Description

Background:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

Drawing on Mercy Corps’ experience implementing the AgriFin Mobile, AgriFin Accelerate and AgriFin Digital Farmer programs, GIZ has engaged Mercy Corps to understand how young technology innovators can be supported in scale and operational viability by engaging with emerging models of digital platforms. The GIZ smart development hack is a six-month, €1,300,000 initiative to work with cohort of partners in Kenya and Nigeria to develop digital solutions that address challenges in the agriculture sector especially brought about by the Covid 19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to the complex fragility of many countries, highlighted most clearly in the interplay of public health, markets and food systems. Early warning signs are emerging that the continent is on the brink of an unprecedented food security crisis. In Kenya it is estimated that there are sufficient strategic reserves for three months, but disrupted food systems, logistics and evidence of food hoarding may shorten that timeline, particularly as the largest desert locust invasion in 70 years.

This project aims to promote zero contact and prevent the spread of COVID-19 by utilizing technology to expand access to food, improve distribution of agriculture outputs by consumers through support farmers utilize updated agriculture extension information to bolster production, cultivation, marketing and distribution of food in Kenya.

Sprout, The Open Content Agriculture Platform, a project of Mercy Corps Agrifin (MCAF), is partnering with KALRO to provide a content marketplace/exchange for expert content developers to offer high quality digital-ready, farmer-friendly content that can be used free of charge by content distribution partners. The goal of Sprout is to enable MCAF partners to cost effectively, acquire and use this content to build productivity, earned income and resilience of farmers at scale.

Purpose / Project Description:

The consultant will manage the translation, recording and uploading of crop and livestock content to Afan Oromo, and translate financial literacy content in Somali language.

Consultant Activities:

The Consultant will:

• Support the ATI and Agrifin to transcribe the updated agronomic content in English and Amharic
• Translate and record the content to Afan Oromo language
• Integrate the updated content into the 8028 Farmers Hotline
• Update the IVR system to include financial literacy in Somali language
• Update the8028 Farmers Hotline dashboard, reports and helpdeskto accommodate the Somali financial literacy

Consultant Deliverables:

The Consultant will:

• Translation of agronomy advisory to Afan Oromo language
• Recruitment of voice talent, editing and recording the content in Amharic and Afan Oromo
• Uploading the recorded content to the 8028 platform
• Updating the IVR system to include financial literacy integration
• Translation of financial literacy content to the Somali language
• Recruitment of voice talent, editing, recording and uploading the translated financial literacy content
• Updating the 8028 helpdesk and IVR/ SMS push application and survey application
• Updating dashboards and reports to accommodate financial literacy

Timeframe / Schedule:

• Translation of agronomy advisory to a local language ( Afan Oromo) – Due September 1^st 2023
• Editing and recording the translated content in Amharic and Afan Oromo languages – Due September 15^th2023
• Uploading the recorded content onto the 8028 Farmers Hotline – Due September 20^th 2023
• Updating the IVR system to includefinancial literacy integration on the Somali Language Menu – Due September 30^th 2023
• Translation of financial literacy content to the Somali language – Due October 15^th 2023
• Editing, recording and uploading the translated Somali financial literacy content – Due October 30^th 2023
• Updating the 8028 helpdesk and IVR/ SMS push application and survey application – Due November 5^th 2023
• Updating dashboards and reports to accommodate Somali financial literacy – Due November 10^th 2023
• Submission of all the content translated in English, Amharic, Afan Oromo, in word document and audio formats – Due November 10^th 2023

The Consultant will report to:

AgriFin Program Director and AgriFin Sprout engagement and DCSA lead

The Consultant will work closely with:

The Agrifin Technical team

Required Experience & Skills:

• 15 years’ experience in software development
• 10+ years experience designing, developing, and implementing IVR and SMS systems in public/Private sector in Ethiopia
• Comprehensive familiarizations of ATA’s 8028 Farmers Hotline
• Previous experiences integrating content into 8028 Farmers Hotline and other public institutions in Ethiopia
• Previous experience developing/integrating updates and new tech into 8028 Farmers Hotline
• Previous experience working with both the ATA and MCAF
• Deep experience in digital platform approaches to agricultural transformation that is high impact and inclusive for smallholders

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.