DAI is an employee-owned global development company. For 40 years, we have worked on the frontlines of international development, tackling fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governments, and instability. Currently, DAI is delivering results that matter in some 60 countries. Our integrated development solutions turn ideas into impact by bringing together fresh combinations of expertise and innovation across multiple disciplines—crisis mitigation and stability operations, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, HIV/AIDS and disease control, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Our clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and national governments.

Policy LINK is a global USAID program that aims to strengthen the capacity of local actors and institutions to lead and manage the agricultural transformation process and contribute effectively and collectively to improved, broad-based food security policy outcomes.

 

The program aims to do this by investing in and reinforcing productive human and social capital and developing strategic partnerships that help bring these innovations and capacity investments to scale to achieve a critical mass of local actors with the ability and opportunity to effect positive policy change through collective action.

 

Policy LINK’s general approach is grounded in facilitative leadership and collaborative governance, which emphasize engaging stakeholders from civil society and the public and private sectors in consensus- oriented decision-making, collaborative problem-solving, and adaptive learning.

 

Ghana Policy LINK is a five-year activity with the overall objective of fostering behavior change that strengthens the capacity and ability of Ghanaian stakeholders to participate in a more transparent, inclusive, and evidence-based agriculture and food security policy process that leads to improved food and nutrition outcomes and broad-based economic growth. Specifically, the activity will facilitate the transition towards a policy development paradigm driven by multiple stakeholders.

 

This approach to policymaking will strengthen the capacities of Ghana’s main agricultural policy system actors and institutions and support them to engage stakeholders traditionally excluded from decision- making, including academia, financial institutions, the judiciary, civil society organizations (CSOs), non- governmental organizations (NGOs), and private sector representatives from the national, regional, and local levels.

 

This approach is underpinned by Policy LINK’s overarching theory of change, which is focused on increasing human and social capital, engaging policy system actors in collaborative processes, and developing mechanisms for collaborative governance and dynamic learning systems and platforms to sustain collective action.

 

Since 2022, Policy LINK has been collaborating with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to co- create and build the capacity of selected national, regional, and district women awardees recognized at the annual National Farmers’ Day program for their contributions to ensuring Ghana’s food security, sufficiency, and economic growth. Aimed at supporting the development of women's leadership capabilities, fostering women-led advocacy, and amplifying their voices to positively influence Ghana's agricultural policy system, the training curriculum is developed based on a needs assessment of the awardees. It is designed to equip them to be self-starting and innovative, build their confidence, and provide them with the knowledge and skills to represent and champion women's interests in the sector.

 

Following the capacity-building initiative, Policy LINK has continued to support, including facilitating their representatives' participation in agriculture stakeholder events to provide exposure and networking opportunities.

 

One of the immediate results of the maiden capacity training for the first cohort of 2022 women awardees was their decision to form an association to collectively advocate for their interests. In August 2023, the women successfully inaugurated their registered association called the Ghana Association of Female Agricultural & Fish Farming Award Winners (GAFAFAW), with key sector stakeholders in attendance, including Hon. Yaw Frimpong Addo, the Deputy Minister for Agriculture.

 

Recognizing the need for a systematic approach to the Association’s governance and further development of their leadership and advocacy skills, GAFAFAW's executives have contacted Policy LINK for additional technical support on organizational governance and leadership development for the association.

 

• Establish a robust governance structure for GAFAFAW.
• Enhance the leadership capabilities of GAFAFAW members.

• Lead the creation and implementation of a structured governance framework for GAFAFAW. This framework will be instrumental in ensuring the association operates efficiently and effectively.
• a. Needs Assessment: Conduct interviews and focus group discussions with GAFAFAW members and leadership to i) identify current challenges and needs related to governance; ii) gain a clear understanding of how GAFAFAW currently functions and uncover any existing gaps or inefficiencies in governance practices.
• b. Build the Framework:Develop a comprehensive framework: Create a robust governance framework for GAFAFAW based on the needs assessment. This framework will establish clear policies and procedures that cover various aspects of the Association's operations.
• External Regulations and Best Practices: The framework will ensure compliance with relevant external regulations and incorporate best practices in governance. This will ensure that GAFAFAW operates within legal boundaries and leverages established best practices for optimal functioning.
• c. Knowledge Transfer:
• Workshop Facilitation: Facilitate a workshop to educate GAFAFAW members on the newly developed governance framework. This will ensure a clear understanding of the policies and procedures for all members.
• Implementation Support: Provide support during the governance framework's initial implementation phase. This might involve helping members navigate the new procedures or addressing initial challenges.

• Needs Assessment: Engage GAFAFAW leadership and members through various methods such as surveys, focus group discussions, or one-on-one discussions to identify specific areas where leadership skills can be strengthened.
• Leadership Training Program Design: Design a comprehensive leadership training program tailored to GAFAFAW's identified skills gap. This program will equip the executives and members with the necessary knowledge, tools, and techniques to excel in their leadership roles.
• Facilitation: Play a key role in facilitating the training program, ensuring effective curriculum delivery, and fostering a dynamic learning environment for participants.

