Request For Comments - Draft Statement Of Work (SOW).pdf

SOLICITATION TYPE: Request for Comments Draft Statement of Work (SOW)

PROGRAM NAME: USAID Livestock Market Systems Resilience Activity

ISSUANCE DATE: January 14, 2022

TO: ALL INTERESTED PARTIES

The purpose of this pre-solicitation notice is to communicate with industry regarding the

Government's upcoming requirement for the anticipated USAID Livestock Market Systems

Resilience Activity. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), represented by the

Economic Growth and Agriculture Development Team in USAID Port-au-Prince Haiti is issuing this Pre-Solicitation Notice. The anticipated contract’s goal is to increase the resilience of households and communities in the Northern and Southern Resilience Focus Zones through the improvement of the livestock market system.

USAID values ideas and information provided by industry and seeks their input. Responses to this notice are NOT considered offers and CANNOT be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. USAID is not seeking technical or cost proposals at this time. Please do not submit a full proposal as it will not be reviewed and will be discarded.

Responses to this Notice are strictly voluntary and USAID will NOT reimburse for the preparation of information submitted. Submissions in response to this NOTICE will NOT be returned and respondents will NOT be notified of the results of the review. Respondents may, however, receive a confirmation of receipt of the response.

By responding to this NOTICE, there will be no advantage to any entity in any subsequent procurement. This Notice does NOT restrict the Government’s acquisition approach on a future solicitation.

Please submit comments, questions, recommendations no later than Friday, February 04, 2022, to Agnès Léon at aleon@usaid.gov and the undersigned at amenicucci@usaid.gov.

Sincerely, Alina Menicucci

Contracting Officer

Alina Menicucci

Digitally signed by Alina Menicucci Date: 2022.01.14 13:20:46 -06'00'

STATEMENT OF WORK

USAID Livestock Market Systems Resilience Activity

I. INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the USAID/Haiti Livestock Market Systems Resilience Activity is to increase the resilience of households and communities in the Northern and Southern Resilience Focus Zones through the improvement of the livestock market system. The Livestock Market Systems

Resilience Activity will utilize inclusive, market-based approaches to sustainably intensify livestock production, strengthen animal health and advisory services, increase access to input and output markets, improve processing and marketing operations, while catalyzing private sector engagement and access to finance. Activities will be centered in two Resilience Focus Zones

(RFZ); one is located in the southern region (South Department) and the other in parts of the north

(North, Northeast and Plateau Central Departments). Employing an inclusive market systems approach, interventions will improve the productivity and competitiveness of the cattle (dairy and beef), poultry (eggs and meat), and small ruminant sub-sectors, which will increase the resilience of households, communities, and livestock systems to the multivariate shocks that Haiti faces. The shocks include climate change and extreme weather events, the ongoing secondary effects of the

COVID-19 pandemic and potential emergence of other diseases, conflict and violence, and weak governance and systems.

This Statement of Work is grounded in the following key principles of working in the livestock sector in the northern and southern Resilience Focus Zones:

● Strategically leveraging existing organizations and institutions including local and non-traditional partners drives inclusive development of local markets that better align local market demand with quality goods.

● Strengthening market system resilience in a manner that maintains market system function and builds adaptability of the system helps individuals, organizations, and institutions to respond to changing opportunities and constraints.

● Concentrating interventions and investments in strategic focus zones, with simple, focused activities, is more effective, efficient, and manageable.

● Programmatic design and planning are based on manageable needs and priorities, in close consultation with direct stakeholders.

● Concrete involvement of local government, municipality, and community stakeholders early and at all stages of the implementation processes is crucial for long-term commitment, collaboration, and transformational outcomes.

The following sections will explain the foreseen challenges and opportunities; technical approach;

geographic scope; theory of change; relationship to USAID/Haiti’s Strategic Framework and other relevant Government of Haiti (GOH), donor, and USAID activities in Haiti; guiding principles;

and the implementation and performance requirements for the proposed activity.

II. BACKGROUND

Development Context

Haiti is one of the countries most exposed to natural disasters and climate change, with more than

96 percent of the population affected by shocks and stressors. Nearly half the population lives in rural areas, and a great majority of them rely on agriculture, livestock, and fisheries for their livelihoods. Food insecurity, exacerbated by the negative impact of climate change and political and economic instability, remains one of the biggest challenges that Haiti faces today. Haiti has high levels of food insecurity, where one in three people are in need of food assistance. Local food production meets only 45 percent of the country’s food needs, which leaves Haitians reliant upon imported food products and vulnerable to trade disruptions and currency fluctuations that affect local purchasing power as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic response. The recent outbreak of

Africa Swine Fever (ASF) is yet another serious shock to the livelihoods of the poor and marginalized populations that are already vulnerable and depend on livestock for income, savings, and a source of high-quality nutrients. Thus, there is an urgent need to help small farmers adopt strategies to increase their resilience in the face of shocks and stressors.

