TERMS OF REFERENCE

Scoping Study of the Organic Fertiliser Sector

Rwanda | Zimbabwe 

PRACTICAL ACTION

About the role

1. Background and Context

Practical Action exists to change the systems that keep people in poverty and vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, nature loss and pollution. We work alongside communities to build resilient livelihoods and thriving, inclusive societies. Through our Food Systems Flagship, Practical Action seeks to support inclusive, climate-resilient, and sustainable food systems that improve the wellbeing of smallholder farmers while protecting natural resources. Restoring soil health will be fundamental to achieving these outcomes, particularly in countries where agricultural productivity is increasingly constrained by land degradation, climate variability, and rising input costs.

In both Zimbabwe and Rwanda, concerns about declining soil fertility and the affordability of agricultural inputs have intensified interest in alternative soil fertility management options. Many farming households continue to rely on depleted soils while facing significant barriers to accessing sufficient quantities of synthetic fertilisers. At the same time, substantial volumes of organic materials, including crop residues, livestock manure, agro-processing by-products, market waste, and municipal organic waste, are generated every year but are often poorly managed or discarded. These resources present an opportunity to improve soil fertility, reduce waste, create green enterprises, and support more circular and regenerative agricultural systems. Organic fertilisers, whether produced at household/farm level or through commercial enterprises, have the potential to contribute to improved soil health, increased farm productivity, enhanced climate resilience, and reduced dependence on imported agricultural inputs.

Despite growing attention from governments, investors, development agencies, and the private sector, the organic fertiliser sector in Zimbabwe and Rwanda remains relatively underdeveloped and insufficiently understood. Critical information gaps exist regarding farmer adoption and perceptions, commercial production capacity, business models, market demand, distribution systems, waste-to-fertiliser value chains, and the policy and regulatory environment. Without a robust understanding of these dynamics, opportunities for investment, programme development, and sector growth may remain unrealised. 

Practical Action therefore seeks to commission a comprehensive scoping study to generate the evidence required to identify viable programme entry points, inform future investments, strengthen policy engagement, and support the development of a strategic portfolio of interventions aimed at advancing sustainable organic fertiliser markets and resilient food systems in both countries.

2. Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of this consultancy is to undertake a comprehensive scoping study of the organic fertiliser sector in Zimbabwe and Rwanda and identify strategic opportunities for Practical Action to support the growth of the sector and improve smallholder farmers' access to and use of organic fertilisers.

3. Objectives

3.1 Overall Objective

To assess the current status, opportunities, constraints, and enabling environment of the organic fertiliser sector in Zimbabwe and Rwanda.

3.2 Specific Objectives

The consultant(s) will be required to:

• Assess current farmer use of organic fertilisers, including both home-produced and commercially produced products.
• Understand farmer knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and preferences regarding organic fertilisers and composting practices.
• Map the commercial organic fertiliser market ecosystem, including producers, distributors, retailers, business models, and supply chains – and identify constraints and blockages holding up growth, especially in reaching small-scale farmers
• As part of this, analyse the role of agro-dealers and input delivery systems in the promotion or limitation of organic fertiliser uptake.
• Assess linkages between waste management systems and organic fertiliser production, including opportunities and constraints for circular economy models.
• Review national policies, regulations, standards, certification systems, and incentives affecting organic fertiliser production and marketing.
• Identify potential investors (donors, impact investors etc) and financing initiatives that provide significant potential for the commercial organic fertiliser sector 
• Identify opportunities and suggest a practical strategy for innovation, investment, partnerships, and programme development for Practical Action.

4. Scope of Work

The consultant will undertake the study in Zimbabwe and Rwanda.

The study will engage the following target groups:

• Smallholder farmers (male, female, and youth and persons with disabilities)
• Farmer organisations and cooperatives
• Organic fertiliser producers
• Agro-dealers and input suppliers
• Waste management actors
• Municipal authorities
• Government ministries and regulators (e.g. Agric, Standards)
• NGOs and development partners
• Research institutions and universities
• Financial institutions and investors

Commissioning Organisation	Practical Action
Title	Scoping Study of the Organic Fertiliser Sector Consultant
Study Type	Multi-Country Sector Scoping Study
Location	Zimbabwe and Rwanda
Duration	13 Weeks

5. Research Themes and Key Questions

The study will be structured around eight thematic areas. The consultant is expected to address the following research questions on each theme:

Theme 1: Farmer Awareness, Adoption and Use 

Theme 1a: Awareness, Adoption and Use of Home/Farm-Produced Organic Fertilisers

• What proportion of farmers currently produce and use home/farm-produced organic fertilisers, have discontinued their use, or have never used them? 
• What types of home-produced organic fertilisers are used, on which crops and farming systems, and to what extent (frequency and area covered)? 
• How does adoption and use vary by agro-ecological zone, farming system, gender, age, disability, socioeconomic status, household resources, and market orientation? 
• To what extent are home-produced organic fertilisers used alone or together with synthetic fertilisers and other soil fertility management practices? 
• What trends in adoption and use have occurred over the past five years? 
• What factors explain continued use, discontinuation, or expansion of home-produced organic fertiliser use?

