Consultant- Baseline Assessment (Partnership Harmonised Indicators)

About SNV

SNV is a global development partner rooted in the African and Asian countries where we operate. With

60 years of experience it is our mission to strengthen capacities and catalyse partnerships that transform the agri-food, energy, and water systems to enable sustainable and more equitable lives for all.

Background and objectives of assignment

SNV is convening the Power for Food Partnership, a movement that seeks to strengthen the nexus of food and energy systems in four Eastern Africa countries[i]. By integrating regenerative agriculture with renewable energy solutions, the Partnership aims to harness the powerful benefits that arise when both systems work collaboratively for people and the planet. By catalysing partnerships and strengthening the capacities of ecosystem actors, the Power for Food Partnership seeks to transform the agri-food system in Eastern Africa. Specifically, it seeks to achieve systems transformation within the Regenerative Agriculture-Productive Use of Renewable Energy (RA-PURE) nexus space. It aims to do this via three interlinked pathways:

• LEARN: practice-based learning and evidence
• LINK: action-oriented collaboration among system actors
• LEVERAGE: embedding ways of working in policies and practices

A central feature of the Partnership is that it will work primarily with and through key partners at strategic, national, and subnational level, in line with the LEARN-LINK-LEVERAGE approach to ensure localised buy-in and long-term commitment beyond the programme’s duration. The Partnership’s principles are Equity, Transparency, and Mutual Benefit.
The Partnership seeks to engage a consultancy firm to lead in carrying out a baseline assessment of a set of 11 quantitative Partnership Harmonised Indicators (PHI)[1] that were developed across the four Partnership countries. These 11 indicators are additional and supportive to the qualitative outcomes the Partnership is tracking through outcome harvesting to assess progress towards systems transformation (which is out of scope for this assignment).  

For this baseline assessment of the 11 PHIs, there is a need to apply a consistent measurement approach across the four countries. SNV has therefore developed a harmonised data collection methodology to ensure comparability across country contexts. Building on the existing desk review and preliminary PHI findings, the consultant will triangulate and validate the evidence through additional primary qualitative inquiry. The inception phase will provide an opportunity for contextualisation of the methodology and tools to reflect country-specific realities while maintaining alignment with the broader Partnership framework.

In Kenya, preliminary baseline values for some of the Partnership Harmonised Indicators PHIs have already been generated through a number of studies. The Kenya country team has also conducted a LINK mapping and ecosystem gap analysis exercise, which generated important insights related to multi-stakeholder collaboration, actor engagement, learning and partnership platforms, policy alignment, investment opportunities, awareness creation efforts, and broader systems dynamics within the RA-PURE nexus. Additionally, a gap analysis has also been finalised providing the current status of RA-PURE solutions, gaps, challenges and opportunities across the target counties.

Specific Objectives of the Assignment

1. Establish quantitative baseline values for the identified Partnership Harmonised Indicators (PHIs) through the collection and analysis of primary data using agreed qualitative collection methods and generate qualitative insights on the functioning of the RA-PURE ecosystem in Kenya
2. Review, validate, and, where necessary, refine the preliminary PHI values generated through the initial desk review by triangulating them with field-generated evidence collected through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and update the values where necessary to ensure they accurately reflect the broader agro-energy ecosystem in Kenya.

3. Provide a narrative analysis for each indicator value and interpretation, explaining its significance, context and relevance to the programme objectives. For example, where an indicator captures the number of knowledge products, the analysis should specify what those products are, who are the authors, include references or copies obtained from the organisations engaged by the consultant, and provide links to those that are publicly available or formally published, where applicable

[1] The Partnership Harmonised Indicators are quantitative indicators that have been developed based on the Partnership’s system signals. These system signals (also known as ‘signals of change’) are qualitative indicators that track whether the Partnership is moving the needle and starting to observe changes in the system.

[i] Kenya

 Assignment overview and scope of work

The consultant’s core objective is to conduct the Partnership’s baseline assessment of the PHIs and deliver a comprehensive baseline assessment report. The baseline study provides a robust reference point against which progress on the PHIs can be measured. The consultant will work closely with the Power for Food Partnership country teams, especially the MEL Advisors.

The consultant shall review and utilise additional relevant existing country-level documentation (link mapping exercise report and gap analysis report) to inform the assignment, including but not limited to the baseline inception report.

 Methodology

The assessment shall apply a mixed-methods approach comprising Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). The consultant will build on existing evidence generated through the inception phase, preliminary PHI desk review, LINK mapping exercise, and ecosystem gap analysis.

The baseline assessment is expected to include approximately 25–30 Key Informant Interviews with relevant stakeholders across the RA-PURE ecosystem, as well as two Focus Group Discussions involving selected system actors. The final sampling approach, stakeholder categories, and distribution of KIIs and FGDs will be agreed upon during the inception phase in consultation with the Kenya Power For Food Partnership team.

