Implementation of digital information system (DISA) for sustainable and climate change-oriented agriculture Tender at GIZ

Reference Number: 83506010

Publication date: 10.12.2025

Introduction

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. The GIZ Office in Kigali covers GIZ’s portfolio in Rwanda and Burundi. GIZ Rwanda/Burundi implements projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union and other commissioning authorities in the following priority areas: Sustainable Economic Development; Good Governance; Climate, Energy and Sustainable Urban Development; Digitalization and Digital Economy; and regional projects in the Great Lakes Region.

List of abbreviations2

Context3

1.1.Scope of the Project3

1.2.Data for Sustainable Development in Agriculture3

1.3.Objectives of the assignment4

2. Tasks to be performed by the contractor4

Work package 1: Further development of relevant applications4

Work package 2: Improvement of forecast models using locally relevant weather data5

Work package 3: Communication & Establishment of User Channels6

Work package 4: Training measures6

3. Concept7

Technical-methodological concept7

Further requirements (1.7)7

4. Personnel concept8

Key Expert 18

5. Costing requirements 8

Workshops and training 9

6. Inputs of GIZ or other actors 9

7. Requirements on the format of the bid 9

List of abbreviations

ANContractor

ArcGISArcGeographic Information System (Software)

APIApplication Programming Interface

AVBGeneral Terms and Conditions of Contract for supplying services and work

BMZGerman Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

CMU Carnegie Mellon University

CVCurriculum vitae

DCDevelopment cooperation

DIAMETSupport for the digitization of agrometeorology in Rwanda for adaptation to climate change 

DISADigital information system for sustainable and climate change-adapted agriculture in Rwanda

DLR Dienstleistungszentren Ländlicher Raum 

ESRIEnvironmental Systems Research Institute

FAO Food and Agricultural Organisation 

GDP Gross Domestic Product

GIS Geographic Information System

GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

HTTPS Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure

INES Institute of Applied Sciences Ruhengeri

JF Jour Fixe

KPIsKey performance indicators

KZFKShort-term expert

M&EMonitoring and evaluation

Meteo RwandaNational Meteorological Agency 

MWVLWMinistry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viniculture of Rhineland-Palatinate

OPOperational Plan

PhDDoctorate of Philosophy

RABThe Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board

RISARwanda Information Society Authority 

RLPRheinland-Pfalz 

RSARwanda Space Agency

THTechnical University

ToRTerms of reference

WPWork package

WSWorkshop

1. Context

1.1. Scope of the Project

With the project “Practical implementation of the digital information system (DISA) for sustainable and climate change-oriented agriculture in Rwanda” commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as part of the Federal-State Program, GIZ aims to support Rwandan government institutions and farmers to adapt its agricultural production to climate change by using digital tools to improve forecasts and giving recommendations for action for farming activities. 

To achieve these objectives, it is intended to transfer and adapt experiences from the German Federal State of Rhineland-Palatinate regarding the preparation and provision of digital agrometeorological data and services to end users in the Rwanda context.

Furthermore the project builds on the results of the previous project “‘Digital Information System for Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Agriculture in Rwanda’ (DISA)”

The German partner is the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Economics, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture (MWVLW) with its implementation partners Technical University of Bingen (TH Bingen) and the Rural Service Centres (DLR RLP).

Partners in Rwanda are the Rwanda Space Agency (RSA), the Association for the Promotion of Sustainable Development in Rwanda (Verein zur Förderung nachhaltiger Entwicklung in Ruanda e.V.), a registered local NGO based in Butare, the Imbaraga Farmers' Association, the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) as an agricultural research institution in Rwanda, as well as the private universities Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Africa and the Institute D'enseignement Superieur De Ruhengeri (INES) in Musanze, and other private local agricultural consultants or private companies. Other potential partners are Meteo Rwanda, Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) and the University of Rwanda.

