Terms of Reference (ToR) for Project Impact Harvesting

I. About SNV 

SNV is a global development partner rooted in the African and Asian countries where we operate. With 60 years of experience and a team of approximately 1,600 people, it is our mission to strengthen capacities and catalyse partnerships that transform the agri-food, energy, and water systems to enable sustainable and more equitable lives for all. 

1. Project Description 

The Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA) is a WFP-led initiative in Rwanda that aims to make markets work better for smallholder farmers. With a strong focus on increasing incomes and resilience, FtMA supports smallholder farmers to participate in commercially viable value chains actively. The initiative uses a demand- and market-driven approach, linking farmers to reliable input suppliers, technologies, services, and structured markets. FtMA’s vision is to build sustainable food systems by strengthening market linkages, empowering smallholders to boost productivity and income, and contributing to long-term food security and rural transformation.

The FtMA model focuses on establishing strong market linkages through a pull effect that stimulates the development of small-scale farmers. Central to FtMA’s approach are Farmer Service Centres (FSCs), which are agripreneurs bridging the gap between smallholder farmers, aggregators, and off takers. These centres deliver essential services, including inputs, mechanization, and access to output markets. FtMA has successfully supported maize, beans, soybean, Irish potato, rice and Horticulture farmers, enabling them to supply high-quality raw materials to agro-processors by connecting them to a network of innovative aggregators, extension service providers, and quality-testing services.

Since its inception in late 2015, FtMA has connected 480 cooperatives, representing over 172,725 smallholder farmers (37% women and 9% youth), to high-end markets. Operating in 30 districts across Rwanda, FtMA has continuously evolved to meet the needs of smallholder farmers. In 2023, the initiative shifted its strategy to include an agripreneur-led FSC model. This approach empowers micro-

entrepreneurs to serve smallholder farmers, in cooperatives as well as individual farmers. According to the recent quarterly report, there are a total of 495 Farmer Service Centers (FSCs). Of the 495 currently active there are 59 that are individually led and 436 farmer organisations (cooperatives).

2. Assignment Summary 

SNV seeks to hire a qualified consultant or consulting firm to perform a FtMA Project Impact Harvesting Exercise to generate evidence, strengthen accountability, and inform adaptive management. While routine Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) systems capture planned outputs and outcomes, there is a need to systematically detect, document, verify, and learn from significant changes both expected and unexpected resulting from project interventions. 

Impact Harvesting is a participatory approach used to collect evidence of meaningful changes influenced by the FTMA project and to understand how these changes occurred, who were affected, to what extent the effect was and what can be learned for future programming. 

3. Purpose and Objectives of the study

The assignment will specifically aim to: 

✓ detect significant changes resulting from FtMA interventions.

✓ Assess the contribution of FtMA to improved farmer incomes, productivity, and market access. ✓Assess the effectiveness of trainings (Climate-Smart and regenerative Agriculture Practices) to targeted farmers 

✓ Evaluate the effectiveness of the Farmer Service Centre model.

✓ Capture impacts on cooperatives, aggregators, agro-dealers, and off-takers.

✓ Document inclusion outcomes for women, youth, and underserved farmers.

✓ Assess resilience of outcomes linked to input access, markets, and service delivery.

✓ detect unintended positive or negative effects.

✓ Generate lessons and recommendations for scaling and sustainability. 

4. Scope of work 

The Consultant/Consulting Firm shall undertake the following tasks: 

Phase 1: Inception and Assignment Design 

The Consultant shall: 

• evaluate relevant FtMA program documentation, including reports, dashboards, databases, quarterly progress reports, case studies, and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) tools.
• Assess the FtMA Theory of Change and map the intended pathways of impact.
• create a detailed inception report outlining the methodology, sampling approach, data collection tools, stakeholder engagement plan, and implementation of workplan.

Phase 2: Harvesting of Outcomes and Impacts 

The Consultant shall undertake consultations and data collection with key stakeholders, including but not limited to: 

• Smallholder farmers
• Farmer cooperatives and producer organizations
• Farmer Service Centres (FSCs)
• Aggregators
• Agro processors 
• Input suppliers
• Local government representatives
• FtMA project staff
• Relevant private sector actors

The Consultant shall detect and document evidence of change in the following areas: 

• Level of adoption of regenerative agriculture practices 
• Farmer income and profitability
• Agricultural productivity and output quality
• Market participation and structured market access 
• Access to agricultural services and inputs
• Growth of agribusiness enterprises
• Inclusion of women, youth, and marginalized groups
• Household and enterprise resilience
• Strengthening of market systems and institutional linkages

Phase 3: Verification and Validation 

The Consultant shall: 

• Verify harvested outcomes using documentary evidence, project records, and stakeholder testimony.
• Triangulate findings using both quantitative and qualitative sources of evidence.
• Facilitate stakeholder validation sessions/workshops to confirm findings, interpretations and emerging lessons. 