Theme 1b: Awareness, Adoption and Use of Commercially Produced Organic Fertilisers

• What proportion of farmers currently use, have discontinued using, or have never used commercially produced organic fertilisers? 
• Which commercial organic fertiliser products are most commonly purchased (specific brands, and preference) and used, on which crops, and at what scale and frequency? 
• How does adoption and use vary across agro-ecological zones, farming systems, gender, age, socioeconomic groups, and market-oriented versus subsistence farmers? 
• To what extent are commercial organic fertilisers integrated with synthetic fertilisers and other soil fertility management practices? 
• What purchasing and repeat-use patterns exist, and what factors influence continued use or discontinuation? 

Theme 2: Farmer Perceptions and Knowledge

 2a: Farmer Perceptions and Knowledge of Home/Farm-Produced Organic Fertiliser 

• What types of organic fertilisers are produced by farmers at home/farm? Which raw materials are most commonly used and what determines their availability throughout the year?
• What knowledge do farmers have regarding Home/Farm-Produced Organic Fertiliser techniques, quality standards, application methods, and Integrated Soil Fertility Management?
• How do farmers perceive the effectiveness, labour requirements, costs, and benefits of home-produced organic fertilisers compared with synthetic and commercial organic fertilisers? 
• What technical, economic, cultural, or resource constraints influence farmers' ability to produce and use home-produced organic fertilisers? 
• What traditional or indigenous knowledge systems influence organic fertiliser production and use?

Theme 2b: Farmer Perceptions and Knowledge of Commercially Produced Organic Fertiliser

• What is farmers' level of awareness of commercially produced organic fertiliser products? How many farmers have used it? Is it available locally? 
• How do farmers perceive the quality, effectiveness, affordability, value for money, and competitiveness of commercial organic fertilisers relative to synthetic fertilisers? 
• How and where do farmers access commercial organic fertilisers, and what factors influence purchasing decisions, trust, and product preferences? What are the main access barriers?
• Which information sources influence farmers to make significant changes to their farming practices?
• To what extent do farmers understand and practice Integrated Soil Fertility Management? Is anyone using this approach (combining organic and chemical fertiliser)?

Theme 3: Commercial Organic Fertiliser Ecosystem

• Who are the commercial organic fertiliser producers, and what are their products, production technologies, raw material sources, production capacities, and geographic coverage? 
• What business models are employed (distribution systems, target farmers, outreach and marketing)? What are the current production capacities, distribution systems, demand and market reach?
• What is the current market size, demand, competitive landscape, and growth potential of the commercial organic fertiliser sector? 
• What are the major technical, financial, regulatory, and market constraints limiting business growth and competitiveness? Where are the blockages in the system, and what is constraining the expansion of commercial organic fertiliser companies?
• What financing mechanisms, investment opportunities, public-private partnerships, and support services are available to the sector? 
• Which market segments, technologies, innovations, and business models offer the greatest opportunities for future growth? 

Theme 4: Input Delivery System and Agro-Dealer Attitudes 

• How is the agricultural input delivery system organised, and how effectively does it supply organic fertilisers to farmers? 
• To what extent are agro-dealers stocking, promoting, and selling organic fertilisers? What would incentivise agro-dealers to expand their offering of organic inputs?
• What commercial, technical, financial, or regulatory factors influence agro-dealers' willingness to stock and promote organic fertilisers?
• What role do agro-dealers, extension services, NGOs, and farmer organisations play in influencing farmer purchasing decisions? 
• What opportunities exist to strengthen distribution systems through alternative channels, bundled services, or strategic partnerships

Theme 5: Waste Management and Organic Fertiliser Integration

• What organic waste streams exist in each country (the consultant should produce a typology spanning local-level sources such as abattoirs to municipal waste management systems)?How are they currently managed, and which offer the greatest potential for commercial production of organic fertiliser?
• To what extent are organic waste streams currently converted into fertiliser, and what technical, economic, institutional, or policy barriers limit greater utilisation? 
• What quality, safety, and contamination challenges affect different waste streams? 
• What successful waste-to-fertiliser models and partnerships already exist?
•  What role do informal waste collectors and waste enterprises currently play, and how could their participation be strengthened?
• Which organic waste streams present the greatest commercial potential for organic fertiliser production, and what partnerships and interventions are needed to strengthen waste recovery, recycling, and sustainable waste-to-fertiliser systems?
• What interventions are required to strengthen circular economy systems linking waste generation, processing, fertiliser production, and agricultural markets? 

