Company Profile

The Cooperative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF Canada) formerly known as the Canadian Cooperative Association was founded in 1947.  CDF Canada is a global social impact partner that allies with local communities, to build their capacity to achieve sustainable economic and social development through cooperative models.  Over the past years, CDF Canada has been helping to organize and build co-operatives and credit unions to create a resilient, strong, and democratic organization that helps its members and communities across the world. In Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, and other parts of the world, CDF Canada has partnered with Local NGOs and government departments to provide both financial and technical support in building cooperatives and Credit Unions. 

Job Description

TERMS OF REFERENCE

IMPACT OF 4R MODELS ON WELFARE   

4R NUTRIENT STEWARDSHIP PROJECT 

(ETHIOPIA, GHANA, AND SENEGAL) 

• Project Number: D002841/P001416 
• Project Locations: Ethiopia, Ghana, and Senegal 

Background of Project 

CDF Canada received a 5 ½ years grant from Global Affair Canada (GAC) in 2019 to implement the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Program (4R-NSP). CDF Canada is implementing the project in partnership with Fertilizer Canada, a representative of manufacturers, and wholesale and retail distributors of nitrogen, phosphate, potash, and Sulphur fertilizers.  Other partners include the African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI), a not-for-profit, science-based organization dedicated to the responsible management of plant nutrition, and local implementing partners - SEND Ghana in Ghana, Ethio Wetland and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA) in Ethiopia and ONG7A in Senegal. The purpose of the project is to improve the socio-economic well-being of 80,000 poor and vulnerable smallholder farmers in Ghana, Ethiopia, and Senegal through improving agricultural productivity and sustainability. 

The 4R initiatives aim to improve agricultural productivity and farm income, by incorporating 4R Nutrient Stewardship (using the right source of fertilizer at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place) into fertilizer management while incorporating.

important gender and environmental resilience strategies. The project builds the capacity of the beneficiary smallholder farmers as members of financially viable agricultural co-operatives/credit unions. Successful agricultural co-operatives help improve production, diversify farming activities, enhance processing and storage, and improve marketing.  Strong savings cooperatives and credit unions are expected to help provide a stable source of financing, required by the agricultural co-operatives. Furthermore, the project enhances the representation and influence of women in leadership positions and decision-making bodies, especially in co-operatives.  

The project draws from the expertise in cooperative enterprise development of the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada and the resources and technical expertise of Fertilizer Canada and the African Plant Nutrition Institute in best crop and nutrient management practices. It also supports policy and program engagement with relevant stakeholders at the national, regional, and global levels to inform and promote the uptake and scale-up of sustainable soil nutrient management practices.  This contributes to developing policies and farming systems with a limited carbon footprint. 

CDF Canada and its partners have implemented the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Project since June 2019.  

Key Achievements

The 4R project has made significant progress towards achieving its targets of 80,000 in the three targeted countries. In Ghana, the capacities of 130 farmer cooperatives and credit unions have been strengthened to enable them to provide inputs and services to their members. The project also formed 480 village savings and loan associations (VSLA), gender model families, 260 community volunteer extension modules, rural commercial women models, gender dialogue sessions, and other gender-sensitive economic activities to reduce poverty and gender imbalances in the communities. These gender-sensitive activities have increased women's acceptance in leadership positions within cooperatives and to some extent the communities. Interactions with research partners and stakeholders from the government departments demonstrated increased awareness and understanding of the 4R principles, henceforth integration into policies and standards. 

Focus of the Research

Irrespective of the achievements made within the years of the 4R implementation, the project team and stakeholders faced challenges of answering questions on the extent to which the project has impacted the welfare of the people. For instance, the outcome indicators suggest that the project has made significant progress in increasing beneficiaries' income levels and yields.  However, the extent to which membership of cooperatives, VSLA, GMF, RCWGs, and CVAEA has improved their well-being in the areas of housing, family life, social participation, health, financial security, learning, and environment remain unanswered.

Given the activities introduced and the achievements made, the project may have contributed to enhanced social networks, improved health, and improved peace among the communities.

General objective

This research is to assess the impacts of the main 4R-NSP intervention models (VSLA, CVEA, Cooperatives, GMF, gender male champions, and rural commercial women) on the well-being of farmers and other beneficiary categories in Ghana.

Specific Objectives

The study must achieve the following objectives:

1. Describe the socioeconomic characteristics of the different beneficiary categories of the 4R-NSP.
2. Identify the factors that influenced participation in the various intervention models.
3. Identify the main components/models that were most impactful on welfare improvement.
4. Estimate the impact of the various project intervention models on welfare.
5. Make evidence-based recommendations for learning.

Timeframe of assignment

February – March 2024 (40 days)

Expected Outputs

The deliverables for this assignment include:

1. Approved methodology package including work plan.
2. Final survey tools, instruments, data analysis plan, and consent forms to be used during the assessment.
3. Enumerator and supervisor recruitment and training report.
4. Data collection plan and locations: dates, teams, supervision, etc. Electronic data collection is preferred.
5. Electronic files with all raw data in Stata, or other formats that allow anonymized data including survey weights, if applicable.
6. Log of analyses carried out during data analysis and report writing phase before learning/debriefing workshop.
7. Facilitate a 1-day learning workshop/debriefing session to present the draft findings to gather feedback needed to finalize the assessment.
8. Draft at least one manuscript ready for submission for publication in a reputable or high-impact factor journal.
9. Commit to be available to address reviewer comments and revise the manuscripts if required.

Required Skills or Experience

The independent consultant or consulting firm must meet the following criteria:

• Team Lead must have at least a master’s degree in applied economics, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Statistics, or related fields
• A minimum of five years of experience in survey design, management of survey administration, electronic data collection, quantitative data analysis, and research, conducting field research using participatory approaches, consolidating, and analysing data, writing reports, and making recommendations
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to manage available time and resources and to work to tight deadlines.
• Dedicate the maximum of his/her time to the full period of the assessment.
• Development, testing, implementation, analysis, and reporting
• Strong work ethic and ability to carry out duties at a high professional standard.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with smallholder farmers and producer groups.