[newdevjobsindo] PR133 RFP Impact Measurement HORAS

April 29, 2026   Comment  

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

We would like to inform you that SNV is currently seeking a service provider to conduct Impact measurements in 6 districts in North Sumatra for the HORAS Project.

More detailed information regarding the assignment can be found in the email below.

 

Thank you for your kind attention

 

Best regards,

SNV

Procurement Committee

 

 

Organisation	SNV
Project	Horas Hub
Assignment  Criteria	Impact Measurement Study Firm, Academic Institution, Research Institution, and Individual Consultant
Location	Multiple district (6 districts) – Asahan, Batu Bara, Deli Serdang, Simalungun, Serdang Bedagai, Labuhanbatu Selatan
Duration	6 months (June – November 2026)
Reporting to/working with SNV focal point(s)	PM and MEL Officer HORAS Project
Starting date	June 2026

 

 

1. About SNV

SNV is a global development partner rooted in the African and Asian countries where we operate. With 60 years of experience and a team of approximately 1,600 people, it is our mission to strengthen capacities and catalyse partnerships that transform the agri-food, energy, and water systems to enable sustainable and more equitable lives for all.

In Indonesia, SNV works with smallholder farmers in the palm oil sector to improve livelihoods, promote sustainable production, and strengthen inclusive market systems. The HORAS Project reflects SNV's integrated approach to these challenges in North Sumatra, operating at the intersection of household income, agricultural productivity, value chain development, and ecological sustainability.

 

 

2. Background and objectives of assignment

2.1 Project Background

The HORAS Hub Project is a multi-year SNV initiative implemented across 7 districts in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The project works with approximately 20,000 palm oil smallholder farmers and operates within the broader supply chain connecting smallholders to mills and downstream buyers.

 

The project pursues three interconnected goals: improving smallholder household livelihoods and income; increasing the sustainability and productivity of palm oil production through better management practices and certification; and contributing to ecological outcomes, including reduced deforestation and regenerated land, through the promotion of sustainable production practices.

 

As the project moves toward its final phase, SNV requires an independent and rigorous Impact Measurement Study to assess the extent to which project interventions have achieved meaningful, attributable change across its core areas of focus. This study is not intended to reproduce the project's internal monitoring data, but to generate credible, independent evidence of impact for learning, accountability, and future programming.

 

 

2.2 Objectives of the Assignment

• Objective 1: Assess the extent to which HORAS Project interventions have contributed to increases in household income, both on-farm and off-farm and improvements in agricultural productivity among target smallholder farmers.
• Objective 2: Analyse how the value chains in which smallholders participate support or constrain income and productivity outcomes, and the degree to which project interventions have strengthened value chain linkages for beneficiaries.
• Objective 3: Examine the relationship between project-promoted sustainable production practices and ecological outcomes, particularly the connection between improved livelihoods and reduced deforestation pressure.
• Objective 4: Apply the OECD DAC Evaluation Criteria as the analytical framework to generate a structured, evidence-based assessment of the project's relevance, effectiveness, impact, sustainability, and coherence.

 

 

3. Assignment overview and scope of work / deliverables

3.1 Research Questions

The impact measurement study shall be guided by two primary research questions, each with a set of sub-questions that define the scope of inquiry:

 

Primary Research Question 1: To what extent has the HORAS Project contributed to increases in income  both on-farm and off-farm and in agricultural productivity among smallholder beneficiaries?

• What changes have occurred in on-farm income (including palm oil revenue and other on farm activities such as livestock) among project beneficiaries, and to what extent are these attributable to project interventions?
• What changes have occurred in off-farm income and income-generating activities (IGAs) among beneficiary households, including among women and youth?

●       To what extent have project interventions improved agricultural productivity, in terms of yields, input efficiency, and production costs?

●       To what extent have project interventions contributed to improved land management practices among smallholder farmers including soil conservation, reduced chemical inputs, and land rehabilitation?

• How do income and productivity gains differ across districts, gender, and household types?

