Terms of Reference (ToR)

Consultancy: Promoting Safe Food, Inclusive Governance, and Sustainable Business among Vendors, Farmers, and Other Food System Actors in Mbeya

1. General Information

Organization: Rikolto International

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. Rikolto works with governments, research institutions, financial institutions, farmers’ organizations, and other food system actors to address one central question: “What will we eat tomorrow?”

Through collaborative approaches, Rikolto aims to transform food systems, unlocking access to healthy, sustainable, and nutritious (HSN) food while protecting the environment and ensuring decent rural livelihoods. The organization works with both formal and informal sector actors, focusing particularly on youth and women.

Since 2016, Rikolto has implemented the Good Food for Cities Programme (previously Food Smart City) to improve urban food environments and provide high-quality food to growing urban populations. Cities are central to this strategy because they have the governance scope to bring about sustainable change.

In Tanzania, Arusha became the country’s first Good Food for City, signing the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact in 2018. Mbeya, the largest city in the Southern Highlands, launched its Good Food for Cities programme in 2020 and signed the Milan Pact in 2025. Food safety has emerged as a critical challenge in both cities.

To address food safety concerns, Rikolto is piloting a Participatory Food Safety System (PFSS)—adapted from Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS)—to provide a low-cost, participatory, and capacity-building-oriented verification mechanism across value chains.

Rikolto collaborates closely with local partners in Mbeya, including the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA), Mbeya City Council, MIICO, and HELVETAS.

2. Problem Statement

Previous assessments by NM-AIST and Tanzania Plant Health Authority (TAPHA) revealed:

High contamination in irrigation water (faeces, lead, E. Coli)
Excessive pesticide residues on produce
Biological contamination (E. Coli, Salmonella)

To improve food safety in Mbeya’s urban markets, a traceability and quality verification mechanism is required. Participatory Food Safety Systems (PFSS) are being piloted to address these challenges, focusing on:

Fresh fruits and vegetables (FFV)
Farmers, market vendors, and transporters
Key markets: Sokoine, Igawilo, Soweto, Darajan, Sido, Ikuti, Mwanjelwa, Soko Matola
Production clusters: Uyole, Kalobe, Mwakibete, Inyala, Igale

PFSS cycles build capacity through training, verification, and continuous improvement, promoting safe food practices, inclusive governance, and sustainable business development.

3. Assignment

Rikolto seeks a consultant to strengthen PFSS in Mbeya through training, validation, and capacity-building of farmers, vendors, and associated actors. This consultancy represents Cycle 4 of PFSS and will focus on:

Refresher Training of Trainers (ToT)
Validation of food safety checklists and PFSS tools
Strengthening entrepreneurship and Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs)

4. Objectives

Overall Goal: Strengthen PFSS by providing updated training, validation, and support for local actors.

Specific Objectives:

Strengthen technical and practical capacity of PFSS Trainers, vendors, and production clusters through refresher training and updated materials on:
- Food safety practices
- Entrepreneurship
- VSLA operations
Revise, validate, and improve PFSS tools, guidelines, and operational frameworks to ensure quality and consistency.
Expand and strengthen VSLAs by facilitating the formation of new groups, registering existing groups, and improving governance, savings culture, and financial management.
Promote financial inclusion and linkages with formal institutions (e.g., CRDB Bank) to enhance access to savings, credit, and financial services.
Improve data availability and market intelligence through:
- Geospatial mapping of farmers and vendors
- Databases of food buyers
- Metrics on safe food supply

5. Scope of Work / Specific Activities

Capacity-Building & Training
- Provide refresher sessions for previously trained PFSS ToTs from market groups and production clusters.
- Update training materials, emphasizing participatory learning, hands-on practice, and facilitation skills.
- Lead training for market vendors on entrepreneurship, record keeping, and business management.
PFSS Tools & Guidelines
- Revise Best Food Safety Checklists and guidelines.
- Validate updated tools with the PFSS Council.
VSLA Support
- Facilitate formation of at least 15 new VSLAs.
- Support registration of 20 VSLAs (new and existing).
- Train groups on governance, savings, lending, and record-keeping practices.
Financial Inclusion
- Strengthen linkages between vendors, VSLAs, and CRDB Bank.
- Facilitate sessions on available financial services, loan requirements, and digital banking solutions.
Data Management & Market Intelligence
- Update Google Maps for urban farmers and vendors.
- Collect data on safe food supply, volumes, and farmers engaged.
- Develop a database of key food buyers, including profiles and market trends.
Reporting & Documentation
- Produce detailed validation reports for PFSS Cycle 4.
- Prepare follow-up reports on VSLA and entrepreneurship support.
- Develop a comprehensive final report summarizing methodology, achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations.
- Conduct awareness sessions with city councils on PFSS and safe food.
Work Planning
- Develop a detailed work plan covering PFSS Cycle 4, entrepreneurship activities, and VSLA strengthening, including timelines, deliverables, resources, and milestones.

6. Methodology

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

Engage stakeholders (PFSS Council, vendors, production clusters, VSLAs, local authorities) to establish shared objectives.
Review existing tools and gather insights via field observation, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews.
Co-design practical training modules on entrepreneurship, VSLA management, food safety, and record keeping.
Implement hands-on, peer-learning sessions for immediate application of skills.
Strengthen linkages with financial institutions (CRDB Bank) for financial inclusion.
Continuously monitor, collect data, and update geospatial information to inform adaptive management.

7. Expected Deliverables

Strengthened Capacity:
- Refresher-trained ToTs, vendors, and clusters with enhanced food safety, entrepreneurship, and VSLA skills.
- Updated training materials for continued PFSS implementation.
Improved PFSS Tools & Guidelines:
- Revised and validated checklists, guidelines, and training modules adopted by PFSS Council.
Expanded VSLA Coverage:
- Formation of 15 new VSLAs and support for 20 groups (new and existing) with improved governance and financial practices.
Enhanced Financial Inclusion:
- Strengthened linkages with CRDB Bank for improved access to savings, loans, and financial services.
Improved Data Systems:
- Updated Google Maps, databases, and buyer profiles for traceability and market planning.
Evidence-Based Learning & Reporting:
- Validation reports, progress briefs, and a final report documenting achievements, challenges, lessons, and recommendations.

8. Duration

The consultancy is expected to last 60 days / 3 months, subject to extension based on funding availability.

9. Application Procedure

Qualified firms/candidates should submit:

Technical and financial proposal/quotation (including professional fees)
CVs of qualified experts

Submission Email: eastafrica.recruitment@rikolto.org
Deadline: 05th February 2026
Subject Line: Include the title of this advertisement

Note: If you do not hear from Rikolto within 7 days after the application closing date, consider your application unsuccessful.

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To apply for this job email your details to eastafrica.recruitment@rikolto.org

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