Over 70 percent of rural households grow food crops for both consumption and sale, with half of the rural population growing at least one cash crop. In addition, nearly 77 percent of households raise poultry, cattle or other livestock. The broad participation of rural households in livestock production demonstrates a clear opportunity to increase rural household incomes, positive nutritional outcomes, and food security by improving the productivity of the top three livestock that small farmers produce: 1) cattle for meat and dairy, 2) poultry for meat and eggs, and 3) small ruminants (i.e., goats and sheep).

The livestock sector is dynamic, despite being extremely underdeveloped, and thus, there are both opportunities and challenges in all aspects of production, processing, and marketing. Small holder farmers lack access to inputs and services such as quality animal feed and forages, animal health and veterinary services, extension and advisory services, financial services such as credit, and adequate land and water sources. Public veterinary services are constrained by a declining workforce and insufficient funding. Inadequate animal health and veterinary services including weak disease surveillance systems represents a significant systemic vulnerability and impedance to household resilience. Post-harvest food loss as well as safe food production are impeded by a lack of storage, processing facilities, reliable energy required for cold chains and processing, and food safety and quality control systems. Rural producer’s access to markets is hampered by poor road infrastructure and gang violence along travel routes, which limit transport and opportunities to supply large markets. Livestock theft, particularly of cattle and goats, is an ongoing challenge and additional stressor to livestock keeping households. Low import duties for many livestock products and low productivity of livestock systems impedes the competitiveness of the livestock sector, which acts as a disincentive to private sector investment in the domestic market.

Findings from a 2014 World Bank Study on the challenges and opportunities for rural development in Haiti1 demonstrate that crop diversification is correlated with higher agricultural productivity and incomes. In addition, keeping livestock is positively correlated with higher agricultural productivity. While diversification alone is not a path out of poverty, it is a means to increase the household, community, and market’s ability to bounce back from inevitable shocks and stressors.

Farming systems that include crops and livestock production also benefit from environmental resource use efficiencies and nutrient cycling, which can lead to improved soil health when managed appropriately. Increasing productivity will increase the supply of targeted commodities and the sector’s ability to meet local market demand. Improved marketing has the potential to increase profitability and employment opportunities throughout the livestock market system.

Finally, increased access to finance and private sector engagement would make the sector more competitive and drive innovation.

Request for Information

In September 2021, USAID solicited feedback via a Request for Information (RFI) from a broad range of stakeholders and experts. Respondents provided detailed information regarding the incorporation of new, innovative, proven, and/or promising solutions to improve the livestock sector (cattle, poultry, goats, sheep, eggs, and dairy) and to increase the resilience of communities in the Northern and Southern Resilience Focus Zones in Haiti.

The RFI sought information and feedback about the underdeveloped livestock sector including production and productivity, the potential for private sector engagement, environmental considerations, and current and past success in the sector. Respondents agreed that the livestock sector offers opportunity for growth as market demands for goods, especially dairy products remain high, and as domestic demand is unmet. Although a multitude of bottlenecks were listed, respondents labeled many of these challenges as realistic opportunities as well. One opportunity the majority of respondents flagged was access to animal health services including vaccines and training for new veterinary agents and veterinary technicians. Strengthening inputs and services for improved livestock production such as the bolstering of animal health services and quality feed and forage were mentioned as additional opportunities to increase livestock productivity.

Another identified opportunity is to build upon previous investments by partnering with the private sector. This would allow for the modernization and expansion of production and processing facilities such as production units, mini-dairies and slaughterhouses, cold chain development, and the scaling of successful business models that weave smallholder farmers into diverse value chains.

Many respondents highlighted the success of the Lèt Agogo branded mini-dairy network, developed by Vetrimed, a local non-governmental organization. Opportunities to engage the private sector and independent and functioning local organizations direct milk collection and processing operations. Private sector engagement has the potential to bridge the gap and enable farmers’ access to urban supermarkets and other distributors. Respondents also highlighted the opportunities to engage the private sector to develop and expand the poultry sector, though it is hindered by competition from imported cheap chicken pieces. Respondents underscored the success of Haiti Broiler that supplies chicks and feed. Small broiler farms exist for customers who https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/pt/976171468032682306/pdf/955400WP0Box390portunities00PUBLIC0

.pdf prefer a local product, especially for celebrations, suggesting that private sector engagement could also bolster and expand this market segment.

