Heifer International: TOR Consultant – Abuja

Heifer International is seeking a short-term consultant for policy support to enhance smallholder farmers' empowerment through digital solutions in Abuja, Nigeria. The role involves collaborating with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to implement ICT4D activities aligned with Nigeria's National Agriculture Technology and Innovation Policy. The consultant will work independently under a contract agreement. Heifer aims to support two million farming households to achieve sustainable living incomes by 2030.
Description

Terms of Reference

Title

Short-term consultancy for policy supports to NATIP to enhance smallholder farmers empowerment through digital solutions at Heifer Nigeria

Type of Appointment

Independent Contract Agreement

Duration of the Assignment

TBD

Eligible Service providers

Consultant

Location

Abuja, Nigeria

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 About Heifer International

Heifer International is a global non-profit organization on a mission to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth. Since 1944, Heifer International through its work in 21 countries (in Africa, Asia, and the Americas) has supported more than 46 million people around the world to achieve sustainable living incomes or be on the pathway to sustainable living income. Working with rural communities across Africa for more than 50 years, Heifer International supports farmers and local food producers to strengthen local economies and build secure livelihoods for farming families. Heifer’s foundation was built on the belief that ending hunger begins with giving people the means to feed themselves, generate income and achieve sustainable livelihoods. Heifer’s global vision for 2020 – 2030 is to close the living income gap for additional 10 million families. This vision is a focused approach for the African continent to support at 6.47 million smallholder farmers in Africa reach sustainable living income. As a part of this commitment, Heifer has expanded its presence in Africa to include Nigeria, with a goal of supporting at least two million farming households to achieve sustainable living income by 2030, through (a) strategic private and public sector partnerships, (b) unlocking demand and market opportunities, (c) investing in priority value chains, and (d) leveraging innovation and emerging agricultural technologies to reach transformational scale.

Heifer International incorporated its Nigeria office in 2021 and initiated its signature program named Naija Unlock. The aim of the program is to support the unlocking of Nigeria’s agricultural potential to achieve food self-sufficiency by working with smallholder farmers and local value chain actors to increase their productivity to meet local demand for food and raw material while closing the living income gaps for families in crops and livestock value chains. The goal is to assist more than two million households to achieve sustainable living income by 2030, through strategic private and public sector partnerships to (a) build the social capital of smallholder farmers, (b) unlock farmers access to innovative financing, (c) unlock demand and market opportunities, (d) increase farmers access to mechanization and emerging agricultural innovations, and (e) increase farmers knowledge and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices.

More information about Heifer is available at: www.heifer.org

1.2 About the Activity

Heifer International Nigeria is collaborating with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), to provide several Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) policy and knowledge sharing activities in the agriculture sector to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS). This is in line with the National Agriculture Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

On May 10, 2023, and November 29, 2023, respectively, IFAD in collaboration with the FMAFS organized two policy dialogues with key stakeholders in attendance. At both meetings, the importance of digital farmers registry database was acknowledged, and the harmonization of existing digital farmers registry databases was recommended. The two stakeholders dialogues concluded that a unified national digital farmers registry database is pivotal to the scaling up of “innovative digital technology to enhance the food system across the country” because of its importance for: (a) data driven decision making system to support targeted advisory, access to services, financial support and information; (b) data sharing and governance to be strengthened for more protection of farmer data, while promoting inclusive access to services and private sector investments; (c) integrated solution taking into account the ecosystem and the available solutions; (d) avoid duplication of intervention by different actors and; (e) promote harmony and synergy in delivery of digitally-enabled services.

2.0 PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The purpose and objectives of this activity are as outlined below.

