Terms of Reference (ToR) for Consultancy Services at Rikolto

Terms of Reference (ToR) for Consultancy Services at Rikolto

Terms of Reference (ToR) for Consultancy Services at Rikolto

Terms of Reference (ToR) for Consultancy Services for the Design, Establishment, Management, and Maintenance of Forage and Pasture Demonstration Plots, Including Water Supply and Irrigation Systems at TALIRI – Siha, West Kilimanjaro.

Background

About Rikolto

Rikolto is an international NGO with more than 50 years’ experience in partnering with farmer organizations and food chain stakeholders across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Our mission is to provide sustainable income for farmers and nutritious and affordable food for everyone.

About the Project

From November 2021 to October 2022, Argentina, Kenya, and Tanzania prepared a proposal for the “Regional Fund for Triangular Cooperation with Partners in Latin America and the Caribbean,” approved in April 2023. The project aims to strengthen technical capacity to increase meat and milk production in smallholder livestock systems by improving forage supply, promoting technology adoption, and enhancing research-extension linkages, focusing on Maasai pastoral communities and sustainable rural development.
Key partners include Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture, State Department for Livestock, and KALRO; Tanzania’s Ministry of Livestock and TALIRI; Argentina’s INTA and relevant agencies; and GIZ Offices in Kenya and Tanzania. The project addresses low livestock productivity, limited forage supply, pasture degradation, invasive species, and weak research-extension coordination.
The project has two components: establishing experimental forage demonstration plots while conserving natural resources, and enhancing comprehensive livestock management. Demonstration plots are operational at KALRO-Kiboko (Kenya), and in Tanzania the project will be implemented in collaboration with Rikolto and TALIRI at Siha, West Kilimanjaro, with technology selection and plot design finalized following regional missions.

Objectives of the project

• To establish demonstration plots at TALIRI for research, training and capacity-building purposes.
• To showcase sustainable agricultural practices, including improvement of traditional way of forage conservation (olopololi) to support vulnerable category of animals during the dry season
• To serve as a practical learning location for local farmers, extension officers, and other stakeholders.

Service Providers Needed

• Rikolto will commission three consultants to complete the project as follows:

First consultant

Objective: Securing a Consultant Services to design, establishment, and management of forage demonstration plots

• We invite qualified consultants/service providers to submit a proposal to deliver land preparation, forage demonstration plot establishment, and fencing services in collaboration with Rikolto and TALIRI researchers. The proposal should clearly address the two implementation scenarios outlined below:

Fully Cleared Demonstration Plot (87.5 m × 87.5)

• The consultant will be required to design and implement a fully controlled forage management site. This includes complete demarcation, bush clearing, uprooting of all trees and invasive species, land ploughing, and preparation prior to fence installation.
• No trees will be retained within the plot to maximize grass establishment and management efficiency. Procurement and installation of fencing materials (8-ft poles, 6-ft chain link, barbed wire, and U-nails) must be included.

Selectively Cleared 10-Acre Farm (Natural Grazing Model)

• The consultant will design and implement forage demonstration plots within a 10-acre area, applying selective clearing to retain some trees for shade and natural grazing simulation.
• All invasive species and designated trees must be fully uprooted, followed by land ploughing and site preparation.
• This scenario should demonstrate a balanced approach that enhances forage productivity while conserving key ecosystem elements.

  Second Consultant

  Objective of the Consultant Services: Establishment, Repair, and Maintenance of Water Supply and Irrigation Systems

We seek to procure a qualified consultant/service provider to establish, repair, and maintain functional water supply and irrigation systems to support demonstration and production activities. The consultant will be responsible for:

• Repairing existing water infrastructure to ensure a reliable supply of water to the demonstration plots.
• Establishing a new water dam measuring approximately 20 m × 20 m x 3m, including the supply and installation of suitable dam liners.
• Installing solar-powered facilities and pumps to efficiently abstract and distribute water.
• Designing and installing drip irrigation systems covering demonstration plots of 87.5 m × 87.5 m and replication plots to ensure uniform water distribution.
• Testing, commissioning, and handing over fully functioning irrigation infrastructure to Rikolto and TALIRI.

Providing guidance for the operation and maintenance of the water supply and irrigation systems to ensure sustainable and reliable water availability for ongoing demonstration activities.