Respondents provided inputs on environmental solutions that are community-led and farmer managed approaches to increase livestock productivity with proper attention to environmental stewardship. Environmental degradation caused by open grazing was a significant challenge raised by respondents. Suggestions to curtail open grazing ranged from rotational grazing schemes to zero-grazing systems to fodder production as well as a recognition of the challenges to implement these approaches. Additional suggested priorities included emphasis on agrosilvopastoral systems, promoting the use of livestock production byproducts, increasing farm diversification, and the adoption of climate smart and regenerative agricultural practices.

III. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Livestock systems as a key to household resilience and target for resilience building

Over 90 percent of the meat produced in Haiti comes from small producers with nearly half a million households owning cattle, 800,000 producers involved in poultry, and over 600,000 producers raising goats and sheep. In all agro-ecological zones, livestock is often associated with agricultural production activities. Livestock is thus a very promising avenue to build the resilience of a significant proportion of the population through the diversification of production systems and livelihood options. Livestock also represent an opportunity to build and increase financial inclusion since livestock serve as an important savings mechanism for rural families. Furthermore, livestock provide significant nutritional benefits through the provision of animal-source foods, which supply many nutrients that are critical for health and growth, especially for women of reproductive age and children. In Haiti, milk and eggs are the most consumed animal-source food products by farmers while meat animals are mostly saved and sold for specific events. Livestock market systems offer on- and off-farm employment opportunities, which can support the mitigation of internal and international migration.

Climatic shocks and stresses, such as drought, increasingly irregular rainfall patterns, hurricanes, severe storms, and recurrent flooding have been a constant and growing challenge to agricultural production in Haiti. Significant changes in average temperature and precipitation can adversely affect livestock productivity, post-harvest handling, and storage, all of which have serious implications for rural households’ income and well-being. Livestock systems are also vulnerable to social and health-related shocks such as conflict, livestock theft, disease, pests, and predators.

Strengthening the resilience of livestock systems by protecting livestock as household assets is a key avenue to strengthening the resilience of livestock keeping households.

Market Systems Approach

Well-functioning market systems are competitive (system actors are able to innovate and add value to their products and services to match market demand), inclusive (the market system delivers sustainable benefits to all the system actors, including poor and marginalized groups), and resilient

(system actors and segments are able to absorb and overcome shocks and stresses affecting the market system). Market system development involves identifying and minimizing the causes of market failures as well as creating incentives for relevant actors to invest in developing and sustaining productive relationships for the efficient and resilient delivery of goods and services.

Effective incentives encourage behavior change among individuals, communities, and institutions to increase system performance, enhance competitiveness, and strengthen resilience to social and environmental shocks and stressors. Inclusive market system development also builds the capacity, competitiveness, and resilience of local systems, leverages the motivations and resources of the private sector, ensures beneficial inclusion of society as a whole, and stimulates change and innovation that continues to progress beyond the life of the project. Market systems development primarily utilizes a facilitative approach with direct service delivery implemented strategically and sparingly. Strengthened coordination and improved information flow between market system actors through efforts such as the promotion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the enhancement of platforms for communication between farmers, the public sector, the private sector, NGOs, producer associations, processing associations, and retailers also improves the performance, efficiency, inclusivity, and resilience of market systems.

Market systems resilience is “the ability of market systems to allocate resources, draw on system-level resources (such as social safety nets, social capital, the financial system, or government assistance), and innovate in order to solve problems in the face of shocks and stresses.2” Increasing the accessibility to inputs, services, and markets as well as promoting social cohesion and local decision-making enhances the transformative resilience capacity of the system by strengthening the enabling environment necessary for sustainable changes to be realized.3

Local Stakeholder Collaboration

Strategic and proactive engagement among key stakeholders within an industry or sector improves the identification and definition of critical economic and social development problems; strengthens the design and implementation of promising solutions to those problems, including the use of market-based approaches; enhances social cohesion; and increases the sustainable impact of our respective interventions. The activity will work and collaborate with the Government of Haiti

(GOH), the private sector, donors, local governments, community leaders, industry associations, producer groups, and other relevant organizations. USAID is interested in strategically leveraging the efforts of existing organizations, associations, and institutions that have a history of functioning effectively for synergy and scale up.

IV. TECHNICAL APPROACH

The Haiti Resilient Livestock Market System Activity will contribute to increased resilience of households and communities in the Northern and Southern Resilience Focus Zones through the improvement of livestock market systems. This goal is supported by three primary, intertwined objectives:

1. Improve productivity of the livestock sector in the Resilience Focus Zones

2. Increase the accessibility of inputs and services in the livestock market systems https://www.usaid.gov/documents/1866/market-systems-resilience-framework-measurement https://www.fsnnetwork.org/sites/default/files/2021-

03/Resilience%20and%20Resilience%20Capacities%20Measurement%20Options%20Full%20Approach%20Metho dological%20Guide2021.pdf

3. Improve marketing4 and private sector engagement in the sector

The Activity will employ market system approaches that focus on the following three sub-sectors:

1) cattle for dairy and meat, 2) poultry for meat and eggs, and 3) small ruminants (goats and sheep).

