CALL FOR CONSULTANTS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE LIVING INCOME BASELINE STUDY OF COCOA/NFTP COOPERATIVES’MEMBERS AND NON- MEMBERS IN YOKADOUMA TRIDOM-CAMEROON LANDSCAPE AND IPS CHALLENGES RELATED TO COCOA SECTOR
TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

Contracting Authority: WWF Cameroun
Project: RESPONSE
Contract duration: 45 days (ideally between February 15th and April 15th) Contract type: Service provision
Location: Yokadouma municipality (around Ngatto nouveau village)
Scope: 3 cooperatives (2 cocoa cooperatives and 1 NTFP cooperative) Confidentiality: The full information contained in the terms of reference described herein is strictly confidential and must not be disclosed outside your organization.
1. CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION
Growing demand for cocoa products, favourable agro-climatic conditions in the region, and declining
productivity in West Africa are driving the expansion of cocoa farming in the Congo Basin. While this expansion may create new income streams for LP & Ips. it can also lead to accelerated biodiversity loss. The search for new income sources is driving producers to convert forests to expand their farms. This conversion of forest ecosystems is exacerbated by climate change, which affects the capacity of forests to provide ecosystem products and services, ultimately impacting the livelihoods and well-being of local communities and threatening the survival of forest wildlife. Furthermore, volatile cocoa market prices, a lack of infrastructure, technical knowledge, and management capacity can keep producers in poverty despite the expansion of their farms, which comes at the expense of forests.
The Yokadouma area presents a combination of socio-economic vulnerability and increasing land-use pressure that makes a living income assessment both urgent and strategic. Households rely on highly variable cocoa prices, unstable markets, and limited access to financial services, while Indigenous Peoples (especially Baka) face barriers to equitable participation in value chains. Understanding current income levels, expenditure patterns, and cost-of-living pressures is therefore essential to design interventions that are both inclusive and effective. A baseline is required to allow WWF and partners to measure future progress, identify gaps, and ensure that support to cooperatives and communities leads to measurable improvements in household well-being.
To prevent the expansion of this deforestation front and strengthen the region's resilience to climate change, it is crucial to rehabilitate cocoa farms into more diversified and higher-quality farming systems; to access economically responsible markets that comply with global regulations such as EUDR and CSDDD; and to strengthen the voice and rights of local and community-based producers (LBPs) to ensure equitable market access.

It is in this context that the RESPONSE project was developed by WWF Cameroon and funded by private donor linked to the cocoa supply chain of this region.
This project, implemented for a 5-year period, aims to address the interrelated environmental and socio- economic challenges in the Yokadouma Municipality in the TRIDOM Landscape (WWF Strategic Priority), with the objective of protecting and conserving forests, improving the livelihoods of local communities’ conditions, and strengthening the rights of indigenous peoples, and women. In doing so, the project will contribute positively to the region's biodiversity and climate change mitigation and will be a beacon project to strengthen WWF’s advocacy for the protection of the Congo Basin.
Collecting household income, livelihood activities and living-standard information is essential for establishing a realistic socio-economic baseline for cocoa-producing households within RESPONSE intervention sites. Understanding current income levels in relation to farm size, production volume, input access, labour costs and seasonal sales patterns will enable the project to assess whether cocoa-based livelihoods are providing a living income and what gaps exist.
This data will guide identification of critical livelihood constraints, such as low yields, market fluctuations, production costs, or limited access to premium markets, and will support the development of targeted interventions aimed at increasing income resilience. Over the course of the project, the baseline will serve as a reference point for measuring change, allowing RESPONSE to track improvements in household earnings, livelihood diversification, and economic wellbeing resulting from project activities.
The assessment will equally help determine how production practices, farm size, input use, and sales periods influence household income. Such evidence will strengthen monitoring, reporting, and adaptive management by highlighting where and for whom project interventions contribute most effectively to income improvement, and where additional support may be needed.
The overall objective of the project is to reduce deforestation and conversion of cocoa-related forests in the landscape by 2030 through a sustainable production model that increases the incomes of local communities and preserves forest ecosystems.
The project has 3 specific sub-objectives:
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Reduce deforestation by increasing the income level of indigenous people and local communities
(IP&LC)
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Preserve forest ecosystems by strengthening the management of a mixed community forests (Baka
and Bantu)
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Strengthening local governance to reduce environmental and social risks at the scale of the
Yokadouma landscape
These terms of reference are part of the project’s first sub-objective, which will aim to promote sustainable economic development through the improvement of cocoa production systems and the valorization of non-timber forest products (NTFPs). The interventions will strengthen the technical, organizational, and commercial capacities of producers and cooperatives, with particular attention to inclusion and sustainability.
