VINES, a five year (2021-2025), $13 million, USDA FFPr project, is being implemented by CRS, TechnoServe (TNS), Frontier Co-op, Purdue University, and the Sustainable Vanilla Initiative (SVI) to make Uganda the world’s next leading supplier of high-quality vanilla. VINES’ goals are to increase and improve the supply of high-quality vanilla by improving the productivity of vanilla-based agroforestry systems with 16,200 farmers (Strategic Goal 1); to improve vanilla quality and compliance with food safety standards with 30 vanilla processing companies; and to expand global vanilla trade to meet growing international demand (Strategic Goal 2).

CRS is seeking an independent international consultant/firm to lead the VINES project midterm evaluation to:
1) critically review implementation and provide an early assessment of the relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of the VINES delivery model;
2) document lessons learned and promising practices;
3) review the validity of project design assumptions;
4) measure progress toward sustainability roadmap benchmarks and community readiness for phase-out; and
5) provide recommendations for modifications to achieve the project's stated goals and objectives.

The findings from the midterm evaluation will be used to adjust project design, as needed, and take concrete actions to ensure timely project performance.
The international consultant/firm will provide overall technical leadership, conduct data analysis, report writing and lead the evaluative thinking workshop with project participants and key stakeholders to triangulate, validate and reflect on the mid-term evaluation findings. The international consultant will hire a local consultant to manage field data collection, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions with project stakeholders, and context analysis, including interviews with processors and vanilla exporters to obtain additional data on project performance indicators.

The international consultant/firm will also work with Purdue University (the learning partner) and CRS's Senior Technical Advisor for Research/MEAL Sector 1.4.5 / 2.4.5: Increased Leverage of Private-Sector Resources (based at CRS headquarters), who have a deep understanding of the project design, deliverables, and analysis plan to ensure timely, high-quality data analysis and reporting.

How to apply
https://www.crs.org/about/bid-opportunity 

Applicants must submit the following with their proposal for this assignment:
• A technical proposal and budget for carrying out the mid-term evaluation (no more than 15 pages).
• Letters of reference for similar/related assignments carried out in the last 5 years.
• CVs of the international consultant (team leader) and the local consultant.
• A sample of similar work carried out by the consultant.

Technical proposals should include/specify the following:
• A description of the individual’s expertise and a list of relevant evaluations undertaken in the last 5 years (maximum 2 pages).
• The consultant's understanding of the ToR, the appropriateness of the proposed evaluation design, and corresponding timeline (maximum 2 pages).
• A description of the selected methodologies and the corresponding collection tools to be used (maximum 4 pages).
• A detailed plan for data analysis and reporting (maximum 2 pages)
• A detailed implementation plan outlining all the activities that will be undertaken to meet the purpose, scope, and objectives of the evaluation (3 pages).
• A detailed budget with explanatory notes (maximum 2 pages).
• The CV of the selected local consultant/firm to oversee the data collection, to ensure data quality, to coordinate with the various stakeholders to conduct focus groups and/or in-depth interviews, and to organize the local logistical support to conduct the mid-term evaluation.

All proposals must be received by bryan.james@crs.org no later than April 14, 2023 [11:59 PM EST for electronic submission]. The solicitation name “Requisition 6438: Midterm Evaluation must be included in the subject line.

Prospective bidders may submit any clarification questions to bryan.james@crs.org by April 10, 2023. Responses will be provided to any known prospective bidders on April 12, 2023.