 

Primary Research Question 2: How do the value chains in which beneficiary farmers participate support or constrain income and productivity outcomes, and how have project interventions strengthened these linkages?

• What is the structure of the value chains in which HORAS beneficiaries participate, and how do power dynamics, pricing, and access to markets shape smallholder income?
• To what extent have project-supported value chain interventions (including market linkages, cooperative development, and supply chain traceability) translated into improved income or bargaining power for smallholders?
• What role do income-generating activities (IGAs) including those promoted by women's groups and cooperatives, play in household income diversification?
• What constraints in the value chain have limited smallholders from capturing a greater share of the value they produce?

 

3.2 Thematic Focus Areas

The study shall address the following four interconnected thematic domains. These are not assessed in isolation, the Service Provider is expected to analyse the linkages between them:

 

Theme 1: Livelihood - On-Farm and Off-Farm Income

The study shall assess household-level income changes attributable to project interventions, covering:

• On-farm income: changes in revenue from palm oil production (yield and price received) and from other on-farm activities (livestock) or farm-based activities supported by the project
• Off-farm income: changes in income from wage labour, trade, processing, and project-supported income-generating activities (IGAs), including those led by women's groups and cooperatives
• Income diversification: extent to which the project has reduced over-dependence on palm oil revenue and supported diversified livelihood strategies
• Household welfare: whether income changes have translated into improved ability to meet basic needs and local livelihood protection thresholds

Analysis must be disaggregated by gender, and where possible by district and household type (e.g. landholding size, head of household, size of household, etc).

 

Theme 2: Agricultural Productivity

The study shall assess changes in the productive performance of smallholder palm oil farming attributable to project support, including:

• Yield: changes in palm oil yield (ton/ha/year) among trained farmers compared to pre-project levels or non-beneficiary comparators
• Input efficiency: changes in the use and cost of inputs (fertilisers, pesticides) per unit of output following adoption of Better Management Practices (BMP) or Regenerative Agriculture
• Practice adoption: the degree to which project-promoted practices (including Regenerative Agriculture principles) have been adopted and maintained
• Knowledge and skills: extent to which improved knowledge among trained farmers has translated into observable changes in farm management behaviour

The Service Provider shall assess not only whether productivity increased, but through what mechanisms — and whether gains are sustainable without continued project support.

 

Theme 3: Value Chain - Linkages to Income and Productivity

The study shall analyse the value chains in which HORAS Project beneficiaries participate, focusing specifically on how value chain dynamics shape income and productivity outcomes:

• Value chain mapping: structure of the palm oil supply chain from smallholder to mill to buyer, including the roles of cooperatives, aggregators, and certification bodies
• Income linkages: how value chain position, pricing mechanisms, and market access determine the income smallholders receive for their produce and how project interventions have shifted this
• Productivity linkages: how access to inputs, technical support, and market information (through the value chain or project-supported mechanisms) has influenced farm-level productivity
• Certification and traceability: the extent to which RSPO certification and supply chain traceability have opened new markets or improved prices for certified smallholders
• IGA linkages: how project-supported income-generating activities connect to or complement primary value chains, and the income they generate

Constraints and opportunities: key bottlenecks in the value chain that limit smallholder income capture, and areas where the project has or has not addressed these

 

Theme 4: Ecology and Livelihoods - Sustainable Production and Deforestation

The study shall examine the relationship between the project's livelihood and productivity interventions and ecological outcomes, with a specific focus on the deforestation nexus:

• Sustainable production practices: the extent to which BMP Regenerative Agriculture practices adopted by beneficiaries contribute to more environmentally sustainable land management (soil health, reduced chemical inputs, biodiversity)
• Deforestation linkages: analysis of whether and how improved income and productivity from project interventions reduce the pressure on smallholders to expand into forested areas and whether any unintended expansion has occurred
• Sustainable livelihood ecology nexus: the degree to which the project has succeeded in demonstrating that improved livelihoods and ecological sustainability are complementary rather than competing goals

This thematic area should draw on both primary qualitative data (farmer and community perspectives on land use decisions) and available secondary ecological data.

