Consultant (Outcome Monitoring Study - Zambia)

WorldFish is an international research organization working to transform aquatic food systems to reduce hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. It collaborates with international, regional, and national partners to co-develop and deliver scientific innovations, evidence for policy and knowledge to enable equitable and inclusive impact for millions who depend on fish and other aquatic foods for their livelihoods and nutrition. Our work in countries advances progress on multiple 2030 Sustainable Development Goals through science and innovation, with a vision of healthy people, healthy planet and shared prosperity.  

The objective of this consultancy is to support WorldFish and its partners under the Development and Scaling of Sustainable Feeds for Resilient Aquatic Food Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (FASA) project to implement the Outcome Monitoring Study assessing the effects of FASA-supported capacity-building activities in Zambia. FASA is a five-year initiative (2022–2027), funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and implemented by WorldFish in collaboration with national, regional, and international partners to strengthen the sustainability, resilience, and competitiveness of aquafeed systems in Kenya, Nigeria, and Zambia. The consultancy will support a mixed-methods outcome monitoring process combining structured surveys and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), anchored in the FASA Theory of Change. The assignment will assess whether and how FASA-supported capacity-building activities are contributing to changes in knowledge, skills, attitudes, confidence, practices, application of training, cascading of knowledge, and institutional integration. It will also assess changes related to gender-responsive practice, youth inclusion, climate-smart aquaculture, feed formulation, feed-making, and the use of locally available feed ingredients, while identifying the institutional, technical, market, gender-related, resource, policy, and environmental factors that enable or constrain sustained application of these outcomes. The expected outcome of the consultancy is a credible and systematically documented body of quantitative and qualitative evidence showing whether, how, and under what conditions FASA-supported capacity-building activities are contributing to meaningful change. The assignment will generate analysis-ready datasets, validated outcome evidence, and actionable recommendations to strengthen program learning, accountability, adaptive management, future capacity-building interventions, policy engagement, and sustainable aquafeed development.

• Inception Plan and Study Implementation Framework. The consultant will prepare an inception plan outlining the methodology, activities, milestones, deliverables, quality-assurance procedures, coordination arrangements, and timeline for the FASA Annual Outcome Monitoring Study in Zambia. The plan will cover the structured survey, feed-miller assessment, and KIIs, aligned with the approved protocol, analytical framework, and FASA Theory of Change. It will specify how evidence will be generated on knowledge, skills, confidence, practices, training application and cascading, institutional uptake, gender and youth inclusion, climate-smart practices, local feed ingredients, and aquafeed-business resilience.
• Support Research License Application and Regulatory Compliance. The consultant will support WorldFish in preparing and submitting the required research license application and associated documentation for implementation of the FASA Annual Outcome Monitoring Study in Zambia. This will include providing the necessary study information, fieldwork details, researcher documentation, institutional information, and other supporting materials required by the relevant national authorities. The consultant will also support responses to any queries or requests for clarification and ensure that field activities are conducted in accordance with approved research, ethics, and data-protection requirements.
• In collaboration with WorldFish MELIA scientists, conduct enumerator and facilitator training and submit a brief report documenting the recruitment and training of suitably qualified enumerators and facilitators.
• Structured Outcome-Monitoring Survey. The consultant will support implementation of a structured survey among FASA project participants in Zambia, including trainers, extension and gender officers, researchers, students, farmers, feed millers, ingredient processors, partner staff, and other relevant stakeholders. Responsibilities will include respondent identification and verification, field planning, KoboCollect administration, supervision, and daily data-quality checks.
• Key Informant Interviews. In addition, the consultant will conduct at least 40 KIIs with other FASA stakeholders. Interviewees will include trainers and trainees, extension and gender officers, researchers, students, research and training institutions, farmers and farmer organizations, ingredient processors and suppliers, implementing partners, government institutions, and other relevant actors. KIIs will examine how FASA-supported knowledge and practices have been applied, adapted, cascaded, sustained, or institutionalized and identify key enabling and constraining factors.
• Feed-Miller Assessment. The consultant will conduct 50 in-depth interviews with feed millers to assess feed-formulation practices, ingredient sourcing and substitution, business adaptation, and resilience. The assessment will examine formulation and reformulation decisions, ingredient use, flexibility to adopt locally available alternatives, and factors influencing these decisions, including nutrition, price, availability, quality, and technical knowledge.
• Fieldwork Documentation and Data Quality Assurance. The consultant will maintain systematic documentation of fieldwork progress, respondent profiles, training exposure, field observations, emerging findings, data-quality issues, and implementation challenges.
• Data Management, Analysis and Reporting. The consultant will organize, quality assure, anonymize where required, and prepare all quantitative and qualitative data for analysis in accordance with WorldFish procedures. The consultant will support quantitative analysis, thematic analysis, and triangulation to identify outcome patterns, training application and cascading, institutional uptake.

The consultancy team should collectively demonstrate the following qualifications and experience:

• At least one team member must hold a master’s degree in Aquaculture, Fisheries, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Rural Development, Development Studies, Monitoring and Evaluation, or a related field; a PhD will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrated expertise across the team in outcome monitoring, monitoring and evaluation, quantitative and qualitative research, aquaculture and aquafeed systems, value chain analysis, and Theory of Change–based assessment within the CGIAR frameworks.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing structured surveys and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), including digital data collection using platforms such as KoboCollect, with farmers, feed millers, ingredient suppliers, extension officers, researchers, training institutions, private-sector actors, and other aquaculture stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of capacity-development outcomes, including assessment of changes in knowledge, skills, confidence, practices, application and cascading of training, institutional uptake, and enabling and constraining factors.
• Familiarity with the socio-economic, institutional, and market dynamics of aquaculture and aquafeed systems in Zambia, including gender equality, youth inclusion, climate-smart practices, and private-sector engagement.
• Proven capacity to coordinate and supervise multi-site fieldwork, undertake data-quality assurance, manage quantitative and qualitative datasets, and deliver high-quality outputs within tight timelines.
• Demonstrated knowledge of aquafeed formulation, feed ingredients, feed-milling practices, ingredient sourcing and substitution, use of locally available ingredients, and feed-sector responses to market and supply shocks will be a strong advantage.
• A strong track record of producing analytical and synthesis reports, integrating quantitative and qualitative evidence, and communicating findings clearly to technical, program, policy, and private-sector audiences.

The duration of the contract will initially be for 2-months.

Applications will be evaluated based on the qualifications and experience of the consultant, the quality and feasibility of the proposed approach and work plan, the relevance of previous work examples and the most competitive proposal. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview or request additional information before final selection. This opportunity is open for all applicants.

Interested consultant are invited to submit the following materials for consideration no later than 23:59 (MYT) 30 September 2026:

• A brief cover letter outlining relevant experience related to this consultancy requirement.
• A CV highlighting similar past assignments.
• A financial proposal indicating the total cost for the task.

We will begin reviewing applications as soon as they are submitted and may make an offer before the submission deadline.

Over 40% of WorldFish staff is women with some 30 nationalities represented and contributing to its dynamic multicultural work environment. WorldFish is committed to promoting a work environment where diversity and inclusion are valued and we seek to have gender balance in the organization. We aim to also seek balance across other diverse dimensions. 

People in WorldFish are treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnicity/race, national or social origin, disability, religion, political affiliation, age, family size, marital status or any other form of personal identity.