Consultancy to Develop an AFAAS Virtual Networking Platform

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The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
On behalf of: African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services
(MDTF Grant No. TF095130)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
TERMS OF REFERENCE
FOR A CONSULTANCY TO DEVELOP AN AFAAS VIRTUAL NETWORKING PLATFORM
Ref: 3.3.1

1- BACKGROUND
The African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) is the umbrella organisation for Agricultural Advisory Services (AAS) in Africa. Its objective is to create efficient, effective and synergistic linkages and partnerships between AAS of member countries to improve the delivery of these services to farmers. It operates within the framework of the Pillar IV of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), which has the objective of enhancing the livelihoods of African farmers and pastoralists and is spearheaded by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). Hence FARA is supporting the institutional development of AFAAS as well as strengthening its linkages with other umbrella bodies contributing to CAADP Pillar IV.

Continental in scope, AFAAS operates via Country Fora that bring together a wide range of actors involved in supporting agricultural development in its member countries. The Fora provide a mechanism for the diverse actors – including the farmers - to exchange information, share lessons, identify opportunities for providing services to each other, and for innovating on how to provide advisory services in their domains of work. The formation of the Fora is initiated within the countries. The role of AFAAS is to facilitate the Fora in the different countries and to ensure the accessibility of appropriate and up-to-date knowledge on advisory services from a range of sources within and outside Africa.

At all levels AFAAS is embedded in broader development agendas supported by very diverse stakeholders and organizations. It is essential for AFAAS that these stakeholders are linked to one another. AFAAS’ role is facilitating the development and sustaining a network for these stakeholders, and to go beyond the information flow provided by the website. Therefore, AFAAS plans to develop a virtual, continent-wide platform in order to ensure that this information flow leads to an interaction between AFAAS and its stakeholders so that they can identify issues for collaboration, exchange information, discuss problems and develop and innovative approaches.

2- OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The objective of this assignment is to design a virtual networking platform that users and providers of AAS can use for networking and collaborating in developing innovations that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of AAS.

3- SCOPE OF WORK
a. Conceptualize a virtual networking platform that:
i.Has a blog or discussion forum with capabilities for the discussions being private or public but with no need to subscribe;
ii.Has capabilities that enable users to post comments, ask questions and receive responses;
iii.Enables the diverse actors in Country Fora to form social networks and form virtual communities, and to collaborate in innovating solutions or approaches for advisory services-related problems.
iv. Is linked to other virtual networking platforms and relevant institutions AFAAS is working with;
v.Takes into account the fact that various users have different levels of ICT technological capabilities and competencies. In particular the platform should have a mobile phone-internet interface;
vi. Is managed at Country Fora level, and monitored and aggregated at continental level;
b. Use open-source software to develop the platform;
c. Develop a beta version (to be piloted in two countries which are to be agreed upon with AFAAS Management); based on the results and on user feedback using an interactive approach, developing the final version;
d. Recommend an appropriate host and organize the hosting;
e. Train selected personnel within AFAAS and the Country Fora who in turn will ensure that the different stakeholders are enabled to use and manage the platform, involving the private sector (having an additional incentive to use the platform for e.g. establishing social enterprises);
f. Integrate a monitoring system of the platform for the use and relevance of the platform;
g. Develop a manual for using the virtual social networking platform.

4- METHODOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGIES
All the relevant Web 2 platform development technologies, principles and standards will be used to ensure an attractive and accessible networking platform. The technological requirements have to include elements of a social network, a marketplace, an information aggregator and a collaboration system. In choosing the methods and technologies for developing these functionalities, the developers would, to the maximum extent possible, be expected to use open source software. The developer are also expected to be innovative in adding functionalities that allow rural users in the African setting to engage in the network using the information and communication technologies available to them most notably mobile telephones.

5- OUTPUTS OF THE ASSIGNMENT
a. A functional virtual networking platform;
b. Trained users (in the AFAAS Secretariat and in the Country Fora);
c. Manual for using the virtual networking platform.

6- QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
a. A firm with a profile that shows technical capability in software development;
b. At least 5 years of experience in developing software, including the use of web2 technologies;
c. Extensive experience in developing virtual networking platforms with social networking capabilities, appropriate for the conditions in Africa.

7- REPORTING AND DELIVERABLES
The Consultant shall report to the AFAAS Management Consultant/ ED.

8- DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT
80 days (approximately: 50 days for the development of the platform, 25 days for piloting the platform in two countries and train the users, 5 days for writing the user manual), to be agreed upon with AFAAS Management. The work can be spread, on an agreed schedule with finalization latest by May 2011.

9- APPLICATIONS
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) now invites eligible consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.).

A consulting firm will be selected under the Quality and Cost Based Selection method in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers, (May 2004 revised May 2006 and May 2010).

Deadline for the submission of expressions of interest: 15 days from the day of publication of this advert. They should be addressed to:

Prof. Monty P. Jones
Executive Director
FARA
PMB CT 173, Cantonments
Accra, Ghana
Email: afaas@fara-africa.org
Fax: +233 0302 773676

In case further information is needed, you may contact AFAAS directly:
Dr. Dan Kisauzi Management Consultant
Email: dankisauzi@nida.or.ug

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