Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)- Request For Proposal For Resources Mobilization Stabilization Development

DEADLINE: 13TH AUGUST 2021
ALLIANCE FOR A GREEN REVOLUTION IN AFRICA (AGRA)
RFP: RESOURCE MOBILIZATION STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT
SYNOPSIS OF THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (CONSULTANT FIRMS)

Terms of Reference

Resource Mobilization Strategy Development

Background and Context
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa – AGRA, is an African-led alliance focused on putting smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Founded in 2006, at a time when agricultural development was emerging from a 20-year decline characterized by minimal growth and investment in the sector, AGRA’s mission is to catalyze and sustain an agricultural transformation in Africa through innovation-driven productivity increases and access to markets and finance that improves the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

AGRA appreciates the emerging realities of the agricultural landscape in Africa and builds on the significant asset base of unique technical capabilities, technologies, knowledge, and lessons learned, as well as local partnerships that it has built over time. In 2017, AGRA embarked on a strategy to catalyze agriculture transformation in 11 Africa countries through investments to support state capability and policy, development of systems and strategic partnerships that can scale and sustain transformation. AGRA is approaching the tail end of the 2017 – 2021 strategy with many of its investments closing out as it transitions to a new strategy. In September 2020 AGRA developed its Strategic Framework covering the period to 2030 in which AGRA continues to prioritize inclusive Agriculture Transformation that translates in improved food security, income increases and nutrition improvement. This strategy framework recognizes the additional importance of building resilience to shocks such as COVID-19 or stressors such as climate change, environmental sustainability, gender empowerment and inclusion as key principles of engagement.

AGRA is currently supported by a number of core funders including, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), USAID, Rockefeller Foundation, Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) and BMZ/KFW through a Partnership for Inclusive Agriculture Transformation in Africa (PIATA).  In addition to its core funders, AGRA’s is also supported by a number of bilateral, multilateral and private sector partners.

The Scope of Consultancy
We recognize that over the past few years, the funding landscape has evolved:

• Increasing decentralization: Increasingly, donors are prioritizing support to the localization agenda e.g. USAID’s Journey to Self-Reliance
• Increasing fund flows towards emerging issues such as Climate Change, Resilience and Adaptation
• The impact of the COVID pandemic has resulted in traditional institutional funders re-directing funds into their home countries
• Reduced Aid commitments e.g. UK aid reduction from 0.7% to 0.5%
• Private Sector playing a bigger role and investments are usually directed to private foundations/institutions managed by the companies.
• Some countries are now emerging markets for fundraising (e.g Korea, Turkey).
• New business models are being tested by different peers (local and international registrations; social businesses; service providing; investing in individual fundraising; etc.)
• Locally/Regionally based donors are gaining importance in size of investment and opportunities.

To deliver its overall goal of catalyzing and sustaining an inclusive agricultural transformation in Africa to increase incomes and improve food security for smallholder farmers, AGRA is now developing a 5-year resource mobilization strategy which takes into account the changing donor landscape, assesses lessons learned from current resource mobilization efforts to drive both growth and impact and aligns closely to AGRA’s emerging strategic focus. The resource mobilization strategy must convey a strong proposition to donors, diversify sources ad cultivate lasting relationships with donors. Preliminary analysis shows that there are opportunities for growing its portfolio. We want to evaluate this opportunity, prioritize the donors and develop plans of engagement with the key identified donors that result in bigger opportunities.

Task
AGRA seeks to engage a competent consultant to develop a resource mobilization strategy with a proposed results-oriented action plan.

The specific objective of this exercise is to:
(a) Review the AGRA Strategic Framework 2030, Implementation Plan, Funding Models and Pipeline of programs to understand the needs;

(b) Engage with AGRA’s country, regional and HQ teams to better understand the strategic program priorities

(c) Conduct a comprehensive analysis of potential donors to assess the feasibility of securing multi-year and thematic funding in line with AGRA’s SF2030 strategy

(d) Map donors’ strategic areas of interest and explore opportunities for partnerships (and mobilizing and leveraging resources) from emerging donors;

(e) Develop a resource mobilization strategy and plan for pursuing new donors (traditional and non-traditional)

(f) Develop objectives for fundraising, cultivation/engagement and focus (multi-lateral, bilateral, private sector, foundations, public funding)

(g) Recommend ways to develop and maintain strategic partnerships and engagement with key donors (past, present and future)

Expected Results and Deliverables
A Comprehensive analysis of key donor funding trends, donor/investor interests, priority funding windows and opportunities, challenges, and competitors’ performance in the Agriculture Sector. This should include a Desk review and complementary research through key informant interview (internal and external) to determine list of potential donors. Key information to add to the criteria for prioritization:

(1) Review research work already carried out on prospective donors;

(2) Conduct thorough research on potential prospects

(3) Interview key internal and external stakeholders to further identify potential new business

(4) Develop the prioritization criteria to recommend the top 20 donors (in order of priority)

(5) Define list of potential donors with information that allows prioritizing/ selecting the top 20 prospect list. Work with AGRA to confirm final list of top 20 prospects.

