ADVOCATING FOR EFFECTIVE REGULATIONS FOR CASHEW NUT INDUSTRY
Introduction
Agricultural Non State Actors Forum (ANSAF) is an advocacy network made up of likeminded organizations that seek to advocate for pro-poor and conducive agriculture policy environment. ANSAF promotes: dialogue and constructive engagement among sector stakeholders, effectively analyzes the existing agriculture policies and suggest practical policies and practices, and provide a platform for learning, sharing, networking and coalition building around pertinent issues in the agricultural sector. We envisage awakening the latent opportunities in agriculture through identifying and articulating the potential which currently exists.
ANSAF seeks to analyse the regulatory mechanisms of the cashew sub-sector and interplays among stakeholders with the aim of improving the regulatory system and advocating for better and effective cashew marketing. It is expected through such a system the government will be able to collect more revenues from the sector and farmers will be having a voice on where, when, how much to whom they should sell their cashew. Analysing the regulatory mechanisms will be done so as to come up with a clear understanding of the status quo from the ineffective regulatory mechanisms. This will be the foundation for a solid advocacy proposal.
This study is expected to provide recommendations on how to improve marketing system and advisory services (including extension, availability of inputs, financial credit to MSMEs, simple operating machines for cashew processing) and how to promote fair competition among actors. Furthermore, the study should provide information on alternative markets (beyond the tradition market in India) that could be explored and exploited.
This project will be done in collaboration with The Agricultural Council of Tanzania (ACT) and is financed by BEST-AC. The outputs therefore, of the research will be approved upon agreement by all parties.
2. Objective of the study
The overall objective of this advocacy project is to influence the government to improve the Cashew sub-sector industry policies, laws and regulations to create transparency and remove monospony marketing.
Specifically, the project will strive to:
• Review policies, strategies, legislation and regulations and current practices in the cashew nut market and industry
• To review previous research and compile recommendations to enrich the study while reflecting the level of efforts by the government to improve the situation on these recommendations
• Collect views, facts from domestic and foreign and domestic sources as well as key players on propositions related to improvement of the cashew nut industry
3. Scope of work
• Analysis of the current socio and political economy of cashew nut industry in Tanzania over the last decade.
• Assess current crop taxes/levies, efficiency and marketing channels
• Assess production cost, farm-gate price and farmer’s share of the export price
• Come up with projections on the potential of cashew sector in contributing to income generation for small holder farmers as well as the contribution to the national GDP.
• Map out current cashew species, quality available in the field – suggest better ones based on NARI products
• Map out current and potential market –(local, regional and international) and propose actions on how (conditions) to reach out for such markets
• Identify current and potential service providers (financiers, insurers, collateral management, input providers, processors, advisory services and others)
• Assess the performance and practice of marketing through WRS in relation to pre-contracted production and marketing arrangements such as organic cashew producers. Assess farmers’ representation in decision making bodies such as CBT and stakeholders meeting
• Assess the impact of current political interference and its benefits/cost on sector performance
• Assess the current incentives for domestic processing (tariff escalation for exporting raw cashew) and domestic job creation through cashew processing plants/industries
• Identify general and other specific constrains that affect the sub-sector so as to advise better stakeholders at large.
• Propose way forward (practical and policy recommendations) resulting from the study as means to evidence based advocacy to promote effective regulatory bodies
• Identify current cashew farmer organizations and related producer associations in the major cashew growing areas,
• Assess the relevance and role of different producer / farmer organizations in cashew growing areas,
• Identify and assess other cashew stakeholder's organizations (e.g. processors) at regional and / national levels on how they relate and support producers
4. Deliverables
The Consultant shall deliver a draft report to ANSAF, ACT and BEST-AC and upon approval and will improve the draft. The improved draft will be shared at stakeholder workshops for validation and consensus.
5. Qualification requirements consultant
Minimum requirements for the selected consultant include:
• Master degree or equivalent degree from a recognized university in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Law or any of the social or natural sciences disciplines relevant to the research theme. A PhD degree would be a definite advantage.
• A thorough knowledge and experience of not less than five (5) years in Agricultural trends or cashew nut sub sector in Tanzania.
• Robust knowledge and experience in research methodology
• Conversant with local and national social, political and economic policy environment in Tanzania.
• Command of English language and excellent writing skills.
• An established track record in conducting, analysing and documenting research for advocacy.
Note: Consultant should attach CV of the key team members to work on the project.
