RFP - for conducting Endline Assessment for the Project (Community-based Goat Breeding Program) under the Climate change mitigation...

Animal Husbandry Division of

Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI)

Phaltan 415523, Dist. Satara, Maharashtra

Terms of Reference (ToR) for

Request for Proposal (RFP) for conducting

Endline Assessment for the Project

(Community-based Goat Breeding Program)

under the

Climate change mitigation initiative managed and led by women farmers (CCMI-MLWF)

in the semi-arid parts of Western India

The information contained in this Request for Proposal document (the “RFP) provided to Bidder(s) on behalf of the Animal Husbandry Division of Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (AHD-NARI), is disseminated on the terms and conditions set out in this RFP and such other terms and conditions subject to which such information is provided.

This RFP document contains brief information about the scope of work to be undertaken by the selected Agency. The purpose of this RFP document is to provide Bidders with information that may be useful to them in the formulation of their bid and for no other purpose whatsoever

Neither the information in this RFP nor any other written or oral information in relation to the selection process of the Bidder for implementing the Project or otherwise is intended to form the basis of any decision to enter into any contract or arrangement

AHD-NARI may in its absolute discretion, but without being under any obligation to do so, update, amend, scrap or supplement the information, statement, assessment or assumptions contained in this RFP.

The Bidder shall bear all costs associated with or relating to the preparation and submission of its Bid including but not limited to preparing, copying, postage, delivery fee, expenses associated with any demonstrations or presentations which may be required by AHD-NARI or any other costs incurred in connection with or relating to its Bid.

Nothing in this RFP shall constitute the basis of a contract which may be concluded in relation to the project nor shall such documentation/information be used in construing any such contract. Each Bidder must rely on the terms and conditions contained in any contract which, when, and if, finally executed, is subject to such limitations and restrictions which may be specified in such contract.

The bidder(s) are required to design and conduct the Endline Study of the project ‘Climate change mitigation initiative managed and led by women farmers’ (CCMI-MLWF). The implementing partners of the Project are the Centre for microFinance (CmF) and Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives (CInI) (and Vijayavahini Charitable Foundation (VCF), Andhra Pradesh) while the technical partners are the Animal Husbandry Division of the Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (AHD-NARI), and AbacusBio Ltd., NZ. CmF is implementing the project in 6 clusters in Sirohi and Udaipur districts of Rajasthan and CInI is implementing the project in 6 clusters in Sabarkantha and Banaskantha districts in Gujarat.

It shall be deemed that by submitting a proposal, the Bidder has: -

made a complete and careful examination of the RFP;

received all relevant information requested;

accepted the risk of inadequacy provided in the RFP or furnished by or on behalf of AHD-NARI relating to any of the matters relevant to the Project;

satisfied itself about all matters, things and information including necessary and required documents for submitting an informed Bid, execution of the Project in accordance with the RFP and performance of all of its obligations thereunder;

acknowledged and agreed that inadequacy, lack of completeness or incorrectness of information provided in the RFP or ignorance of any of the matters referred to in the tender hereinabove shall not be a basis for any claim for compensation, damages, extension of time for performance of its obligations, loss of profits etc.

agreed to be bound by the undertakings provided by it under and in terms hereof.

noted that this proposal is invited on single responsibility basis, so the bidder is supposed to quote the rates considering all aspects, e.g. inclusive of all taxes/charges, etc, while submitting their proposal.

1. Background

The project, funded by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, aimed to establish community based goat breeding (genetic improvement) programs (CBBP) through capacity building of women goat keepers and introducing innovative strategies in tribal villages of Gujarat and Rajasthan states where the Centre for microFinance (CmF 1 ) and Collectives for integrated livelihood initiatives (CInI 2 ) have organized 57,000 households into primary institutions. The objective of the CBBPs is to improve the goat genetic resources owned by women to improve their livelihoods and possibly, at a later stage, to promote business in sale of breeding bucks and does. This is expected to be ultimately achieved through selection of genetically superior offspring for breeding leading to continuous genetic improvement in a goat population. Goat rearer participation has been encouraged from inception to implementation gaining an understanding of goat rearer needs, perception and decisions when developing the program. It is intended to establish regional supply centres for high genetic value (superior productivity and adaptability) does and bucks which are managed by women goat keepers. The overarching objective is to add value to the sustainable production, management and marketing of goats belonging to smallholder village communities using community focused interventions. The objective is also to use this as a proof of concept for adoption of women-led community based small ruminant breeding approaches by the Government of India/State government Animal Husbandry Departments and shall be showcased to them as best practice initiatives to influence policy.

Following are the key objectives of the project:

Build on women goat farmers’ knowledge, skills and use of technology to bring about systematic genetic improvement of their local breed of goats for productivity and adaptability. This will be done by improving community awareness and equipping Pashu Sakhi s for data entry for evaluation of the animals.

Establish traceable supply centres of quality bucks and does of the Sirohi or improved local goat breed through market linkages.

Dissemination of SOP to relevant stakeholders for community owned local goat breed improvement programs.

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Centre for microFinance (CmF) (https://cmfraj.org) is a not for profit organization registered under the Rajasthan Societies Act, 1958 and set up jointly by development practitioners, Tata Trusts, academicians and key stakeholders from government and banks in 2007. It was conceptualized as a resource organization to catalyse the growth of the community based microfinance (Self-Help Group model) and rural livelihoods in Rajasthan.

2 Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives (CInI) ( https://cinicell.org ) is a not for profit organization which aims to transform the lives of rural and tribal households in the Central Indian belt, through programs in many thematic areas including microfinance and strengthening community based organizations.

Project coverage and geography

State

District

Block

No. of clusters

No. of ‘breeder’ households where goat data is recorded

Rajasthan

Sirohi

Pindwara

3

(8 villages)

716

Udaipur

Sayra

(9 villages)

632

Gujarat

Sabarkantha

Poshina

2

(3 villages)

314

Banaskantha

Danta

1

329

Total approximately 2000 households with direct intervention and 13,000 households with indirect intervention.

2. Introduction

AHD-NARI is seeking a qualified and experienced organization to conduct a comprehensive endline assessment for the Project ‘Climate change mitigation initiative managed and led by women farmers’. The endline assessment aims to gather essential data using both quantitative and qualitative research met