Applicant Search Location: Kenya – Nairobi
Position Code: 2026-043-001
Application Deadline:Â Open Until Filled
IFPRI is seeking a firm/organization/individual consultant for conducting qualitative fieldwork, including Key Informant Interviews (KII) and Gendered Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) on access to, use of and financing of Small-Scale Irrigation Technology in Kenya. This consultancy is for applicants based in Kenya only.
Background:
Despite the substantial potential to expand small-scale irrigation (SSI) in Kenya, adoption remains far below what is needed to stabilize food production under accelerating climate stress. Smallholder farmers—especially women—face a wide range of barriers that limit their ability to benefit from this proven climate smart practice. Women farmers, in particular, find the high upfront equipment costs prohibitive, compounded by inadequate access to affordable and appropriately tailored financing. These constraints are compounded by information gaps, including limited knowledge about technology options, operation and maintenance, as well as structural challenges, such as differences in land and other assets and mobility. As a result, large numbers of smallholder producers who do irrigate continue to rely on manual methods, and women are often responsible for irrigation in these cases which increases their time burden.
This qualitative study implemented in a randomly selected number of counties with high irrigation potential in Kenya will identify opportunities and challenges around small-scale irrigation for women and men farmers with a focus on 1) water source access; 2) irrigation technologies/systems in use versus desired; 3) financing options for irrigation technologies and constraints to accessing finance; 4) solutions in use for managing operational (repairs, fuel) and structural constraints (collateral, tenure or documentation, mobility, etc.); 5) management decisions around irrigation technologies and irrigated crops; and 6) solutions to accelerated SSI adoption.
Activities:
The consultant or firm will implement 16 gendered FGDs (10 with women and 6 with men). Key informant interviews (KII) will be undertaken with stakeholders at the national and at the district/regional state levels.
Specific activities include:
1. Identify list of Key Informants on gender and irrigation
2. Support the finalization of Key Informant Protocol and Focus Group Discussion Protocol
3. Translation of consent forms and interview protocols into the local language
4. Implement approximately 15 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs)
5. Implement 16 FGDs
6. Verbatim (i.e. word-for-word) translation of KIIs and FGDs transcripts
7. Develop key themes from KIIs and FGDs
8. Develop draft report in English and obtain comments from IFPRI
9. Revise/improve the report based on the comments received from IFPRI
10. Produce a final draft report
Duration of contract: Receipt of fully signed contract + 3 months for implementation of work
Required qualifications:
For Individuals:
• Presence in Kenya
• Good English writing skills
• Master’s degree or higher in relevant field
• Experience with gendered analyses
• Experience with drafting reports in English
• At least 5 years of experience with designing and implementing qualitative fieldwork in Kenya
• Demonstrated experience in successfully completing studies on time.
Application: Please upload your CV, at least one writing sample of a completed qualitative study, and a cover letter detailing relevant experience. Submissions will only be considered if a writing sample, cover letter and cost proposal are provided. Please include your daily rate in the online application. Please include costs for enumerators who would be hired separately by IFPRI.
For Firms/Organizations: Please submit a technical/financial proposal with CVs of technical staff; a financial budget with staff daily rates, direct/indirect costs, other fees included etc. for consideration.
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*We are unable to respond to all applications, only the selected firm/organization/individual consultant will be contacted *
