Consultancy Terms of Reference at Rikolto

Consultancy Terms of Reference at Rikolto

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Consultancy for Organizational Capacity Building of Apex Organizations and Farmer Business Organizations (FBOs) and Strengthening Primary Producer Groups through the ICRA Agribusiness Cluster (ABC) Coaching Model:

1. Background and Context

Rikolto is an international network organization with over 50 years of experience collaborating with food chain stakeholders across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. We build bridges of trust and trade between the food industry, governments, research institutions, financial institutions, and farmers’ organizations around one central question: “What will we eat tomorrow?” Our mission is to ensure sustainable incomes for farmers and to make nutritious, affordable food accessible to everyone. Rikolto’ s global strategy focuses on driving structural changes in the agri-food system and scaling up proven practices and policies that unlock the potential of smallholder farmers. We establish clear agendas for systemic change and develop specific strategies and actions to achieve them. This is complemented by designing and implementing concrete interventions in pilot value chains creating space to experiment, learn, and generate evidence that informs and influences broader transformation.

Rikolto Tanzania with funding from Norad through IDH is implementing a project namely Growing Together programme Leveraging markets and data for food security and thriving communities in Tanzania and Ethiopia from 2024-2028. The program vision is to contribute to transforming local food markets and improving food security and local economies by increasing the incomes of small-scale food producers and scaling operations of food SMEs to become large and reliable food companies in Africa with Ethiopia and Tanzania being target countries

A core strategy of the programme is to professionalise Farmer Business Organizations (FBOs), cooperatives and apex organisations so that they operate as strong, market-oriented and reliable business partners contributing to efficiency in the food systems. This includes improving governance, management, service delivery to primary producer groups, and their capacity to engage in inclusive value chains.

Therefore, Rikolto seeks to engage two consultants to lead organisational capacity-building of farmer business organisation, Cooperatives and applying Agri business Cluster Model (ABC coaching Model) trajectories targeting Achor firms in:

• Lot 1: Mbeya & Morogoro
• Lot 2: Iringa & Dodoma

2. Purpose of the Assignment

The overall purpose of this consultancy is to collaborate with Achor firm, Apex Associations to strengthen the organizational and business capacities of FBOs through the ICRA Agribusiness Cluster (ABC) Coaching Model, so that they become Professional, member-driven organisations, Providing sustainable services to their members, and Effectively integrated into inclusive, climate-resilient short chains food supplying to urban markets in Dodoma and Dares Salaam cities.

3. Specific Objectives

For each lot, the assignment will aim to:

1. Strengthen organizational capacity of TASUPA and RCT apex organisations and FBOs across SCOPE dimensions (internal management, financial management, operations, production base, market, sustainability, external risk and enabling environment, including gender and climate resilience). 
2. Apply and embed the ABC Coaching Model to organize/strengthen agribusiness clusters around selected value chains (Maize, Sunflower, Rice) and support them through structured coaching cycles. These clusters will be strategically established and linked to AKM Glitters, Kibaigwa Flour Supply, GMT Super Kyela Rice, Stegraphet, KMC, Three Sisters, and Ruaha Milling Company.
3. Improve service delivery to primary producer groups, including aggregation, quality management, market access, and access to finance and ensure access to  business development services by farmer groups
4. Support the development and implementation of practical action plans (per apex/FBO/cluster) based on SCOPE assessments and D&D workshops.
5. Build the capacity of local coaches and FBO leaders to develop well-functioning agribusiness clusters that can continue facilitation, coaching and coordination beyond the consultancy period. 
6. Contribute to improved business results (volumes, contracts, market linkages, financial access and Scope Insight scores) for targeted apex organisations, FBOs and their primary producer groups. That is linked to AKM Glitters, Kibaigwa Flour Supply, GMT Super Kyela Rice, Stegraphet, KMC, Three Sisters and Ruaha Milling Company.

4. Target Organisations and Geographical Coverage

The consultant will work with a portfolio of:

• Apex organisations (e.g. regional/national associations or unions) relevant to the selected value chains. These FBOs are linked to AKM Glitters, Kibaigwa Flour Supply, GMT Super Kyela Rice, Stegraphet, KMC, Three Sisters and Ruaha Milling Company and two apex organizations; TASUPA and RCT along sunflower and rice value chains. 
• Farmer Business Organizations (FBOs) / cooperatives affiliated with or linked to the apex organisations.
• Primary producer groups (farmer groups/cooperatives at village/ward level) organised under the FBOs and/or ICRA ABCs.

