Job Description

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Survey Firm for the 2026 Seed Compact Baseline Survey on Scaling Delivery Systems for Carp, Tilapia, and Small Indigenous Species (SIS) Genetics and Input Services in Bangladesh

Background

Aquaculture significantly contributes to the fish consumption of Bangladesh. Around three-fifths of the demand for fish, including carp, tilapia, and Small Indigenous Species (SIS), is generated from this sector, and smallholder fish farmers are the major contributors to domestic production. The most important factor for continuous growth in this sector is farmers’ access to quality seed. Seed access, however, remains constrained by a fragmented, low-trust delivery system, compounded by weak broodstock management, limited certification, and dispersed hatchery and nursery networks. This results in farmers being unable to verify what they are buying, resulting in lower survival, slower growth, and reduced profitability.

Different pathways have been undertaken to improve the sector’s growth, including the innovation of genetically improved fish varieties such as G3 rohu that result in increased harvest sizes and have been shown to generate greater profits for growers. Previous studies have also found positive effects on farm productivity through decentralized extension services delivered through nurseries and feed dealers.

Building on these results, WorldFish and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), with support from the CGIAR Science Program on Scaling for Impact (S4I), are introducing a novel innovation bundle called SeedCompact. SeedCompact is designed to be a decentralized, quality-assured seed delivery model bundling improved genetics, digital traceability, OneFish advisory support, and system-strengthening functions across licensed hatcheries, nurseries, and traders. The aim is to reach 130,000 farmers by 2026 and 400,000 by 2028 with access to quality seed.

What remains untested is whether farmers reached through the SeedCompact model exhibit measurably different adoption rates and behaviors from those who are not, and which components of the model drive adoption. Existing evidence primarily focuses on aggregate reach and production outcomes, while providing limited insight into the drivers of farmers’ adoption of improved seed. This study proposes to address this gap through a two-period farmer panel to examine which components of the SeedCompact bundle drive improved fish seed adoption and its corollaries—productivity and welfare outcomes. SeedCompact’s components of interest for this study include (but are not limited to) the following: (1) a digital traceability initiative, (2) transfer of improved genetics, and (3) advisory and systems strengthening activities.

To achieve this, IFPRI is seeking the services of an experienced survey firm to conduct baseline data collection of aquaculture farmers in Bangladesh, in close coordination with the research team. Details of the assignment are provided below.

Sample size and study sites

The baseline survey will consist of interviews with approximately 800 fish farmers from 50 nurseries across 8 districts in Bangladesh and is scheduled to run from late October to mid-December 2026. Further details on study locations and exact dates will be provided in consultation with the chosen firm. The survey firm will collect a list of fish farmers from each selected nursery and, through a pre-established process, randomly select approximately 15-20 farmers from the list for interviews.

Scope of work

The objective of this assignment is to support IFPRI in conducting a high-quality baseline survey of fish farmers. The survey will collect reliable and timely information on farmers’ adoption of improved fish seed, production practices, seed verification, and related outcomes under the SeedCompact innovation bundle. The data collection firm will be responsible for providing all necessary services and supplies for the survey, including data collection, data entry, data cleaning, quality checks, and documentation. The firm will also be responsible for all related field and operational costs. The main responsibilities include the following:

· Collaborate with IFPRI in the development of survey instruments and protocols (IFPRI has already developed a set of draft survey instruments).

· Translate and pretest survey instruments in the local language.

· Collect data via Computer Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI). The firm will develop, test, and finalize the CAPI data entry program which will be used to conduct the individual surveys in the field.

· With assistance from the IFPRI team, prepare the field implementation manual in English and the local language prior to enumerator training. The field manual will be the basis for quality assurance of the data collection process.

· Organize the selection, hiring and payment of enumerators to conduct the required data collection work.

· Facilitate the enumerator training in collaboration with IFPRI staff. It is expected that this will entail approximately 5 days of classroom training, in-field practice sessions and debrief at the field location.

· Facilitate field testing of the survey before final data collection and make changes in the CAPI and the paper questionnaire based on the field test and feedback from IFPRI. Offer refresher training for enumerators if needed.

· Develop a field schedule for the data collection team to be shared with IFPRI in advance; this should include the date-wise plan along with contact details of the field manager and supervisors, so that the IFPRI team can conduct field visits.

· Develop spot and back-checks and share these with IFPRI for feedback prior to the start of data collection.

· Provide access to specific IFPRI team members to the server hosting the data or alternatively develop a dashboard that will present real-time survey information that can be accessed by the IFPRI team.

· Share the data generated from the spot and back-checks with IFPRI so that issues can be promptly resolved.

· Arrange a debriefing session comprising all enumerators when the survey concludes at a mutually agreed time and location.

· Share the complete data generated from CAPI with IFPRI during the data collection, as and when the data is uploaded to the servers. These data will not be the cleaned data sets, but the raw data sets as sent to the firm from their survey teams.

· Conduct routine data cleaning to ensure consistency and range-checks, following a data cleaning protocol that IFPRI will share prior to the end of data collection. Share the error check and high-frequency check .do files with IFPRI.

· Provide responses to queries from IFPRI in relation to data cleaning, if and as needed.

· Perform callbacks to respondents on request if further clarification about responses is needed.

· Deliver raw and cleaned datasets, specifically in the form of STATA .dta and .csv datasets.

· Throughout this process, demonstrate responsiveness to IFPRI communications, especially around any urgent data collection issues.

Deliverables

· Translated and back-translated survey instruments

· Tested and approved CAPI forms

· Survey logistics, training, and field plan

· Survey training manual

· Approved quality control plan

· Raw and cleaned datasets with requisite codebooks

· Regular updates during field work

Required qualifications

· Demonstrated experience conducting field work and survey work in Bangladesh within the last 5 years. Experience with agriculture/fish surveys is preferred.

· Demonstrated experience conducting survey-related training.

· Expert knowledge of local context and languages in the study areas.

· Experience in building trust and good relations with local administration, village leaders, interviewees and communities.

· Strong program management skills: demonstrated experience successfully coordinating large field teams and managing deliverables.

· Excellent computer skills and experience using CAPI software (e.g., SurveyCTO, KoboToolbox) and statistical software packages, such as STATA.

Application: Please submit a letter of interest and data collection proposal highlighting the firm’s capacity to execute the requirements mentioned above, along with a detailed budget, and the CV of the survey lead. All materials should be submitted in English.

Deadline for proposal submission: October 15, 2026.