Theme 6: Policy and Regulatory Environment

• What national policies, legislation, regulations, standards, and certification systems govern the organic fertiliser sector?
• How effectively are these policies implemented and enforced, and what constraints do they create or address?
• What incentives, subsidies, procurement mechanisms, or public investments support sector development?
• What policy gaps exist and what regulatory reforms are required to stimulate investment, innovation, and market growth?
• What opportunities exist for policy advocacy and systems strengthening?

Theme 7. Inclusion

Given Practical Action's focus on inclusive markets:

• How do women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other marginalised groups participate across the organic fertiliser value chain as producers, distributors, entrepreneurs, workers, and consumers?
• What structural, financial, cultural or institutional barriers limit their participation?
• How do gender, youth, disability, education level, socioeconomic status and geographic location influence participation throughout the organic fertiliser value chain?
• Which groups are currently underserved by existing products, services and markets?
• What opportunities exist to strengthen inclusive business models and women- and youth-led enterprises?

Theme 8. Future Outlook and Programme Opportunities

This section should directly inform Practical Action's future programming.

• What are the most significant systemic constraints limiting growth of the organic fertiliser sector?
• Where are the highest-leverage market system intervention points for Practical Action?
• Which innovations, business models, and proof-of-concepts are ready for scaling, and which require further piloting?
• Which actors should Practical Action prioritise as strategic partners, and what roles could they play?
• What short-, medium-, and long-term investments are required to accelerate sector development?
• What role could Practical Action play that complements rather than duplicates existing initiatives?
• What level and type of investment is required over the short, medium and long term to accelerate sector growth?

6. Methodology

The consultant is expected to employ a mixed-methods research design integrating quantitative surveys with qualitative data collection. The following methods are required:

• Desk review of national agricultural policies, soil health strategies, fertiliser regulations, waste management policies, existing studies, donor and NGO programme reports, and academic and grey literature.
• Structured farmer surveys administered via tablet (KoBoToolbox or ODK).
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), disaggregated by sex, with separate sessions for male and female farmers and youth farmer groups.
• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with government officials, regulators, municipal authorities, organic fertiliser producers, agro-dealers, NGOs, research institutions, waste management companies, farmer organisations, and financial institutions.
• Commercial business mapping of organic fertiliser producers, input suppliers, waste processing actors, and supporting service providers.
• Case studies of selected promising enterprises or initiatives to identify scalable and replicable models.

The consultant should apply a systems thinking lens throughout to understand interactions among farmers, businesses, regulators, waste management systems, finance providers, and supporting services.

6.1 Indicative Sampling Framework

The following minimum sample sizes will guide the quantitative component:

Country	Farmer Surveys	Agro-dealer Interviews	Producer Interviews	KIIs	FGDs
Zimbabwe	100	20	10 - 15	15–20	6-10
Rwanda	100	20	10 - 15	15–20	6 -10

*The consultant may propose refinements to the sampling approach during inception.

6.2 Data Analysis

Quantitative data will be entered and cleaned using KoBoToolbox and analysed using SPSS or Stata. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, and where appropriate regression analysis will be used to identify patterns across demographic groups.

Qualitative data will be recorded, transcribed, and translated where necessary. Thematic analysis will be conducted using NVivo or a manual coding framework, following a deductive-inductive approach. 

7. Gender Equality, Youth, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI)

Gender Equality, Youth, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) will be mainstreamed throughout the study design, methodology, data collection, analysis and reporting. The study should examine how different social groups experience the organic fertiliser sector differently, recognising that access to information, productive resources, finance, markets, technologies and decision-making opportunities is often shaped by intersecting social, economic and demographic characteristics. At a minimum, the study should analyse findings by:

• Gender
• Age group (including youth)
• Disability status, where feasible
• Socioeconomic status
• Education and literacy level
• Farm size
• Household type
• Agro-ecological zone

All quantitative data will be disaggregated by sex and, where possible, by age group and household wealth quintile. Beyond quantitative data disaggregation, the study should also identify the underlying structural barriers and opportunities influencing participation, adoption, entrepreneurship and leadership across the organic fertiliser value chain. Particular attention should be paid to identifying opportunities for women-, youth- and disability-led enterprises, as well as practical recommendations for designing more inclusive market systems and programmes. Qualitative methods must also specifically surface women's perspectives and experiences, recognising the central but often undervalued role women play in organic matter management and soil fertility practices.

