About Propcom+

Propcom+ is an eight-year (2023-2030) rural and agricultural market development programme supporting climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture and forestry that benefits people, climate and nature. The programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by The Palladium Group. Propcom+ aims to transform Nigeria's rural economy by addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges in the country's food and land-use system. It will do this by (i) increasing productivity, improving nutrition and food security, (ii) enhancing climate resilience, pursuing lower emissions, protecting, and restoring nature, and (iii) helping tackle some of Nigeria’s underlying drivers of conflict and insecurity. The programme seeks to stimulate sustainable, pro-poor, climate-resilient growth in selected rural markets. It does this by working as a market facilitator, identifying constraints in market systems and facilitating changes to enable rural markets to work better for the benefit of the poor and climate-vulnerable smallholder farmers and rural small-scale entrepreneurs.

Propcom+ aims to increase the incomes and climate resilience of 3.79 million poor and vulnerable men and women in Nigeria, 50% of whom will be women, through a “3Ps” approach of interlinked components: P1: Scaling up a focused basket of Proven climate-smart interventions around agricultural and primary processing/storage practices and models to get these adopted by millions of poor and vulnerable smallholder farmers and small-scale entrepreneurs. P2: Building markets by developing and Piloting new business models that improve productivity, enhance resilience to climate change, reduce emissions, and improve nutritional outcomes. P3: Enabling Policies that support a strengthened enabling environment for sustainable food and land-use system. The programme adopts a two-tier approach to regional and state-level implementation. Tier 1 states are currently from North-West (NW) and North-East (NE) Nigeria and are considered priority states delivering climate-smart agriculture to help the poor and climate-vulnerable. Tier 2 States are currently from Southern Nigeria and will have a more focused set of priorities on deforestation-free commodities.

Background

Nigeria possesses one of the largest livestock populations in Africa, with significant contributions to national food security. The livestock sector is a crucial contributor to the Nigerian economy, providing employment, raw materials for industries, and income for millions of rural households, however, the sector is continually undermined by the prevalence of livestock diseases and a systemic inability to meet the demand for vaccines due to production and supply bottlenecks. There is a consistently high demand for livestock vaccines due to a high frequency of disease outbreaks compounded by the increasing drive towards modernized and commercial animal farming and vaccination remains the most effective method for disease preventing.

The National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) which is the principal domestic producer of livestock vaccines within the country, lacks the capacity to meet national demands and Imports on the other hand are often hindered by regulatory, infrastructural, and logistical challenges thereby not able to make up for the vaccine shortfalls and these make livestock vaccine availability to remain erratic and insufficient. This research seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of the livestock vaccine ecosystem in Nigeria, examining the current demand and supply framework and recommending evidence-based strategies to improve vaccine availability and accessibility.

Specific Objectives

The primary objective of this consultancy is to carry out a study to understand the demand and supply dynamics of the livestock vaccine ecosystem in Nigeria. The exercise will be generating actionable insights and recommendations geared towards enhancing local production, importation, distribution, and utilisation of livestock vaccines across the country. The specific objectives are.

To analyse the structure and volume of demand for livestock vaccines in Nigeria, identifying key animal health challenges driving demand across different regions and production systems.

To map the current supply landscape for livestock vaccines, detailing key actors, supply sources (local production by NVRI and other producers, as well as imports), and their respective market shares.

To assess the sustainability and reliability of the current vaccine supply chain, highlighting associated risks, gaps, and vulnerabilities that could affect consistent access to vaccines for end users.

To identify and evaluate potential opportunities for private sector investment in local vaccine production, including possible business models and areas for value addition within the domestic supply chain.

To analyse the major constraints (policy, regulatory, technical, financial, and infrastructural) that hinder private sector participation and investment in local vaccine production in Nigeria.

Scope of Work: The consultant will be expected to:

Conduct a comprehensive desk review and data gathering on national and sub-national livestock populations, prevalent diseases, and historical vaccine consumption trends to establish baseline demand estimates.

Map and profile key actors along the livestock vaccine supply chain, including local producers (e.g., NVRI), importers, distributors, government agencies, development agencies and private veterinary service providers.

Analyse vaccine supply sources, quantifying volumes from local production versus imports, and assess supply capacity, production cycles, and current market shares.

Evaluate the sustainability of current vaccine supply systems, identifying bottlenecks, operational risks, cold chain challenges, and any factors affecting timely and adequate supply to end users.

Engage stakeholders through interviews and field visits to validate data and gather insights on operational challenges, investment interests, and on-the-ground realities.

Identify and assess opportunities for increased private sector participation, including feasibility of new local production ventures, partnerships, or technology transfers.

Analyse policy, regulatory, financial, and technical barriers that limit private investments in local vaccine production, distribution and propose actionable recommendations to address them.

Develop a detailed report presenting key findings, market trends, risks, investment opportunities, and practical recommendations for strengthening vaccine demand and supply dynamics in Nigeria.

Propose feasible recommendations and action plans for short, medium, and long-term improvements.

Deliverables

1. Inception Report detailing the research methodology and work plan. This report will outline the consultant's understanding of the assignment and proposed methodology. It will include:

Detailed work plan with timelines and milestonesData collection instruments (interview guides, survey questionnaires, etc.)List of stakeholders and institutions to be consultedDesk review outline (key literature and data sources)Risk assessment and mitigation strategiesCommunication and reporting schedule.

