Background

Since 2009, Dorcas Kenya has played a pivotal role in advancing apiculture development in Kitui South. This initiative culminated in the establishment of the Kamaki Farmers’ Co-operative Society in 2013. Initially founded by members from Common Interest Groups, the co-operative has grown remarkably and now includes more than 1,015 registered members.
Between 2014 and 2016, Dorcas introduced micro-credit support for agricultural assets, empowering farmers to transition into agri-entrepreneurs. From 2020 to 2025, the co-operative successfully aggregated more than 115 metric tonnes of raw honey, generating over KES 30 million in revenues to smallholder farmers. The co-operative’s infrastructure has also expanded over time to include aggregation centres, mobile payment and digital data platforms, alongside partnerships with national organisations like the Apiculture Platform of Kenya and the Agricultural Society of Kenya. Strategic investments have been made in processing equipment, quality assurance systems, and various marketing initiatives to support continued growth.

Looking to the future, the Kitui Honey Value Chain (2026–2030) is set to further advance the sector by increasing annual honey uptake by the business to over 192 metric tonnes. This will transition over 2,000 trained farmers to commercial farmers. A new warehouse (production unit) will be built, and the processing unit modernised by installing automated machines. The business also aims to secure international certifications, expand into global markets, and strengthen both aggregation infrastructure and digital supply chain management. Additional priorities include promoting the inclusive participation of women, youth and marginalised groups, as well as integrating climate-smart practices and fair-trade standards throughout the value chain.

Objective

To develop a robust business case that:

• Assesses historical business performance (2020–2025), including production, costs, revenues and market trends.
• Conducts detailed financial and investment analysis for 2026–2030, covering CAPEX, OPEX, ROI and break-even projections.
• Examines individual product development, pricing, and estimates revenue projections.
• Strengthens market access and brand positioning.
• Proposes a sustainable and inclusive business model that enhances financial viability and social impact.

Scope of work

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

• Review historical documentation for both the honey value chain and the business.
• Conduct stakeholder consultations with Kamaki Co-operative, Dorcas staff, and other actors along the value chain nodes.
• Analyse business opportunities along the value chain nodes.
• Analyse honey production trends, processing infrastructure and financial performance from 2020 to 2025, project future financial outlay, and make recommendations on financial sustainability of the value chain.
• Evaluate market dynamics including domestic and export opportunities, pricing strategies and competition.
• Develop a comprehensive marketing and commercialisation strategy covering brand positioning, digital presence, trade partnerships, and promotional activities.
• Propose a viable business model with financial projections, break-even, risk analysis, assumptions and sustainability plans.
• Recommend KPIs and performance tracking mechanisms aligned with Return on Investment (ROI) and impact metrics.
• Provide recommendations for financial structuring and investment readiness to attract funding and scale operations.

Methodology

The consultant will adopt a multi-layered, participatory, and evidence-based approach to ensure the business case is grounded in both quantitative performance and qualitative insights from stakeholders across the honey value chain.

Quantitative Analysis:

• Review historical production, revenue, cost, and investment data (2020–2025).
• Conduct financial modelling and forecasting for 2026–2030, including CAPEX, OPEX, ROI, and break-even analysis.
• Analyse pricing structures, product margins, and market segmentation (domestic and export).

Qualitative Analysis:

• Conduct semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with co-operative members, Dorcas staff, aggregators, processors, and buyers.
• Use participatory tools such as value chain mapping, SWOT analysis, and stakeholder influence grids

Deliverables

a) Inception report with methodology and timeline.
b) Draft business case for review by the client.
c) Final bankable business case including:

• Strategic analysis.
• Financial model and forecast.
• Marketing and commercialisation strategy.
• Implementation roadmap.
• Monitoring and evaluation framework.

Duration

Projected between 18 and 21 consultancy days.

Consultant profile

• Experience in agribusiness and value chain development.
• Proven track record in business planning and market analysis.
• Familiarity with value chain development and co-operative models.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.

Reporting

The consultant will report to the Programmes Manager, Dorcas Country Office.

Application deadline: 3rd November 2025
Submit a technical and financial proposal (in one PDF document) to: kenyaoffice@kenya.dorcas.org