Survey Firm for Coffee Plot Screening and Yield Measurement in Ethiopia

Background

Coffee is Ethiopia’s most important export crop and a primary source of livelihood for millions of smallholder farmers. Despite expansion in production and cultivated area over the past decade, productivity remains low and has shown a declining trend. This is largely driven by aging coffee trees and the limited adoption of renovation and rejuvenation practices. It is estimated that approximately 80 percent of Ethiopia’s coffee trees require rehabilitation and currently produce suboptimal yields. These challenges are further compounded by limited knowledge of improved agronomic practices and constrained access to inputs. As a result, low productivity not only threatens smallholder livelihoods but also undermines export performance, contributing to persistent foreign exchange shortages and broader macroeconomic pressures.

In response, development partners, government institutions, and private sector actors have implemented large-scale agronomy programs promoting regenerative practices, including stumping (rejuvenation), replanting (renovation), improved plant nutrition, shade management, and enhanced farm maintenance. While adoption rates appear promising, there remains limited rigorous evidence on the impact of these interventions on key outcomes such as yields and farmer income. This evidence gap is partly due to the time lag required for rehabilitated coffee trees to return to full productivity, as well as the reliance of existing data on early-stage harvests or demonstration plots. The proposed study aims to address this gap by rigorously evaluating the impact of coffee rehabilitation—particularly rejuvenation—on yields and income, while also assessing the performance of newly planted trees where feasible.

To support this effort, IFPRI seeks to engage a qualified survey firm to collaborate on plot screening and yield measurement in the Sidama, Yirgacheffe, and Jimma zones. The plot screening component will involve the systematic identification and verification of coffee plots eligible for inclusion in the study, with a focus on those that have undergone rehabilitation through rejuvenation (stumping) and, where applicable, renovation (replanting). The yield measurement component will generate reliable estimates of coffee production through a combination of structured farmer interviews and field-based measurement protocols, including full-harvest hard green bean counting and weighing. This integrated approach is designed to ensure high-quality data for accurately assessing the impact of rehabilitation practices over time.

Scope of work

The yield study will consist of two main activities: (a) plot identification and screening (April–June 2026) and (b) yield measurement (August–September 2026). The survey firm will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following tasks:

(a) Plot identification and screening

·       Household Identification: In close collaboration with IFPRI and partners, the survey firm will identify households that have undertaken coffee rejuvenation activities. Identification will rely primarily on program records and, where necessary, will be complemented by information from community informants and local leaders to ensure comprehensive coverage.

·       Screening of Coffee Plots: The survey firm will visit and assess approximately 1,500 coffee plots across the Sidama, Yirgacheffe, and Jimma zones to verify eligibility for inclusion in the yield measurement study. The screening process will collect detailed information on plot characteristics, including location, size, tree age distribution, rejuvenation history, and management practices. It will also document the presence of newly planted coffee trees to enable complementary analysis of renovation practices.

·       Informed Consent: As part of the screening process, the survey firm will obtain informed consent from participating farm households. Enumerators will clearly explain the purpose of the study, as well as the potential benefits and costs of participation. This will include seeking explicit permission for the study team to conduct full-harvest measurements, including the harvesting, counting, and weighing of hard green beans from a sample of 10 coffee trees per plot.

(b) Yield measurement  

·       Screening and sampling of coffee trees: The survey firm will screen eligible stumped and non-stumped coffee trees across a total of 750 plots in the Sidama, Yirgacheffe, and Jimma zones. Within each plot, the firm will randomly select five stumped and five non-stumped trees in accordance with a standardized protocol developed by IFPRI and its partners.

·       Full-harvest yield measurement: The survey firm will collect production data at the sample tree level during the hard green stage. This will involve harvesting, counting, and weighing hard green coffee beans for each selected tree to generate accurate yield estimates.

·       Collection of complementary farm management data: As part of the yield measurement exercise, the survey firm will administer a short survey questionnaire (approximately 30 minutes) to collect complementary data on farm management practices for each visited plot.