Third Consultant

Objective of the Consultant Services: Design, Establishment, Management, and Seed Production of Pasture Demonstration Plots

• We seek to procure a qualified consultant/service provider to design, establish, manage, and support seed production and processing for pasture demonstration plots in collaboration with Rikolto and TALIRI researchers. The consultant will deliver end-to-end technical services covering land preparation, plot design, pasture establishment, management, monitoring, and capacity building.
• Under design and establishment, the consultant will procure high-quality grass and legume seeds from reliable sources; demarcate and prepare demonstration plots for reseeding; carry out full land preparation including demonstration plots designing, construct semi-circular bunds as soil and water conservation treatments; break soil crusts where required; mix seeds with appropriate soil media; and conduct sowing and reseeding according to approved treatment plans. Target species will include perennial grasses (Cenchrus ciliaris, Eragrostis superba, Chloris gayana) and native leguminous fodder species (Neonotonia wightii, Stylosanthes hamata). Each treatment combination will be replicated four times to ensure reliable results, and plots will be watered as necessary to support germination. All treatments will be implemented and monitored jointly with Rikolto and TALIRI researchers.
• For plot management and seed production, the consultant will oversee day-to-day operations of the demonstration plots, including routine watering, weeding, fertilizer procurement and application, and rogueing of off-types to maintain quality pasture and seed production. The assignment also includes organizing casual labour for harvesting and seed processing, and providing required inputs such as protective gear and clothing (e.g., gumboots, overcoats), packaging materials (90 kg, 50 kg, and 10 kg gunny bags), as well as laboratory and labelling materials for proper seed handling, processing, storage, and identification.
• In addition, the consultant will be responsible for data collection and reporting, maintaining regular communication with Rikolto and TALIRI, and preparing weekly, monthly, and quarterly progress reports to support monitoring and evaluation. The role further includes facilitating training for pastoralists from surrounding communities, supporting knowledge transfer and capacity building through active engagement with field staff, and providing relevant technical information to researchers to support ongoing research activities.

Qualifications required – (refer to the above table)

First consultant Services – (Design, Establishment, and Management of Forage Demonstration Plots

Qualifications Required:

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree or higher in Agronomy, Animal Science, Range Management, Forage Science, or related agricultural/environmental fields.
• Professional Experience: Minimum of 5 years’ experience in designing, establishing, and managing forage or pasture demonstration plots. Experience in both fully cleared and selectively cleared grazing systems is preferred.

Technical Skills:

• Expertise in land preparation (bush clearing, stump uprooting, ploughing) and fencing installation (poles, chain link, barbed wire).
• Knowledge of pasture establishment, grass species management, and invasive species control.
• Ability to implement and monitor experimental plot designs with proper replication.

Second Consultant Services: Establishment, Repair, and Maintenance of Water Supply and Irrigation Systems

Qualifications Required:

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree or higher in Water Resources Engineering, Irrigation Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related field.
• Professional Experience: Minimum of 5 years’ experience in designing, constructing, and maintaining water supply and irrigation systems, including dams, solar pumps, and drip irrigation networks.

Technical Skills:

• Competence in dam excavation and liner installation.
• Installation and commissioning of solar-powered pumps and drip irrigation systems for demonstration plots (87.5 m × 87.5 m).
• Experience in maintenance and troubleshooting of water and irrigation infrastructure.

Third consultant Services: Design, Establishment, Management, and Seed Production of Pasture Demonstration Plots

Qualifications Required:

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree or higher in Agronomy, Plant Science, Crop Science, Forage Science, Seed Technology, or related field.
• Professional Experience: Minimum of 5–7 years’ experience in pasture and seed production, including sowing, harvesting, processing, packaging, and quality control. Experience managing demonstration plots in collaboration with research institutions is preferred.

Technical Skills:

• Expertise in land preparation, plot design, soil and water conservation practices (bunds, soil crust management), and seed sowing techniques.
• Knowledge of perennial grasses (Cenchrus ciliaris, Eragrostis superba, Chloris gayana) and leguminous fodder species (Neonotonia wightii, Stylosanthes hamata).
• Ability to oversee plot management, including watering, weeding, fertilizer application, rogueing, and seed processing (packaging, labelling, storage, and laboratory handling).
• Competence in monitoring, data collection, and reporting for research and demonstration activities.

Rikolto and TALIRI will provide:

• Guidance and technical support as required throughout
• Lists of all livestock keepers participating in the projects
• Introductory meetings with key stakeholders;

Submission of Proposals

Interested consultants or firms are requested to submit:

• A full technical and financial proposal. Please provide as much detail as possible. However, at a minimum, please clearly distinguish between consultancy costs and expenses and detail any expenses that you will require Rikolto to pay directly.
• Copies of all relevant Curriculum Vitae (CVs). Only CVs for the specific individuals who will form the proposed baseline survey team should be included.
• Contact details for two references and Certificates of completed and signed off surveys from previous clients

All documents must be submitted by email to; [email protected] by 24 January, 2026 5pm East Africa. The email subject line should clearly indicate what you are applying for.