The Activity will focus on the top three livestock species raised by smallholder farmers in Haiti, and it is expected that many of the market system strengthening approaches will benefit multiple sub-sectors concurrently.

Objective 1: Improve productivity of the livestock sector in the Resilience Focus Zones

The first objective of this activity is focused on improving the productivity of livestock systems based on the interests and capacity of smallholder livestock keepers to adopt sound practices that result in financial, social, and environmental benefits. Interventions to sustainably improve the productivity of the livestock sector vary based on the livestock species, production system, and agroecology. Productivity gains can be realized through the strategic improvement of any or all of the following: animal feed and forage, animal health products and veterinary service, genetics and breeds, and animal care and herd management. Advancements in each of these areas increase productivity for the smallholder livestock keeper through the adoption of improved technologies, management practices and approaches. However, the full benefits will not be realized unless the technologies are introduced through market-based, integrated packages that are agro-ecologically and socially appropriate for the target farming systems. For livestock systems, many interventions to increase productivity offer co-benefits of increasing adaptation to climate change and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. The Livestock Market Systems Resilience Activity must promote sustainable adoption of climate smart technologies and practices by smallholder livestock keepers in coordination with the Government of Haiti, local organizations, and the private sector to facilitate an increase in production and the diversification of the type of livestock products generated.

The Livestock Market Systems Resilience Activity must build the capacity of farmers and other local actors, in an inclusive manner guided by the USAID Local Capacity Development Policy, to improve productivity through the adoption of proven, market-based technologies, management practices, and approaches. The activity must include approaches that increase household and livestock system resilience including the promotion of appropriate livestock breeds, management practices that are climate smart, and approaches that encourage sustainable landscape management, and help livestock keepers to better manage risk. Livestock are household assets that are themselves vulnerable to climatic shocks and stressors, social shocks such as conflict and livestock theft, and health-related shocks such as disease, pests, and predators. This activity could implement interventions that increase information flows, combat livestock theft such as animal identification systems and enhanced collaboration with local authorities as well as allow access to financial management products and digital ICT to help farmers to better manage risk and protect their livestock assets. Standard Feed the Future Indicators5 such as the application of improved technologies and management practices, increased asset ownership, yield, and sales will measure the success of this objective.

Marketing includes the actors and activities that affect consumer demand and the ability of producers to reach their end market destination safely and efficiently–from postharvest to final sales.

https://www.feedthefuture.gov/resource/feed-the-future-handbook-of-indicator-definitions/

Objective 2: Increase the accessibility of inputs and services in the livestock market system

Sustainable and resilient supply chains for producer inputs and services such as appropriate improved young stock,6 animal feed, animal health products, and veterinary services are critical to advancing productivity and encouraging investment in the system. Market-based approaches to increasing access to agricultural inputs and services create long-term linkages between farmers, market actors, and agribusinesses in the supply chains, broadens the engagement in the market, and increases effectiveness, profitability with concomitant benefits to the environment, and animal and human health. Inclusive development of local markets also includes efforts to drive demand for products and services from agribusinesses in the supply chain while also supporting and driving innovation. Targeted groups of the Livestock Market Systems Activity, including youth and women, will be empowered to take advantage of economic opportunities and access reliable sources of these inputs and services.

Cost, quality, and seasonal availability of feed resources is one of the key determinants to improving the productivity of livestock market systems. Concentrated feed and feed components

(e.g., soybean meal, maize, bran) are mainly used for intensive poultry farming as well as pig and rabbit production in Haiti. Although some feed is prepared locally, the majority is imported from other countries, including the Dominican Republic. Access to imported feed is constrained by high, fluctuating prices and vulnerable supply chains made more pronounced by COVID-19. This activity must work to improve access to reliable sources of feed through market-based approaches such as supporting the importation of large quantities of feed and feed components where Haiti’s production is insufficient, reinvigorating competition between importers, and increasing local capacity to produce or add value to feed. Proposed interventions to increase access to feed must build on prior experience of the private sector in this subsector, for example, the experiences and lessons learned from Manufacture, Fabrication and Transformation (MFT) S.A., Haitian Broilers, etc. Fodder and forages are particularly important to the livestock that are less reliant on concentrated feeds such as cattle and goats. Access to forages and fodder in the dry season and during droughts is a significant constraint to the growth of the livestock sector. This activity must increase the availability of forages and fodder through the promotion of agro ecologically appropriate forages, increase use of crop by-products, and management practices that improve production such as improved seeds, intercropping, manure use, processing (e.g., hay, silage), and storage. The feed and forage sectors also offer a wealth of on- and off-farm employment opportunities. Where possible, The Livestock Market Systems Resilience Activity will build off of the success of the USAID Reforestation Project by promoting integrated agro-sylvo pastoral systems that are agro-ecologically appropriate, synergize animal, forage, and crop production and conserve soil and water. This activity should build the capacity of system actors, particularly youth and women, to take advantage of income-generating opportunities and work through the private sector to deliver inputs and services, where appropriate.