NB: Exacty lists of organisations and locations will be provided by Rikolto at inception. The indicative coverage is:

• Lot 1: Mbeya & Morogoro – apex organisations, FBOs and primary producer groups in priority rice, sunflower, maize and soybean value chains.
• Lot 2: Iringa & Dodoma – apex organisations, FBOs and primary producer groups in priority rice, sunflower, maize and soybean value chains.

Consultants may apply for one lot. Rikolto reserves the right to award each lot to any consultant, depending on the quality of proposals.

5. Scope of Work and Key Tasks

Under the overall supervision of Rikolto’s Programme and Project Managers for Growing Together, the consultant will undertake the following tasks for the allocated lot:

• Inception and Desk Review

• Review key programme and background documents, including Growing Together programme documents and value chain selection, Existing SCOPE Insight assessment reports and capacity development plans of targeted apex/FBOs
• Engage Rikolto, Anchor SMEs and local government staff to clarify expectations, target groups, existing partnerships and ongoing interventions.
• Prepare an Inception Report detailing: Understanding of the assignment and context, Refined methodology (combining organizational development and ABC coaching), Detailed work plan and timeline per region and per organization/cluster, Proposed tools and templates (e.g. capacity gap matrices, coaching logs, action plan formats).

5.2 Conduct  D&D Workshops. 

• Design and facilitate Diagnosis & Design (D&D) workshops with agribusiness actors in each target area, bringing together: Apex organisations and FBOs, Primary producer groups, Anchor SMEs and off-takers, Input suppliers, financial institutions and relevant support actors, Local government and other ecosystem actors (e.g. chambers of commerce).
• With D&D participants, co-develop cluster-level action plans addressing production, quality, aggregation, marketing, value addition, finance and business relations.

5.3 Formation and Strengthening of Agribusiness Clusters (ABCs)

• In collaboration with Rikolto, local authorities and apex/FBO leaders, form or strengthen agribusiness clusters around priority value chains in each region (e.g. horticulture clusters, grains/oilseed clusters). 
• Support the selection and screening of Local Coaches (ABC coaches) from FBOs, SMEs, LGAs or other local actors based on criteria agreed with Rikolto (experience, networks, facilitation skills).
• Provide intensive training and coaching to Local Coaches on:ABC principles and facilitation methods, Organizational and business coaching, Use of tools for planning, monitoring, documentation and learning.

• Organizational Capacity Building for Apex Organisations & FBOs

• Based on identified gaps and action plans, design and deliver a coaching-oriented capacity-building trajectory (not one-off training) for apex organisations and FBOs based on weakness identified (TASUPA and RCT).
• Facilitate iterative coaching cycles with Local Coaches, cluster members and FBO leaders to implement action plans, monitor progress and adapt strategies, 
• Provide ongoing backstopping and mentoring to Local Coaches through joint field visits, reflection sessions and remote support,
• Organize reflection and adaptation sessions (e.g. mid-term & end-of-cycle workshops) with key stakeholders (ABCs, Local Coaches, apex/FBOs, LGAs, Anchor SMEs) to review progress, share lessons and adjust action plans.

6. Expected Deliverables

For each lot, the consultant will produce at least the following:

1. Inception Report 
2. D&D and Cluster Formation Report
3. Organisational Capacity-Building Outputs for each scope dimension and gaps identified 
4. Periodic Progress Reports 
5. Activities conducted (coaching sessions, workshops, visits),
6. Final Completion Report (at the end of the assignment) presenting:

7. Duration  of the assignment

• The consultancy is expected to run from  15 December 2025 to  15 December 2026, approximately, for each lot.
• A detailed schedule will be agreed during the inception phase, aligned with the agricultural calendar and programme milestones.

11. Application Procedure

Interested consultants (individuals or firms) are invited to submit:

1. Technical Proposal (maximum 10 pages) including: Understanding of the assignment and context, proposed approach and methodology (showing how you will combine organizational development and ICRA ABC coaching), Draft work plan and timeline, Team composition and roles (for firms/consortia). At least three relevant references (similar assignments with FBOs/ABC/MSD).
2. Financial Proposal for the assignment detailing how the costs have been calculated

Mode of Application.

• Qualified candidates (either Individual Consultants or Consultants Firm) are invited to submit their Technical and Financial proposal with the following documents: 
• Cover letter, 
• CV of proposed consultant/Expert including reference details of previous clients. 
• References with detailed contact address of at least 3 organizations in which the consulting firm /Individual provided similar services recently.
• Samples of 2-3 similar previous work pieces 

Interested applicants should submit their proposals via email to [email protected] no later than 17th December 2025. The email subject line should clearly indicate the title of the assignment and the source of the advertisement. In your proposal and cover letter, kindly specify the Lot you are applying for. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not receive a response within two weeks after the closing date, consider your application unsuccessful. For more information about this consultancy opportunity, please visit the Rikolto website.