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End Programme Evaluation

ABIN Programme

 Terms of Reference

 Programme Info

Programme nameAgribusiness Incubation Network (ABIN)
LocationsBurundi (Cibitoke and Rumonge)
ThemeAgribusiness development
Target groupYouth and entrepreneurs (with a focus on women)
Programme durationNovember 2014 to June 2022
DonorThe Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NLMFA)
Programme budgetEUR 2,715,174
Implementing organisationSPARK
webhttps://spark.ngo/
emailspark@spark-online.org

Programme Background

Burundi’s economic and social development have been constrained by the dominance of low productivity agriculture. Although agriculture employs around 80% of the population, it only contributes to just 40% of GDP. This is because, while commercial agricultural production (tea, coffee, palm oil and cotton) is critical for the country’s economic competitiveness and generates more than 40%of export revenues, the bulk of the population is engaged in subsistence farming, where livelihoods are increasingly difficult to sustain because of high population growth and land degradation.

Crushing poverty is therefore a reality for small rural farmers and ABIN is a response to these demands. By establishing a network of agribusiness incubation centres, SPARK addressed these needs and helped farmers become the agri-entrepreneurs they want to be. As a result, ambitious farmers are able to significantly improve their livelihoods and thrive as independent, self-sufficient, and valuable members of their communities.

ABIN’s implementation and results is being currently complemented by the implementation of the SPARK programme Akazi Keza in Burundi; a significant number of the agribusiness entrepreneurs who have been supported by the ABIN programme are currently receiving support by the Akazi Keza programme. Due to this set up, the ABIN programme is being considered as the predecessor of the Akazi Keza programme.

 Programme Strategic Objectives

 The overall objective of ABIN is to increase the availability of food and jobs throughout the year in rural areas, especially for women and youth in Burundi’s target areas. More specifically, the programme has four strategic objectives: (1) to establish a network of agribusiness incubation centres in rural areas of Burundi, particularly in Bubanza, Cibitoke and Rumonge, (2) to provide services for potential agro-entrepreneurs (especially for women and youth) and existing agro-enterprises to enable them to innovate, add value and increase their level production, (3) develop new markets and (4) encouraging women to get involved in socio-economic activities. These strategic approaches are to achieve three outcomes:

The strategic objectives of the programme were conceptualized into 3 result areas which were:

  1. Operationalization of three agribusiness incubation centers including in-house expertise, an established network of external services, and a value chain and entrepreneurship strategy for the target provinces. Incubation centers are an inspiring example of initiatives in other regions;
  2. Sustainable development of agribusiness: rural agro-enterprises increase their capacity and competitiveness through better absorption capacity and access to technological innovations, improved access to finance and commercial links;
  3. Existence of a dynamic network of entrepreneurs, private and public institutions, experts and investors who constitute a platform for innovation and the visibility of business success.

 Programme Implementation

 SPARK implemented the programme through its Burundi country office and its network of local partners in the country.

A gender focus, good governance and an environmental sound development were central parts of the implementation of the programme.

The programme was implemented in Cibitoke, Bubanza and Rumonge in rural Burundi, targeting five value chains; i.e. Cassava, Mais, Tropical fruits, Honey,and Fish.

The programme’s implementation has been affected by the sociopolitical situation in Burundi, which resulted in significant programme delays. Because of these delays, several extensions were given during the period 2018 till 2022. In Q3 of 2019, a second mid-term evaluation was executed (first mid-term was in 2017), this end-term evaluation will therefore not focus on same topics are earlier mid-terms, but really focus on the realization of the 3 Agri-Business Incubators (two in Cibitoke (Honey, Fruits, Cassava and Mais) and one in Rumonge (Fish).

Complementarity with Akazi Keza Programme

 ABIN focused on setting up agri-business incubators as tools and environments to support agribusinesses.

SPARK’s current programme Akazi Keza (2020-2024) aims to build upon the results achieved by ABIN by (i) fostering the growth of promising agribusinesses supported in the framework of ABIN (scaling SMEs) and (ii) ensuring the incubators become locally owned, financially independent and sustainable (besides Akazi Keza also covers non-agro SMEs and an internship programme).

The evaluation should therefore focus on (i) how effective the incubators (with focus on processing) have been in igniting the development the respective value chains (fruits, mais, cassava, honey and fish) from production to transformation to commercialization (Outcome 1) and (ii) how effective ABIN has been in paving the way for locally owned, financially independent and sustainable incubators (Outcome 3). Regarding the latter, important to note that it should be done without assessing to what extent this goal has been met given that this is a goal of the Akazi Keza programme).

 Objectives of the End Programme Evaluation

The objective[1] of this programme evaluation is to assess the effectiveness, sustainability and impact of the programme, as well as to identify valid and accurate lessons learned from its implementation.

Among other characteristics of the programme, its youth, gender and conflict sensitivity will be analysed in this programme evaluation.

SPARK has selected a number of intervention areas within this evaluation (focus on Outcome 1 and 3 as explained above), as these areas are currently most relevant and for budgetary reasons.

The specific questions that this evaluation aims at answering are:

Effectiveness

 How did the five respective value chains develop in Cibitoke (Fruit, Mais, Cassava and Honey) and Rumonge (Fish) as a consequence of the 3 incubators in which the entrepreneurs engage (especially regarding commercialization, i.e. market access)?

  • How did the programme contribute to innovations (in the Burundian context)?

Sustainability

  • To what extent the programme contributed to systemic change in the local agri-business development ecosystems of Cibitoke and Rumonge provinces?
  • How relevant is the programme for improving (future) food security?

Impact

  • To what extent the programme influenced positively perceptions/attitudes in the communities it operated, relevant to violence and stability?
  • Is there any unintended (positive and/or negative) impact of the programme in the the Cibitoke and Rumonge provinces?

