RFP - Technical support to the Agricultural Information Exchange Platform (AIEP) Initiative

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About the Organization

CLEAR Global helps people get vital information, and be heard, whatever language they speak. We believe that everyone has the right to give and receive information in a language and format they understand. We work with nonprofit partners and a global community of language professionals to build local language translation capacity, and raise awareness of language barriers. Our network of over 100,000 community members translate millions of words of life-saving and life-changing information a year.

About the Proposal

CLEAR Global is looking for a consultant to provide advice, research and support across cohorts of the AIEP (Agricultural Information Exchange Platform) initiative with whom CLEAR Global is cooperating in its mission to leverage language technology in low resource languages.

In extension of its 4 Billion Conversations Initiative, CLEAR Global currently works with various partners, most of whom are currently engaged in the AIEP initiative, to explore the use of language technology in agriculture with a special focus on Kenya and India. As part of this work, CLEAR Global aims to

• Support the creation of a basic architecture for an information exchange platform in the agricultural sector
• Support for various endeavors creating language technology and information exchange platforms in the agricultural sector
• Community building and support around 4BC for farmers, agricultural information exchange platforms and other digital communication initiatives in the sector
• Support the publishing of technology resources as DPGs (Digital Public Goods) and packaged resources

Responsibilities

The consultant will work closely with the AIEP program manager and support  the cohorts and other partners guided by  the detailed work packages (see below).

The candidate  will also work closely with CLEAR Global and partners to identify areas of need and focus, including through participation in cross-partner coordination calls and shared workspaces.

Work packages 1 through 3 are expected to run through the complete term of the contract while  work package 4 is expected to be finalized by the end of January 2025. 

Work package 1: Supporting AIEP cohorts

• Provide support in engaging at least two cohorts of the AIEP initiative with their focus in India

This includes:

• Co-coordinate the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) development process of each cohort
• Supporting the cohorts in overcoming obstacles and in preparing key events and meetings with external partners and funders
• Engage the cohorts  through regular meetings
• Gather insights, data and updates from the cohorts 

Work package 2: DPI Integration and extending the partner network

• Research and evaluate various digital public infrastructures (DPIs) that could be used in the AIEP MVPs
• Extend the AIEP initiatives existing partner network in AI and language tech in agriculture and DPIs with a special focus on India
• Support the AIEP cohorts in accessing and evaluating those DPIs
• Record any challenges the cohort encounter in integrating DPIs to share with partners

Work package 3: DPG Roadmapping

• Support the partners of the AIEP initiative in creating a roadmap to create relevant DPGs out of their MVP development
• Support the partners of the AIEP initiative in following the steps outlined in this roadmap, crucially resulting in the publication and promotion of various DPGs. Where the registration of DPGs is not feasible, the component should at least be openly available
• Record the challenges in publishing DPGs encountered by the cohorts and draft recommendations on how to overcome these

Work package 4: AIEP Architecture

• Support CLEAR Global and other partners in drafting a reference architecture for AIEPs based on the MVP development of the initiative’s cohorts
  • The reference architecture should at a minimum include common architectural patterns, key technical options (e.g. models, tech stacks) and technical implementations those
  • The reference architecture should be accompanied by a document outlining the learnings, especially those from user testing implementations of this reference architecture

Deliverables

WP1: A report summarizing the implemented support for the cohorts

WP2:

• An overview and evaluation of available DPIs 
• A report summarizing the support provided to the cohorts in implementing DPIs as well as potential challenges encountered by the cohorts
• A partner overview of actors in the DPI and AI in agriculture space
• WP3: A DPG roadmap and report summarizing the progress in implementing it, including an overview of the DPG or open source components published and challenges encountered by the cohorts
• WP4: Inputs to the reference architecture to be created by CLEAR Global and partners

Eligibility

For the implementation of these services, CLEAR Global seeks an expert with the following characteristics:

• Extensive expertise in AI and language technology in agriculture, especially in India and Kenya
• Proven through relevant work experience
• An extensive network in the DPI space in India
• Demonstrated  through relevant work experience and by providing an overview of key actors in this space  An extensive network in AI in agriculture in India, Kenya and globally
• Demonstrated  through relevant work experience and and by providing an overview of key actors in this space
• Familiarity with GIZ and BMGF as key funding agency in this space
• Demonstrated  through relevant work experience
• Excellent public speaking and research abilities, including the ability to draft concise and data-informed pieces
• Demonstrated through relevant work experience

How to Apply

CLEAR Global will accept offers from individual consultants and consulting firms.

To apply for this consultancy please send the following documents:

1- A technical and financial offer to include:

• a brief description (no more than two sides of A4) of why you are suitable for this position and how you would tackle this challenge
• a financial offer, specifying daily fees in US Dollars . Please also state your daily fee in the ‘Desired Salary’ field in the application. Please note that payments will be made in US Dollars via international bank transfer, regardless of quoted currency.

2- Curriculum vitae highlighting experience from similar projects and relevant experience, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) and at least three professional references.

Please upload the technical and financial offer as one document under “cover letter” and present the CV(s) of the expert(s) proposed in one document under “CV”.

We value authentic, original submissions that reflect your expertise and experience. While we understand the usefulness of AI tools, we strongly encourage genuine documentation created by the applicant, as our team is adept at recognizing AI-generated content.

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Tags Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Research Others