RFP: Preparation of a Briefing Note on Enabling Systems and a Policy Brief for IRIF
Birrama Digital Commerce PLCAbout This Role
This is a short-term consultancy for a policy analyst who can translate a live agri-tech pilot into language that government ministries and development partners will actually use. Birrama Digital Commerce is running IRIF, an AI-driven advisory service for smallholder farmers in Oromia, and needs someone to step back from the technology itself and document what policy and institutional conditions must exist for such services to scale. It suits a consultant who has worked at the intersection of agriculture policy, digital development, and climate adaptation, and who understands how donor-funded pilots in Ethiopia move from proof of concept toward government adoption.
What the Requirements Say About This Role
The seniority band signals they want someone who has already produced policy documents that circulated in real decision-making rooms, not a researcher compiling literature. The profile being sought is a consultant comfortable working across two audiences at once — technologists and donor programme staff on one side, ministry officials on the other — and who can compress complex systems questions into a handful of pages without losing substance. Implicitly, they need someone who can move quickly and deliver independently, since consultancies of this type rarely come with a large support team.
How to Approach This Application
Your proposal should demonstrate familiarity with Ethiopia's digital agriculture policy landscape and with the institutional realities of delivering services through Oromia's regional structures. Emphasize past work where your writing influenced a policy decision or was adopted by a government or donor body, and be specific about the length and format of documents you have produced. The employer will likely weigh your understanding of climate-smart agriculture and digital advisory systems more heavily than your methodology, so lead with domain knowledge rather than process.
Who This Role Suits
Best suited to an experienced policy consultant or researcher with a track record in agricultural digitalisation and climate adaptation in Ethiopia; given the niche technical domain and the funding visibility behind IRIF, competition is likely to be moderate but quality of relevant experience will be decisive.
Background
IRIF is a climate-resilient, AI-powered agricultural advisory solution being deployed by Birrama Digital Commerce PLC in partnership with Farm Africa, with funding from Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals (P4G) and cost-share contributions. IRIF combines low-cost soil and micro-climate sensor capsules with satellite data and AI-generated advisories, delivered by SMS/USSD to smallholder farmers in Oromia Regional State, to improve irrigation decisions, input use and yields.
Objective
To produce two short, clear policy products: a briefing note on the enabling systems needed for digital climate-smart agriculture services such as IRIF, and a policy brief with recommendations for government and partners.
Scope of work
- Briefing note (Knowledge Product 1). Four to six pages on the systems IRIF needs to work and scale: connectivity, data governance, extension linkages, financial inclusion and regulation.
- Policy brief. Two to four pages with evidence-based recommendations aligned to the policy gaps found in the desk review.
- Evidence. Use the desk review findings, IRIF project data and short stakeholder consultations arranged with Birrama.
- Style. Plain language for senior decision-makers, with a clear message, evidence and recommended actions.
- Layout. Print-ready layout following project visibility guidelines. Translation is procured separately.
Standards and expectations
- Recommendations must be specific, realistic and linked to evidence.
- Every claim has a source and statistics are checked before use.
- Documents follow P4G and Birrama visibility guidelines and use accessible design.
Contract management and reporting
The successful applicant reports to the IRIF Project Manager at Birrama Digital Commerce PLC and attends regular progress meetings. A contract is signed with Birrama, and payment is made in instalments set out in the contract once Birrama accepts the completed work, less any tax required by Ethiopian law. All work products, data and materials belong to Birrama and the IRIF project. The applicant must keep project and farmer information confidential.
Eligibility
- A legally registered company with a valid trade licence and TIN, or an individual consultant with a CV and national ID.
- Applicants must declare any conflict of interest, including family or business links with Birrama, Farm Africa or P4G staff.
Qualifications and experience
- Experience writing policy briefs or briefing notes for donors, government or research bodies.
- Knowledge of Ethiopian agriculture, digital development or climate policy.
- Strong written English.
- Key staff must have the qualifications and experience needed for their role, shown in their CVs.
Technical proposal
- Profile of the firm or consultant, with a summary of similar assignments and two (2) references with contact details.
- Understanding of the assignment, proposed approach and work plan.
- Two writing samples, ideally policy briefs.
- Approach to evidence gathering and stakeholder input.
- CVs of the proposed consultant(s).
- CVs of the key team members and their roles in the assignment.
Financial proposal
- Prices in ETB, inclusive of all taxes, with unit rates and total price, valid for at least sixty (60) days from the deadline.
- The financial proposal is a separate document and must not appear in the technical proposal.
Evaluation
Applications are first checked for eligibility and completeness. Compliant proposals are then scored as shown below: 70% technical and 30% financial.
Evaluation criterion | Points |
Relevant experience and references | 20 |
Understanding of the assignment and proposed approach | 25 |
Qualifications of the proposed team | 15 |
Writing quality and use of evidence | 10 |
Technical proposal – total | 70 |
Financial proposal | 30 |
Total | 100 |
How To Apply
Submit your application by email to bids@irif.world by October 31, 2026. Use the subject line “RFP IRIF/PROC/2026/020 – Policy Writing” and attach the Technical Proposal and the Financial Proposal as two separate files, together with the supporting documents above. Late or incomplete submissions may not be considered. Questions may be sent to the same address up to three (3) working days before the deadline.
- Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
- Birrama Digital Commerce PLC reserves the right to cancel or amend this RFP at any stage, and to reject any or all proposals without obligation or explanation.
- Applicants bear all costs of preparing and submitting their proposals. No costs will be reimbursed.
Required skills
Policy writing • Evidence synthesis • Clear English writing • Stakeholder consultation
Desired skills
Layout or graphic-design ability • Climate-smart agriculture knowledge • Experience with P4G or similar donors
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RFP: Preparation of a Briefing Note on Enabling Systems and a Policy Brief for IRIF
Birrama Digital Commerce PLC
