RuralNet Profile

RuralNet Associates Limited is pleased to submit this Technical Proposal for Component A of the Final Evaluation of Self Help Africa’s ICSP Programme. We have over 25 years of experience in development consultancy with a strong focus on Monitoring and Evaluation assignments. During its existence, RuralNet has successfully delivered more than 410 assignments in agriculture, food security, climate change, livelihoods, and related sectors. We have worked with all major clients operating in Zambia and on the African continent, including Irish Aid and other UN and bilateral partners. Our strong local presence combined with international best practices positions us well to deliver a high-quality evaluation.

The primary focus of RuralNet Associates Limited is facilitating sustainable improvement in the livelihood and wellbeing of the country’s population and those who live beyond the country’s borders. This is achieved through: (i) implementation of development interventions (programmes and projects) that are targeted at directly improving the livelihoods of the poor and disadvantaged, and; (ii) tracking the results of key performance indicators of various on-going development interventions via monitoring and evaluation services. This contributes to effective decision making for enhanced programme/project implementation performance.

Woman with a container on her head

Summary of RuralNet’s Major Clients

SN
Category
Clients

1

Multi-lateral Agencies

EU; World Bank; FAO; IFAD; UNDP; UNICEF; AfDB; ILO; UNHCR; AU; COMESA, IMF, WFP, UNOPS

2

Bi-lateral Agencies

SIDA; NORAD; USAID; DFID; JICA; GTZ, GIZ, FINIDA, Irish Aid, UK Aid, Swedish Embassy

3

Non-Governmental Organisations and Others

Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA); Family Health International (FHI); World Vision International; PLAN International; CARE International, SNV, PAM; AFRICARE, CARE, OXFAM International, Heifer International, IDASA, Living Water International, IFAD, CRS, YWCA, YMCA, NGOCC, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, GFA Consulting, NIRAS Sweden, PemConsult Denmark, DAI, FSDZ, Millennium Challenge Corporation USA, NEPAD, AUC, IMWI, Cloudburst Group USA, ESSA Canada, Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), GDSI UK, HTSPE Seychelles, Afrobarometer, Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System South Africa (RECAKSS), International Water Management Institute (IWMI), International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), PLARD, National AIDS Council, MACO, WATERAID, IIED, MASDAR, Population Council USA, Swedish – Norwegian HIV/AIDS Team for Africa, Cooperative League USA, IDE, DOPE, ISNAR, Oxford Policy Management, FINNAGRO, FINNIDA, MAFF, ECZ, INESCOR,

4

The Private Sector

FINMARK TRUST [Making Financial Markets Work for the Poor]; Oxford Policy Management; Information Training and Development (Itad), and; MASDAR UK; Scanagric; Ramboll; Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Barclays Bank PLC, Diakonia Zambia, John Spilsbury Development Consultancy UK, Foster Lewis Consultancy, Southern Africa Bank, Lumwana Mining Company, Niras

5

Government Institutions

Integra Government Services, USA; The African Union, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD); Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP); Southern Africa Development Community (SADC); Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives; Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources; Ministry of Community Development and Social Services; Ministry of Energy and Water Development; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Education, and, Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Zambia Electricity Supply Cooperation (ZESCO), Centre for Disease Control (CDC) USA

6

Research Institutions

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR); Institute of Economic and Social Research; Institute of Development Studies, and Population Council, NORC, University of Chicago USA, IAS, Duke University USA, University of Pennsylvania.

KEY AREAS OF FOCUS AND EXPERIENCE

RuralNet Associates Limited has considerable experience in various development disciplines. The key areas of focus include:

  1. Agriculture and Food Security

  2. Capacity Development for Community-Led Development

  3. Water and Sanitation

  4. Infrastructure

  5. Environment Management and Climate Change

  6. Human and Social Development

  7. Vulnerability Analysis and Social Protection

management to ensure effective decision making and programme/project implementation performance.
Overview of Assignments by RuralNet Associates

Key areas of focus

Number of Projects

Long Term Projects

40

Agriculture and Food Security

85

Capacity Development for Community-Led Development

37

General involving several sectors

60

Environment Management and Climate Change

52

Human and Social Development

45

Vulnerability Analysis and Social Protection

52

Water and Sanitation

39

Total

410