Baseline Survey on Fish Loss Assessment

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: [GAIN I-PLAN] Baseline Survey on Fish Loss Assessment

Classification: Firm or Personal Consultant

Location(s): Surabaya and Probolinggo, East Java

Term: 3 months (up to end of May 2018).

In Indonesia, fish is an important part of the diet, not only for animal protein, but also as a source of micronutrients, minerals and essential fatty acids. GAIN’s initial study (2017) estimated that the local supply chain is losing up to 25% of its fish post-harvest. To address fish losses along Indonesia’s local supply chain, GAIN created the Postharvest Loss Alliance for Nutrition in Indonesia (I-PLAN) to bring together the multitude of public and private actors addressing this issue to collectively reduce loss and waste of fish. 100g of Tongkol contains 56% and 100% of the recommended protein intake for an adult and for children aged 4-9 years old respectively. GAIN converted Indonesia’s fish loss into nutrients lost and highlighted to stakeholders that 16,500-27,500 metric tons of fish protein are lost every year. In accordance with such estimation, there is a need to have a deeper understanding of different types of losses affecting food security and stakeholders’ livelihoods, especially physical, quality and market force losses in the local fish supply chain. These losses have important implications in terms of income to producers, traders, market access and food safety. 

During I-PLAN’s design phase, GAIN conducted an in-depth landscape analysis of the local fish supply chain to pinpoint the challenges that cause PHL and how PLAN interventions can address them. The analysis has steered I-PLAN to focus on interventions in transport, distribution and retail. While a significant of amount of fish is lost on boat, there are many government and development programs working to address these challenges. GAIN does not wish to duplicate these activities but rather support their efforts by strengthening the supply chain once the fish reaches the shore. Cold chain technologies to reduce fish decay during transport will be crucial as well as at the retail level.  To address these issues, I-PLAN intends to conduct a fish losses assessment in a targeted location after the fish reaches the shore, particularly during transport, distribution and retail to give better understanding about physical, quality and its market force losses. The research should draw the connection of losses (particularly its impact toward producers and trader’s income) with food insecurity problems. The results of study should support I-PLAN target indicators.

Study Objectives:

1. Establish credible baseline data on (i) the price of fish as it moves from boat to market and (ii) the amount of loss (quality and physical) occurring at each stage of the supply chain.
2. Develop a detailed understanding of different types of losses, especially physical, quality and market force losses.

Scope of Work:

a. Desk work review of GAIN’s I-PLAN documents as well as to do any review to related documents as needed.

b. Baseline study design with step-wise description of qualitative and quantitative activities, including development of survey and interview questionnaires and identification of samples sizes and survey groups. 

c. The consultant should collect and document baseline data from the target beneficiaries (i.e. supply chain actors) in the project area specifically, and in the control area.  The survey will gather information and data to be grouped into the following focus areas:

• Postharvest management including post-harvest practices particularly during fish landing site, transport and distribution to retail market and key factor behind the postharvest losses (lack of storages, ice, etc.).
• Supporting data set such as socio-economic and demographic characteristic of the supply chain actors. 
• Fish and Fisheries Product Marketing including current marketed shares on marine fresh fish and of fish processed product, marketing outlets and key marketing constraints.
• Fisheries services and extension. 
• Inventory of activities and stakeholders, and lessons learned from past and ongoing interventions at fish landing sites.    

d.. Implementation of the baseline survey and analysis of survey data (quantitative and qualitative)

e. Submission of the draft report

f. Finalization of the report based on GAIN’s comments and recommendations

g. Presentation of findings at a workshop with stakeholders

Beside a quantitate data, the study should use a qualitative research method i.e the Exploratory Fish Loss Assessment Method (EFLAM) with the aim to generate primary data collection mainly using semi structured interviews (SSIs).

Qualification:

The firm should have a solid expertise in conducting surveys in fisheries mainly post-harvest loss and handling along the supply chain. 

Timeline:

The Baseline Survey will begin by mid-March 2018, and should be completed by May 2018.

This RFP is a small part of a comprehensive TOR intended as guideline for submission. If interested, please e-mail gainindonesia@gainhealth.org with subject line: “IPLAN BASELINE SURVEY ON FISH LOSS ASSESSMENT” to obtain the full TOR. The deadline for submission is 15 March 2018.