Call for Tenders at RUATI

Call for Tenders at RUATI

Call for Tenders 

RUATI/YEFFA/AGRA/2025/S/001

CALL FOR TENDERS (CfT)

Reference Number: RUATI/YEFFA/AGRA/2025/S/001

Title of Consultancy:

1. Conduct a Training Needs Assessment (TNA) for youth in Agro-mechanisation, Irrigation Equipment, and Post-Harvest Equipment.
2. Develop Training Curricula for the three courses based on the TNA findings.

1.0 Introduction

Rural and Urban Agricultural Technology Initiatives (RUATI) invites qualified individual consultants to submit proposals for the following assignments:

1. Conduct a Training Needs Assessment (TNA) targeting youth in agro-mechanisation, irrigation equipment, and post-harvest equipment.
2. Develop three training curricula (agro-mechanisation, irrigation equipment, and post-harvest equipment) based on the TNA findings.

2.0 Background

RUATI is a Tanzanian local NGO registered under the Non-Governmental Organisations Act No. 24 of 2002, with Registration No. 00NGO/0009585. Established on 16 March 2018, RUATI works to improve household incomes and livelihoods through initiatives in agriculture, business development, and cross-cutting issues including gender, youth, HIV/AIDS, nutrition, and environmental sustainability.

Under the Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA) Programme, funded by the MasterCard Foundation and supervised by AGRA, RUATI and three other IPs in collaboration with VETA, are implementing the project:

“Enhancing Access to Agro-Mechanisation Services for Young Farmers in Southern and Eastern Tanzania: Empowering Youth with Agro-Mechanisation Skills and Linking Them to Equipment Owners and Service Markets.”

The consultancy will support RUATI in generating evidence-based training needs and producing practical, tailored curricula for short-course training of youth, especially young women and persons living with disabilities (PLWDs). Youth training will be done by VETA.

3.0 Scope of Work

The consultancy consists of two integrated components:

Training Needs Assessment (TNA)

The TNA must examine the mechanisation ecosystem from both demand and supply sides.

Demand-Side Assessment (Private Sector Actors)

The consultant will investigate the needs of private sector mechanization actors across the entire value chain, including:

• Mechanization service providers
• Equipment owners/operators
• Spare parts and agro-equipment dealers
• Irrigation and post-harvest equipment suppliers
• Farmer organizations’, processors, agri-SMEs

Key outputs include evidence on:

• Skills required by the market (operation, repair, maintenance, fabrication, diagnostics, safety)
• Industry-wide skill gaps across mechanization, irrigation, and post-harvest systems
• Market opportunities for youth, especially young women and PLWDs
• Equipment types with the highest current and future demand
• Competencies required to increase efficiency, reduce downtime, and improve service delivery

Supply-Side Assessment (Youth & Training Providers)

The consultant must assess:

Youth (Potential Trainees/Service Providers)

• Existing knowledge and skills gap
• Barriers to youth in entering mechanization (technical, financial, social, gender-related)
• Gaps in operating, repairing, maintaining, and fabricating equipment
• Lack of entrepreneurial and business management skills

Training Providers (VETA)

• Current training capacity, infrastructure, tools, and instructor competencies
• Gaps affecting the inclusive delivery of short mechanization-related courses
• Alignment with Competence Based Education Training (CBET) standards
• Opportunities and requirements for VETA-wide adoption and accreditation

The TNA must provide a clear ecosystem skills map, identifying both demand-driven needs and supply-side gaps.

Training Curriculum Development 

Based on evidence from the TNA, the consultant will develop three competency-based, practical, and scalable short-course curricula:

1. Agro-Mechanisation Training Curriculum (1 month)
2. Irrigation Equipment Training Curriculum (2 weeks)
3. Post-harvest Equipment Training Curriculum (2 weeks)

Each curriculum must:

• Be fully market-driven, reflecting private sector demand
• Integrate hands-on, practical learning and CBET principles
• Include modules, learning outcomes, session plans, and assessment tools
• Address the needs of youth, particularly young women and PLWDs
• Incorporate elements of entrepreneurship, job readiness, and business skills
• It is designed for scalability across all VETA centres.

4.0 Deliverables

The full assignment must be completed within two (2) weeks, and the Inception Report that provides an understanding of the task and work plan for the assignment must be submitted within two days after signing of the contract.

Training Needs Assessment

The consultant will:

• Conduct a TNA survey covering at least 150 respondents using structured questionnaires and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs).
• Submit raw tools as annexes (questionnaires, FGD guides).
• Produce a TNA report including data, analysis, and training recommendations.

Curriculum Development

The consultant will:

• Prepare three practical curricula that reflect the TNA findings.
• Integrate competency-based learning, hands-on sessions, and assessment tools.
• Ensure alignment with short-course duration (2–4 weeks).

5.0 Bidding Instructions

• Bidders may submit proposals manually or electronically.
• The bidding document is available via AJIRAYAKO.CO.TZ, RUATI social media platforms, and RUATI’s website (www.ruati.or.tz) from 03rd December 2025 at 16:00 Hours to 10th December 2025 at 15:00 Hours.
• All bids must be submitted no later than 12th December 2025 at 16:00 Hours EAT.

6.0 Qualifications and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree or higher in Engineering, Vocational/Technical Education, Agricultural Mechanisation, Irrigation, Post-harvest Technology, or related fields.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years in vocational training or administration in Tanzania
• Strong familiarity with mechanisation, irrigation, and post-harvest sectors
• Experience working with youth and smallholder farmers

Competencies:

• Excellent writing and presentation skills
• Fluency in English; Swahili is an added advantage

7.0 Evaluation Criteria

Mandatory Requirements

• Cover letter
• CV of consultant (with at least 2 referees)
• Academic certificates

Technical Evaluation (100%)

1. General Qualifications – 20%
2. Experience in Similar Assignments – 40%
3. Approach & Work Plan – 30%
4. Regional Experience – 10%

Only candidates scoring 75% or above will proceed to financial negotiation.

9.0 Proposal Submission Requirements

9.1 Technical Proposal

• Cover Letter
• CV(s)
• Academic Certificates
• Proposed Approach & Methodology
• Work Plan & Timeline
• Evidence of Similar Past Work
• Registration and Tax Certificates (for firms)

9.2 Financial Proposal

• Financial Submission Letter
• Detailed Cost Breakdown (USD)
• Payment Schedule

10.0 Submission Instructions

Submit one original and two copies of BOTH Technical and Financial proposals in SEPARATE sealed envelopes clearly marked:

• “Technical Proposal – RUATI/YEFFA/AGRA/2025/S/001”
• “Financial Proposal – RUATI/YEFFA/AGRA/2025/S/001”

Electronic submissions must be clearly labelled as well.

Address:
The Chairperson,
Tender Board,
Rural and Urban Agricultural Technology Initiatives (RUATI),
Mpambalyoto Street,
P.O. Box 616,
Songea, Tanzania.

Notes:

• Late submissions will be rejected.
• The lowest price does not guarantee selection.
• Canvassing leads to disqualification.

For clarifications:
Email: [email protected]

| [email protected]

Tel: 0742 111 936

Signed by:

P.Msemwa
Executive Director, RUATI