Descriptions
HEIFER
INTERNATIONAL TANZANIA
No. HPI/2023/02/21/01
-Consultant to conduct Living
Income Benchmarking (LIB) study
A CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT A LIVING
INCOME BENCHMARKING (LIB) STUDY
Background
Heifer Project International (HPI) is an International Non-Governmental
Organization working with smallholder farming communities to end hunger and
poverty while caring for the Earth. Heifer believes that it significantly
contributes to feeding the world and securing sustainable livelihoods by
enhancing the capacity of vulnerable and smallholder farmers. This is accompanied by sound approaches [Value Based Holistic Community Development (VBHCD) and
market systems] and innovative solutions that drive transformative processes
towards sustainable
reduction of
the living income gap among smallholder farming
households. For more information about HPI, please visit www.heifer.org.
Heifer International (HI) incorporates the Living Income
approach to measure success. The approach was developed by Anker and Anker
(2017) and adapted by Heifer International’s Monitoring, Evaluation and
Learning team to fit Heifer’s project implementation context in remote, rural
agricultural zones in underdeveloped areas of countries. Multiple external
sources were reviewed as part of the development of the benchmark process,
which included the Anker Living Wage methodology and other approaches. The
standard Heifer LIB methodology builds on, while not exactly replicating, the
Ankers’ approach. The Living
Income Benchmark is a regional point of reference for the minimum income people
need in order to be able to afford a decent standard of living; it is composed
costs of a nutritious diet, decent housing, other basic needs (like education
and healthcare), savings for future shocks/needs (resilience), and, sometimes,
supporting people outside the household. This study will explore the
informative aspect of the Living Income Benchmark (LIB) for smallholder farmers in rural areas. Both
primary and secondary data will be used to define “decency” and cost for each
component of the LIB.
The first step is to establish the
parameters of the geographic area to which the LIB will apply. Next, use a desk review of secondary sources —
like national survey data — to estimate an expected range of values for a given
component. Then, to ensure that the measures are accurate and representative of
the specific region, primary data is collected from local residents, vendors,
the marketplace and key informants. In most cases, the data from primary and
secondary sources will be similar. In cases where the primary and secondary
data differ greatly, it is important to examine the potential causes of this and use your
best judgment to reconcile the difference and choose an appropriate value. When
the cost of each component has been added together to find the LIB, any portion
of it that falls outside Heifer’s expected range should be double-checked and
then corrected or explained. Finally, the LIB, key data and any assumptions are
compiled into a standardized report; HPI will guide the consultant. The Living Income approach recommends
using fixed principles and assumptions, along with detailed documentation of
all the assumptions and decisions made at each step of the process to ensure
the transparency and continuity of the practice.
Heifer
International (Tanzania) intends to conduct the assessment to determine/establish
the minimum Living Income Benchmark for smallholder farmers. The study will
take place in four major zones: the Southern Highlands (Mbeya and Njombe
regions), the Central Zone (Dodoma, Singida, and Manyara regions), and the Lake
Zone (Kagera, Shinyanga, Mwanza, Geita, and Mara regions) while focusing on
dairy, sunflower, poultry, red meat, and horticulture value chains. The
organization is looking for a qualified consultant to conduct the Living Income
Benchmark study and assess the decent living standards of smallholder farmers
in the selected regions. The findings will inform HIP Tanzania’s strategic plan
for closing the living income gap for smallholder farmers for selected value
chains. The Proposal will be accepted soft copy through email and
mentioning the subject line; “Living Income Benchmarking Data Collection” to procurement-tz@heifer.org on 31st May 2023, by Close
of Business. Proposals received after the submission deadline will not be
considered. For
more information about the assignment please visit the link below. For any
inquiries, please contact us via procurement-tz@heifer.org.
https://www.heifer.org/about-us/inside-heifer/procurement-and-contracting-services.html
