TENDER NOTICE: Market Study and Value Chain Analysis of Mangrove and Non-Mangrove Product

Job Description

TERMS OF REFERENCE 

Market Study and Value Chain Analysis of Mangrove and Non-Mangrove Product

1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

1.1 About CSSL

The Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL) is a national non-governmental, non-profit environmental organization established in 1986 with the mission of conserving and promoting the wise use of Sierra Leone’s natural resources. It is a membership-based organization open to the general public and includes members from many different backgrounds.

The Society provides policy advice, undertakes environmental education, facilitates learning and advocacy on good conservation practices, implements conservation and sustainable livelihoods projects, and facilitates biodiversity research.

CSSL is at the forefront of protecting endangered species and their habitats in Sierra Leone, working in collaboration with several partners both in-country and internationally to deliver its programmes and get its message out. These partners include grassroots community-based groups, other NGOs, schools, government agencies, academic institutions, and international conservation and sustainable development organizations.

• CONTEXT

2.1 Overview

The project intends to undertake market study and value chain analysis on mangrove and non-mangrove in the project-targeted communities. A consultant/service provider will identify and analyze the production and marketing of the most important mangrove and non-mangrove products in Yawri Bay, identify the main actors, challenges in the supply chain, and potential interventions. The study will also analyze price changes, market shares, and transactions along the value chain, as well as identify constraints that hinder market expansion and opportunities for improvement. The study will also assess issues of participation and corporate governance.  Mangrove and non-mangrove ecosystems support livelihoods through products such as fish, oysters, fuel wood, honey, rice, vegetables, and other forest and agricultural goods. 

The goal is to propose improvements in the value chain and to create direct links between community groups that participate in Village Savings and Loan Association, climate-smart Agricultural activities and markets, leading to higher incomes from their products. This is important because many community members currently have limited understanding of market relationships, pricing structures, and consumer demand. The study will therefore provide evidence on which products have high value and what income levels communities can realistically expect, helping them to make informed livelihood decisions for the crops and fish promoted under the following activities. For the mangrove products, the study will highlight how certain practices or products may contribute to ecosystem degradation (e.g., overharvesting or unsustainable use of mangroves for fuel wood or sale). The results will thereby guide awareness-raising activities, particularly regarding the relationship between market activities and ecosystem health. This will help communities understand how to reduce dependence on mangrove wood, identify viable alternative products, and promote sustainable market engagement that supports both livelihoods and ecosystem viability. 

However, limited access to market, weak value chains, and unsustainable practices reduce their economic and environmental potential.

Therefore, this study will be conducted to assess market opportunities of both products and strengthen value chains of these products for sustainable income generation and, at the same time, promote conservation of mangrove ecosystems.

3. General Objective

The goal is to propose improvements in the value chain to create direct links between community groups that participate in activities in climate-friendly agriculture, provision of inputs, and establishment of demonstration sites to intervention in small-scale fish pond management and markets, leading to higher incomes from their products.

4. Specific Objectives

• Identify key mangrove and non-mangrove products with high economic potentials 
• Map value chain actors and their roles and contributions in the society 
• Analyze supply, demand, pricing, and market trends of these products 
• Identify constraints and opportunities within value chains 
• Assess sustainability and environmental impacts 
• Recommend strategies for value addition, market access, and conservation 
• Proffer  recommendation for direction of community livelihood options 
• analyze the production and marketing of the most important mangrove and non-mangrove products in Yawri Bay, 
• Identify the main actors, challenges in the supply chain, and potential interventions.
• The study will also assess issues of participation and corporate governance

5. Scope of the work

Product Identification

• Identify priority products i.e. Non-mangrove and mangrove products(e.g., fish, oysters, mangrove wood, honey, rice, vegetables, palm products) 

Value Chain Mapping

• Identify actors: producers, processors, traders, transporters, retailers, exporters 
• Analyze relationships and linkages of actors. 

