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This study seeks to provide qualitative evidence explaining soil health management practices of men and women smallholder farmers in the Central Highlands of Kenya. This evidence will complement insights obtained through the analysis of quantitative data collected in 2020 and 2023 with farmers in Laikipia East, Laikipia West, Molo and Kuresoi North. Specific attention will be given to constraints that might differently affect men and women, and youth and non-youth and identify gender and youth-specific opportunities and practical entry points for interventions.  This is part of a larger study that aims to generate empirical evidence (quantitative and qualitative) to inform and scale more inclusive and effective approaches to enhancing soil health, improving agricultural productivity and climate resilience, strengthening food and national security, and advancing the agency and empowerment of women and youth.

Methodology

Focus group discussions (FGD),  individual interviews (IDI) and key informant interviews (KII) will be conducted with different smallholder farmers and extension service providers living and working in the study area. FGD aim to capture general practices, social norms and common trends, whereas the IDI aim to capture the actual lived experiences of respondents and can bring depth and nuance to the information otherwise obtained in FGD. All interviews aim to understand the gendered organization of smallholder farm households, soil health perceptions, knowledge and use of soil health management practices, and barriers thereto.

 Specific tasks

The consultancy firm or consultant(s) will:

1.       Provide input into the research design, including feedback on sample design and interview guidelines. Note that the first draft sample design and interview guidelines are prepared by the IFPRI study team.

2.       Cross-check and adjust translation of the interview guidelines, from English to Kiswahili and any other relevant local language.

3.       Securing research permission from necessary authorities:

a.       Ensure NACOSTI certification of consultants and its relevant research staff

b.       Provide feedback on local IRB submission package. The draft submission package will be prepared by the IFPRI study team.

c.        Liaise with local authorities

4.       Pretesting of FGD and IDI, providing feedback to the IFPRI study team and suggest  adjustments to the interview guidelines and sampling methods, if necessary.

5.       Organizing research participants

6.       Conduct FGD, IDI and KI; including note-taking and audio-recording (in case of consent).

7.       Transcription of interviews to English.

8.       Optional: Input into data analysis and interpretation of results

9.       Optional: Input into research report