TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) MARKET SURVEY FOR THE MIDISHO COMMUNITY SEED BANK

Job description

Agricultural Development Organization (ADO)

 TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) MARKET SURVEY FOR THE MIDISHO COMMUNITY SEED BANK

1.0  INTRODUCTION

ADO is a local non-governmental organization dedicated to work in the development of agriculture, environmental protection, and humanitarian assistance. Currently, ADO is implementing significant development and humanitarian projects across Somaliland and it was established at 1993. ADO’s approach is an innovative community-based participatory learning approach aimed at empowering marginalized groups to be engaged in areas that affect their lives. ADO strives to secure and sustain the rural livelihoods by empowering farmers, women and youth groups and this occur through applying climate smart agricultural techniques, sustainable land management practices, provision of entrepreneurial skills and revolving funds. 

The ADO has its Head Office in Hargeisa with the regional branch offices in Burao, Borama, and Erigavo of Togdheer, Awdal, and Sanaag regions. Besides, ADO is currently expanding its programs and presence in the Somali Ethiopia Region, South-central, and Southern Somalia. ADO is an active member of the main local umbrella groups, namely, NAGAAD, SOLPAF, and SONSEF. As well as the ADO has strong networks with academic institutions in Europe and Africa and collaborates with diverse institutions in the development and agriculture research sectors. The partners of the ADO include but are not limited to the European Union, UNHCR, UNDP, WFP, UNEP, Oxfam, Care International, ISF Finland, NDF Norway, NORAD, UK AID, WHH Germany, Somaliland Development Fund (SDF), KNH Germany, and LUKE of Natural Resource Institute of Finland.

2.0  PROJECT BACKGROUND

In partnership with the Development Fund of Norway (DF) and the Darwin Initiative, ADO is implementing a five-year project (2022–2027) titled “Climate Resilience, Food and Livelihood Security for Agro-Pastoralists”, funded by the Darwin Initiative through DF. The project targets two locations: Beer Village (Togdheer) and Midhisho Village (Erigavo, Sanaag). ADO has established a fully operational community seed bank in Midhisho. To ensure it becomes a scalable and sustainable institution, ADO seeks a technical consultant to design and conduct a comprehensive market survey.

3. OBJECTIVES OF MARKET SURVEY   

The objective of the market survey is to generate reliable and actionable insights into local seed demand, potential opportunities, supply chains, storage practices, and proposed improved marketing strategies for the Midhisho Community Seed Bank.

 3.1 Specific Objectives

The main objectives of Market Survey include:

1.     Identify local seed demand, preferred crop varieties, and seasonal planting patterns.

2.     Assess current supply‑chain dynamics in the Erigavo area, including both formal and informal seed sources, pricing trends, and distribution methods.

3.     Understand farmers’ willingness to deposit or borrow seed from the seed bank including practices like seed saving, contributions, and payments.

4.     Evaluate all existing seed sources (formal and informal), their quality, and their pricing across the supply chain.

5.     Recommend best practices for designing and conducting the market analysis, to guide effective setup and operations of the Midhisho community seed bank.

6.     Assessment of the Seed Value Chain in Relation to Local Feeder Roads

4. Scope of Work

The consultant or firm will be responsible for:

1. Conducting an in‑depth desk review of existing literature, assessments, and secondary data on seed systems, market trends, and seed security Assessments.
2. Facilitating 2–3 focus group discussions (FGDs) with gender-balanced groups including seed bank members and farmer cooperatives.
3. Documenting indigenous seed selection, preservation, and related traditional knowledge.
4. Conducting site visits to nearby markets (e.g. Erigavo) to collect data on seed supply and pricing.
5. Performing stakeholder mapping: farmers, community seed bank members, seed traders (formal & informal), extension services, NGOs, cooperatives, and government agencies.
6. Producing a comprehensive final report with findings, sectoral analysis, proposed commercialized seeds models, and recommendations tailored to the local context.