2. Mid-term Progress Report highlighting preliminary findings. This is a comprehensive status update providing early insights and challenges encountered during fieldwork. It will include:

Summary of preliminary findings from stakeholder consultations and field visitsDescription of data collected, and any issues encounteredAnalysis of emerging themes/patterns around vaccine production, supply, and distributionUpdated timeline if any adjustments are requiredFeedback from stakeholders engaged so far

3. Draft Final Report including all research findings, analysis, and draft recommendations. This deliverable will present the full findings, structured analysis, and preliminary recommendations of the research being carried out. It should include:

An Executive summaryOverview of livestock demographics and vaccine demand estimatesAssessment of local production capacity (NVRI and others)Stakeholder mapping (government, private sector, donors, and farmers)Farmer access, awareness, affordability, and vaccine hesitation factorsInitial strategic recommendations for improving vaccine supplyAppendices (survey tools, list of interviewees, data tables, references, etc.)

4. Final Comprehensive Report incorporating stakeholder feedback and actionable recommendations. This will be a summarized presentation of key findings and recommendations to be shared with stakeholders (government agencies, development partners, farmer groups, etc.) for validation. This will include:

PowerPoint presentationExecutive summary handoutFeedback collection tools (e.g., feedback forms or breakout discussions.

The revised and final version of the report will incorporate stakeholder feedback and policy-aligned recommendations. It will include.

Refined recommendations with actionable steps and timelines (short, medium, long-term).Implementation framework or roadmap (including possible funding options, public-private partnerships, and capacity-building needs)A Summary section suitable for policymaker briefingsClean and editable digital version in Word and PDF formats

Deliverable Timetable

Week 1: Inception meeting with client/consulting agency – submission of inception report.Week 2: Desk review of existing literature and reports related to livestock health and vaccines in Nigeria. Finalization of research tools.Week 2: Stakeholder mapping and scheduling interviews and beginning of field data collection.Week 3. Ongoing fieldwork: interviews, surveys and site visits. Initial data analysis begins.Week 3: Completion of Data collection. Submission of Mid-Term Progress Report.Week 4: Full data analysis and breakdown of findings. Drafting of preliminary Draft Final Report.Week 5: Presentation of findings at a stakeholder Validation forum.Week 6: Incorporate feedback from validation forum and submission of final comprehensive report.

The Research consultancy is expected to be completed within 6 weeks from the date of the contract signing. A detailed timeline will be developed and agreed upon during the initial planning phase with the Propcom+ Pillar 1 Team.

Required Professional Experience

Relevant experience in animal health, veterinary epidemiology, livestock development, or Agri-health systems in Nigeria or sub-Saharan Africa.Proven expertise in field-based research or consultancies related to livestock disease control or supply chains.Proven track record of conducting regulatory or policy analysis related to livestock vaccines, veterinary pharmaceuticals, or public health interventions.Demonstrated experience working with or engaging regulatory institutions such as NAFDAC, FMAFS, FMoLD, NVRI or Veterinary Council of Nigeria.Experience with donor-funded or government-led projects in the agricultural or animal health sector in Nigeria or similar contexts and private sector actors.

Technical Competences

In-depth understanding of livestock health systems, vaccine production and distribution, cold chain logistics, and regulatory frameworks.Skilled in stakeholder engagement, data collection, and both qualitative and quantitative analysis.Ability to formulate actionable, evidence-based policy and program recommendations.Excellent writing and reporting abilities, with samples of relevant work required.Strong facilitation and presentation skills.Capable of translating complex findings into concise, policy-relevant outputs.

Team Composition

Lead Consultant: Meeting all the above requirements.Research Assistant(s): With relevant academic and field experience.Data Analyst: Proficient in statistical tools and data processing.Veterinary/Epidemiology Expert: Ensures technical depth in animal health components.

Other Requirements

Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality outputs within strict timelines.Familiarity with Nigeria’s livestock sector, especially in rural and underserved regions.Strong network and access to key stakeholders within Nigeria’s animal health and regulatory sectors.Availability for the full duration of the assignment, including field visits and participation in workshops.Commitment to ethical standards, impartiality, and confidentiality in handling sensitive policy information.Fluency in English is required; knowledge of local languages is an asset.Must be available for travel to different regions within Nigeria for data collection.

Reporting and Supervision: This research will be managed by a team composed of the Propcom+ Strategy Director, MERL Director, relevant technical leads and relevant Staff of Propcom+. The final report will be subject to approval by the Team Leader.

Application Process
Interested consultants should apply using the following format

The subject line of the applications should be: Propcom+ Research on Nigeria’s Livestock Vaccine Demand/Supply Constraints and Review of Existing Policies, Regulations and Administrative Bottlenecks Affecting Vaccine Importation and Licensing.

Interested and qualified consultants/firms are expected to submit their proposal (technical and financial proposal) to procurement.propcomplus@thepalladiumgroup.com by 5pm on August 1, 2025.

Proposals should include:

A cover letter indicating clear understanding of this Request for Proposal and the scope of work, and capacity statement of the firm or team of consultants.Detailed technical proposal, including methodologies and timeline for each of the items in the scope of work.Proposed team including the role of each proposed team member and detailed CV(s) of consultant(s) (including company profile in the case of firms) who will undertake the assignment, including full name, telephone number(s). References of two previous clients on similar assignments.Evidence of previous/similar assignments successfully undertaken.Proposed budget indicating clearly consultant’s fees and all logistical costs in local currency (NGN).

The scope of this consultancy includes all logistical arrangements necessary for the Consultant and her/his team to deliver the outlined work and should therefore be reflected in the financial proposal for this consultancy. For the avoidance of doubt, these costs include the cost of hiring and training of research assistants, transportation, accommodation, feeding, and other incidental needs of the team.