Terms of Reference (ToR) for Consultancy at Rikolto

Consultancy Focus: Promoting safe food, inclusive governance, and sustainable business among vendors, farmers, and other food system actors in Mbeya, Tanzania

1. General Information

Rikolto is an international non-governmental network organization with over 50 years of experience partnering with food system stakeholders across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. We collaborate with governments, research institutions, financial institutions, and farmers’ organizations to address the central question: “What will we eat tomorrow?”

By bridging stakeholders, Rikolto aims to transform the food system, ensuring access to healthy, sustainable, and nutritious (HSN) food for all while safeguarding the environment and supporting decent rural livelihoods. Our work spans both formal and informal sectors, targeting farmers, consumers, traders, and other value chain actors, with a focus on youth and women.

Since 2016, Rikolto has implemented the global Good Food for Cities Programme (formerly Food Smart Cities), aimed at improving urban food environments and delivering quality food to growing urban populations. Cities provide an ideal scope for governance and action-oriented change to contribute to global sustainability. Multi-stakeholder processes are central to our approach, ensuring the security, safety, and nutritional value of food for all citizens.

In Tanzania, Arusha became the first city under this programme and a signatory of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact in 2018. In 2020, Rikolto launched the Good Food for Cities Programme in Mbeya, signing the Milan Pact in 2025. Mbeya, the largest city in the Southern Highlands, is a key agricultural hub. Food safety is a major challenge for local food system actors, and Rikolto is piloting a Participatory Food Safety System (PFSS) to address these challenges through validation and capacity-building.

Key partners in Mbeya include the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA), Mbeya City Council, MIICO, and HELVETAS.

2. Problem Statement

Food safety assessments by NM-AIST and the Tanzania Plant Health Authority (TAPHA) revealed high levels of contamination in irrigation water and produce sold in markets, including faecal matter, lead, E. Coli, Salmonella, and pesticide residues.

To improve food safety and quality in urban markets, Rikolto is piloting Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) adapted for smallholder agriculture. Key features of PGS include:

• Lower cost and administrative burden

• Participatory and trust-building approach

• Capacity development for stakeholders

The current pilot, termed Participatory Food Safety Systems (PFSS), focuses on:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables (FFV) produced locally

• Farmers, market vendors, and transporters in value chains

• Markets in Mbeya: Sokoine, Igawilo, Soweto, Darajan, Sido, Ikuti, Mwanjelwa, Soko Matola

• Production clusters: Uyole, Kalobe, Mwakibete, Inyala, Igale

Training is provided to all participants, updated annually to ensure continuous capacity building.

3. Assignment Overview

Rikolto seeks consultants to promote safe food, inclusive governance, and sustainable business through PFSS. This consultancy represents Cycle 4, focusing on:

• Refresher Training of Trainers (ToT)

• Validation of food safety checklists

• Strengthening entrepreneurship and Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs)

4. Objectives

The consultancy aims to strengthen the PFSS process by:

1. Enhancing the technical capacity of PFSS Trainers (ToTs), vendors, and production clusters with updated training on food safety, entrepreneurship, and VSLA management.

2. Revising and validating PFSS tools, checklists, and operational frameworks for consistent implementation.

3. Expanding and strengthening VSLAs among market vendors and farmer groups, supporting governance, savings, and financial management.

4. Promoting financial inclusion and linking vendors and VSLAs to CRDB Bank for tailored financial products.

5. Improving data collection, geospatial mapping of farmers and vendors, and market intelligence on safe food supply.

5. Scope of Work / Specific Activities

The consultant will:

• Deliver refresher capacity-building sessions for ToTs from market groups and production clusters.

• Revise Best Food Safety Checklists and Guidelines for PFSS Cycle 4 validation.

• Develop simplified training materials on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, record-keeping, and VSLA operations.

• Conduct participatory training sessions for market vendors to apply business management skills.

• Facilitate the formation of at least 15 new VSLAs and support the registration and governance of 20 existing or new groups.

• Strengthen linkages between vendors, VSLAs, and CRDB Bank to improve access to credit and financial services.

• Update Google Maps with accurate data for urban farmers and vendors.

• Collect and manage data on farmers supplying safe food and volumes delivered to Mbeya markets.

• Compile databases of key food buyers to support market aggregation and sales planning.

• Prepare detailed validation, progress, and final reports documenting PFSS Cycle 4 outcomes and recommendations.

• Conduct awareness sessions with city councils on PFSS and food safety.

6. Methodology

The consultant will adopt a participatory, adaptive, and results-oriented approach, including:

• Engaging stakeholders (PFFS Council, vendors, production clusters, VSLAs, local authorities) to define objectives.

• Reviewing tools, checklists, and training materials.

• Collecting insights from field observations, focus groups, and key informant interviews.

• Co-designing practical, user-friendly modules on food safety, entrepreneurship, and VSLA management.

• Emphasizing hands-on learning, peer exchange, and demonstration.

• Strengthening financial inclusion through CRDB Bank linkages.

• Continuous monitoring, data collection, and updating geospatial data.

7. Expected Deliverables

1. Strengthened Capacity: Refresher training for ToTs, vendors, and production clusters, with updated materials for food safety, entrepreneurship, and VSLA management.

2. Improved Tools & Guidelines: Revised checklists, training modules, and operational frameworks validated and adopted by the PFFS Council.

3. Expanded VSLAs: At least 15 new VSLAs and support for 20 existing/new groups to strengthen governance, savings, lending, and record keeping.

4. Financial Inclusion: Strong linkages with CRDB Bank, enabling access to savings, credit, and business support.

5. Improved Data Systems: Updated geospatial data, databases on vendors and farmers, and market intelligence for decision-making.

6. Evidence-Based Learning: Validation reports, progress briefs, and a final report capturing achievements, lessons, and recommendations.

8. Duration

The consultancy engagement is for 60 days / 3 months, subject to extension depending on funding availability.

9. Procedure to Apply

Qualified candidates/firms should submit:

• Technical and financial proposals/quotations, including professional fees

• CVs of qualified experts

Submission Email: eastafrica.recruitment@rikolto.org
Deadline: 12th December 2025
Subject Line: Please indicate the title of this advertisement

Note: If no response is received within 7 days after the closing date, consider your application unsuccessful.