Consultancy Service - Product Design Research

GROW-Pak Project – Generating Resilient Opportunities for Women and Youth in Agriculture in Pakistan

1.     Background

Founded in 1994, Triangle Generation Humanitaire (TGH) is an International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO), registered in Lyon, France. TGH designs, implements and monitors Emergency response, Recovery and Development programs in the following sectors: Water Sanitation Hygiene (WASH), Food Security and Livelihood (FSL), Protection and Education. TGH currently works in 13 countries of Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

TGH has been active in Pakistan since 2023 and currently implements one project: GROW-Pak, generating resilient opportunities for women and youth in Agriculture in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The project is implemented in collaboration with the Pakistani organization ASF.  

2.     Project Objectives and Scope

The research described in the present document aims at contributing to the GROW-Pak project: the design and conduction of the research must therefore integrate and serve the objectives of this project. 

Family farmers in Pakistan, particularly women and young people, are faced with a range of constraints that reduce their economic potential (lack of market access, climate change, lack of knowledge of innovative practices). Based on these observations and preliminary exchanges between ASF and NACCFL (Nep al Agriculture Cooperative Central Federation) on the issue of agricultural cooperatives in Nepal and Pakistan, this project will address these issues through three areas of intervention: strengthening cooperatives run by women and young people through a range of training and support programmes, strengthening certain agricultural value chains through actions on processing and sales, and strengthening South-South dynamics through technical exchanges between Nepalese and Pakistani associative and institutional partners. The project will support 15 cooperatives run by women and young people, bringing together 3,750 members.

Project objectives, results and activities:  

3.     Research Objectives

First, the research will endeavor to identify, in all 15 supported cooperatives distinctively (10 cooperatives formed at this day), the traditional agriculture products that demonstrate high potentiality for local, national and international selling. This component of the research will necessitate a review and inventory of agricultural and processing practices, at production, harvesting and post-harvesting level, with all supported cooperatives. To guide the decision of value chains to be supported through the project, products identified at cooperatives level will be compared on (1) their added value, (2) their sustainability and “climate-smart” character and (3) how they are aligned with women and youth aspirations and contribute to their autonomy, participation in decision making process and control over resources. 

Second, the research will integrate an analysis of market dynamics, conditions, competition, regulatory factors and barriers, in order to qualify the market context in the targeted areas (in Gilgit-Baltistan) and to establish the opportunities and threats faced by cooperatives’ members (i.e., women and youth) for selling products. Furthermore, this section of the research will study consumers’ preferences, namely, their interest in traditional, sustainable and organic products. 

Both aspects of the Product Design Research (the “supply” component and the “demand” component) must be coherently integrated and contribute to answering the following research question:

What are the potential value chains that should be supported at cooperatives’ level in order to increase the revenues and sustainability of women and youth?

Expected Outcomes and Deliverables

The consultancy for the research described in the present document aims at attaining the following key outcomes:

The final report will include:

-       A main report including the following components:

-       A quick reminder of the methodology used. 

-       The observations and results of the research, according to the terms defined above (objectives and research question).

-       Concrete and constructive recommendations addressed to the project team and other potential partners: a detailed comparison of different value chains adapted to each cooperative; the necessary adaptation and needed support to value chains at production, harvest and post-harvest level; product’s potentialities on local (main focus) and national/international markets

-       An executive summary (2 pages maximum) summarizing, after a quick overview, the main conclusions and recommendations.

All submitted documents must be written in English. They must be sent in Word/Excel format to allow for proofreading and exchanges before finalizing the documents.

In order to collect the relevant data, it is recommended that mixed methodologies (quantitative, qualitative, participatory, etc.) be considered to ensure cross-checking of information through a variety of means. 

The study must be based on the findings and evidence identified in the review of relevant documents, including the project report, ad-hoc, monthly, interim reports to the donor, as well as technical reports, produced under the project, MEAL analyses (reports and databases) produced under this project. TGH and its partners will provide the team of consultants with all project documentation available at the beginning of the consultancy.

The consultant will be expected to undertake field visits and interviews with stakeholders, including farmers members of cooperatives, local authorities and representatives of government’s bodies. Stakeholder participation in the evaluation should be full and continuous, to reflect the views, expectations and vision that these stakeholders have of the project's contribution to the achievement of its objectives. The consultant will be expected to specify the information and sources to be used. This will include visiting and interviewing the following people (indicative list):

-       Project beneficiaries will provide information about their agriculture activities (past and present) including production, harvest and post-harvest processes, as well as their ideas and aspirations for improving their farm’s revenue and sustainability.

-       The leaders of the various stakeholders, including government’s bodies involved in the project will discuss the potentialities of the project and the expected effects of the project intervention on their respective technical sectors in the intervention zone

-       Local authorities: interviewed for their reflections, feedback, recommendations and lessons learned about famers’ cooperatives and traditional agriculture products.

-       TGH and its partners will provide information about the project’s implementation process and their past experience in the area. 

The methodology described above is indicative, the consultant is expected to provide a detailed methodology and an adapted work plan. They will also be free to collect additional data to answer all the research questions listed above.

4.     Working Conditions and Timeframe

The research is scheduled to start in early December 2025, with the production of a Final Report by January 30th, 2026. It is estimated that 35 man-days are necessary to complete the evaluation. 

5.     Consultant Qualifications

The expected qualification of the consultant or consultant team for successfully conducting the evaluation described in the present document are:

-       Be autonomous in terms of understanding and translation of Gilgit-Baltistan’s languages, to be able to work in close collaboration and communicate proactively with all levels of actors related to the project.

-       Have written fluency in English

-       Have experience in evaluation of humanitarian or development projects.

-       Have experience with international Non-Governmental Organizations

-       Have knowledge in Agriculture, Food Processing, and Livelihood

-       International experience and/or a post-graduate degree is an asset.

-       Knowledge in gender studies is an asset

-       Previous experience with international humanitarian donors is a strong asset.

TGH encourages diversity and inclusivity within its teams and therefore will prioritize teams of consultants with diverse backgrounds. 

6.     Budget

The selected consultant / consultant team is expected to cover all the costs related to the mission. Local transportation and accommodation at field level can be facilitated by TGH but its costs are to be included in the financial proposal. Note: TGH does not cover any tax or bank charges that the consultant will acquire.

The maximum available budget for this consultancy is 2,600 Euros.