• Post-training Evaluation Methods: To assess the effectiveness of the training program, the Consultant will develop evaluation methods (e.g., surveys, feedback forms, or observing participants' application of learned skills in real-world scenarios) to be implemented after the program's completion.
• Facilitate Roll-Out: Facilitate the roll-out of the selected evaluation method(s), ensuring all participants have the opportunity to provide feedback and that data is collected effectively.

Deliverables

• Needs Assessment: Conduct interviews, focus group discussions, or surveys with GAFAFAW leadership and members to identify current challenges and needs related to governance. This will involve assessing:

1. Clarity of roles and responsibilities within the association
2. Efficiency of decision-making processes
3. Effectiveness of communication protocols
4. Adequacy of existing conflict-resolution mechanisms
5. Financial management practices

• Roles and responsibilities of board members, patrons, committees, and staff.
• Clear decision-making processes for various situations.
• Defined communication protocols for internal and external stakeholders.
• Documented conflict-resolution mechanisms for addressing disputes.
• Financial management procedures covering budgeting, accounting, and reporting.
• Meeting, Election, and Financial Procedures: Develop specific procedures and guidelines for:
• Conducting effective and efficient meetings (e.g., agendas, minutes, voting procedures).
• Organizing fair and transparent elections for leadership positions.
• Managing GAFAFAW's finances responsibly (e.g., expense reimbursement, financial reporting templates).

• Checklists for key governance processes.
• Periodic reviews of meeting minutes and financial reports.
• Feedback mechanisms for members to report potential breaches.

• Interactive presentations on core governance principles and procedures.
• Opportunities for Q&A and discussion to address member questions.
• Role-playing exercises to practice applying the framework in real-world scenarios.

• Needs Assessment: Engage with GAFAFAW leadership and members to identify specific leadership skill gaps. This could involve:

1. Leadership skills surveys.
2. Focus group discussions on leadership challenges.
3. One-on-one interviews with key stakeholders.

• Curriculum covering essential leadership skills:

1. Strategic planning: Setting goals, developing action plans, and evaluating progress.
2. Team management: Building and motivating teams, fostering collaboration.
3. Communication: Effectively communicating with diverse audiences.
4. Decision-making: Making sound and timely decisions under pressure.

• Training Materials: Develop engaging materials like presentations, handouts, and case studies.
• Expert Engagement: Consider bringing in external experts for specialized topics.
• Training Facilitation: Deliver the training program dynamically and interactively.
• Pre- and Post-Training Assessments: Evaluate leadership skills before and after the program to measure impact.

• Surveys to assess participant satisfaction and skill acquisition.
• Observation of leadership behavior changes post-training.
• Feedback from GAFAFAW leadership on the program's effectiveness.

• Training objectives and curriculum details.
• Participant demographics and feedback.
• Evaluation results and recommendations for future programs.

• Prepare a final report on the entire scope of work, encompassing:
• A summary of the governance needs assessment findings.
• A detailed overview of the developed governance framework.
• A breakdown of the leadership training program design and implementation.
• The outcomes of the training program evaluation.
• Recommendations for ongoing governance and leadership development efforts within GAFAFAW

• Understanding of Governance Principles and Knowledge of Regulatory Landscape: Evaluate the consultant's knowledge of core governance principles, including transparency, accountability, and participation, and the consultant’s understanding of relevant regulations and legal frameworks that might impact GAFAFAW's governance structure. (25%)
• Experience in Needs Assessment: Evaluate consultant experience conducting needs assessments to identify organizational leadership skill gaps. (15%)
• Framework Development Skills: Gauge consultant’s ability to design clear, comprehensive, and adaptable governance frameworks. (20%)
• Curriculum Development and Training Facilitation Skills: Evaluate the consultant’s ability to design engaging and effective training programs tailored to GAFAFAW's needs and facilitation skills to ensure they can effectively deliver the leadership training program. (20%)
• Adult Learning Expertise: Assess the consultant's understanding of adult learning principles and ability to create a dynamic learning environment. (10%)
• Project Management Skills: Evaluate the consultant's project management skills to ensure they can effectively manage the project scope, including timelines and budget. (10%)

Level of Effort
The indicative length of this assignment is up to 64 Level of Effort (LOE) days and must be concluded no later than the end of July 30, 2025. LOE is allocated as follows:

Deliverable	Estimated LOE
Conduct a needs assessment to understand current governance challenges and needs of GAFAFAW	1 day
Develop a comprehensive governance framework outlining roles, responsibilities, decision-making processes, communication protocols, and conflict-resolution mechanisms.	10 days
Develop procedures/guidelines for meetings, elections, and financial management.	3 days
Develop monitoring tools to ensure adherence to the governance framework.	2 days
Facilitate a workshop to train GAFAFAW members on the new governance framework.	1 day
Support in the initial implementation of the governance framework.	10 days
Engage GAFAFAW leadership and members to identify specific leadership skill gaps.	1 day
Design and implement a leadership training program: Develop a curriculum covering essential leadership skills, such as strategic planning, team management, communication, and decision-making. Develop training materials, including presentations, handouts, and interactive activities. Engage external experts or trainers as needed for specific topics. Facilitate the training program. Conduct pre-and post-training assessments.	21 days

Develop a post-training evaluation method(s) and facilitate its roll- out to assess the overall impact of the training program on leadership effectiveness.	5 days
Produce a training report	5 days
Produce a final report on the scope of work	5 days
TOTAL LOE	64 days