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In the cocoa sector, activities will focus on conducting training producers in good agricultural practices, sustainable farming and rehabilitating degraded cocoa plantations. The introduction of fruit trees will contribute to diversifying and enriching agroforestry systems. Producers will also be trained in good harvesting, drying, and fermentation techniques, as well as in compliance with national and international regulations, including the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
At the cooperative level, the project will support organizational diagnostics and the development of capacity-building plans, complemented by training in management, business planning, marketing, and partnership development with economic and institutional stakeholders. The establishment of a working capital fund will enhance the financial autonomy and sustainability of these cooperatives.
Similarly, the NTFP component will promote sustainable harvesting practices through producer training, the establishment of nurseries for NTFP species, and the facilitation of access for women and Baka communities to nearby forest units. The organizational and commercial development of NTFP cooperatives will follow a similar approach to that applied to cocoa cooperatives, ensuring coherence and complementarity across value chains.
Two of the key components to successfully launch, implement and monitor the impacts of those activities would be to have a baseline of living income vis-à-vis income from cocoa production and NTFPs collection, which will serve as a benchmark during the evaluation (5 years later).
2. DETAILS OF THE ASSIGNMENT
For a significative pool of producers that are both members of the targeted cooperatives and beneficiaries
to the project, and for a significative pool of producers that are neither members of the target cooperatives nor beneficiaries to the project; the consultant will be particularly responsible for collecting, but without limitation, the following data:
I. Sociological characterization of the environment
1. Delimitation of sociological space (mapping of sampled villages, etc),
2. Communities ‘structuring and organisation,
3. Disaggregation of the target population (men, women, young people, IPs)
4. Definition/clarification of the understanding of HOUSEHOLD in the environment and its
structuring,
5. Role of individuals and labor distribution between individuals within households and constitution
of income contribution including IPs.
II. Income Collection of information
1. Harmonize the common understanding of “income” within the context
The consultant will ensure that communities share a consistent definition of income, including cash
income, in-kind contributions, seasonal earnings, and irregular earnings.
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2. Identification and quantification of all income sources
The consultant will collect detailed information on all income-generating activities at the household
level, including:
i. Cocoa income (production volume, farmgate price, premiums, buyers, seasonality)
ii. Non-cocoa agricultural income (food crops, cash crops, horticulture) iii. Pastoral income (livestock sales, eggs, dairy, small ruminants)
iv. NTFP income (picking, processing, and sale of NTFPs)
v. Other sales and petty trade (artisanal products, small businesses, daily labour)
vi. Transfers and support (remittances, gifts from family members, support from third parties)
3. Classification of income by household actor
The consultant will classify the contribution of each income source by actor within the household
(head of household, spouse(s), youth, dependents, or other household members). This will support gender and youth analysis.
4. Assessment of non-monetary and in-kind contributions
The consultant will also quantify non-cash contributions to livelihoods, including:
i. Traditional medicine
ii. Barter and commodity exchanges
iii. Asset accumulation (livestock, stored crops, forest products) iv. Subsistence use of NTFPs
All in-kind items must be valued using local market prices. 5. Estimation of average income levels
Based on collected data, the consultant will suggest average income levels per household and per type of actor, referencing known standards while adapting to local context and cost-of-living realities. Income must be presented as both monthly and annualized figures, using clearly defined recall periods for each income type.
6. Standardization of recall periods
To improve accuracy, the consultant will apply the following recall periods:
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Cocoa income: last agricultural season
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Agricultural crops: last 12 months
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Livestock: last 12 months
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Petty trade and daily labour: last 30 days
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Household expenditure: last 30 days and last 12 months
The consultant must clearly document all assumptions used.
III. Decent living/ Living Income Data collection in the area
Using the Anker Methodology and the Living Income Community of Practice guidelines, the consultant
will develop an adapted Living Income Reference Value for the Yokadouma municipality. This will involve collecting key cost-of-living information related to food, housing, education, health, transport, and other essential household needs, based on local market data and household conditions.
The consultant will combine primary data with existing studies and national statistics to construct a realistic and context-appropriate living income benchmark for the area. The living income reference value will then be compared with actual household incomes collected during the baseline to determine the living income gap.
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The consultant will also highlight specific challenges affecting women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples (Baka) and provide recommendations to help close the identified gaps.
