JOB DETAILS:
Company Description
SNV is a mission-driven global development partner, rooted in the contexts and societies where we work. Inspired by the transformational principles and objectives set out by the SDGs, we are committed to building resilient agri-food systems that deliver food security and adequate nutrition; to increasing the reliability and availability of water and sanitation at an acceptable quantity and quality; and to improving access to affordable and sustainable energy for all. In doing so, we aim to strengthen institutions, markets and effective governance within and across the agri-food, energy, and water sectors, reducing gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion, and enabling adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises.

We are one team of over 1,600 people, the vast majority of whom come from the contexts where we work, in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia. In Uganda SNV operates through a decentralised approach with a country office in Kampala and regional offices in Arua, Fort Portal, Lira, and Mbarara. SNV implements donor-funded activities across more than 100 districts in Uganda, ensuring broad and diverse impact.

Our ability to deliver results rests on our robust foundation of experience, knowledge, evidence and learning; our commitment to strengthening capacities and catalysing partnerships; and the relationships and trust of those we work alongside.

Our core values of people-centeredness and respect, equity and equality, and diversity and inclusion, are fundamental to who we are, and what we do. This is reflected in our vision and mission, and strategy, which sets out our aspirations and commitments as our compass towards 2030.
For more information on our operations in Uganda and SNV visit our website: www.snv.org

Project Information
SNV has received funding from IKEA Foundation to design a long-term nexus programme on regenerative agriculture (RA) and productive use of renewable energy (PURE) that would seek to achieve the greatest potential for impact, replication, and scale in Uganda and Kenya. The programme’s mission is stated as “an ecosystem of services, technologies and farm inputs which makes RA and PURE practices more affordable and accessible for smallholder farmers, agri-businesses and value chain partners”. The programme would seek to achieve this mission by addressing three identified barriers: (i) lack of awareness and action in RA and PURE practices, (ii) lack of coordination among partners across RA and PURE, and (iii) lack of conducive cross-sectoral policies.
A year-long design phase exercise has narrowed down the implementation to begin from Uganda and subsequently, 67 out of 136 districts have been pre-identified for the purpose. In order to address specifically barriers (i) and (ii), it is important to select most potential districts for engagement particularly in its inception and year one of implementation.

Project Approach & Principles
Regenerative Agriculture (RA)/Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE) Nexus: The core principle of the envisioned long-term nexus programme is that in order to address the drivers behind the degradation of natural resources and transform unsustainable practices while ensuring incomes of actors, a combined approach needs to be applied. This combined approach, also referred to as a nexus approach, promotes concrete methods for RA coupled with efficient, needs-based PURE solutions that can improve productivity, quality of products, increase incomes, increase savings for farmers, and product diversification. This will be beneficial for smallholder farmers, agribusinesses, value chain partners, and the community as a whole. Despite the evidence of effective approaches in PURE in agri-food sectors and the potential for scope and opportunity to apply PURE in regenerative practices, only a few programmes in the development space are focused on the RA and PURE nexus and leveraging the potential that lies in this nexus space. Similarly, in the policy environment, a gap exists between RA and RE policies, laws, regulations and frameworks at regional, national, and sub-national levels, with these being designed to build out one respective area but not the other.

Job Description
Rationale of the assignment
During its inception phase and in its 1st year of program, SNV would like to implement the SoC program in a way that paves the way for the fast replication. For this, SNV has to select districts which have better pre-conditions for success of nexus approach and also possibility of fast expansion across the neighbouring districts. For this, it is essential to review the existing long list of 67 pre-identified districts and narrow down the selection to maximum 15 across the pre-identified four regions/sub regions.

Objective of the assignment
The objective of the assignment is thus to narrow down the district list to 15 to support SoC’s program implementation (conditional on donor approval).

Specific deliverables of the assignment are:
• Assess agro-ecological zones and regions to select the districts with the highest potential for the RA/PURE nexus. Agree with SoC team on the set of criteria for final selection of the districts.
• Identify key stakeholders and potential local level partners currently operating in the 15 selected districts. These include but are not limited to smallholder farmer organizations (cooperatives, farmer associations, farmer groups), civil society organizations (NGOs and networks with related initiatives to SoC), national and local governments, and private sector (PURE technology and service providers, aggregators, processors, agri-businesses).
• Identify high-opportunity entry points, such as value chains, that offer significant potential for impact and scalability within each agro-ecological zone and region.
• Assess the potential for PURE within each agroecological zone and region considering factors such as: a) current energy sources & technologies used by smallholders, cooperatives, agri-businesses, and other value chain actors, b) presence of existing PURE technology and service providers, c) market size and channels for making PURE solutions accessible to agricultural value chain actors.

Tasks and deliverables
Based on intended objectives of the program
• Identify and compile information about 5-8 key agriculture stakeholders in the selected districts for potential partnership with SoC.
• Identify and compile information about key 5-8 PURE suppliers/ stakeholders in the selected districts for potential partnership with SoC.
• Identify and compile information about key civil society/community groups stakeholders in the selected districts for potential partnership with SoC.
• Identify and compile information about key consumer financing stakeholders (this can include agri SME involved in value chain financing) in the selected districts for potential partnership with SoC.
• Identify and compile information about key local govt. agencies/stakeholders in the selected districts for potential partnership with SoC.
• Prepare a draft report in close consultation of SNV team.
• Finalise and submit the assessment.

Qualifications
• Proven track record in undertaking similar studies.
• Good understanding of agriculture and energy sectors in Uganda.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Willingness to work in close collaboration with SOC team members and value their engagement.
• Understanding of RA and PURE nexus-style programming, would be an added advantage.

Additional Information
Budget and Consultancy Fees
A total of 20 consultancy days have been estimated for this assignment. The consultant will be requested to submit a financial proposal along with a technical proposal inclusive of an updated CV and samples of previous similar work. The proposal should indicate estimated time and effort for the deliverable and daily rate. Please, note that rates must be all-inclusive.

Proposal Evaluation
Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in carrying out similar assignments (30 points maximum)
• Demonstrable capacity to conduct the study within the given time (20 points maximum)
• Good understanding of agriculture and energy sectors issues in Uganda (10 points maximum)
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills. (15 points maximum)
• Understanding of RA and PURE as well as nexus-style programming. (10 points maximum)
• Optimal daily rate (15 points maximum).
The maximum number of points is 100.

Please submit your technical and financial proposals through the email: ugandatenders@snv.org. Please include the subject: Consultancy – Assessment and Finalisation of Districts in Uganda for Implementation of First Set of Interventions for the Seas of Change Program.
Submission
Interested service providers are requested to submit expression of interest to ugandatenders@snv.org