To improve access to animal health products and veterinary services, this activity will apply a market-based approach to strengthen the provision of veterinary services and products. In Haiti, USAID is particularly interested in improving animal stock through appropriate, proven methods such as community-based breeding of ruminant species or increasing access to young stock of poultry (e.g parent stock one-day old chicks) that meet livestock keeper needs, and USAID is not interested in improving genetic stock through the importation of exotic genetics or breeds of ruminant species that are not appropriate for the target farming systems.

the primary customers for veterinary pharmacies are community veterinary workers, which supply veterinary products to farmers as part of their service provision. In addition to strengthening the connections between agro-vets, animal health paraprofessionals and consumers, this activity must facilitate the improvement and resilience of the supply chains including the system supplying agro-veterinary stores and veterinary pharmacies with quality products. Strengthening the provision of veterinary services will improve animal health, epidemiological surveillance services, and food safety assurance of dairy, meat, and egg products. Building on positive results achieved through the animal health groups (i.e., Gwoupman Sante Bet in creole), this activity must increase the capacity and reach of the veterinary workforce and facilitate access to the equipment needed to provide services, which may include veterinary products, medical equipment, and transportation, according to their needs and financial capacity.

Water is critical for all livestock, though the needs per animal vary significantly by species and their conditions of husbandry, activity, and environment. Inadequate amounts of water, particularly during the dry season and droughts, constrains animal productivity and forage production, and increases vulnerability to environmental shocks. This activity will increase access to solutions that help smallholder livestock keepers better deal with water access challenges such as, but not limited to, the construction of water access ponds for drought, refurbishment of wells, and fodder conservation practices.

Producers who have access to a diversity of financial services that provide liquidity and risk mitigation are better able to access markets, demand quality goods and services, and adopt improved technologies and management practices. Increased access to credit and other financial services can expand smallholder farmers’ limited purchasing power, which is a constraint to their ability to access quality inputs and services. This activity could collaborate with other USAID and donor activities to facilitate increased access to existing financial services such as credit and savings schemes to support income generation and strengthen resilience. Financing schemes that support inclusive development of market systems could also encourage market system entry and equitable access to related benefits for marginalized groups, including poor households, women, and youth.

Households and communities are more resilient if they have access to information needed to make strategic decisions to mitigate risk, build and protect their assets, and recover from shocks and stressors in a way that protects their wellbeing. Households, communities, and system actors are also more resilient if they plan for and adapt to shocks and stresses to mitigate future risk and where possible prevent negative impacts. This activity will simultaneously work through and build the capacity of public and private extension and advisory services. Efforts to increase household resilience could also consider coordinating with other USAID and donor funded activities that work to increase access to market systems information and improve early warning systems. It is key to consider sustainability considerations up front and those considerations must be elaborated on to demonstrate the feasibility of the intervention. Feed the Future Standard Indicators such as improved organizational performance7 and sales will measure the success of this objective.

USAID is not interested in investing heavily into establishing new or building the organizational capacity of producer groups. USAID is particularly interested in strengthening the organizational capacity of public sector organizations and private sector firms, for example processors, feed suppliers, and private-sector-led animal health cooperatives.

See CBLD-9: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/CBLD-9-PIRS-FY21.pdf

Objective 3 - Improve marketing and private sector engagement in the livestock sector

Political instability, recurrent natural disasters, and high levels of poverty all contribute to the relative fragility of Haiti, which brings with it special considerations for private sector engagement.

In addition to facilitating connections at the intersection of shared value between business and development objectives, private sector engagement in the Haitian context must ensure that partnerships and alliances align with principles that foster stability and resilience such as the principle of Do No Harm8. Successful use of PSE as a lever to catalyze systemic change includes the ability to identify the incentives, appetite for risk, and drivers in decision-making across these private sector actors. The promotion of private sector engagement in livestock market systems must result in new private investments and new market-based relationships between private businesses and smallholders that result in positive return on investment for the businesses and new opportunities for marginalized smallholders and micro entrepreneurs. As firms expand investment and broaden their exchange of goods and services with more smallholders, the smallholders become the businesses’ suppliers and/or customers. Broadened engagement and strengthened relationships lead to inclusive market systems, a foundation for more empowered people, and eventually, the generation of demand for improved systems of governance. Private sector co-design and co-funding of activities must be pursued, particularly in areas with high likelihood of mutual benefits such as technical training and vocational education, supporting innovation and entry into new markets and geographies, and improving information flows to consumers.

