VALUE-CHAIN CONSULTANT FOR SHE-GROW AFRICA PROJECT IN WEST POKOT AND TURKANA

ACTED is legally registered in the Republic of Kenya under section 10 of the Non-Governmental Organizations Act, registration number OP.218/051/2004/0367/3373.Acted is an international NGO, who has supported vulnerable communities worldwide, addressing the impacts of climate change, conflicts, and socio-economic challenges for over 30 years. Acted’s 3ZERO strategy, launched in 2015, is aligned with the SDGs and aims to achieve a “3ZERO” world: of Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon, and Zero Poverty. In Kenya, Acted has worked for 20 years on building climate resilience and addressing natural disasters, particularly with agropastoral communities in ASAL regions that are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as severe droughts and flooding. In 2023, Acted reached over 222,000 individuals in Kenya, with a strong focus on empowering rural women through agriculture, livelihoods, health, and WASH initiatives. Acted’s approach prioritizes community collaboration to improve living conditions, enhance economic opportunities, and build resilience.SHE-GROW AFRICASHE-GROW Africa is an 18-month initiative aimed at strengthening the economic resilience of women and their communities in climate-affected rural regions of Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, and Kenya. The project will target 18 vulnerable communities, supporting one women’s group per location. The project’s goal is to catalyze women-led, climate-resilient enterprises through three key outcomes: training in leadership, financial literacy, and business management; women will be supported in launching micro-enterprises in identified sustainable value chains; women entrepreneurs will be linked to financial services and markets, with catalytic funding and investor engagement to scale promising businesses.In Kenya, the project targets 8 vulnerable communities (6 in West Pokot County and 2 in Turkana County) and will support approximately 300 direct beneficiaries, comprising 30 to 40 women per group who receive intensive training in leadership, financial literacy, and climate-resilient business management. To ensure long-term sustainability and social buy-in, the project also integrates 8 young men (one per community) as gender allies.2. TERMS OF REFERENCEOBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENTThe objective of this consultancy is to lead a Participatory Value Chain (VC) and Market Analysis to identify and validate sustainable, climate-resilient economic opportunities for women of 8 communities in West Pokot and Turkana Counties. Conducted in parallel with initial empowerment interventions, this assignment seeks to ensure a holistic approach where market viability meets community ownership.The consultant will facilitate a collaborative process to map the local economic landscape, integrating natural resource availability, traditional knowledge, and infrastructure, to produce a tailored "menu" of livelihood options. By supporting women’s groups to prioritize value chains that align with their specific capacities and market potential, the assignment aims to ensure the long-term sustainability and relevance of the enterprises developed under the project.To achieve this, the consultant will work alongside the team to explore all potential commercialization circuits and market opportunities. Their role is critical in providing expert input on local specificities and practices, ensuring that all subsequent training plans are perfectly adapted to the unique culture, agricultural methods, and artisanal heritage of the targeted communities.3.SCOPE OF WORKThe consultant will work closely with the project team to deliver the following:1. Conduct a participatory and complete value chain and market analysis for 8 communities* Conduct a collaborative mapping of the local economic landscape, integrating natural resource availability, traditional knowledge, and existing infrastructure* Identify and validate sustainable, climate-resilient economic opportunities specifically tailored for women in West Pokot and Turkana* Produce a tailored "menu" of livelihood options based on the mapped landscape and community input* Explore all potential commercialization circuits and market opportunities to ensure the financial viability of identified value chains* Provide expert guidance on local specificities, agricultural methods, and artisanal heritage to ensure the relevance of the enterprises 4. Duration and timeline* The association services will be spread over roughly 20 days through April and June 2026, aligned with key programme milestones and activities. Refer to the Terms of Reference(Tor). 5. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE The ideal expert should have the following qualifications and experience:* Master’s degree in agricultural economics, rural development, entrepreneurship, or any related field* Demonstrated ability to map complex commercial circuits and identify viable market opportunities* Experience in identifying economic activities adapted to Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL)* Proven experience working in West Pokot and/or Turkana County, familiarity with the specific climate-related economic shocks (e.g., drought) in these areas is critical* Strong understanding of the socio-cultural dynamics, traditional leadership structures, and gender-based barriers specific to West Pokot and/or Turkana County* Fluency in English and Swahili is mandatory. Proficiency in local languages (Pokot or Turkana) is a significant advantage 6. Reporting and supervision* The expert will report to the Project manager and the Programme coordinator. Regular progress updates and feedback sessions will be scheduled throughout the consultancy.HOW TO APPLYInterested experts are requested to submit:1. A comprehensive CV and portfolio showcasing relevant experience. 2. Contact details for at least two professional references. 3. A Financial proposal detailing breakdown of fees per day preferably in Kenya Shillings. 4. Ensure that the below documents are filled ,signed and stamped.* Pro-06.2_Supplier Ethical Declaration-Here * Pro-03_Supplier Questionnaire- Here * Pro-09.2_General Condition of Purchase- Here * Tor_ HERE Applications should be submitted by 31st March 2026 to [email protected] with the subject line: VALUE-CHAIN CONSULTANT FOR SHE-GROW AFRICA PROJECT. N/B; Individual consultants are strongly encouraged to apply. If applying as a company, please submit only the CVs of the specific consultant who will personally carry out the assignment.