Purpose of the Consultancy.
This Terms of Reference invites qualified individual consultants, consulting firms, or teams of consultants to work with Kilimo Trust team in undertaking the costs benefit analysis of selected technologies promoted by R4iCSA-II project in Kenya and Uganda. This consultancy is to provide technical leadership, analytical oversight, and quality assurance for the R4iCSA-II Cost-Benefit Analysis and Labour Productivity Assessment, and to lead the preparation of the final report and related knowledge products (policy briefs, Investment Cases/Scenarios, and fact Sheets).
Background.
Kilimo Trust is implementing the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle Rice Initiative for Climate Smart Agriculture phase two (R4iCSA-II) in Uganda and Kenya. The project promotes climate-smart agriculture technologies and practices intended to improve rice productivity, profitability, labour efficiency, resilience, and environmental sustainability. To strengthen evidence for decision-making and future investment, Kilimo Trust seeks to undertake a comparative Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) and Labour Productivity Assessment of selected technologies promoted under the project.
The study will assess the relative costs, returns, labour implications, and investment worthiness of selected technologies among adopters and non-adopters. It will combine desk review, primary data collection and analysis, gross margin assessment, labour productivity analysis, investment appraisal, and synthesis of wider agronomic and ecological benefits where relevant. The study is also expected to generate practical outputs that can support decision making at both farm and off farm levels, as well as programme learning, policy dialogue, and investment decisions.
Kilimo Trust will lead field coordination, data collection, logistics, and other implementation-related tasks. An external consultant is required to provide overall technical leadership and quality assurance from inception to final deliverables, ensuring that the study process and outputs fully meet the agreed Terms of Reference.
1. Overall objective
Provide technical support to both Kilimo Trust team and research assistants in the design, execution, data analysis and reporting of the costs benefit analysis assignment in Kenya and Uganda. The consultant will be responsible for report writing and its validation before it is accepted by Kilimo Trust.
2. Specific objectives
a) Refine and operationalize the analytical framework, study methodology, and assessment tools.
b) Guide and synthesize the desk review of relevant project documents, scientific literature, and technical evidence for the selected technologies.
c) Provide technical oversight to the field and data processes led by Kilimo Trust for the CBA work.
d) Guide data cleaning, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of findings of this assignment.
e) Use data sets generated from the findings and qualitative data collected to prepare draft report
f) Present the draft report to KT team for review and input.
g) Finalize the cost benefit analysis report and submit final report with business cases, policy briefs and facts sheets to Kilimo Trust.
3. Scope of Work
The consultancy covers the full technical process of the study, from inception and desk review to analysis, validation, and final reporting. The consultant will be supported by Kilimo Trust team in the preparation of tools, training research assistants and administration of the questionnaires. However, the consultant will be responsible for overall technical guidance and report writing. The assignment is expected to cover project implementation areas in Uganda (Butaleja, Tororo and Kween) and Kenya (Kisumu, Kericho, Kirinyaga, Embu,Tharaka Nithi and Meru Counties). The analysis will focus on Intermittent watering, rice-legume rotations, vermi-composting, husk-based biochar use, utilization of straws in livestock feeding, use of husks in energy utility stoves among other selected technologies and practices prioritized by Kilimo Trust under the approved study framework. The population of interest includes both adopters and non-adopters, with attention to different categories of farmers and
4. Roles and responsibilities
The responsibilities below clarify the distinction between the consultant's technical leadership role and Kilimo Trust's implementation support role.
4.1 Responsibilities of the consultant
i) Review all relevant background documents, datasets, and study materials/tools provided by Kilimo Trust.
ii) Prepare an inception report with a refined methodology, work plan, analytical framework, quality assurance approach, and support requirements from Kilimo Trust.
iii) Review and refine the study tools, analytical templates, assumptions, and technology-specific logic for the assessment.
iv) Lead the desk review and evidence synthesis for the selected technologies and practices.
v) Provide technical guidance to Kilimo Trust during data collection planning and implementation.
vi) Review data quality, support analytical readiness of datasets, and guide consistency checks and cleaning protocols.
vii) Interpret findings across technologies, locations, and categories of participants.
viii) Prepare the draft and final CBA report, including assessment of investment worthiness, cost structures, and the monetization of agronomic and ecological benefits, ensuring coherence, analytical rigor, and clear presentation of findings.
ix) Support validation of findings and incorporate feedback into final outputs/report.
x) Ensure that all deliverables are completed on time and to a high professional standard
4.2 Responsibilities of Kilimo Trust
i) Provide overall coordination and contract management for the assignment.
ii) Share relevant background documents, project records, datasets, and technical references.
iii) Lead data collection, field logistics, stakeholder mobilization, and other agreed implementation tasks.
iv) Assign relevant technical and programme staff to support the consultant.
v) Review deliverables and provide consolidated feedback within agreed timelines.
vi) Facilitate validation meetings and dissemination arrangements.
5. Expected deliverables
i) Inception report, including refined methodology, work plan, analytical framework, and quality assurance approach.
ii) Reviewed and finalized study tools, templates, and analytical matrices, where applicable.
iii) Desk review synthesis notes or technical memo summarizing evidence and assumptions for the selected technologies.
iv) Draft Cost-Benefit Analysis and Labour Productivity Assessment report.
v) Validation presentation slides or summary presentation materials.
vi) Final Cost-Benefit Analysis and Labour Productivity Assessment report.
vii) Five investment cases/scenarios suitable for external dissemination.
viii) Two Policy briefs related to regenerative agriculture.
ix) Technology-specific investment flyers or equivalent communication briefs.
6. Duration of Consultancy
The consultancy is expected to be implemented within 30 to 45 calendar days. The consultant is expected to propose a competitive and modest budget equivalent to the level of effort.
7. Qualifications and Experience Required.
The Firm or consultant MUST have the following qualifications:
a) At least a Master's degree in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Development Economics, Applied Economics, Rural Development, Agricultural Policy, or a related field. A PhD will be an added advantage.
b) Demonstrated experience in conducting Cost-Benefit Analysis, enterprise budgeting, investment appraisal, or related economic evaluation assignments in agriculture or rural development.
c) Strong experience in quantitative and qualitative analysis, including interpretation of farm- and enterprise-level data.
d) Proven expertise in methods such as gross margin analysis, labour productivity analysis, net present value, benefit-cost ratio, internal rate of return, sensitivity analysis, scenario analysis, break-even analysis, and the monetization of agronomic and ecological benefits.
e) Strong track record in writing high-quality analytical reports, policy briefs, and communication products.
f) Experience working on climate-smart agriculture, value chains, agricultural innovations, or related development programmes in East Africa.
Excellent English writing, synthesis, and presentation skills.
8. Application Procedure:
Interested and eligible consultants or firms should submit the following:
a) A technical proposal demonstrating understanding of the assignment and the proposed approach.
b) A financial proposal with a clear cost breakdown.
c) An updated curriculum vitae or profile for the consultant or lead expert.
d) At least two examples of similar assignments previously completed.
e) Contact details of at least three professional referees.
f) Firms should also provide:
i) Company registration certificate.
ii) Tax Clearance Certificate
9. Mode of application:
All required documents must be written in English and submitted electronically in one folder to recruitment@kilimotrust.org not later than 8th May 2026 at 11:00pm EAT. Late submission will be rejected. The Prospective Consultant MUST clearly indicate in the Email subject:” Call for Consultancy to Undertake a Cost-Benefit Analysis of R4iCSA-II Project-Promoted Innovations in Kenya and Uganda”