3. OBJECTIVES AND DELIVERABLES
a) General Objective of the mission
To generate coherent and reliable baseline data on income levels, livelihoods, and socio-economic conditions of cocoa and NTFP cooperative members and non-members in the Yokadouma municipality. This baseline will support effective implementation of the RESPONSE project and serve as a reference point for future monitoring, evaluation, learning, and adaptive management.
b) Specific objectives
i. Collect comprehensive socio-economic and income data from targeted cocoa and NTFP
cooperatives supported by WWF in the Yokadouma area, including disaggregated information for women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples (Baka).
ii. Establish baseline values for living income, poverty line, and extreme poverty line using
internationally recognized methodologies.
iii. Compare household income results with national income thresholds and the private donor’s living
income benchmarks to identify disparities and priority intervention needs.
iv. Provide actionable recommendations to address income and wellbeing gaps, including specific
constraints and opportunities affecting Indigenous Peoples (Baka) within the cocoa value chain. v. Generate baseline information that will support future monitoring of socio-economic change in
project sites, particularly relating to household income, wellbeing, and access to essential livelihood resources within supported communities.
c) Deliverables
Deliverable 1: A comprehensive and cleaned dataset (Excel format) compiling all field and secondary
data, disaggregated by gender, age, cooperative affiliation, and Indigenous identity.
Deliverable 2: A baseline analytical report presenting income distribution trends and comparing results with living income benchmarks, national poverty lines, and extreme poverty thresholds, including recommendations for targeted actions.
Deliverable 3: A comparative analysis of baseline findings against the donor’s living income policy benchmark (Word format).
Deliverable 4: An analytical brief on challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples (Baka) in the cocoa sector, with practical recommendations and an action plan for remediation.
4. METHODOLOGY AND RESOURCES a. General Framework
The assignment will commence with a thorough review of RESPONSE project documents and relevant contextual information to understand the project’s scope, objectives, landscapes and stakeholders. The consultant will also engage with the supervisory team to clarify expectations and refine the implementation approach. This inception phase will equip the consultant with the necessary background to plan field activities effectively.
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b. Methodology for the Baseline Study and Cooperative Assessment
The consultant will propose and apply a robust methodology for conducting the baseline study, using
mixed-methods and participatory approaches where possible. The methodology should clearly describe the data collection design, sampling strategy, tools to be used, data quality assurance measures and the analysis approach. Primary data will be obtained from RESPONSE intervention communities and cooperatives through household surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations. Secondary data from reports and existing literature will complement field data.
The baseline must generate evidence on socio-economic and livelihood conditions of cocoa-producing households, including factors influencing income, agricultural practices, production levels, farm sizes, labour dynamics, input costs, and seasonal sales patterns. This will enable the project to determine current income levels, identify production and market constraints, and establish the reference point against which future progress will be measured.
To guide baseline data collection, the study will apply relevant socio-economic and conservation indicators that reflect key areas of expected change under the RESPONSE project. Data will be collected against indicators measuring household income, wellbeing, adoption of nature-positive agricultural practices, and forest-use tendencies. These indicators will support baseline establishment and enhance future monitoring, reporting and adaptive management throughout project implementation.
Table 1: Monitoring indicators for baseline data collection in alignment with OSP objectives
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Focus Priority Data threats/ Alignment Collection & Results other with OSP Outcome Indicator Analysis obtained factors Methodology No new cocoa I.a.2 By 2030, zero plots deforestation linked are farmed, to cocoa production except in RESPONSE by members of the areas permitted by Project two supported national and cooperative (in international compliance with the legislation EUDR). (including the EUDR) Number of Ha of Remote HCV (High sensing and By 2030, zero Ha of HCV Conservation field HCV Forest forests converted to other Value) forests verification protection Forest loss OSP land uses in targeted converted to other landscapes land uses Poor OSP By 2030, at least 80% of % of farmers who Farm survey Agricultural agricultural targeted famers in the implement nature- production management CCO supported positive
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landscapes implement agricultural nature-positive practices agricultural practices Number of Farm survey relative to 2025 baseline hectares of nature-positive practices implemented Rate of increase in I.a.3 By 2030, the income of income of 75% of the supported members of the RESPONSE members two supported Project % of supported cooperative has members who increased compared received an to the baseline level. increase in income I.b.2 By 2030, within the Number of supported cooperative, functional at least two non-timber value chains forest products (NTFP) Income from value chains are NTFPs RESPONSE developed and by the cooperative Project operational, and local communities are benefiting from them in terms of increased income compared to the 2025 baseline Poverty OSP Household Average annual survey on household income WWF- By 2030, targeted IP&LC of targeted supported gain at least a 10% IP&LC activities increase in household IP&LC Average total income from WWF- income
OS
annual income supported activities gained by IP&LC compared to the 2025 HR salary through direct baseline checks employment in conservation related activities II.a.2 By 2030, no new Number of new cocoa plots in the cocoa RESPONSE Community Forest farms in the Project compared to the 2025 community baseline, except for forest fallow land
c. Assessment of Cooperatives
The consultant will specify the methodology for cooperative assessments, including data
collection tools such as questionnaires, interview guides, and checklists. Where applicable, the consultant should outline strategies for triangulation, stakeholder engagement and verification.