 

3.3 Evaluation Framework: OECD DAC Criteria

All findings shall be analysed and structured through the five OECD DAC Evaluation Criteria. The table below defines how each criterion applies to the HORAS Project context:

 

Criterion	Guiding Question	Application to HORAS Project
Relevance	Is the project doing the right things for the right people?	●       Assess whether project interventions: BMP training, value chain support, IGA development, certification are well-matched to the actual income and productivity constraints of smallholder farmers in the six target districts ●       Examine alignment with local livelihood realities, market conditions, and the actual structure of palm oil value chains
Effectiveness	Is the project achieving what it set out to do?	●       Evaluate the degree to which project activities have generated the intended income, productivity, value chain, and ecological outcomes. ●       Assess quality, reach, and equity of delivery including whether marginalised groups (women, smallholder youth) have benefited.
Impact	What early signs of change can be observed at this stage of the project (Year 2–3 of 5), and to what extent are these plausibly linked to project interventions?	●       Assess early signs of change in key outcome areas including revenue patterns, agricultural practices, value chain participation, and land management behaviour that can be plausibly attributed to project interventions at this stage. Where income data is limited or premature, the analysis should focus on precursor indicators such as changes in yield, input use, market access, and adoption of sustainable practices. ●       Identify any early unintended effects both positive (e.g. increased interest in sustainable practices among non-beneficiary neighbouring farmers) and negative (e.g. early signs of input price distortion or land use pressure) noting that full attribution of impact outcomes is expected only at project end.
Sustainability	Will benefits continue after the project ends?	●       Assess the durability of income gains, productivity improvements, practice adoption, cooperative and IGA viability, and ecological outcomes beyond the project period ●       Examine local institutional capacity, farmer ownership of practices, and the financial sustainability of cooperatives and market linkages.
Coherence	How well does the project fit with other initiatives and policies?	●       Evaluate alignment of HORAS interventions with national and provincial policies on palm oil, forestry, and rural development, as well as with RSPO standards and buyer sustainability commitments. ●       Assess complementarity with other interventions in the same geography and supply chain, and identify potential overlaps or contradictions.

 

3.4 Methodology

The Service Provider shall propose a rigorous mixed-methods impact evaluation design that combines quantitative and qualitative approaches. The methodology must be appropriate for attributing observed changes to project interventions in a context where randomised control is not feasible.

 

 

Quantitative methods

•            Household survey across the six target districts using a structured questionnaire covering on-farm income, off-farm income, IGA participation, productivity indicators (yield, input costs), value chain participation, and adoption of sustainable practices

•            Sample size sufficient for district-level comparisons and gender disaggregation; the Service Provider shall propose and justify the sampling approach in the Inception Report

•            Trend analysis for production performance, land condition, and related indicators over the project period, using a quantitative approach based on secondary data collected through desk review (e.g. yield statistics, land cover data, certification records, input use data).

 

Qualitative methods

•            Key informant interviews (KIIs) with value chain actors (mill representatives, cooperative leaders, input suppliers, donor representative), local government officials, and SNV project staff

•            Focus group discussions (FGDs) with beneficiary smallholders, disaggregated by gender - with dedicated women-only FGDs to capture gender-specific income and IGA dynamics

•            Field observations of farm practices, cooperative operations, and IGA activities where feasible

 

Secondary data

•            Review of project monitoring data, training records, and cooperative databases to triangulate primary findings

•            Land cover data to inform the deforestation and land use change analysis

•            Review of RSPO certification records, supply chain traceability data, and market price data for value chain analysis

 

Attribution approach

•            Contribution analysis based on the project's theory of change to establish plausible causal linkages between interventions and observed outcomes

•            The Service Provider shall make the attribution logic explicit and transparent, distinguishing between outcomes primarily attributable to the project and those driven by external factors (e.g. commodity price movements, government programmes)

 

3.5 Deliverables

 