2. Timing/timeframe
Interested firms and individual consultants are invited to submit technical and financial proposals not later than 13 August, 2012 in electronic form to:
Executive Secretary
ANSAF
E-mail: ansaf.tanzania@gmail.com
Agricultural Non State Actors Forum (ANSAF) is an advocacy network made up of likeminded organizations that seek to advocate for pro-poor and conducive agriculture policy environment. ANSAF promotes: dialogue and constructive engagement among sector stakeholders, effectively analyzes the existing agriculture policies and suggest practical policies and practices, and provide a platform for learning, sharing, networking and coalition building around pertinent issues in the agricultural sector. We envisage awakening the latent opportunities in agriculture through identifying and articulating the potential which currently exists.
ANSAF seeks to analyse the regulatory mechanisms of the cashew sub-sector and interplays among stakeholders with the aim of improving the regulatory system and advocating for better and effective cashew marketing. It is expected through such a system the government will be able to collect more revenues from the sector and farmers will be having a voice on where, when, how much to whom they should sell their cashew. Analysing the regulatory mechanisms will be done so as to come up with a clear understanding of the status quo from the ineffective regulatory mechanisms. This will be the foundation for a solid advocacy proposal.
This study is expected to provide recommendations on how to improve marketing system and advisory services (including extension, availability of inputs, financial credit to MSMEs, simple operating machines for cashew processing) and how to promote fair competition among actors. Furthermore, the study should provide information on alternative markets (beyond the tradition market in India) that could be explored and exploited.
This project will be done in collaboration with The Agricultural Council of Tanzania (ACT) and is financed by BEST-AC. The outputs therefore, of the research will be approved upon agreement by all parties.
2. Objective of the study
The overall objective of this advocacy project is to influence the government to improve the Cashew sub-sector industry policies, laws and regulations to create transparency and remove monospony marketing.
Specifically, the project will strive to:
• Review policies, strategies, legislation and regulations and current practices in the cashew nut market and industry
• To review previous research and compile recommendations to enrich the study while reflecting the level of efforts by the government to improve the situation on these recommendations
• Collect views, facts from domestic and foreign and domestic sources as well as key players on propositions related to improvement of the cashew nut industry
3. Scope of work
• Analysis of the current socio and political economy of cashew nut industry in Tanzania over the last decade.
• Assess current crop taxes/levies, efficiency and marketing channels
• Assess production cost, farm-gate price and farmer’s share of the export price
• Come up with projections on the potential of cashew sector in contributing to income generation for small holder farmers as well as the contribution to the national GDP.
• Map out current cashew species, quality available in the field – suggest better ones based on NARI products
• Map out current and potential market –(local, regional and international) and propose actions on how (conditions) to reach out for such markets
• Identify current and potential service providers (financiers, insurers, collateral management, input providers, processors, advisory services and others)
• Assess the performance and practice of marketing through WRS in relation to pre-contracted production and marketing arrangements such as organic cashew producers. Assess farmers’ representation in decision making bodies such as CBT and stakeholders meeting
• Assess the impact of current political interference and its benefits/cost on sector performance
• Assess the current incentives for domestic processing (tariff escalation for exporting raw cashew) and domestic job creation through cashew processing plants/industries
• Identify general and other specific constrains that affect the sub-sector so as to advise better stakeholders at large.
• Propose way forward (practical and policy recommendations) resulting from the study as means to evidence based advocacy to promote effective regulatory bodies
• Identify current cashew farmer organizations and related producer associations in the major cashew growing areas,
• Assess the relevance and role of different producer / farmer organizations in cashew growing areas,
• Identify and assess other cashew stakeholder's organizations (e.g. processors) at regional and / national levels on how they relate and support producers
4. Deliverables
The Consultant shall deliver a draft report to ANSAF, ACT and BEST-AC and upon approval and will improve the draft. The improved draft will be shared at stakeholder workshops for validation and consensus.
5. Qualification requirements consultant
Minimum requirements for the selected consultant include:
• Master degree or equivalent degree from a recognized university in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Law or any of the social or natural sciences disciplines relevant to the research theme. A PhD degree would be a definite advantage.
• A thorough knowledge and experience of not less than five (5) years in Agricultural trends or cashew nut sub sector in Tanzania.
• Robust knowledge and experience in research methodology
• Conversant with local and national social, political and economic policy environment in Tanzania.
• Command of English language and excellent writing skills.
• An established track record in conducting, analysing and documenting research for advocacy.
Note: Consultant should attach CV of the key team members to work on the project.
2. Timing/timeframe
Interested firms and individual consultants are invited to submit technical and financial proposals not later than 13 August, 2012 in electronic form to:
Executive Secretary
ANSAF
E-mail: ansaf.tanzania@gmail.com
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