d. Field Procedures and Organization
The methodology should explain how fieldwork will be conducted. Based on community size
and number of producers, the consultant may work with all cooperative members or apply a suitable sampling approach if necessary. The consultant should describe household meeting arrangements, use of interpreters/relay persons, logistics planning and ethical considerations including informed consent and confidentiality.
All deliverables will undergo validation with the WWF monitoring team, and feedback will be shared with the consultant prior to final approval.
5. PERIOD AND DURATION OF THE MISSION
The baseline study on living income for the three cooperatives (2 cocoa producers cooperative
and one NTFP cooperative) will be carried out over a period of maximum 45 days from the date of signing the contract. This period could be between the 15th of February 2026 to 15th April 2026. However, a timetable will be developed and validated by the team in charge of the study before any work begins.
The duration billed for this work will be 45 days. This duration will be clearly mentioned in the contract drawn up for this purpose
6. QUALITY CRITERIA FOR VALIDATION OF DELIVERABLES
1. In relation to the approach
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Reading existing reports and documents
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Meeting with all stakeholders on the ground (target populations, cooperative managers, local NGOs, local authorities, managers of decentralized state services)
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OSP Annual surface Remote area (ha) of forest sensing and converted for field By 2030, areas of forest agricultural use verification Forest Forest loss cleared for agriculture in due to targeted landscapes is protection agriculture reduced by at least 30% relative to 2025 baseline
2. In relation to the presentation of deliverables
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The deliverables will be presented in a clear and illustrated manner; the text may
be accompanied by tables and diagrams if applicable
3. In relation with the content
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The deliverables will present the main information indicated in the TOR to which
the service provider can add any relevant information or data collected in the field.
7. HUMAN RESOURCE NEEDS
The firm or structure bidding within the framework of this call will be called “Service Provider”
and the natural persons to be proposed by each bidding structure will be called “Experts”.
The experts presented by the Service Provider will be subject to approval by the Program before
the start of the mission. These terms of reference include the profiles of the experts. Bidders must provide CVs demonstrating that their experts correspond to the expected profiles.
The bidder must mobilize and coordinate key experts selected to carry out the mission in order to cover the geographical space and the targets of the evaluation and baseline study within the allotted time frame.
The Service Provider will be responsible for the methodology and implementation of all activities related to its mission.
Main Experts
All experts called upon to exercise an important function in the execution of the contract are designated by the terms “Main experts”. The main experts are those who will be involved in carrying out the mission, in particular the planning and conduct of validation meetings, analysis and the effective consideration of the improvements formulated, as well as the development and presentation of reports. For the purposes of this mission, we will need Three (3) Main Experts.
Main Expert 1: Team Leader Qualifications and competences
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Hold a university degree in socioeconomics, social, legal, administrative sciences (Bac +4
minimum), or equivalent and additional training in organizational analysis and surveys. General professional background
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At least 10 years of professional experience in the field of conducting studies, evaluations,
organizational analysis and social surveys. Related professional background
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Have at least 5 years of specific experience in the following areas: conduct of studies,
evaluation and organizational and institutional analysis.
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Having worked with cooperatives and/or producer organizations,
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Be able to work in French and English.
Main Expert 2: Rural or farmers ‘organizations specialist
Qualifications et competence
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Hold a university degree in socioeconomics, social, legal, administrative sciences (Bac +4
minimum), or equivalent. General professional background
•
At least 5 years of professional experience in the field of conducting studies and
organizational analysis with cooperatives and producer organizations.
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Related professional background
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Have at least 3 years of specific experience in carrying out organizational reference studies
and analysis.
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Having worked with cocoa producers.
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Have a good command of written and spoken French and an average knowledge of English.
