Terms of Reference: Consultancy for an Agroecology-based WhatsApp Chatbot Development

1. Introduction
   Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre (FPC) is registered under the Zimbabwe Institute of
   Permaculture (ZIP) as a local Private Voluntary Organization (PVO number 12/92). FPC was
   established in 1988 as an organization pioneering Permaculture and Agroecology practices. The
   organization facilitated the founding of four other organizations chasing a similar cause viz. the
   Natural Farming Network (NFN); the Schools and Colleges Permaculture Programme (SCOPE);
   Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM); African Farmer Organic Research and
   Training (AfFOREST) and several other community-based organizations. Since its inception, the
   centre has paved the path for food, nutrient, and income security through sustainable land use
   management.
2. Scope of work
   FPC is jointly implementing a Gender and Climate Change Programme in 5 districts namely
   Matobo and Insiza in Matabeleland South Province, Makoni in Manicaland Province and Bikita,
   and Gutu Districts in Masvingo Province in a consortium with the following organization: Zimbabwe
   Project Trust (Insiza District), Caritas Masvingo (Bikita and Gutu Districts), Caritas Mutare (Makoni
   District), and Caritas Bulawayo (Matobo District). The project is funded by Irish Aid (Ireland’s Civil
   Society Partnership (ICSP)). Although the programme is guided by four outcomes, FPC’s
   contribution contributes to two outcomes namely:

• People living in poverty, particularly rural women, and youth, have adopted agroecological
  approaches at household and community levels.
• People living in poverty, particularly rural women and youth in their households, user groups,
  and communities are collaborating in advocacy initiatives for their rights (e.g., for seed, food,
  budgetary, markets engagement, services – financial, education, technical, information) and
  rights related to the sustainable management and governance of natural resources).
  It is against this background that FPC seeks the services of a consultant/Vendor/service provider
  to develop a WhatsApp chatbot platform that can be used by farmers, lead farmers, and
  Agriculture Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS), officers to automatically get preset
  responses and agroecology related information. The main areas of agroecology to be covered in
  the chatbot are to be derived from the following key strategic areas namely: soil fertility
  management, pest and disease management, water harvesting techniques, cropping systems/
  companion planting and pre-and post-harvest and handling among other thematic areas of
  Agroecology. The contents of the information on these thematic areas will be provided by FPC.
  FPC envisages a platform that works 24/7 and runs multiple conversations with different
  stakeholders, at the same time. The basic requirements of the chatbot include but are not limited
  to.
• Simplicity, performance, and appealing design.
• Enable farmers and relevant stakeholders to gather agroecology information.
• Accommodate different languages (English Shona and Ndebele)
• Compatible with all WhatsApp versions.
• Accommodates Photographs, videos, fonts, illustrations, etc
• User-initiated conversations

Expected outputs and Key deliverables.

• A functional WhatsApp chatbot
• Design and development-Incorporation and customization of the user-specified features and
  functionalities-(at least 2 options to be submitted for review)
• Presentation, Review, and Tests by Key Users- the consultant will present the developed
  system to key users who will review, test, and identify any final changes that may need to
  be made.
• Training of relevant staff on the functions of the developed applications
• On-going Support – The consultant will provide free online backstopping for the functioning
  of the applications through telephone calls, Anydesk, Email, TeamViewer, etc. Where necessary physical support visits shall be conducted.
• Post application deployment support report after 3 months from the day of signing off.

Competencies and qualifications

• A bachelor’s or honours degree in information technology, computer science, or relevant
• Proven experience, from previous assignments, with chatbot builder that has direct
  integration with WhatsApp (such as ManyChat or Landbot)
• Proven experience of experience in mobile application development and application life cycle
  management
• Able to communicate effectively in English plus Ndebele and/or Shona.
• Strong IOS and Android SDK

Evaluation of the Bids

Technical proposal and methodology	40 %
Experience and academic qualifications	40 %
Financial proposal/ budget	20 %

To apply
Interested and qualified candidates (individuals and teams) should apply including the following:

• Technical proposal not exceeding 10 pages in pdf format.
• Financial proposal in excel format.
• Brief resume with at least three traceable reference organizations where similar services have
  been provided.
• Link(s) to previous work done by the consultant, related to the assignment.
• Copies of certificate of registration/incorporation (for firms)
• Tax Clearance
• Company profile (for firms)

All applications must be directed to tenders@fambidzanai.org.zw stating “Consultancy for the
development of WhatsApp Chatbot” in the subject line.

Deadline for submission: 4 September 2023.