 Market Analysis

• Assess local market potential for non-mangrove and mangrove products 
• Analyze demand, supply, pricing mechanisms, and competition 
• Identify market requirements and standards 

 Value Addition Opportunities

• Identify processing, packaging, storage, and branding opportunities 

Constraints and Challenges

• Infrastructure gaps 
• Access to finance 
• Policy and regulatory barriers 
• Environmental risks (e.g., mangrove degradation)  

Gender and Social Inclusion

• Assess roles of women, youth, and vulnerable groups 

Identify barriers and opportunities for inclusion 

6. Consultancy targeted areas

• Below is the table showing the eight  targeted communities and chiefdoms  

7. Deliverables

The consultant/team will provide these key deliverables:

1. Executive summary 
2. Inception Report highlighting methodologies, work plan and tools for data collection 
3. Financial and technical proposals.
4. Draft Market Study and Value Chain analysis report with preliminary findings for stakeholders’ feedback, approximately about 30-40 pages. 
5. Debriefing and Validation of draft report with critical stakeholders and community members, and the project team to ensure all comments and views are incorporated in the final report.
6. Review draft Report incorporating all feedback after validation. 
7. Final report including value chains map and policy and strategy recommendation brief
8. Final report shall include Executive summary, methodology, findings and annexes with detailed indicator.

8. Duration of Assignment 

The assignment is expected to be completed within 35 days from contract signing. 

9. Roles and Responsibilities of both parties 

Responsibilities of CSSL

• Provide reference documents such as project proposal, log frame, work plan, previous reports and successes/challenges as relevant,
• Participate in field mobilization by  communicating to key stakeholders about the exercise or activity 
• Review inception report, assessment tools, draft report and provide timely feedback,
• Disseminate final report to relevant stakeholders.
• Provide logistical support, review deliverables together with WHH. CSSL will work with the consultant to ensure that participatory research and quantitative and qualitative tools, such as surveys, focus groups, and key informant interviews, are upheld  

Responsibilities of the consultant

• Design data collection tools, provide inception report, evaluation narrative and financial report,
• Conduct pretesting of the tools and finalize them,
• Hire and train enumerators or project staff to assist with data collection
• Conduct the study in the 8 operational communities in Yawri Bay MPA, Moyamba District, 
• Conduct data analysis and produce draft and final reports,
•  Consult CSSL to clarify questions and enquiries when needed during the work,

Abide by CSSL terms and conditions.

• The Consultant shall lead in data collection, analysis, and reporting. Ensure ethical standards are complied with.

10. Required Qualifications

• Degree in Economics, Agribusiness, Environmental Science, or related field 
• A master’s degree in Economics or Agribusiness  is an added  advantage 
• Experience in market analysis and value chain development 
• Knowledge of coastal and mangrove ecosystems 
• Strong data collection and analytical skills 
• Reference to previous work done on similar activity 
• Experience working in community-based projects 

11. Technical and Financial Evaluation
    Interested candidates or consultants are invited to submit a detailed proposal including:
12. • A technical proposal outlining the proposed methodology, data collection tools, and work plan.
    • Profiles and CVs of the evaluation team.
    • A detailed financial proposal outlining a holistic detailed budget in Leones, which shall cover all expenses involved, such as daily honorarium or fees  rates, travel costs, accommodation, and other related expenses for both enumerators and consultants, applying the NRA policy, GST (Goods and Services Tax)  and WHT 
    • Evidence of previous work or references relevant to the assignment.

    Submission Deadline: Proposals should be submitted by Monday, 17th July 2026, before close of business to CSSL

    Submission Address:

    • Email: info@cs-sl.org.
    • Hard Copy: The Human Resource Officer, 86A Main Road, Congo, Freetown, Sierra Leone
    • Subject Line: “Market Study and Value Chain Analysis Consultancy”

    Note: Only shortlisted applicants may be invited for an interview or further discussion before final selection.