Phase 4: Analysis and Synthesis 

• The Consultant shall analyze findings to determine: 
• What significant changes have occurred;
• Which stakeholders or groups have experienced change;
• The extent to which FtMA interventions contributed to the observed changes;
• Which delivery models or approaches have been most effective;
• Key barriers, constraints, and unintended effects;
• Which models and practices demonstrate potential for scale and sustainability.

Phase 5: Reporting and Dissemination 

• The Consultant shall produce and submit the following: 
• Draft Impact Harvesting Report;
• Presentation of findings for validation;
• Final Impact Harvesting Report incorporating feedback;
• A database/logbook of harvested outcomes and impact stories. 

Methodology & Sample size calculation 

The methodology and sample size calculation will be guided by the below parameters; 

Sites and Sample: The survey shall cover all 28 districts where FtMA operates in Rwanda (minus kicukiro and Nyarugenge). 

Tools: A structured questionnaire has been developed by SNV in line with the FtMA logframe and will be shared to the consultant.

Techniques: Data will be collected from a diverse range of stakeholders, including 179 cooperatives randomly selected from the 495 FtMA-supported cooperatives and Farmer Service Centres (FSCs), 716 individual farmers (four farmers per cooperative/FSC), and 10 FtMA buyers. 

Additionally, the consultant should apply mixed methods:

• Outcome Harvesting
• Key Informant Interviews
• Focus Group Discussions
• Cooperative scorecards
• FSC performance assessment
• Most Significant Change technique
• Secondary data review
• Case studies
• Market systems mapping 

6. Roles and Responsibilities 

The FtMA Impact Harvesting exercise will be undertaken through close collaboration between SNV Rwanda and the consultant firm. SNV Rwanda will serve as a strategic partner and co-implementer to make sure that the exercise aligns with FtMA programme objectives, learning priorities, and existing Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning systems. The consultant firm will deliver the technical expertise required to design and facilitate the Impact Harvesting process, collect and verify evidence of change, analyze outcomes, and document key impacts, lessons learned, and recommendations to strengthen programme performance, accountability, and future strategic direction. 

Responsibilities of the Consultant / Firm 

• evaluate FtMA programme documents and assess the Theory of Change 
• create an inception report including methodology, workplan, and data collection tools ✓ perform interviews and focus group discussions with farmers, cooperatives/FSCs, aggregators, input suppliers, government representatives, and private sector actors 
• Collect and document evidence of significant change across all thematic areas of the programme ✓ Verify and triangulate harvested outcomes using records, documents, and stakeholder testimony ✓ Facilitate validation workshops with key stakeholders to confirm findings 
• Analyse findings and detect what changed, who benefited, and what worked best 
• detect barriers, unintended effects, and opportunities for scale and sustainability 
• produce and submit all required deliverables including reports, logbook, and success stories ✓ Participate in all meetings with SNV Rwanda throughout the assignment 
• Comply with safeguarding, data protection, and ethical research standards

Responsibilities of SNV 

SNV Rwanda shall serve as the client, strategic partner, and focal institution for the FtMA Impact Harvesting exercise. SNV Rwanda will deliver overall guidance, coordination, and oversight to ensure the assignment is aligned with programme priorities and completed successfully. Specific roles and responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, the following: 

• deliver strategic direction and ensure alignment with FtMA objectives and priorities. ✓ Define scope, expectations, timelines, and key deliverables.
• oversee the consultancy contract, approvals, and administrative processes. 
• Share programme documents, data, and MEL tools, and facilitate access to stakeholders. ✓ organize field engagement, interviews, and validation activities.
• Participate in key meetings and deliver technical guidance and contextual input.
• evaluate and validate deliverables, ensuring quality and relevance.
• assist learning uptake by integrating findings into programme decision-making.
• Approve final deliverables, guide follow-up actions and receive all outputs upon completion. 

7. Deliverables 

• Inception Report
• Data Collection Tools
• Outcome Harvesting Logbook
• Draft Impact Harvesting Report
• Validation Workshop Presentation 
• Five (5) Impact Success Stories 
• Final Report

8. Consultant Qualifications and Eligibility Criteria 

The consulting firm (bidder) must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for the FtMA Impact Harvesting assignment: 

8.1 Regulatory Compliance 

• The bidder must deliver valid proof of registration with the National Cyber Security Authority (NCSA) as a certified Data Controller and Data Processor. 
• RDB registration, RRA clearance certificate, RSSB clearance certificate. 
• The firm must demonstrate compliance with Rwanda's data protection and privacy laws, including established protocols for ethical data collection, management, storage, and reporting

8.2 Institutional Capacity and Technical Expertise 

• The bidder must demonstrate proven institutional capacity in conducting research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), particularly in complex agricultural or market systems programs. This proves the wider understanding and practical-hands-on skills about research and impact evaluation/harvesting. 
• Evidence of structured training programs for research teams, enumerators, and supervisors must be provided, including documented methodologies and tools used in past assignments. 
• The firm should demonstrate the ability to integrate capacity building and knowledge transfer within assignments. 