Develop detailed donor profiles for top 10 donors (in order of priority and profile template to be shared with consultant and/or consultant can propose a template to be agreed) highlighting the:

(1) Strategic priorities and synergies with AGRA priorities and objectives

(2) Funding criteria and eligibility requirements

(3) Budgets and average funding amounts

(4) Funding cycles per agency

(5) Key contact persons and any connections to them

(6) Opportunities of influence around aid strategies, key policies, and development approach

(7) Application processes and requirements

(8) Current grantees/partners

(9) Any risks and/or considerations around donor engagement for each prospect

Develop Action plans for these priority donors to mobilize resources and develop/maintain relationships with these donors and investors

A comprehensive resource mobilization strategy that includes an overview of the current donor trends specific to the Agriculture Sector, an analysis of the past fundraising experience, future opportunities and strategies and a time-bound action plan that supports active resource mobilization for AGRA;

Qualification and Experience of the consultant key consultant

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in international development studies, social sciences and/or Business Administration, Economics, International Relations, Political Sciences or related field.
• 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level involving multi-stakeholder projects and partnership development.
• Extensive experience in research and policy-level analysis.
• There should be sufficient expertise within the team being proposed on multilaterals, bilaterals, private sector Business Development experts and/or International Financial Institutions.

Timeline
The Consultant(s) shall conduct the assignment within a 60-day period starting in September 2021.

Reporting
The Consultant(s) will work directly with the Chief of International Cooperation and Head of Development Cooperation for oversight and guidance. The Consultant will also engage the Development Cooperation team as well as other key AGRA teams and staff as needed in the delivery of the assignment.

Evaluation Criteria
(1) Experience in similar assignments and Organizational capacity – 30%

• General organizational experience (10%)
• Specific experience in similar assignments (20%)

(2) Proposed approach, methodology and work plan for carrying out the assignment – 30%
– Proposed approach and methodology (20%)
– Workplan (10%)

(3) Key personnel – 40%
– Team leader (20%)
– Key expert 1 (10%)
– Key expert 2 (10%)

Proposed payment terms

• Upon submission an Inception report including a detailed work plan:……………………15%
• Draft report covering completion of the following deliverables: ………………………40%
• Review research work already carried out on prospective donors
• Conduct thorough research on potential prospects
• Interview key internal and external stakeholders to further identify potential new business
• Develop the prioritization criteria to recommend the top 20 donors (in order of priority)
• Define list of potential donors with information that allows prioritizing/ selecting the top 20 prospect list. Work with AGRA to confirm final list of top 20 prospects
• Final report covering :…………………………………………………45%
• All the deliverables including AGRA’s comments
• Detailed donor profiles for top 10 donors
• Action plans for these priority donors to mobilize resources and develop/maintain relationships with these donors and investors
• A comprehensive resource mobilization strategy that includes an overview of the current donor trends specific to the Agriculture Sector, an analysis of the past fundraising experience, future opportunities and strategies and a time-bound action plan that supports active resource mobilization for AGRA;

Application Submission Requirements

(A) Technical Proposal
(1) Detailed Curriculum Vitae

(2) Detailed reference list indicating the scope and magnitude of similar assignments carried out

(3) Demonstrate possession of qualification and experience required

(4) Provide methodology, work plan and understanding of the assignment

(B) Financial Proposal
(1) The consultant shall provide a daily rate and a total financial proposal for carrying out the assignment in the format indicated under annex A.

(2) All applicable taxes (withholding taxes) MUST be quoted separately

(3) The financial proposal shall be inclusive of the applicable withholding taxes. If the financial proposal is silent on taxes, AGRA shall assume that these are inclusive;

(4) Reimbursable costs if applicable shall be quoted separately.

(5) Price must be quoted in USD ($)

(6) The financial proposal shall be submitted separately from the technical proposal and should be password protected. Only the best candidate shall be requested for the password to their financial proposal

Guidelines for Preparations and Submission of Proposals
(1) The proposals SHALL be submitted to procurement@agra.org by deadline indicated in the synopsis

(2)  The proposal and ALL Attachments submitted via email SHALL NOT exceed 10MB

(3) VALIDITY of the proposal shall be for a period of 90 days from the date of bid closure.

(4) Financial proposal shall be sent as a separate attachment and MUST be password protected. The password shall be requested from the best technically qualified individual.

Download full RFP:
https://agra.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/RFP-Resource-Mobilization-Strategy.docx