The Livestock Market Systems Resilience Activity will utilize a private sector engagement approach that strategically capitalizes upon ongoing efforts and initiatives including existing entities and organizations. The Haitian livestock sector is characterized by the involvement of a small, but dynamic private sector. This activity will strengthen and expand engagement to facilitate transformational change in this sector. The Haitian agricultural sector offers multiple opportunities for engagement with existing private sector actors including early adopters of semi-intensive production (e.g., broiler and layer units; goat and cattle breeding farms), mini-dairy networks, private slaughterhouses, importers of day-old chicks and agricultural equipment, hatcheries, agricultural input suppliers, agricultural service suppliers, feed component importers and feed mills, processors, transporters, and retailers.

Interventions to improve the marketing of animal source food products should consider factors that spur consumer demand as well as the various requirements that enable market access, including the hygienic collection, slaughter, processing and transport of animal-source food products; food safety control mechanisms that prioritize consumer well-being; natural resource management; and the fostering of a competitive market system.

In addition to strengthening the linkages to smallholder farmers, processors, retailers, and other market actors, this activity, where possible, will use market-based approaches to improve the efficiency of existing slaughterhouses, slaughter slabs, and other animal source food processing units in partnership with actors that have the capacity and interest in sustainably improving management, maintenance, and hygienic production conditions. Building on existing and promising private initiatives, this activity must increase the volume of safe livestock commodities https://www.marketlinks.org/resources/primer-private-sector-engagement-fragile-and-conflict-affected-situations sold on both the informal and formal Haitian markets. This activity could partner with existing production and processing units to increase the provision of locally produced chicken and eggs on the Haitian market. This activity could broaden access to safe dairy products from local sources.

Potential interventions include, but are not limited to training, technical supervision, research and risk-based assessments, as well as the facilitation of better access to consumer markets, reliable energy, water, supplies, or other infrastructure for refrigeration, processing, packaging, and transportation. Public resources for regulatory enforcement are limited in Haiti. In addition to building the capacity of veterinary services, USAID is interested in proven, innovative approaches to improve food safety such as co-regulation in which public and private sector actors are coordinated in a manner that spurs, through appropriate incentives, self-regulation such as certifications and voluntary assurance standards.

For the Livestock Market Systems Resilience Activity, USAID is not interested in supporting interventions that promote export or international trade of animal source food products. This activity will not work on national policy reforms or legislation. Indicators measuring marketing, private sector participation, and private sector investment will measure the success of this objective.

V. MANAGEMENT APPROACH

The Management Approach includes Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) as described in Section XII below and management and staffing proposed to effectively implement and monitor the activity. The Offeror must clearly describe the management and staffing proposed to ensure timely and effective implementation of the technical approach. Management and Staffing proposed must include, but are not limited to 1) key personnel; 2) technical and field staff; administrative staff; 3) office(s) location and staffing; and 4) special equipment and software needed. In addition to the above information, the Offeror must provide an organogram that clearly describes lines of supervision and communication. The entire key personnel and technical staff must be located within the Resilience Focus Zones.

VI. GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE

With a focus on market-based solutions, activities will be centered in two Resilience Focus Zones

(RFZ); one is located in the South Department and the other in the North-North East-Upper Central

Plateau region. The two RFZs have an estimated total population of 1.2 million - RFZ 1 (North) having an estimated population of 703,000 and RFZ 2 (South) with an estimated population of

465,000. The Northern RFZ includes part of the North Department, the North-East and the three northernmost communes of the upper Central Plateau. The Northern part Resilience Focus Zone includes humid plains (Plaine du Nord, Saint-Raphael), a drier plain in the North-East (Maribaroux plain). A mountain range separates the Northern range of the RFZ from its Southern part that includes several communes of the Upper Central Plateau. The plains and surrounding hillsides are characterized by the production of many crops, including cereals, legumes, vegetables, plantain, roots, tubers, and various tree crops. Depending on the communes and the different ecosystems, farmers in the Northern Resilience Focus zone are heavily involved in animal husbandry, including the species and commodities considered for this activity. Farm animals represent strategic assets and an important source of income there. The mountain range bordering the Upper Central Plateau had been an important coffee production area in the past. Animal husbandry is also important in the area. The average farm size in the Northern RFZ is less than one hectare, although larger farms can be found, particularly in the plains and in the Central Plateau. The Northern RFZ has been affected by a severe drought in recent years and this has negatively impacted livestock. Parts of this region have also been subject to flooding caused by sporadic heavy rainfalls and by hurricanes.