The Partnership is using the following 11 PHIs for the baseline assessment:

1. Number of knowledge products on RA-PURE co-created through multi-actor learning platforms
2. The number of active learning platforms on RA-PURE integration
3. Number of joint initiatives developed (pilots) by multiple system actors to support the early scaling of RA-PURE practices
4. Number of joint initiatives implemented (wide-scale expansion) by multiple system actors to address key barriers to scaling RA-PURE solutions
5. Number of RA-PURE products or services adopted by system actors
6. Number of awareness, demonstration and promotional activities implemented by system actors to convince others like them to adapt their services and products in line with the RA-PURE nexus
7. Number of farmers and agribusinesses adopting RA-PURE innovations and practices, including accessing RA-PURE services
8. # of inclusive evidence-based advocacy initiatives influencing policies on RA-PURE integration

of farmers and agribusinesses adopting RA-PURE innovations and practices, including accessing RA-PURE services

9. # of individuals (champions) who actively try to convince others to adjust their practice in line with RA-PURE objectives.

10. Value and type of investments leveraged to support RA PURE initiatives

11. Number of policies, strategies, or regulatory frameworks integrating RA-PURE nexus principles.

The preliminary PHI values generated through the initial desk review will serve as the starting point for the assignment. The consultant will review these preliminary values, collect additional field-based evidence through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and use the findings to validate, refine, or update the existing values where necessary. The consultant will also establish baseline values for indicators where no preliminary values currently exist.

In addition to the Partnership Harmonised Indicators (PHIs), the assessment may draw on relevant elements of the Kenya MEL framework to provide supplementary contextual insights These insights will complement the PHI analysis and will not constitute additional baseline indicators; however, the specific areas to be explored will be discussed and agreed upon during the inception phase.

 Detailed Scope of Work and Deliverables

The consultant will lead the implementation of a baseline assessment in consultation with the Kenya Power for Food Partnership team. The Power of Food Partnership envisions several key processes to be undertaken by the consultant during the baseline assessment, resulting in four key deliverables and results detailed in the table below. These services and deliverables are presented in the table below. The timeframes provided are indicative and will be finalised and agreed with the selected supplier during the inception phase.

To see the services and deliverables detailed in the terms of reference   FULL TOR HERE

Roles and responsibilities

The power for food partnership MEL team leads on the design of the baseline methodology, including KII and FGD interview guides, to ensure consistency across the four implementing countries. The consultant will provide feedback and support contextualisation of the tools and methodology to reflect the Kenyan RA-PURE ecosystem while maintaining alignment with the broader Partnership framework. The consultant will lead the data collection, analysis and reporting of the baseline in consultation with the Power for Food Partnership team. The main point of contact will be the Kenya MEL and System transformation Lead.

Required Skills and Expertise

We are looking for a consultant/consultancy firm with demonstrable experience of carrying out qualitative, participatory data collection methodologies in complex systems.  The ideal candidate has the following experience and expertise:

• Demonstrates deep understanding of agri-energy context, including Regenerative Agriculture, Productive Use of Renewable Energy (RA–PURE) as separate and integrated systems.
• Good understanding of Kenya’s agriculture, renewable energy, climate resilience, and policy environment.
• Proven experience designing and facilitating participatory assessments, including FGDs and KIIs.
• Strong qualitative research and data collection skills, including experience designing and facilitating Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), surveys, and other participatory research approaches.
• Stakeholder engagement and facilitation – ability to work with diverse actors (farmers, private sector, financial institutions, and partners) and capture perspectives effectively
• Project coordination – ability to manage timelines, collaborate with country teams, and deliver within programme realities
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills in English, including the ability to triangulate findings from multiple data sources
• Demonstrated ability to analyse collaboration dynamics, partnership functionality, barriers to systems integration, and enabling environments for scaling innovations.
• Previous experience working on donor-funded programmes or similar assignments within Kenya or the East African region will be an added advantage
• Entities with an established presence or vetted network of consultants will be given strong preference.

Proposal Process

Applications should be sent to SNV Kenya Procurement at kenyaprocurement@snv.org with the subject: Proposal for Kenya MEL PHI baseline consultancy. Your proposal should not exceed 8 pages (excluding annexes)

Full TOR with the Proposal process FULL TOR HERE

Applicants are required to submit a technical and financial proposal by Thursday 11 June 23:59 EAT 2026 to kenyaprocurement@snv.org, with the subject “Proposal for MEL PHI baseline consultancy”.

• Technical proposal (understanding of assignment, methodology, work plan).
• Financial proposal (budget breakdown in KSH).
• Profiles and CVs of proposed team members.-3 maximum
• Evidence of relevant assignments (at least 3 references).