No	Deliverable	Content Requirements	Format	Deadline
1	Inception Report Minimum: Evaluation Matrix	Completed Evaluation Matrix (see Annex A) mapping each research question to: data sources, collection methods, indicators, and analysis approach - approved by SNV MEL Officer before field work begins Finalised methodology with rationale for design choices Sampling plan with district-level and gender breakdown Draft data collection instruments (HH survey, FGD guide, KII guide) Work plan with field calendar and key milestones	Word + Matrix table	End June 2026
2	Narrative Impact Report	Executive summary and key findings Background, methodology, and limitations Findings structured by the five OECD DAC criteria Thematic analysis across all four focus areas: on-farm income, off-farm income and IGA, agricultural productivity, value chain dynamics, and ecology–livelihood linkages Quantitative findings with appropriate statistical treatment; qualitative findings with thematic analysis Gender-disaggregated income and participation analysis Attribution analysis: what outcomes can be plausibly linked to HORAS interventions versus external factors Enabling factors, challenges encountered, and lessons learned Actionable recommendations for SNV and future programming	Word document (max 60 pages, excl. annexes)	October 2026
3	Impact Factsheet	Concise visual summary of the most important impact findings across income, productivity, value chain, and ecology themes Key headline figures with brief explanatory text Infographics and data visualisations suitable for external audiences (donors, government, buyers) Maximum 2 A4 pages; designed for non-technical readers	2-page PDF / design file	November 2026
4	Slide Deck Impact Presentation	Quantitative impact findings: income change, productivity change, IGA outcomes, ecological indicators Qualitative findings: farmer narratives, case studies illustrating change pathways Qualitative and enabling factors: what conditions, policy environment, market dynamics, institutional support, project approach - made outcomes possible Challenges encountered: what limited impact, including value chain constraints, gender barriers, ecological pressures, and external shocks Lessons learned: transferable insights for SNV and partners on what works, what does not, and why Recommendations for future programming Maximum 25 slides; suitable for presentation to SNV leadership, government, and donor	PowerPoint (max 25 slides)	November 2026

 

 

4. Data Quality Assurance

Data quality will be ensured throughout the assignment through a combination of basic validation checks, internal consistency reviews, and triangulation across data sources. All quantitative data collected through household surveys and secondary sources will be subject to cleaning and validation procedures prior to analysis. Qualitative data from KIIs and FGDs will be cross-checked for consistency across respondent groups and geographic areas. Any data limitations including gaps in baseline data, sampling constraints, or reliability issues with secondary source will be transparently acknowledged in the Inception Report and the final Narrative Report, together with the steps taken to mitigate their effect on the findings.

 

 

5. Selection Criteria

This assignment is open to firms, academic institutions, research institutions and individual (team).

Applicants will be evaluated based on the completeness of submitted documents and the quality of their technical proposal. Only institutions that submit a complete set of required documents — including the Expression of Interest (EOI), Professional Reference Form (PRF), and a technical proposal — will be considered for evaluation.

Among all complete submissions, those whose proposals best align with the ToR in terms of methodological approach and result analysis framework will be shortlisted to proceed to the next stage of the selection process

 

 

6. Evaluation criteria

Criteria	Maximum score
Technical expertise in impact evaluation of agricultural/rural livelihoods programmes, including demonstrated application of OECD DAC evaluation criteria Team composition, value for money, and demonstrated capacity to operate across six districts within the 4-month timeframe	35%
Experience in value chain analysis in the palm oil sector or comparable smallholder commodity systems in Indonesia or Southeast Asia	20%
Demonstrated expertise in mixed-methods research: household income surveys, FGDs, and qualitative impact assessment in smallholder agricultural contexts	20%
Demonstrated expertise in mixed-methods research: household income surveys, FGDs, and qualitative impact assessment in smallholder agricultural contexts	15%
Quality of technical proposal and draft Evaluation Matrix submitted with Expression of Interest	10%
TOTAL	100%

 

 

7. Contract project fees and duration

The service is planned to run for a duration of six months, with an anticipated start in early June 2026.