For both the plot screening and yield measurement phases, the survey firm will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following activities:

·       Tool Review, translation, and programming: Survey and screening instruments will be developed by IFPRI and its partners. The survey firm will review these tools and provide feedback to improve clarity and field applicability. The firm will translate the instruments into relevant local languages and program them in SurveyCTO.

·       Recruitment and management of field staff: The survey firm will recruit and manage qualified field staff, including enumerators, supervisors, and coordinators. Preference should be given to candidates with experience in coffee agronomy or prior involvement in coffee yield measurement activities.

·       Enumerator training: The survey firm will organize and conduct both classroom-based and field-based training sessions for the screening and yield measurement activities. This includes arranging training venues and providing all necessary materials. The IFPRI team will participate in the training and evaluate enumerators’ understanding of the survey instruments and protocols, and will determine the final selection of enumerators for deployment.

·       Field implementation: The survey firm will organize and implement plot screening for approximately 1,500 coffee farm households and yield measurement for 750 plots across the Sidama, Yirgacheffe, and Jimma zones. Responsibilities include arranging insured transportation, managing field logistics, and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. The firm will implement rigorous quality control measures, including spot checks and back-checks, and ensure that data are uploaded daily to IFPRI’s SurveyCTO server. The firm will also ensure compliance with all ethical standards, including obtaining informed consent and maintaining data confidentiality, and will conduct daily debriefing sessions with the IFPRI team and field teams to address challenges and improve performance.

Deliverables

·       Survey tools ready for field implementation: Deliver reviewed, refined, and translated survey and screening instruments, fully programmed in SurveyCTO.

·       Trained field team deployed: Recruit, train, and deploy qualified enumerators, supervisors, and coordinators, with IFPRI-approved team ready for screening and yield measurement activities, delivering a list of deployed field team with their CVs.

·       Household and plot screening report: Identify eligible households and complete screening of ~1,500 coffee plots, documenting plot characteristics, rejuvenation/renovation history, tree age distribution, and farm management practices, with informed consent obtained.

·       Yield measurement and farm management dataset: Conduct full-harvest measurements for 750 plots (for a total 10 trees per plot), including tree-level hard green bean counts and weights, and collect complementary farm management data, delivering a clean and validated dataset.

·       Field operations and final reporting: Ensure smooth field operations, implement quality control, maintain ethical compliance, and submit a final report summarizing activities, challenges, lessons learned, and a documented financial report.

Required qualifications of the survey firm

·       Demonstrated experience conducting rural household surveys with coffee farmers or within Ethiopia’s coffee-producing regions.

·       Proven track record in organizing and implementing at least three large-scale household surveys in Ethiopia, with sample sizes comparable to this plot screening and yield measurement study.

·       Proposed survey team – including enumerators, supervisors, and coordinators – should  have at least three years of university education and relevant experience in coffee agronomy or prior involvement in coffee yield measurement activities. Team members should also have experience conducting at least three rural household surveys using CAPI, preferably with SurveyCTO.

·       Strong financial management capacity, evidenced by financial reports demonstrating proficiency in managing and documenting expenditures.

·       Ability to complete survey activities within the specified timeline and deliver high-quality, reliable data.

Preferred qualifications

·       Prior experience conducting full-harvest coffee yield measurements.

Duration

·       The assignment is expected to last six months, from preparation to completion. There will be a planned interval between the plot screening and the yield measurement phases.

Application documents

Applicants should submit the following documents in English:

·       Cover letter: A brief letter outlining the firm’s interest, relevant experience, capacity to carry out the assignment, and proposed budget.

·       Technical and financial proposal: A detailed proposal describing the firm’s approach, methodology, and work plan for the assignment. The proposal should include a detailed budget broken down by implementation phases, separately for the plot screening phase and the yield measurement phase.

Deadline

April 02, 2026