COLLABORATIVE SEED PROGRAMME
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FROM CONSULTANT
The Collaborative Seed Programme is seeking a consultant to undertake a study on the Decentralisation of the Seed Quality Assurance.
Terms of Reference
(1) Rationale
Seed sector development in Nigeria is hampered by its limited access to and use of seed quality assurance services, as well as their use being limited to a small number of crops. The issue was prioritized in the development of the National Seed Road Map. Enhancing and differentiating the capacity in seed quality assurance will be an essential pathway toward seed sector transformation. This will be achieved through developing and fostering modalities for accreditation (seed producers’ or seed company inspection), third-party inspection (i.e. extension agents licensed to inspect) and be complemented with crop-tailored protocols and modalities for specific crops and seed systems. This process of decentralization will reduce the burden on the limited human and technical capacity of regional offices the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), and advance seed producers and entrepreneurs in formal, intermediary and informal seed systems producing and marketing an increased volume of quality seed of a diversity of crops. The NASC’s human, technical, and operational capacity, including the available seed laboratories and vehicles in regional offices, are not yet fully equipped in accordance with the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), nor able to cope with the industry’s demand. Therefore, the NASC is unable to meet the diverse national demand for seed quality assurance services by seed companies, seed producers, community-based seed production schemes and local seed entrepreneurs. The NASC primarily focuses on a few major cereal crops. Seed quality standards and protocols have not yet been developed for all crops and for those that have been developed, their implementation is limited. Standards, protocols, and the use of digital applications, including the Seed Tracker and Seed-Codex are required to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of seed quality assurance systems. Stakeholders, particularly those within intermediary and informal seed systems engaging in seed production of crops of interest to the nation’s food and nutrition security, other than the major cereals, are hampered in accessing seed quality assurance services and are unable to produce and market certified seed. (Source: NASC & SEEDAN, 2020. National Seed road Map. NASC, Abuja).
(2) Collaborative Seed Programme
The Collaborative Seed Programme (CSP) brings together Nigerian and Dutch seed sector stakeholders with the aim to enhance the performance of the Nigerian seed sector. It takes a systemic approach for sustainably addressing key challenges in the seed sector. CSP contributes to the vision of the National Seed Road Map (NSRM) of Nigeria being that the seed sector becomes more competitive, resilient, profitable, innovative and adaptive, sustainable, inclusive, resistant and transparent. The programme focuses on 8 CSP Topics drawn from 22 Strategic Innovation Pathways (SIPs) of the NSRM.
The CSP is governed by Steering Committee including representatives of key stakeholders in the seed sector in Nigeria and the Netherlands. The Steering Committee provides strategic oversight and guidance to the programme, and ensure that the CSP fosters the development of the agricultural sector in Nigeria and is aligned with other initiatives and networks.
Programme implementation is coordinated by Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation (WCDI), part of Wageningen University & Research (WUR). WCDI leads the consortium responsible for the implementation of the programme. In Nigeria, Sahel Consulting coordinates activities through a CSP office established in Abuja. Both WCDI and Sahel Consulting support partners in the coordination and implementation of CSP topics and their actions. The programme management team includes staff of WCDI, Sahel Consulting and NASC.
(3) CSP Topic: Decentralization of seed quality assurance
Ambition:
- Consolidated, effective and sustainable seed quality assurance systems cover multiple crops (cereals, legumes, root- and tuber crops, and vegetables) and provide services to different types of seed entrepreneurs
- Specific seed quality assurance standards and protocols developed and implemented for all crops, especially for root and tuber crops, and vegetables
Outcomes:
- Enhanced capacity of the seed sector to provide high quality, inclusive and differentiated services to seed producers and seed value chain actors
- Decentralized seed quality assurance systems for key food and nutrition security crops established and operation
Indicators:
- Number of crop specific seed quality assurance protocols in place and used
- Number of inspectors of the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), third party inspectors and accredited seed quality assurance professionals
- Number of reforms/ improvements in seed policies/laws/regulations benefitting at least tens of thousands of small scale food producers
- Number of Dutch supported interventions in seed sector transformation in Nigeria
- Number of strengthened seed sector stakeholders within the process of seed sector transformation in Nigeria
In five years, decentralized systems and modalities for seed quality assurance supported by Seed Tracker and Seed-Codex technologies have been piloted and tested in at least five crops, covering multiple seed systems and at least five states; lessons learned on modalities, digital technologies, standards and protocols are available and incorporated in a plan for further scaling and institutionalization. The topic has the following partner organizations in Nigeria: NRCRI, IITA, NIHORT, NAQS and SEEEDAN. The Dutch partners is the WCDI.