Time Schedule of the Final Programme Evaluation

 The evaluation is expected to take place in October and November 2022, including preparation, evaluation design, field assessment in the programme’s areas, report writing and presentation of findings and lessons learned and recommendations to SPARK, local partner organisations and donor.

Tasks of the Final Programme Evaluation

For this Final Programme Evaluation, the following tasks will be conducted:

  • (physical and online) Meetings with SPARK local, regional and central staff;
  • Desktop review of existing programme title documentation;
  • Development of evaluation inception report;
  • Focus group discussion and/or interviews with programme title beneficiaries;
  • Interviews with programme title local partners’ staff;
  • Interview with donor organisation staff;
  • Analysis of gathered data through desktop review, focus group discussions and interviews;
  • Presentation of preliminary findings (before leaving the field) to SPARK staff;
  • Development of draft evaluation report and submission to SPARK staff for feedback
  • Processing of feedback on draft report from SPARK staff;
  • Finalisation of evaluation report and submission to SPARK staff;
  • Presentation and validation of key findings of the evaluation in a one-day workshop organised by SPARK Burundi staff.

 Deliverables

The consultant(s) conducting this evaluation will produce the following deliverables for this evaluation:

  1. Inception report (that includes Methodology and Evaluation matrix, Work plan and detailed timeline);
  2. Presentation of preliminary findings before leaving the field to SPARK programme title and Monitoring & Evaluation staff;
  3. Draft and final report, which will have the following structure[2]:
  • Executive summary
  • Introduction
  • Methodology
  • Analysis and findings
  • Conclusions on findings, lessons learned and recommendations
  • Annexes: Relevant maps and photographs of the evaluation areas, desktop review references, data collection tools, list of interviewees and participants in focus group discussions and raw data in an agreed format.
  1. Presentation and validation of key findings of the evaluation to the (one day) workshop organised by programme title staff.

The final evaluation report will be written in English, in PDF and Word format and will be published on the SPARK website.

Budget for Mid-term Evaluation

 The maximum available budget for this assignment is 15.000 euro, which include travel/accommodation/restoration/transport costs.

 Calendar (to be worked out for October and November 2022)

 Selection of Evaluator

30 September 2022
Kick-off meeting3 October 2022
Desktop reviewWeek of 3 October 2022
Draft inception report10 October 2022
Final inception Report14 October 2022
Field

·         Focus group discussion and/or interviews with programme title beneficiaries;

·         Interviews with programme title local partners’ staff;

·  Interview with donor organisation staff

Week of 17 October 2022
Presentation of preliminary findingsWeek of 24 October 2022
Draft Evaluation Report31 October 2022 2022
Final Evaluation Report18 November 2022
Presentation/validation of key findings to (one day) workshop organised by programme title staff (and donor)Week of 21 November 2022
Submission to donor30 November 2022

Payment Scheme for the Final Programme Evaluation

The payments for the Final Programme Evaluation will be done through the receipt of invoices and upon deliverables approved by the SPARK staff, according to the following scheme:

DeliverablePayment
Signing of Contract40% of total contracting sum
Draft Evaluation Report30% of total contracting sum, upon approval of deliverable
Finalized Evaluation Report & Presentation/validation of key findings to (one day) workshop organised by programme title staff30% of total contracting sum, upon approval of deliverable

Expertise required for the Final Programme Evaluation

The evaluator(s) should be (a team of) experienced and independent consultant(s), freelance or from a consultancy organisation, with at least the following expertise:

  • Advanced university degree in International Development, Economics, Agribusiness or other related field;
  • A minimum of 7 years of professional experience with conducting programme/project evaluations;
  • Demonstrated experience in (SME) agribusiness development (especially in relation with Value Chain development and Agri-Business Incubators);
  • Previous professional experience in Burundi will be considered an advantage;
  • Advanced communication, analytical and reporting skills;
  • Fluent in English and French (both reading and writing);
  • Fluency in Kirundi will be considered an advantage.

Application for the Final Programme Evaluation

The deadline for submission of applications is the 15/09/2022.

All applications should include the following:

  • Cover letter (maximum 1 page) stating the candidate(s) availability during the months of month(s) and year;
  • CV’s of all evaluation team members, including three references with contact details.
  • Technical proposal, which should include:
  • Understanding of the evaluation’s ToR.
  • Draft work plan including a detailed time schedule.
  • Financial Proposal: Which should include consultancy fees that include VAT and logistical costs, with a breakdown of days*fees per deliverable.

Interested consultants or firms should send their application to: g.vliegher@spark-online.org, copying j.d.wit@spark-online.org, n.koufos@spark-online.org and d.gikoro@spark-online.org.

Further information may be requested and questions may also be discussed with Gabrielle De Vliegher (g.vliegher@spark-online.org). Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

Due to the large volume of applications we receive, we cannot respond to every applicant individually. There may be a delay between the application deadline and the moment we contact selected applicants.

If you have not received a reply, we regret to inform that we have continued with other candidates.

About SPARK

SPARK develops higher education and entrepreneurship to empower young, ambitious people to lead their fragile and conflict-affected societies into prosperity. SPARK is a dynamic and growing, international not-for-profit development organisation with 100+ staff members, in more than 14 offices around the world. SPARK supports refugees in the Middle-East by providing them with scholarships in universities and higher education institutions in the region. SPARK also supports young entrepreneurs in fragile states, to start or grow their own businesses.

[1] All SPARK programme evaluations’ objectives align with the OECD/DAC Criteria for Evaluating Development Assistance and the EU Guidelines for Evaluations with Gender as a Cross-cutting Issue.

[2] SPARK will provide the template for the Final Programme Evaluation Report. Additionally, the report should be maximum 20 pages, excluding the annexes.