In the past ten years, USAID has made significant investments in various sectors in this region, especially agriculture.

The Southern RFZ includes Plaine des Cayes, Plaine de Torbeck and surrounding hillsides, along with a part of the South Coast. Farmers in this RFZ grow a combination of crops, depending on the local ecosystems, including cereals, legumes, vegetables, roots and tubers, fruits, cacao, and vetiver. The average farm size is similar to that of the Northern RFZ, less than one hectare. Livestock is also an important part of the livelihood mix in this RFZ that hosts the most important cattle market in Haiti. Farmers in the South are generally involved in animal husbandry, including the species and commodities considered for this activity. Less affected by drought than the Northern RFZ, this area is however more prone to hurricanes.

VII. THEORY OF CHANGE

IF…

Households in the Resilience Focus Zones are able to increase the productivity of their livestock through improved, reliable access to markets, inputs, and services, particularly through the private sector

THEN…

The livestock market systems will be more resilient, competitive, and inclusive.

AND THEN…

Households and communities will be more resilient to shocks and stressors and experience increased food security.

VIII. RELATIONSHIP TO USAID/HAITI STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

The Livestock Market Systems Resilience Activity’s objectives and anticipated results are aligned with USAID/Haiti’s 2020-2022 Strategic Framework. Developed in consultation with GOH counterparts, private sector and civil society stakeholders, interagency colleagues, several former

U.S. Ambassadors and USAID Mission Directors to Haiti, and extensive discussion within the

Mission, the Strategic Framework summarizes USAID's commitment to a different approach to development in Haiti that generates measurable progress toward self-reliance. During the COVID-

19 pandemic, the emphasis on resilience in the Strategic Framework is especially relevant, as the impacts of economic restrictions, particularly for those in the informal economy, and limitations in the nutritional supply chain have exacerbated hunger and poverty for a population already experiencing extreme vulnerability. This Strategic Framework also acknowledges the multifaceted and interconnected nature of challenges in Haiti and thus takes an integrated approach to development programming, explicitly seeking to leverage efforts across multiple sectors, include the widest possible array of stakeholders, and generate sustainable positive momentum. USAID expects measurable results that indicate an improved ability for Haitians to be active and positive participants in shaping the direction of Haiti's development path. The 2020-2022 Strategic

Framework represents a significant strategic and tactical change, emphasizing a resilience-based approach and refocusing Government of Haiti (GOH) engagement toward the local level. USAID’s work thus seeks to build a Haiti that is more resilient to environmental, political, and economic shocks and stresses (Development Objective 1), advances more inclusive, locally driven economic growth and social development (Development Objective 2); to develop the capacities in people, households, communities, and systems that build inclusive prosperity and create local demand for improved governance.

Specifically, the Livestock Market Systems Resilience activity will further the following

Development Objectives and Intermediate Results:

● USAID Development Objective (DO) 1: Haiti is more Resilient to Shocks and Stressors

○ Intermediate Result (IR) 1.1: People and households better able to weather shocks and stresses

○ IR 1.2: Improved community assets and capacities support Haitians to withstand shocks and stresses at the local level

● DO2: More inclusive, locally-driven, economic growth and social development advanced

○ IR 2.1 More inclusive and productive workforce

○ IR 2.2: Economic opportunities expanded

USAID’s Performance Management Plan (PMP) describes outcome-based performance indicators at the IR level to monitor strategic performance progress towards the objectives and to respond to the Mission learning agenda. This activity will directly or indirectly contribute to the following indicators and linkages to the Strategic Framework must be incorporated into the Livestock Market

Systems Resilience Activity’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan (see table 1 below). The table below are the high-level indicators that many USAID/Haiti activities across multiple sectors will contribute to.

Table 1: PMP Indicators Intermediate Result 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, and 2.2

Intermediate Results Indicators

IR 1.1: People and households better able to weather shocks and stresses

1.1.3 Custom: Percentage of USAID activity

participants with improvement in targeted resilience capacities

IR 1.2: Improved community assets and capacities support Haitians to withstand shocks and stresses at the local level

Custom: Percentage of communities with availability of targeted services supported by USAID

(Disaggregated by service type)

IR 2.1: More inclusive and productive workforce Custom: Number of USAID activity participants with diversified livelihoods (Disaggregated by gender and age)

IR 2.2: Economic opportunities expanded

2.2.4-Custom: Household asset ownership index (as a proxy for household wealth)

2.2.3-EG.3.2-26 Value of annual sales of producers and firms receiving USG assistance

The development of livestock production and animal source food market systems also support the three FY 2022-2026 Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) goals of inclusive and sustainable agricultural-led economic growth; strengthened resilience among people and systems; and a well-nourished population, especially women and children. The benefits of livestock are multidimensional, particular for livestock keepers in low-and-middle income countries.