(4) Topic strategies, crops and regions
The topic has three strategies:
- Scaling Seed Tracker to maize and rice
- Developing Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs) for tomato and potato
- Piloting Licensed Seed Inspectors to rice, maize and potato
Even though the CSP aims to address the entire sector, the focus is on four crops, which are chosen as they cover a diversity of seed systems relevant to contributing to CSP outcomes. The crops are:
- Maize
- Rice
- Potato
- Tomato
The CSP operates at national level, though with a focus on Kaduna, Kano and Plateau states.
(5) Topic study
(5.1) Study objectives
(1) Baseline study to gather information needed for activity design on third party certification for the crops rice, maize and potato
(2) Implement a study on the status of and need for seed quality assurance of tomato and potato for the seed industry in Nigeria
(3) Conduct a needs assessment for the use of a digital seed certification platform for seed quality assurance to maize and rice
(4) Scaling of digital seed certification platform for seed quality assurance to maize and rice
(5) Developing a workable economic model for remuneration of Licensed seed inspectors
(5.2) Phasing and workshops
The study will be merged together as one baseline study for the 3 strategies of the topic. Every two weeks there is expected to be a progress review meeting with the sub-committee representing the topic team. A workshop for validation of draft report is expected to hold before submission of the main report.
(5.3) Responsibilities of the consultant
- Conduct the study with the topic three objectives
- Uses rigor in terms of method and evidence to collect information, analyse data and draw conclusions for the baseline for the three strategies
- Uses a multi-stakeholder and collaborative process in conducting activities contributing to the other study objectives
- Contributes to a validation workshop, which will be facilitated and overseen by the Programme management team, and NASC
- Submit a draft report in six weeks after initiation of study
- Submit a concise final report one week after validation workshop on the report
(5.4) Deliverables
Three reports linked to the three study objectives:
(1) Review NASC’s existing operational approach to accreditation and third-party field inspection, seed testing and quality control, and seed certification; assess the opportunities for fostering decentralization and the inclusion of multiple crops within the NASC Act, develop a workable financial modality (service fee structure) of LSIs per crop, how to create transparency and accountability.
(2) Focus on tomato and potato seed quality issues at the users level and analysis of capacity gaps in the NASC seed quality assurance service delivery (taking a risk based approach on the study). The study will also include interviews with domestic and international seed companies involved in the tomato and potato seed business in Nigeria. This study will analyze the policy, regulatory and administrative constraints related to seed import to Nigeria and provide recommendations to address these challenges
(3) Focus on maize and rice seed quality issues at the users end and analysis of capacity gaps in the NASC seed quality assurance service delivery for the target crops. The study will propose an implementation modality (decentralized) in the proposed location and opportunity for scaling of digital seed certification platform. The study will also develop a draft template of the inspection form for the maize and rice crops. The TOR of the study will include how this study will be done (questioner-based or other), any geographic focus, and stakeholders to be covered.
(6) Team member requirements
The consultant includes a team of three persons:
- Senior lead consultant (or team leader) with knowledge of the seed sector, seed quality assurance systems in Nigeria and ECOWAS region and proven skills in addressing strategic aspects contributing to the transformation of Nigerian seed sector
- A senior consultant with proven knowledge and expertise on seed quality assurance system of target crops including knowledge on digital seed quality assurance tools (preference for currently not playing an active role within the system)
- A junior consultant supporting in the collection of information, analysis and reporting
(7) Interactions between the consultant team with CSP
- CSP Nigerian programme manager is responsible for overseeing the consultant team
- Two CSP topic leads provide programmatic guidance
- A Four person subcommittee including topic team members will contribute as board and also review the progress and deliverables of the consulting team; they do that in close collaboration with the topic lead and co-lead
(8) Time frame and inputs
The assignment will commence in August 2021 and concludes on 30 September 2021.
- Phase 1 is foreseen to be conducted in the period in August to September 2021. This phase is major part of the study which include the elaboration of detail study methodologies/tools/steps together with topic sub-committee team members. The consultant team conduct the desk review, interview with crops/topic experts and stakeholders, data analysis and developing a first draft report.
- Phase2 is foreseen to be conducted in between 20-23 September 2021. This phase includes the presentation of first draft report in the validation workshop for review and feedbacks.
- Phase 3 is foreseen to be conducted in 24-30 September 2021. This phase includes the validation workshop feedbacks’ incorporation and submission of final study report.
(9) Resources
- Euro: 6,000- phase one (xxx)
- Euro: 7,000 – phase two (xxx)
- Euro: 7,000- Phase 3 (xxx)