 

 

8. Payment terms

Payment / Invoice Term	Milestone	Linked Deliverable(s)
Payment 1 30%	Contract signed and Inception Report accepted by SNV MEL Officer	Deliverable 1
Payment 2 40%	Draft Narrative Impact Report and Impact Factsheet accepted by SNV	Deliverables 2 & 3
Payment Final 30%	Final versions of all deliverables accepted by SNV, including revised Narrative Report and Slide Deck	All deliverables (final)

 

 

9. Key compliance issues

The Service Provider must comply with:

•            SNV's Environmental and Social Safeguard (ESS) policies and standards

•            SNV's Code of Conduct, Anti-Corruption, and Anti-Fraud policies

•            SNV's Child Safeguarding Policy

•            Do No Harm principles in all field activities and beneficiary interactions

•            Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) standards for all community and farmer engagement

•            Responsible and ethical data management: informed consent from all respondents, data   

               anonymisation, and secure storage

•            Gender-responsive research practices: all instruments and sampling must enable gender-

               disaggregated analysis

 

 

10. Due diligence Instructions

 

All prospective consultants are subject to SNV's standard due diligence screening prior to contract award, including verification of organisational integrity, financial standing, conflict of interest, and compliance with SNV's partner requirements.

 

 

11. Procurement Timeline

The procurement timeline for the whole competitive processed conducted for this assignment as follows:

NO	Process	Period
1	Tender Announcement	Tue, 28-Apr-26	Sun, 10-May-26
2	Aanwijzing (clarification session)	Wed, 06-May-26	Wed, 06-May-26
3	Tender Closing	Sun, 10-May-26	Sun, 10-May-26
4	Evaluation Tender Proposal	Tue, 12-May-26	Tue, 12-May-26
5	Interview Session	Fri, 22-May-26	Fri, 22-May-26
6	Tender Result	Mon, 25-May-26	Fri, 29-May-26
7	Due Diligence Process	Fri, 29-May-26	Sun, 31-May-26
8	Contract Drafting	Mon, 01-Jun-26	Tue, 02-Jun-26
9	Start Engagement	Fri, 05-Jun-26	Fri, 05-Jun-26

 

 

12. Submission Requirements

SNV invites interested service provider (firms, academic institutions, and research institutions) to submit a comprehensive proposal no later than Sunday, 10^th May 2026 to the following email address: indonesia-procurement@snv.org with Subject “PR133 Impact Measurement HORAS”

Your proposal should include the following documents:

1. Expression of Interest (EoI) --> template provided

• Complete and submit the provided EoI template.

2. Technical Proposals
   • Proposed tools and methodology
   • Implementation plan and timeline

• Detail CV and experiences of Team Member

3. Financial Proposal (RFQ) --> template provided
   • Service fees (roles and number of personnel)
   • Other relevant costs (please specify)
4. Sample of Previous Work
   Preferably similar to the assignment described, i.e activity report on promoting behavior change; campaign plan, etc.
5. List of Relevant Past Assignments
   Include detailed descriptions and timelines of similar projects
6. Company Profile: Provide a comprehensive overview of your organization, highlighting relevant experience, operational capabilities, and geographical coverage.
7. Conflict of Interest Checklist
   Completed and signed Conflict of Interest checklist, confirming no actual, potential, or perceived conflict related to this assignment

You can access the shared folder containing the Tender announcement and Templates provided for the proposal for this service via the following link: https://bit.ly/PR112-113-133_TenderDocument

 

 

13. Aanwijzing

 

SNV has scheduled a half-day clarification session (“Aanwijzing”) for interested Travel Agent Company (bidders/applicants) on Wednesday, 06 May 2026, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM via Microsoft Teams (online session).

 

Registration is required and must be completed by Tuesday, 07 May 2026.
To sign up, please fill out this short form: https://bit.ly/PR112-113-133_Aanwijzing

 

 

DISCLAIMER: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of SNV. SNV accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email.