8. 3 Experience in Government and Institutional Collaboration 

• The bidder must deliver evidence of previous or ongoing collaboration with at least one Rwandan government institution. 
• The experience should demonstrate the ability to align with national priorities, engage public sector stakeholders, and deliver socio-economic or development impact assessments. 

8.4 Expertise in Impact Harvesting and Learning 

• The firm must demonstrate expertise in impact harvesting or similar outcome-oriented methodologies (e.g., outcome mapping, most significant change). 
• Proven experience in capturing systemic change, behavioural shifts, and market-level outcomes in multi-stakeholder programs is required. 
• The proposed team must include the following key personnel: 

Team Leader: A highly qualified MEL or agricultural development expert with at least 6 years’ experience and strong knowledge of Rwanda’s cooperatives, BDS, and MSD systems. 

Gender and Intersectionality: A gender specialist experienced in inclusive agricultural research and skilled in assessing outcomes for women, youth, and marginalized groups.

Market Systems and Value Chain: A market systems expert with solid understanding of Rwanda’s agricultural value chains, cooperatives, FSCs, and systemic enterprise-level changes. 

Data Analyst / Scientist: A data professional proficient in mixed-methods analysis, visualization, and translating evidence into clear quantitative and qualitative insights.

9. Suggested Assignment Duration and Deliverable Timeline (30 Days) 

The assignment is expected to be completed within 30 working days over a period of approximately 6 to 8 weeks, subject to final agreement with the client and availability of key stakeholders. Given the scale of FtMA operations across 30 districts, a phased and practical sampling strategy is recommended to ensure timely delivery while maintaining quality and representativeness. 

10. Application Requirements and Assessment Criteria 

The evaluation will be conducted in two stages, with technical evaluation preceding financial evaluation. Only proposals that meet the minimum technical requirements will be considered for financial assessment. Firms will first be assessed on whether they meet the qualification and eligibility criteria outlined in Section 9 before proceeding to full technical and financial evaluation. 

Technical Proposal (70%) 

The technical proposal should include the following components: 

• A clear interpretation and understanding of the Terms of Reference, demonstrating comprehension of the study objectives, scope, and expected outcomes. 
• A company profile outlining the firm’s qualifications, relevant expertise, and experience in conducting similar assignments, including demonstrated experience working in Rwanda, evidence of completion of similar or related assignments and demonstrated experience of the proposed team.
• Proof of legal registration and tax compliance evidence
• Curricula vitae (CVs) of key personnel should be provided as annexes. 
• A detailed proposed approach and methodology for each key activity and deliverable, clearly explaining how the study objectives will be addressed and identifying the roles and responsibilities of the proposed team members. 
• Details of three reference assignments of a similar nature, including scope of work, client details, and contact information. 
• A workplan outlining key activities, milestones, deliverables, and the proposed timeline for completion of the assignment. 

Financial proposal (30%) 

The financial proposal must include all costs and applicable taxes and be submitted in Rwandan Francs (RWF). The budget should be presented with sufficient detail to enable a thorough evaluate. At a minimum, the financial proposal should include: 

• Professional fees, including level of effort, estimated time inputs, and daily rates for each consultant. 
• Indicative activity costs, with line items and unit rates for field travel, transport, accommodation, and other relevant expenses. 
• A proposed milestone-based payment schedule, aligned with key deliverables. 

11.Submission Requirements 

Interested bidders must submit the following documentation as part of their proposal: 

• Company profile, including legal registration documents and NCSA certification. 
• Technical proposal outlining the approach and methodology for impact harvesting under FtMA. ✓ Evidence of relevant experience, including at least three similar assignments. 
• CVs of proposed key personnel, including proof of participation in the Research Capacity Building Program. 
• Documentation supporting Human capital capacity enhancement initiatives or program ✓ References from previous clients, including at least one government or public institution and two non governmental organizations.

12. To apply

Completed applications should be submitted electronically torwandaprocurement@snv.org no later than July 31st, 2026. Technical and financial proposals must be submitted as separate documents. 

13. Key compliance issues

Consultant must comply with SNV’s environmental and Social Safeguarding policies and procedures as well as take into consideration donor-specific requirements.

14. Data Protection assurance

SNV will not retain your Personal Data for longer than is allowed by law or is necessary for the Purposes. If you are selected and offered employment, the Personal Data you have provided will be used by SNV for the purpose of this bidding administration. If you are unsuccessful on this occasion to secure tender with SNV, SNV will retain your Personal Data for required period for the purpose of any future internal or external audit.