TOR – Consultancy to Conduct a Nutritional Assessment of Local Foods/Nuts – Agency For Accelerated Regional Development (AFARD)

TOR Title:   Consultancy to Conduct a Nutritional Assessment of Local Foods/Nuts

Organisation: Agency For Accelerated Regional Development (AFARD)

Duty Station: Pakwach and Yumbe Districts

Organization Background

AFARD is a registered indigenous not-for-profit, non-denominational NGO formed in July 2000 to empower poor and marginalized people – children, youths, women – to actively engage in unlocking the multifaceted drivers of poverty and livelihood insecurity in West Nile region, Uganda.  Our vision is “a prosperous, healthy and informed people in Uganda” and our mission is “to enhance the capacities of vulnerable and marginalized communities (especially youth, women, and refugees) for inclusive, dignified and sustainable socio-economic transformation of Uganda.”

Background

With support from Ayto de Soria and Diputacion de Albacete through MANOS UNIDAS, and BMZ through AWO international, AFARD is implementing the Nurturing Youth Economic Resilience (NUYER) and Effective and equitable land governance for migration affected communities in Uganda (EELAG) projects aimed at improving food and income security among vulnerable households in West Nile. Despite the availability of diverse local foods and nuts within the region, with the rising threat from climate change and urban food culture, there is a growing loss to the available food basket and its antecedent seed sovereignty. This led to a preliminary anthropological-cum-laboratory based study of the traditional cereals and legumes. It was noted from this study that there is limited documented evidence on traditional vegetables, fruits and nuts their nutritional value, utilization, and potential contribution to household nutrition and resilience.

In Pakwach and Yumbe Districts, local foods including indigenous crops and wild or cultivated nuts play a significant role in household diets. However, inadequate knowledge on their nutritional composition, preparation methods, and dietary benefits limits their effective utilization.

It is against this background that AFARD seeks to conduct a comprehensive nutritional assessment for traditional vegetables, fruits and nuts to generate evidence that will inform programming, promote dietary diversity, and support nutrition-sensitive interventions.

Purpose and scope of the Assignment

The purpose of the nutritional study is to assess the nutritional value and utilization of traditional vegetables, fruits and nuts (both existing and extinct) across Pakwach, Nebbi, Zombo, Koboko, Maracha and Yumbe districts.

Specifically, the assignment aims:

• To profile the traditional vegetables, fruits and nuts
• To analyze the nutritional values of the profiled traditional vegetables, fruits and nuts.
• To assess current consumption patterns, preparation methods, and cultural perceptions of these foods.
• Provide actionable recommendations for setting up community seed banks and or gene bank for these traditional vegetables, fruits and nuts.
• Validate the study findings with a half day district level dissemination meeting in Pakwach and Yumbe districts for district officials, counterpart CSOs, YBAG, religious, cultural and opinion leaders, mainly to create a call to action on traditional foods.
• During this meeting, the study report will be shared with stakeholders.

3.0 Methodology

The consultant will provide detailed approach/design and methodology to be used for the nutritional study. It is expected that the consultant will ensure that this is an anthropological study that will include the participatory profiling with older people on various traditional foods (fruits, nuts and vegetables) as well as a laboratory evaluation of the nutritional values and resilience of these crops to the harsh current climatic conditions

4.0      Duration of the study.

The consultancy is expected to take up to 30, working days from the date of contract signing. Selected consultant will be expected to deliver high quality work within the stipulated timelines. The Consultant and the team shall be reporting progress to the Team Leader – Yumbe and the project manager for NUYER project, and all deliverables shall be approved by the Director of Programs — AFARD.

5.0      Consultant’s Profile

The consultant (s)/consultancy firm must have the following qualifications and experience to be eligible for this assignment;

• The Team Leader must possess a Master’s degree in degree in Nutrition or Food Science, or a related field.
• Proven 5 years’ experience in dietary assessments, food composition analysis, or nutrition programming.
• Experience in working with marginalized and/or rural communities using participatory methodologies in mobilization planning and action.
• Experience working with NGOs and conducting similar studies and in delivering agreed outputs on time and within budget.
• Understanding of the local context will be an added advantage.
• Excellent communication skill including the ability to write clearly and concisely.
• Demonstration of good knowledge of the context in West Nile.

Expected Outputs and Key Deliverables

The deliverables will include among others the following;

• Inception meeting with AFARD team to discuss and agree on the inception report.
• Inception report of not more than 10 pages by the consultant within one (1) week upon signing of the consultancy contract.
• Draft assessment report with clear findings, conclusions, and recommendations for review. The draft report delivered within a max of two weeks (2 weeks) after completing data collection, while the final report must be submitted within 1 week after validation.
• Final report in (MS Word as well as PDF) clearly indicating findings, conclusions, recommendations, lessons learnt, annexes of data sets, list of all referenced secondary data and photos.
• All primary source data/ data sets generated during the study in an electronic file in an easily readable format.
• Summary of the findings in (MS PowerPoint) to be used for subsequent dissemination. The study lead is required to present the report to key stakeholders during a validation meeting and incorporate the feedback in the final report.

6.0.    Timelines

The deadline for proposal submission is Friday August 28,2026.

7.0 Payments

Payments will be structured as follows:

• 30% upon signing upon approval of the inception report
• 30% upon data collection report
• 40% upon submission and approval of the final report

All payments will be subject to 6% withholding tax as per statutory requirements.

8.0. Reporting and Supervision

The consultant will report to the Director of Programs who will work closely with the Project Manager NUYER and the Team Leader Yumbe. Regular check-ins will be conducted to review progress, provide guidance, and ensure quality assurance throughout the assignment.

9. Evaluation and Approval

All deliverables will be reviewed and approved by the Director of programmes AFARD, and relevant stakeholders to ensure quality, relevance, and usability of findings.

How to Apply:

Interested consultants should submit:

• A detailed CV highlighting relevant experience
• A technical proposal outlining methodology and approach
• A financial proposal with a detailed cost breakdown

Interested applicants should submit their applications by email to AFARD through Apply by Email and copy the subject heading: “Consultancy to Conduct a Nutritional Assessment of Local Foods/Nuts .”

Deadline: 28 ^th August 2026

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