IX. Relationship to USAID, GOH, and donor activities

The USAID Livestock Market Systems Resilience Activity will build upon the successes of, and lessons learned from other programs such as the USAID Reforestation Project (URP) and the follow on currently in procurement9 as well as coordinate closely with the Haiti Resilience and

Agriculture Sector Advancement (HRASA) activity, the Resilience and Food Security (RFSA) other Mission and donor funded activities in Haiti. URP’s goal is to increase forest and tree cover in the targeted sub-watersheds and other strategic areas, while contributing to the resilience of targeted populations to economic and natural shocks and long-term stresses for their improved well-being. The efforts to strengthen the productivity and resilience of livestock systems, through drought adaptation measures, deworming, and forage production and storage, has shown to be a promising approach to strengthening household resilience in Haiti’s North and North-East regions.

Using a market system development approach, HRASA improves market efficiency, increases private sector and engagement and builds farmers’ resilience. Poultry is one of the sectors targeted under HRASA. There are also opportunities to synergize this activity with local organizations and initiatives.

USAID/Haiti prioritizes two Resilience Focus Zones (RFZ) - one is located in the southern region

(South Department) and the other in parts of the north (North, Northeast and Plateau Central

Departments), thus this flagship project must prioritize coordination between and among the stakeholders, including communities, local government, private sector, other USAID projects, and other donor projects. Coordination will be critical to leveraging technical expertise, on the ground presence, and information and data to avoid duplication of efforts, in addition to increasing changes of long-term sustainability of the results. Relevant USAID activities include:

● Feed the Future Haiti Resilience and Agriculture Sector Advancement (HRASA) Activity10

- implemented by DAI Inc.

● Resilience and Food Security Activity (RFSA)- implemented by CRS

● PISA - Cacao and Vanilla project - implemented by Papyrus

● Atteindre - implemented by MEDA

See https://sam.gov/opp/7f6f25280aa74778adecfd49993f380d/view for the Request for Proposals https://sam.gov/opp/247592e414684633b31d13f867683fd1/view?index=opp

● Pilot Food Security & Resilience - implemented by WFP

● Haiti University Partnerships - implemented by Kansas State University

● Resilience and Food Security Activity - in procurement

● USAID Reforestation Activity- implemented by Chemonics, follow-on activity currently in procurement

Because resilience is inherently cross-sectoral, represented in USAID/Haiti’s integrated strategic framework, this activity is expected to collaborate with other USAID and donor funded activities in the RFZs including but not limited to health and nutrition, WASH, and governance.

Furthermore, the following analyses must be taken into consideration:

● USAID/Haiti Reforestation Activity Resilience Baseline Study

● Mid-Term Evaluation of the USAID Reforestation Project

● Other USAID/Haiti annual reports, mid-term and final evaluations in agriculture, food security, economic inclusion, and environment sectors on the Development Experience

Clearinghouse11

● Pilot Food Security & Resilience activity baseline report

The activity also must take into consideration and leverage the presence and role of the local government including Ministère de l’Agriculture des Ressources Naturelles et du Développement

Rural’s (MARNDR) and their Agricultural Investment Plan (2016-2021) as well as align with other relevant policies and major projects in the target areas including current or past projects undertaken by other donors and organizations. Offeror must ensure that involvement and commitment of Government of Haiti’s stakeholders be timely and carefully reviewed. It is imperative that all governance and engagement steps are carried out with the appropriate GOH entities or officials to speed up and strengthen collaboration and implementation processes.

However, this activity will not directly support the GOH.

X. MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS

The Contractor must detail how it will support activities primarily designed to benefit and meet the unique needs of marginalized populations.

Gender

The Contractor must demonstrate how its solution sets will be tailored to maximize gender and social inclusion, as required per USAID’s gender policy ADS 20512 and the Women’s

Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment (WEEE) Act13, enacted on January 9, 2019. Per https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/home/Default.aspx

The official USAID’s policy on gender equality and women’s empowerment expands on the legal definition for gender analysis provided by the WEEE Act and gives more instructions regarding gender integration in program design.

The WEEE Act makes gender analyses mandatory under federal law. The WEEE Act emphasizes the importance of gender integration in development projects, especially in the area of economic growth initiatives. It focuses on the positive outcomes of women’s entrepreneurship and economic empowerment in U.S. funded projects, which is presented as a crucial accelerator of sustainable development.

ADS Chapter 205, all USAID activities are required to consider the different roles of men and women, the relationship between and among men and women, and the broader institutional and social structures that support them.