8. Ethical Requirements

The consultant must comply with Practical Action's ethical research guidelines and applicable national research ethics requirements in Zimbabwe and Rwanda. Specifically:

• Informed consent must be obtained from all study participants.
• All data must be anonymised and stored securely in line with Practical Action's data protection standards.
• Participation must be entirely voluntary, and participants must be informed of their right to withdraw at any time without penalty.
• The consultant must obtain any necessary national research permits or ethical clearances prior to commencing field work.

9. Deliverables

The consultant will produce the following outputs:

#	Deliverable	Description	Phase
1	Inception Report	Refined methodology, finalised research tools, sampling framework, Quality assurance plan and detailed work plan.	Phase 1 — Week 1
2	Desk Review Report	Synthesis of existing knowledge per country, covering literature review, sector scoping, policy and regulatory landscape, and knowledge gaps	Phase 2 — Week 3
3	Country-Level Scoping Reports	Detailed findings covering all eight thematic areas.	Phase 3 — Week 9
4	Regional Comparative Analysis	Cross-country synthesis identifying common themes, divergent contexts, and programmatic opportunities.	Phase 4 — Week 10
5	Programmatic Recommendations Brief	Actionable recommendations for Practical Action programme design, including sector entry points, partnership opportunities, business development opportunities, investment opportunities, policy engagement priorities and priority interventions.	Phase 5 — Week 11
6	Case Studies	Selected promising enterprises or initiatives documented as case studies to identify scalable and replicable models.	Phase 6 — Week 13
7	Presentation of Findings	Presentation and validation workshop with Practical Action teams and invited stakeholders	Phase 6 — Week 13
8	Data Sets and Research Tools	Cleaned and anonymised quantitative datasets, qualitative coding frameworks,Stakeholder database and validated survey tools, deposited in Practical Action's knowledge management system.	Phase 7 — Week 13

10. Work Plan and Timeline

The assignment will be completed over 13 weeks, structured across five phases:

Phase	Title	Key Activities	Duration
1	Inception and Desk Review	Finalise workplan; complete desk review; develop and submit Inception Report.	3 Weeks
2	Tool Development	Develop all data collection instruments	1 Week
3	Field Data Collection	Administer farmer surveys, conduct FGDs, KIIs, business mapping, and case study research in Zimbabwe and Rwanda.	4 Weeks
4	Data Analysis and Synthesis	Clean, code, and analyse quantitative and qualitative data; conduct cross-country synthesis.	2 Weeks
5	Reporting	Produce country reports, regional comparative analysis, programmatic recommendations brief, and final data sets.	3 Weeks

All deliverables are subject to review and approval by the Regional MEL Coordinator and the Agriculture & Markets Lead before finalisation. The consultant must build in revision cycles within the timelines indicated above.

11. Management and Reporting Arrangements

The consultant will report to the Regional MEL Coordinator (Study Lead), who is responsible for overall study management, quality assurance, and stakeholder engagement. Day-to-day in-country coordination will be supported by Country MEL Leads in Zimbabwe and Rwanda, respectively.

Technical oversight will be provided by a Steering Committee comprising representatives from:

• Food Systems Flagship
• MEL Unit
• Country Offices

The consultant will be expected to:

• Participate in a briefing meeting with Practical Action at the start of the assignment.
• Maintain regular communication with the Regional MEL Coordinator throughout the study.
• Submit all deliverables to the Regional MEL Coordinator for review and feedback prior to finalisation.
• Present preliminary findings to Practical Action's programme and technical staff ahead of final report submission.

ABOUT YOU

12. Required Expertise and Qualifications

Practical Action invites applications from individual consultants or consultancy firms with the following qualifications and experience:

Essential

• Advanced degree (master’s or PhD) in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Rural Development, Environmental Science, Development Studies, or related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in regenerative agriculture, soil health, fertiliser systems, circular economy, or sustainable food systems.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting mixed-methods research in agricultural or food systems contexts in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Strong quantitative research skills, including survey design, sampling methodology, and statistical analysis (SPSS or Stata).
• Strong qualitative research skills, including design and facilitation of FGDs and KIIs, and thematic analysis (NVivo or equivalent).
• Proven ability to write high-quality research reports in English for development audiences.
• Experience working in Zimbabwe and/or Rwanda.