5. Methodology

The consultant will employ a mixed‑methods approach, comprising four parallel components: (i) structured questionnaires administered to farmers including women and youth and community seed bank members; (ii) qualitative tools such as key informant interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and participatory rural appraisal (PRA) methods; (iii) triangulation of quantitative and qualitative findings to enhance credibility and reliability; and (iv) SWOT and gap analyses across key sectors to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and highlight critical capacity or service gaps.

7. Deliverables:

1.     Inception Report Outlining the survey methodology, detailed work plan, timeline, and tools.

2.     Data Collection Tools Well-structured questionnaires, discussion guides, and other instruments for primary data gathering.

3.     Draft Market Survey Report Comprehensive analysis of findings, including seed demand, supply chain dynamics, storage practices, and recommended marketing strategies.

4.     Final Market Survey Report

8. Expected Outputs

A verified and comprehensive market‑survey report producing reliable, actionable insights and decision‑making information on local seed demand; supply‑chain dynamics; pricing trends; storage practices; and seed‑production opportunities each tailored to guide the future operations and strategic marketing of the Midhisho Community Seed Bank.

9. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION (TECHNICAL, FINANCIAL PROPOSAL)

TECHNICAL EVALUATION 60%

Applicants need to clearly articulate on the following: –

•       A cover letter outlining the suitability of the consultant in undertaking the assignment, motivation and (Not exceeding one page).

•       Detailed CVs summarizing relevant experiences with clear roles/responsibilities should be provided

•       Technical proposal outlined methodology Clear work plan including outputs/tools and time frames (minimum six pages)

•       At least three similar works undertaken within the last 3 years with attached reports, surveys, market studies/contracts/completion reports 

For the consultant firms, the requirement is similar to the individual consultant but they should have additional documents including 

•       Valid Business registration certificate and copy of certified tax registration (in case of consultant firm)

•       Consultant firm profile 

10   FINANCIAL EVALUATION 40%

The consultant(s) must submit a clear and concise budget plan covering a 10-day engagement. The budget should be presented in U.S. dollars and specify the daily rate. A single-page (maximum of three) sheet detailing the budget estimate is required. Proposals must include a financial breakdown of all consultancy expenses across the 10 days, including: Daily consultancy rate, Travel costs, Accommodation, Local transportation stationery and supplier Category subtotals and a final total

11. DURATION/TIMEFRAME   

The ADO has planned for the consulting services to be completed for 10 days.

Skills and qualifications

12. QUALIFICATION AND SKILLS 

The Consultancy team must possess the following

·       A Master degree in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Rural Development, Marketing or a related field.

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in agricultural market studies, seed systems research, or rural market assessments.
• Strong familiarity with Somaliland’s agro-ecology, value chains, and inclusive rural growth strategies.
• Excellent analytical, report-writing, and facilitation capabilities.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of Somali is highly desirable.
• Proven expertise in both quantitative and qualitative research, survey design, and data analysis.
• The candidate has a proven track record in report writing, working independently with minimal supervision, and achieving results efficiently. They exhibit strong integrity and a collaborative spirit, making them well-suited for roles that require working with communities and children.
• Additionally, the candidate maintains a clean criminal record and has no prior issues working in community or child-focused environments. 
• Familiarity with agriculture seed system-Erigavo District.

13. Reporting & Supervision

The consultant will report to ADO’s Project Manager or Executive Director and must provide regular progress updates during the assignment.

How to apply

14. Application Procedure

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

The deadline for submitting offers is 31th August 2025 at 11:59 PM (East Africa Time Zone). Applicants must submit their proposals via email to abdirahman@adosom.org, with a copy to mustafe@adosom.org, ensuring they meet the specified deadline. Late submissions will not be considered. Applicants must use the subject line “CONSULTANCY FOR MARKET SURVEY IN MIDHISHO SEED   ” when sending their emails

Working hours between 8:00am to 3:00pm (Sunday to Thursday).