SCOPE OF WORK

Catholic Relief Services

Agriculture Sustainability Activity

Baseline, Midterm, and End line Survey

CRS/ Liberia and Program Background

Catholic Relief Service (CRS) began working in Liberia in 1957, with a permanent Country Program Office opening in 1990 supporting relief and development operations in the country. CRS Liberia has proudly maintained a strong reputation and relationship with partners and the communities we serve in the country by implementing a multi-sector program portfolio. Today, the Country Program has a robust portfolio built around Agriculture Sustainability Activity.

Project Background

The USAID Agriculture Sustainability Activity uses a Short-Term Technical Assistance model involving CRS staff and Farmer-to-Farmer volunteers to increase the availability of domestically produced and processed rice and cassava in Liberia. The Farmer-to-Farmer model pairs experienced Liberian, International, and US agriculture professionals with processors and producer organizations to address food safety issues, business practices, relationships with aggregators and producers, processing practices, and any other major business needs. The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) with the support of USAID is implementing a systems approach to improving rice and cassava value chains in the 4 counties of Bong, Nimba, Lofa, and Lower Montserrado with the following participants: 71 Producer organizations, 25 Agro-dealers, 22 Aggregators, 8 Processors (four rice mills and four cassava processing facilities).

Project Implementation Approach

The Farmer-to-Farmer model tailors activities to the needs of each producer organization, processor, or value chain actor to achieve the strategic objectives and increase overall rice and cassava production. The first step in the model is creating a host development plan wherein producer organizations and processors are assessed, and a plan is created to target the major constraints they experience. Where appropriate, the host development plan will include a gender lens to make sure it is responsive to male and female participants. Farmer-to-Farmer volunteers are then paired with producer organizations and processers to provide short-term technical assistance and/or training relating to these constraints. As a result, some producer organizations and processors may receive multiple technical assistance assignments based on their needs. Therefore, the activities listed in the following section are among the possible activities to be identified in the host-development plan, but the activity list is not exhaustive. Each activity will be carried out where appropriate and when needed considering the overall goal of the USAID Agriculture Sustainability Activity.

The USAID Agriculture Sustainability Activity will increase the availability of domestically produced and processed rice and cassava in Liberia by completing the following strategic objectives: 1) female and male farmers increase sustainable rice and cassava production in target areas; 2) target processors increase rice and cassava processing, and 3) complete other work identified through the closeout of LADA.

Purpose of the study

Liberia will be conducting a Data Collection exercise for baseline and end line. Data will be collected on all key indicators using specified tools. The Data collection exercise will be a participatory process involving CRS Monrovia, Field Offices, and Host Organizations in Bong, Nimba, and Lofa. Chief of Party, MEAL TA, CP MEAL Staff & PM will support the Field Offices and host organizations to collect this data.

Methodology

Data collection for the baseline, midterm, and end-line evaluation will be collected using quantitative evaluation methodology using a combination of population household-based and facility (Host Organizations) surveys. This is because some indicators are tracked at the individual participant level while other indicators speak to Host Organization level data.

Deliverables:

• Baseline Report
• Midterm evaluation Report
• Final evaluation Report
• Field work report produced

Timeline

July to August 2022

Kindly apply through LR_HR@crs.org.