Desirable

• Experience with gender-responsive research design and analysis.
• Familiarity with digital data collection platforms (KoBoToolbox or ODK).
• Knowledge of waste-to-value systems and circular economy approaches.
• Experience supporting programme design and business development processes.
• Prior work with international development NGOs or donor-funded programmes.

13. Application Requirements

Interested consultants or firms should submit the following:

1. A technical proposal (maximum 10 pages) outlining the proposed methodology, work plan, and understanding of the assignment.
2. A financial proposal with a detailed budget breakdown (inclusive of all costs).
3. CV(s) of key personnel to be involved in the study, highlighting relevant experience.
4. Samples of two similar research reports previously produced by the consultant/firm.
5. Share 3 recommendation letters from previous employer.

Note: Practical Action encourages applications from consultancy firms or teams with demonstrated contextual knowledge and experience in the respective countries of implementation (Zimbabwe and Rwanda), supported by suitably qualified local experts to ensure high-quality country-specific analysis and effective stakeholder engagement. While applications from country-specific teams will be considered, preference will be given to firms or teams with the capacity to undertake the assignment in both countries through a single, coordinated approach, enabling methodological consistency, streamlined management, and robust cross-country comparison.

14. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria:

Criterion	Weighting
Technical quality and appropriateness of the proposed methodology	30%
Relevant experience and qualifications of key personnel	25%
Quality of previous similar work (samples submitted)	20%
Value for money (financial proposal)	15%
Knowledge of the study countries and relevant sector context	10%

15. Ethical Considerations

The consultant shall comply with Practical Action’s safeguarding, research ethics, and data protection policies. All respondents must provide informed consent, and all data must be stored securely and treated confidentially.

Why join us?

The opportunity to work for an organisation that is taking practical action against poverty and the environmental crises to start the big changes the world urgently needs. A friendly and supportive culture, working with values driven and highly engaged colleagues, work life balance and flexible working – these are just some of the reasons we think Practical Action is a great place to work.

ABOUT US

We are a global community taking practical action against poverty and today’s environmental crises. Across Africa, Asia and Latin America we partner with people experiencing these challenges, especially those who are unheard and excluded. Our approach is to identify what works on a local level, then adapt and amplify it across different regions, countries and continents. All of Practical Action’s work is focused on two connected areas for action - livelihoods and climate resilience – and we’re working to deliver three big, global changes:

Big change on food – to sustain people and planet

Big change on energy – clean and accessible for everyone 

Big change on climate risk – safer lives, stronger livelihoods

Our Values

We are People Centred, striving to create an equal, fair, accessible, dignified and respectful environment for everyone we work with – from colleagues and communities, to supporters, suppliers and stakeholders. 

We are Impact Driven, existing to make a positive difference, so everything we do is driven by our energy to create lasting value for the people and communities we serve. 

We are Transparent and trustworthy, acting with integrity, honesty, and strong ethics, building mutual trust with everyone we work with to achieve the highest standards.

We are Innovative, and champion learning, curiosity and fresh thinking, bringing local knowledge to create global impact.

We are Resilient changemakers working for sustainable development, meeting challenges head-on, and evolving through the lessons learnt.

Additional information

We treat all applications for employment fairly regardless of gender, race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, caste, tribe, belief, age, marital status, pregnancy, caring responsibilities, sexual orientation, or disability. 

Practical Action is committed to safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults and as such candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks including criminal checks and terrorist financing.

To ensure that Practical Action meets its obligations of safer recruitment, appointment to posts within Practical Action will be subject to a satisfactory criminal check. Criminal checks will be conducted for all roles.

The successful applicant must already have the right to both live and work in the country that they are applying for and should be willing and able to travel.

HOW TO APPLY:

If you want to work for an organization with significant people’s ambitions, then we would like to hear from you. Please submit your application, including all documents stated in section 13, ‘Application Requirements’ to our recruitment mailto: Recruitment.Rwanda@practicalaction.org and copy (Cc)Procurement.ZW@practicalaction.org.zw. Clearly indicate in the subject line, “Scoping Study Application”.

The application deadline is July 29th, 2026

We treat all applications for employment on their merits and do not take into consideration any factors that are not relevant to the job such as disability, race, age, religion, gender, gender reassignment or sexual orientation.

Practical Action is committed to safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults and as such candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further process