Technical Proposal for Consultancy to Develop and Test a Business Model and Governance Structure for iKnowFarm

1. Understanding of the ToR Objectives and Scope

The consultancy aims to transition iKnowFarm into a self-sustaining social business by:

• Refining monetization strategies (e.g., subscriptions, B2B services, ads).

• Co-designing a governance structure aligned with social impact goals.

• Piloting and validating scalable business models.

• Ensuring stakeholder inclusion (farmers, WHH, PALM Corps, Enabel).

Challenges & Opportunities:

• Challenges: Low farmer purchasing power, high competition, donor dependency.

• Opportunities: Untapped B2B partnerships, premium content demand, data-driven services.

2. Proposed Methodology

Phase 1: Market Research & Competitive Analysis (20 Days)

• Willingness-to-Pay (WTP) Survey:

  • Design: Mobile-based surveys (USSD/SMS) for rural users; in-app for urban users.

  • Segments: Smallholders (women/youth), agro-dealers, cooperatives.

  • Analysis: Price sensitivity tiers (e.g., freemium vs. paid features).

• Competitor Benchmarking: Analyze 5+ agri-tech apps (e.g., FarmDrive, Agrippa) for monetization and governance insights.

• Partner Mapping: Identify agro-dealers, banks, and insurers for revenue-sharing models.

Phase 2: Business Model Development (10 Days)

• Options:

  1. Hybrid Model: Freemium app (basic content free; premium advisory paid).

  2. B2B Data Services: Sell anonymized farmer data to input suppliers/researchers.

• Pricing: Tiered subscriptions (e.g., UGX 5,000/month for premium weather alerts).

Phase 3: Governance Design (10 Days)

• Structure: Social enterprise hybrid (non-profit Ltd with farmer advisory board).

• Workshops: 2 co-design sessions with WHH, PALM Corps, and farmer reps.

Phase 4: Pilot Testing (20 Days)

• Pilots:

  • Model 1: Freemium upsell in Karamoja (high drought-risk area).

  • Model 2: B2B data partnership with agro-dealer in West Nile.

• Metrics: User retention, revenue per 1,000 users, partner ROI.

Phase 5: Sustainability & Investment Readiness (15 Days)

• Roadmap: 3-year projections with break-even analysis (2026).

• Pitch Deck: Highlight impact metrics (e.g., farmer income uplift) for investors.

3. Work Plan & Timelines

4. Relevant Experience

• Consultant Profile: 8+ years in agri-tech business models (East Africa).

• Past Projects:

  • Designed a subscription model for FarmTrack Kenya (30% uptake).

  • Advised UGAFOD on farmer cooperative governance.

• Samples Attached: FarmTrack business case, UGAFOD governance report.

5. Capacity Building & Sustainability

• Training:

  • B2B negotiation workshops for PALM Corps team.

  • Farmer-led feedback loops via WhatsApp groups.

• Pilot Continuation: Handover monitoring templates to WHH.

Financial Proposal

Conclusion

This proposal ensures a participatory, data-driven approach to iKnowFarm’s sustainability, with clear milestones and cost-effective field engagement.