RFQ: Provision of Consultancy Services for a Study on the Business Case for Agricultural Data: The Case for Africa

Closing date: 5 PM GMT on 8 March 2024

RFQ: Provision of Consultancy Services for a Study on the Business Case for Agricultural Data: The Case for Africa

Location: Home Based

Duration: March 2024 – June 2024

Closing date: 5 PM GMT on 29 February 2024

Background to the assignment
The potential of digitalisation to transform agriculture in low- and middle-income countries: Digitalisation is seen as a game changer for transforming the agricultural and fisheries sectors in low- and middle-income countries including those across the Commonwealth. Digitalisation for agriculture and fisheries has been defined by the Commonwealth Secretariat to consist of four pillars namely digital innovations, data infrastructure, business development services, and the enabling environments for digitalisation.

The role of data in the digitalisation of agriculture: Agricultural data is the bedrock upon which digital agriculture innovations (digital technologies and digital services) function. Quality data undergirds digital advisory services to farmers, provides the basis for policy decision making, and above all informs investment decisions on where and what to invest in. The use and sharing of data according to the Open Data Institute (ODI), can create social and economic value for people, organisations, and the wider economy. A 2018 discussion paper by the UK government titled “the economic value of data” argued that alongside maintaining a secure, trusted data environment, the government has an important role to play in laying the foundations for a flourishing data-driven economy including pursuing policies that improve the flow of data and ensuring that companies who want to innovate have appropriate access to high-quality and well-maintained data.

The failure to better manage agricultural data at country level is affecting the digitalisation process: Agricultural data can also be considered as national resource like oil and gold. Unfortunately, countries across Africa lack the national infrastructure needed to manage this critical resource. This leads to duplicated and fragmented databases in the countries, unwillingness of data holders to share data, operational inefficiencies, data collection fatigue on data subjects, failure to scale innovations based on data, unsuited investment and policy decisions being made based on the fragmented data points, and data power imbalance between the data owners and data holders. The long-term effect of policy inaction of national governments will be a weak national digital sovereignty, i.e., the power and authority of a national government to make free decisions affecting citizens and businesses within the digital domain.

This is indirectly affecting the agricultural transformation in these economies: To reverse this, better data management at country level should be the goal. Just as all resources require infrastructure to facilitate its maximisation, agricultural data also requires infrastructure to serve as the foundation for its effective management. According to UNDP, countries with robust public infrastructure are better equipped to meet the needs of their people and accelerate action towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Also, at the recent Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting (CTMM) held in London June 2023, Ministers called for the development of robust Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to facilitate accessible and affordable digital technologies for all.

The Secretariat has developed a model for better data management: The Commonwealth Secretariat through its Connectivity Agenda for Trade and Investment programme has developed a model of DPI for agricultural data for member countries as National Agricultural Data Infrastructure (NAgDI). The model consists of 4 main components as follows:

Data policies and principles
Data technologies and systems
Governance and administration of the infrastructure
Market and business model around the infrastructure
There is the need for private sector investment in the infrastructure.

The gap in agricultural investment is enormous in many countries across Africa. Globally, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) argues that an average annual investment of USD 209 billion is needed to meet the projected demand for food in 2050—and even more is required to eliminate hunger, and address poverty and malnourishment (FAO, 2012). This is supported by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) that argued that, developing countries require long-term sustainable, increased investment, including investment in agriculture (UNCTAD, 2014).

A 2012 Oxfam Discussion Paper argued that private sector investment can play a vital role in delivering inclusive economic growth, environmental sustainability, and poverty reduction. The “national” in the National Agriculture Data Infrastructure (NAgDI) calls for both public and private sector data. The infrastructure transcends government data systems. To reduce current duplications, efforts must be made to leverage on investments in data by all stakeholders. A 2023 World Economic Forum article provided 5 strong reasons why the private sector should invest in smallholder farmers including the commercial benefits for the investors.

Education and Experience
Over five years’ experience in agriculture and food systems research and analysis.
Qualifications in digitalisation, business administration, investment, economics, market analysis, agribusiness, fisheries, or other relevant fields.
Experience in carrying out private sector financing and investment research is required.
Experience in performing analysis, modelling, drafting reports, and producing policy recommendations across the Commonwealth.
Language
Excellent English writing and communicating skills required

Please apply for this contract by submitting Technical and Commercial proposals to connectivity@commonwealth.int by 29 February 2024

 Applicants must also complete the Quote Submission Documents attached to the Request for Quotation (RFQ) document.

 Prices quoted should include VAT but must indicate clearly where VAT is applicable and where items might be zero-rated.

The Technical Questionnaire Quotes will be assessed based on the evaluation criteria set forth in this document (see skills and experience required and the weightings apportioned to quality/price above in this Terms of reference/RFQ).