Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Switzerland (VSF-Suisse), in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), is implementing the Integrated Smallholder Farmers Resilience and Livelihood Support in the Jijiga Area Project in the Haroreys, Awbare, and Tuliguled Woredas of the Fafan Zone. As part of this project, there is a need to design and develop prototypes of a zero-energy “drum pump” for small-scale farm irrigation purposes.

Background

Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Switzerland (VSF-Suisse), in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), is implementing the Integrated Smallholder Farmers Resilience and Livelihood Support in the Jijiga Area Project in the Haroreys, Awbare, and Tuliguled Woredas of the Fafan Zone. The project aims to enhance agricultural productivity and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the target areas.

The “Integrated Smallholder Farmers Resilience and Livelihood Support Project” is a collaborative initiative between VSF-Suisse and the World Food Programme (WFP) aimed at improving the livelihoods, food security, and nutrition of smallholder farmers and agro-pastoral households in Haroreys, Awbare, and Tuliguled Woredas of the Fafan zone. The project aligns with WFP’s strategy to scale up transformative and resilient local food systems in Ethiopia from 2023 to 2026. It also aligns with VSF-Suisse’s global strategy for 2021–2024, which focuses on enhancing livestock-based livelihoods and improving food and nutrition security through three interconnected thematic areas: health systems, market systems, and production/ecosystems. Transversal approaches such as Nexus, Agroecology, and Capacity Development further support these thematic areas.

Smallholder farmers in the project areas face numerous challenges that hinder their agricultural productivity and livelihoods. Limited access to reliable irrigation technology is one such challenge. Irrigation plays a crucial role in enhancing farming practices and increasing productivity, particularly in regions with erratic rainfall patterns. However, smallholder farmers often lack access to affordable and energy-efficient irrigation solutions.

To address this challenge, the project aims to design and develop prototypes of a zero-energy “drum pump” tailored explicitly for small-scale farm irrigation purposes. The drum pump will provide smallholder farmers with a reliable, affordable irrigation solution that requires no external energy source. It will utilize innovative engineering principles and design concepts to harness natural energy sources such as gravity and kinetic energy, making it sustainable and cost-effective for smallholder farmers to irrigate their farms.

The aim of developing and introducing the zero-energy drum pump of the project is to enhance smallholder farmers’ access to reliable irrigation technology, enabling them to optimize their agricultural practices, improve crop yields, and ultimately increase their incomes. Additionally, this initiative aligns with the project’s broader objectives of promoting sustainable agricultural practices, enhancing climate resilience, and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the Haroreys, Awbare, and Tuliguled Woredas.

Through integrating climate-smart technologies and investments in value addition equipment, the project seeks to maximize its impact on agricultural productivity and the resilience of smallholder farmers. The cost-benefit analysis will serve as a valuable tool for evidence-based decision-making, enabling the project to assess the economic viability and potential benefits of adopting these interventions and considering the specific socio-economic and environmental context of the project areas, the analysis will provide valuable insights into the feasibility and potential returns on investment associated with climate-smart technologies and value addition equipment. The findings will guide the project in selecting and prioritizing suitable interventions that can effectively enhance agricultural productivity, improve value chain efficiency, and ultimately improve the resilience and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the Haroreys, Awbare, and Tuliguled Woredas.

Objective

This consultancy service aims to design and develop prototypes of a zero-energy “drum pump” tailored explicitly for small-scale farm irrigation in the Haroreys, Awbare, and Tuliguled Woredas. The pump should utilize zero-energy or low-energy mechanisms for water lifting and irrigation, be cost-effective, easy to use and maintain, and compatible with the local context and available resources.

Scope of Work

The scope of work for the consultancy service includes, but is not limited to, the following activities:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of existing zero-energy or low-energy water-lifting technologies suitable for small-scale farm irrigation.
• Design and engineer a zero-energy “drum pump” that meets the specified requirements and is appropriate for the local context.
• Develop functional “drum pump” prototypes for field testing and validation.
• Collaborate with local stakeholders, including smallholder farmers and project staff, to gather feedback and incorporate improvements into the prototype design.
• Provide technical support and guidance during the field-testing phase, including data collection and analysis.
• Prepare a final report summarizing the design process, prototype development, and field-testing outcomes.

Job Requirements

Eligibility Criteria

Interested consultancy firms or individual consultants should meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Demonstrated expertise in engineering, irrigation systems, and sustainable technology development. The consultant should have a strong background in designing and developing innovative water-lifting devices or similar agricultural technologies. Knowledge of appropriate materials, manufacturing processes, and system optimization is essential.
• Proven track record in successfully completing similar assignments related to the design and development of agricultural technologies, particularly in the field of small-scale farm irrigation.
• The consultant should provide references from previous clients or partners to showcase their experience and capabilities.
• Familiarity with the local context of Haroreys, Awbare, and Tuliguled Woredas in the Fafan Zone is crucial. The consultant should have an understanding of the challenges and opportunities related to small-scale farm irrigation in the target areas and be able to tailor the design and prototypes accordingly.
• Availability of qualified technical staff and relevant expertise to execute the scope of work effectively. The consultant should have a team with a diverse skill set, including engineers, designers, and technicians, who can contribute to successfully completing the assignment.
• Ability to work collaboratively with project stakeholders, including smallholder farmers and project staff. The consultant should be able to actively engage with the local community, incorporate their feedback into the design process, and ensure that the developed prototypes meet their specific needs.
• Strong communication and reporting skills in English. The consultant should be able to effectively communicate technical concepts and findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Clear and concise reporting is essential to document the design process, prototype development, and field-testing outcomes.

Deliverables

The consultant will be responsible for delivering the following outputs:

• A comprehensive review of existing zero-energy or low-energy water-lifting technologies for small-scale farm irrigation.
• Design documentation, including technical drawings, specifications, and engineering calculations for the zero-energy “drum pump.”
• Functional prototypes of the “drum pump” for field testing and validation.
• A final report summarizing the design process, prototype development, field testing outcomes, and recommendations for further improvement.