This activity is primarily aimed at fostering a more conducive policy and investment environment for Unified National Digital Farmers Registry (UNDFR) in support of smallholder agriculture and rural development. It will contribute to improving the policy environment to facilitate scaling up of investments and intensify the deployment of digital solutions in support of smallholder farmers in Nigeria. The goal of the activity is to achieve a unified, operational and sustainable national digital farmers register that is accessible to all actors in the food system of Nigeria. The activity will achieve this goal through three objectives which include:

(a) strengthen the capacity of key stakeholders and priority Governmental actors in developing and coordinating effective, efficient and sustainable Unified National Digital Farmers Registry.

(b) strategic recommendations for the development of a Unified National Digital Farmers Registry.

(c) multistakeholder platform, including government, private sector, civil society, farmer organizations and development partners launched in support of National Digital Farmer Registry Development.

3.0 SCOPE OF WORK

Heifer Nigeria is interested in engaging the services of an experienced consultant to support it implement and achieve the goal and objectives of the activity as outlined. It is expected that the consultant will provide leadership for the activity and its related tasks but will strong collaborate with Heifer Nigeria, IFAD Nigeria Country teams, and other relevant actors as may be determined in the implementation of this activity.

4.0 EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

The expected deliverables for the consultant include the following:

a. Identification of and documentation of best practices for digital farmers register

b. Identification of relevant stakeholders including governments and their agencies, digital agricultural solution providers, key farmer organizations, agricultural donor organizations and development partners.

c. Conduct sensitization and awareness campaigns about this activity and its objectives

d. Lead the assessment of stakeholder digital capacity gaps

e. Identify, review, and produce relevant training materials.

f. Lead the training and capacity building of actors

g. Lead the organization of a high-level stakeholder roundtable event

h. Lead the organization of technical stakeholder roundtable event

i. Manage the review and reporting of the outcome of stakeholder engagements

j. Lead the setting up of a multistakeholder platform for Unified National Digital Farmers Register (UNDFR)

5.0 Timelines

The successful candidate/firm will adhere to the timelines listed in the table below.

Activity

Duration (Days)

Contract signing

Inception meeting

Submission and review of detailed work plan

Identification of and documentation of best practices for digital farmers register

Identification of relevant stakeholders include governments and its agencies, digital agricultural solution providers, key farmer organizations, agricultural donor organizations and development partners.

Sensitization and awareness creation about this activity and its objectives

Assessment of stakeholder digital capacity gaps

Identification, review, and production of relevant training materials.

Training and capacity building of actors

Lead the organization of a high-level stakeholder roundtable

Lead the organization of technical stakeholder roundtable

Review and report on the outcome of stakeholder engagements

Lead the setting up of a multistakeholder platform for Unified National Digital Farmers Register (UNDFR)

6.0 REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education: Master’s in management information system (MIS), Information Technology, Computer Science, agricultural policy, agricultural extension and rural development, agricultural economics, sustainable development, project management, or related field.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of experience in digital solutions in agriculture and related fields, project management, and stakeholder engagement. A strategic thinker, capable of understanding the “big picture” and working out detailed solutions.

• Relevant experience in agriculture related database development and management

• Experienced in training and capacity building

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, MS Access.

• Excellent writing and communication skills

• Good analytical ability and high sense of discretion

• Ability to work with minimal supervision and under pressure.

• Eligible to work in Nigeria

7.0 Payment

Heifer International will pay to the consultant, a fee that is based on agreed daily consultants’ rate and experience doing similar assignment. Payments will be tied to the completion of outlined deliverables and submission of invoices.

8.0 HOW TO APPLY

Interested consultants legally eligible to implement this assignment in Nigeria are requested to submit a duly signed Application/EOI indicating the current consultancy rate per day. Submissions must be in English and typed single-spaced using Times New Roman font size 12, with a complete set of appendices/attachments as applicable. The Application letter will be accepted in soft copy mentioning subject line: “Heifer Nigeria NATIP_UNDFR policy support” by close of business on June 5th, 2025. Applications received after the submission deadline will not be considered. Applicants are responsible for submitting their applications according to the instructions stated herein. Heifer retains the right to terminate this RFA or modify the requirements upon notification to the Offerors.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements