Digital Farmer Extension Services and Solutions Consultant at Lutheran World Relief (LWR)

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) is a member of Corus International. Corus International combines over 150 years of experience of our non-profit and for-profit subsidiary organizations – IMA World Health, Lutheran World Relief, CGA Technologies, Ground Up Investing, and Farmers Market Brands.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Digital Farmer Extension Services and Solutions Consultant

Location: Nigeria
Employment Type: Fixed Price Contract
Period: 3 months with regular progress updates and reporting as per the agreed-upon schedule

Description

• LWR is looking for a best-fit digital service provider to lead the generation and dissemination of content of Climate Smart Cocoa Agriculture (CSA) to end-users of the project through multiple channels to promote access to information and extension services, processes, digital messages, and the use of TRACE innovation to reach beneficiaries of cocoa families.
• The digital solution should enable smallholder farmers to access relevant and timely information and extension services that can help them improve their agronomic practices, productivity, and resilience.
• The information and extension services may include but are not limited to, weather forecasts, crop calendars, early warning pest and disease alerts, soil and water management, climate-smart agriculture, post-harvest handling, cocoa agroforestry, nutrition and marketing, cocoa consumption, and reliable benefits of cocoa traceability system.
• The consultancy will be executed over three (3) months with regular progress updates and reporting as per the agreed-upon schedule. The consultant/firm will have the overall responsibility for the delivery of digital messages and the development of pictograms.

Expected Tasks

• Co-design and disseminate specific Climate smart cocoa agriculture and work closely with the TRACE consortium partners and other relevant stakeholders.
• Co-design and develop introductory messages tailored to cocoa smallholders. This user-friendly and scalable digital solution can integrate and bundle different services in one platform, using appropriate digital technologies, such as mobile applications, web portals, SMS, voice, USSD, IVR, social media (Facebook and Instagram), etc.
• Co-design and deploy a best fit digital matrix of bundle Climate Smart Cocoa Agriculture, Pest, Diseases alerts, etc. through multiple dissemination channels and in local languages.
• Successful delivery and confirmation of receipt for the introductory messages to at least 50,000 cocoa farmers.
• Test and validate the digital solution with the end-users and stakeholders and incorporate their feedback and suggestions for improvement.
• Deploy and launch the digital solution in the target areas and sectors and provide training and support to the end-users and stakeholders on how to use and benefit from the digital solution.
• Report and provide evidence of beneficiaries reached (access and use) at least 40% being women and youth across TRACE intervention communities.
• Develop a dissemination model/strategy to deliver content to farmers who do not own or have access to mobile phones. (Printed poster/pictogram).

Preferred Qualifications and Competences
To execute this assignment, a firm should have the following technical qualifications:

• At least 10 years of experience in managing agricultural projects involving precision agriculture technologies, and innovations more broadly, especially in developing country contexts.

Experience of Firm:

• The Firm will have at least five years of experience in research, analysis, and/or consulting on agri-food technologies or related innovations for the agriculture sector.
• The Firm will have produced some Agri-extension technology applications, at least one of which focuses on cocoa extension services. These should be submitted as part of the Firm’s application for this Terms of Reference.
• Knowledge of digital communication channels and tools to efficiently deliver agricultural extension training delivery.
• Skills to create culturally sensitive and impactful messages in major local Nigerian languages in across the 6 geo-political zones.
• Proven experience in the production of quality technical reports on topics relevant to this Terms of Reference (innovation, digital farming, smart farming technologies, etc.)
• Experience working with international development organizations.

Working Conditions and other specifications/Terms and Conditions

• The consultancy requires traveling to the project locations - Ondo, Cross River, Osun, Ekiti, Abia, and Akwa Ibom states and travel-related costs will be included in the consultancy.

Application Closing Date
16th January, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates or consultancy firm should send their Expression of Interest and request for Full TOR to: nigeriaprocurement@corusinternational.org using "Expression of Interest for Digital Farmer Extension Services and Solutions Consultant" as the subject of the mail.

The response to the technical and financial proposal should be structured as follows:

• Response letter (1 page max): The letter should formally reference the specific assignment(s) declaring the firm/consortium’s interest in undertaking the assignment(s).
• Statement of qualifications (4 pages max): The statement of qualifications should highlight the firm’s /consultant's sector-specific expertise, and experience, especially that applies to the assignment required.
• The following information should be included:
  • General background and overview of the firm/consultant’s
  • Understanding of the assignment
  • Relevant experience (sector and similar projects in cocoa extension services)
  • Team member experience
  • The technical proposal should not exceed 4 pages maximum.