Main Expert 3: Specialist in sociology and economics analysis Qualifications et competences
•
Hold a university degree in socioeconomics, social, legal, administrative sciences (Bac +4
minimum), or equivalent. General professional background
•
Have at least 5 years of professional experience in the field of conducting studies and
economics analysis. Related professional background
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Have at least 3 years of specific experience in carrying out baseline studies and living income
analysis.
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Having work with producers and rural communities.
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Have a good command of written and spoken French and an average knowledge of English.
Other experts, support staff and technical support
Curriculum vitae of experts other than those of main experts should not be included in bids. The
Service Provider chooses and hires other experts according to its needs.
The cost of technical support from other experts and support staff, which is at the sole discretion of
the Service Provider, is not invoiced and is covered in the fees and other costs of the Main Experts.
Office and other working material
An office will not be allocated to the Service Provider, however, the Service Provider may use, if
necessary and if available, the facilities of the project unit based in the study area.
No working material will not be provided, during this mission, to the Service provider
8. REPORTS
Mandatory reporting
Service provider will submit in French:
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1st provisional Report: On the baseline study on living income. This report will contain a chapter for each community/cooperative with disaggregated data, then a summary for the entire project intervention area.
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2nd Provisional report: This report will be submitted no later than two weeks after receipt of the team's observations and comments on first provisional report. This Final Report will give rise to a restitution session in the presence of the actors concerned by the mission. If certain observations require a further visit to the field, additional time, without financial impact, could be granted to the Service Provider. This report will be submitted in hard and soft versions
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One Final report for Cooperative assessment and one final report on baseline study: This last report will be produced after validation of the 2nd provisional report. The final report will be provided no later than 7 days after receiving comments on the 2nd provisional report.
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Composition of the application files Bidders' files will include:
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A complete file highlighting the legal existence of the service provider
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A complete Technical offer.
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The mandate implementation timeline
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A detailed financial offer - The budget breakdown - shall specify the number of working days
per activity for the consultant, the daily fee rate, and any other potential costs, where applicable. The financial proposal shall also include details of the amounts excluding and including taxes. A specific mention must be made in case of tax exemption. Details of mission-related expenses shall also be provided in the consultant’s financial offer.
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The detailed CV of the Team Leader and those of experts 1&2
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Certificates of exclusivity and availability for Experts.
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National identity card of the manager, and if it is a firm, have a tax file (tax compliance
certificate).
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The RIB
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The NIU
9. TENDER EVALUATION CRITERIA
Eligible proposals will be evaluated based on full and open competition, in strict compliance with the combined score method, where the proposed technical proposal will be weighed at 80%, and combined with the price offer, which will be weighed at 20%.
It should be noted that failure to comply with the constituent elements of the bid offer is a disqualification criterion.
10. HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates are requested to submit their offer constituted as listed in point 7in French or English to the email address wwfcopprocurement@wwfcam.orgor at the WWF Cameroon offices in Yaoundé – Bastos, located behind the Bastos factory. Contacts: (237) 222217084/83, 222007703, 677500035, 699503621
For any further information, please write to the address wwfcopprocurement@wwfcam.org
Please mention in the subject line: “COMPREHENSIVE LIVING INCOME BASELINE STUDY”
Deadline for receipt of applications: 6th February 2026
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Technical Proposal
80%
Cover letter, Expertise and experience
25 points
Description of the method of providing the service
40 points
Schedule for the delivery of the service
15 points
Monitoring plan
10 points
Financial proposal
20%
Complete offer (mentioning and pricing of all expenditure items, conditions and payment methods)
10 points
Budget
10 points
Thank you in advance for your interest in this call for expressions of interest. Please note that only pre-selected providers will be contacted for further consideration.
If you are not contacted three (03) weeks after the deadline for submitting applications, consider that your offer has not been accepted.
11. Disclaimer Statement for Job/Consultancy/Service Provider Offers or Tenders
WWF is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of gender, race, religion, experience, or background.
The publication of any job, consultancy or service provider opportunity and any subsequent communications, interviews, or discussions does not constitute a binding commitment by WWF. No contractual or financial obligation shall arise on the part of WWF until a formal written contract has been duly signed by both Parties following completion of the selection process.
All stages of this process remain part of the negotiation phase and are subject to WWF’s internal validation and administrative approvals. WWF reserves the right, where necessary, to modify, postpone, or cancel the process at any stage prior to formal engagement, without incurring any liability toward applicants or third parties.
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