorporated into the final report. This process will continue until Farm Africa is satisfied with the final reports. Two separate reports will be submitted as well as PowerPoint summaries. Any revisions to data sets and analysis etc. must be re-submitted. Once baseline values have been finalised the consultant will be expected to enter these into the Monitoring and Learning Plan document provided by Farm Africa. Any data collection tools and sampling frames used should be included as Annexes.

5.0 Management and Implementation Responsibilities

The consultant will report directly to the MEL Coordinator (MELC). However, s/he will also be expected work closely with the Project Coordinator (PC) /SPO and MEL Advisor. Any proposed changes to the personnel listed in the application must be approved by Farm Africa.

Farm Africa will provide:

• Guidance and technical support as required throughout evaluation;
• Copies of all key background resources identified;
• Lists of all farmers participating in the project;
• A template of Farm Africa’s farmer production and income tool in MS Word format;
• Introductory meetings with key stakeholders;
• Data collection templates in MS Word for adaptation
• Comments and feedback on, and approval of, all deliverables within agreed timeline.

The consultant will be responsible for:

• Developing the detailed methodology and data collection tools/questionnaire in English;
• Digitisation of all data collection tools;
• Conducting all data collection, including recruitment, training and payment of enumerators as well as all field logistics not included above. The consultant is also expected to secure tablets for data collection.
• The consultant is responsible for the transportation and remuneration of data collectors to complete the tasks as planned.
• Analysis of data and reporting in a clear and accessible format.
• Providing clean raw dataset and final report through to the SPO/PC/PM/CD and MEL team
• Production of deliverables within agreed timeline and in accordance with Farm Africa’s style guidelines;
• Seeking comments and feedback from Farm Africa, through the MEL team, in sufficient time to discuss and incorporate these into the final report;
• Entering baseline values into the monitoring and learning plan;
• Presentation of the finding to the stakeholders

6.0 Farm Africa Research Principles

Farm Africa follows five basic principles of sound research practice, and the consultant is expected to adhere to these throughout the baseline process. These are:

1. Confidentiality and informed consent – all data collected during the End Evaluations will be treated as confidential and cannot be shared outside of Farm Africa. All respondents must be advised as such and always given the opportunity not to participate, or to terminate or pause the interview at any time. The purpose of the study should also be clearly explained before commencing any interviews.
2. Independence and impartiality – Farm Africa is committed to impartial and objective End Evaluations of our projects. All Evaluations’ findings and conclusions must be grounded in evidence. Researchers are expected to design data collection tools and systems that mitigate as far as possible against potential sources of bias.
3. Credibility – Farm Africa is committed to learning based on credible evidence. The credibility of Evaluations depends on the professional expertise and independence of researchers and full transparency in the methods and process followed. Evaluations should clearly distinguish between findings and recommendations, with the former clearly supported by sound evidence. Methodologies should be explained in sufficient detail to allow replication, and evidence of failures should be reported as well as of successes.
4. Participation – the views and experiences of beneficiary households, groups and partners should form an integral part of all Evaluations
5. Openness – To maximise the learning potential of the Evaluations’ process, Farm Africa may publish full Evaluations’ reports or excerpts from them or may otherwise share them with interested parties.

7.0 Qualifications and Required Competencies

Applications from individuals or teams are welcome and will be assessed on their ability to demonstrate the following qualifications and competencies. Due to the short duration of the End Evaluations, international consultants may wish to consider working with a Ugandan-based consultant to lead the data collection activities, and only travelling to Uganda personally for final Evaluations’ work (i.e. presentations and validation workshop):

Essential

• • University qualification (Master’s degree) in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Business Administration, or any other related field
  • Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience conducting evaluations, research studies, market assessments, value chain analysis, market systems development and resilience in development contexts including strong private sector engagement
  • Demonstrable academic and practical experience in qualitative and quantitative research methodology
  • Strong analytical, facilitation and communication skills
  • Excellent reporting and presentation skills

Desirable

• Familiarity with OECD-DAC evaluation criteria (Relevance, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Impact, and Sustainability) and experience applying them in agricultural or rural development project evaluations
• Experience with participatory methodologies, including the Most Significant Change (MSC) technique
• Proven ability to design and digitise data collection tools and manage enumerator teams in field settings
• Prior experience working with smallholder farmer communities and youth-focused agricultural programmes in East Africa
• Knowledge of Monitoring and Learning frameworks, particularly the Linear Log Frame (LLF) approach used by Farm Africa
• Ability to deliver all evaluation activities within 20 working days with a realistic budget
• Established networks with local consultants, enumerators, or research institutions in the Teso sub-region or Kanungu District of Uganda
• Fluency in spoken and written English, Rukiga and Ateso

8.0 Submission of Proposals

Interested consultants or firms are requested to submit:

• A full technical and financial proposal (template for adaptation attached in Annex A). Please provide as much detail as possible, however at a minimum please clearly distinguish between consultancy costs and expenses and detail any expenses that you will require Farm Africa to pay directly.
• A PowerPoint summary of the technical proposal, which is precise and concise
• Copies of all relevant Curriculum Vitae (CVs). Only CVs for the specific individuals that will form the proposed Evaluation team should be included;
• A sample of a Survey report for a similar project completed within the last 24 months (this will be treated as confidential and only used for the purposes of quality assurance);
• Contact details for two references and signed off evaluations from previous clients.

All documents must be submitted by email to our ‘sealed’ email address tenders@farmafrica.org  by 13th – 05 – 2026, 5pm East Africa Time. The email subject line should clearly indicate ‘Bid for the YEP/FIPS External Evaluator Consultancy’.