The target group are (smallholder) farmers in Rwanda who can use improved information systems for agriculture to make their farming more ecologically sustainable and adapted to climate change. It comprises of approximately 20,000 farmers in the two pilot regions around Huye in southern Rwanda and Musanze in the north. In addition to the recommendations for cultivation and pesticide use for potatoes, another crop – maize – will be included in the information system. The project involves innovative farmers from the previous pilot regions and representatives of local agricultural structures in rural regions of Rwanda.

1.2. Data for Sustainable Development in Agriculture

Agriculture is one of the most important economic sectors in Rwanda. A large proportion of jobs in the country depend on agriculture. Although the agricultural sector contributes only 33% to the country's GDP, approximately 72% of the population works in this sector (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), 2025), with women accounting for well over 50% of these jobs. The overarching goal in Rwanda is to improve food security, modernise this sector and adapt it to climate change. Long-term data shows that the agricultural sector makes a significant contribution to poverty reduction, around 60%. These findings underline the outstanding socio-economic importance of farmers. Agricultural production in Rwanda faces major challenges. The country’s extremely dense population and rapid population growth are leading to increasing land scarcity and intensified land use. Around 80% of the country's total land area is used for agricultural purposes. Subsistence farming by smallholders dominate the sector. On average, a smallholder family has less than one hectare of land to cultivate. However, this is hardly enough to support the rural household. Agricultural productivity is low. This is exacerbated by predominantly low-yield soils, some of which have been degraded by intensive use and the non-sustainable farming methods employed. In addition, crop failures occur due to factors such as pest infestation and plant diseases, which severely impair agricultural production. Many smallholder farmers do not have access to the knowledge and technologies they need to adapt their agronomic practices to these problems.

To address this situation, Rwanda has implemented a general guideline for the modernisation of agriculture in Rwanda, the Plan stratégique pour la transformation Agricole (PSTA 4), for the years 2018–2024. In December 2024, PSTA 5 came into force for the next five years, which again emphases the importance of a resilient and sustainable agricultural sector for food production. PSTA 5 identifies the following priority areas for action: 1. Adaptation to climate change; 2. Ensuring food security; and 3. Increasing productivity.

From September 2023 to June 2025, the project ‘Digital Information System for Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Agriculture in Rwanda’ (DISA) was carried out as part of the German Federal-State Programme. The aim of the project was to promote the development of a digital information system by Rwandan government institutions for sustainable and climate-change-adapted agriculture, with a particular focus on gender-specific issues affecting Rwandan women farmers.

1.3 .Objectives of the assignment

The objectives of the assignment are as follows: 

• Refine and further develop and test the established digital information system for agriculture (DISA), which is installed and run by RSA.
• Support the Rwanda Space Agency to integrate new or updated layers and prepare for new user-oriented applications. 
• Ensure user-friendly tools for data access tailored to gender-specific concerns of women working in agriculture and climate change mitigation activities.
• Provide technical information to stakeholders in partner and farmer communities to leverage access to data for improved agricultural practices, with an emphasis on women.

2. Tasks to be performed by the contractor

The contractor is expected to participate in the preparation of the operational plan

 in cooperation with all main partners; to ensure the operational plan’s timely implementation, providing technical support for partners, and developing required digitized solutions.

The contractor is expected to implement the following work packages (WPs) in close cooperation with GIZ and the following main partners: 

• Rwanda Space Agency (RSA)
• Meteo Rwanda
• Imbaraga Farmers Organization, Rwanda
• Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB)
• Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA)
• Dienstleistungszentren ländlicher Raum (DLR), Rhineland-Palatinate (RLP)
• Technische Hochschule Bingen, RLP
• Ministry of Economy, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture (MWVLW), RLP

Work package 1: Further development of relevant applications

1. Data verification and validation using statistical methods, from descriptive techniques to geostatistical and time series analyses, are to be applied to further data layers. This also applies to the further analysis steps as input for the respective modelling approach of the planned application. Examination of the extent to which real-time data from private services can be used (via API). It includes setting up access to data and automated retrieval, especially for real-time data (e.g., APIs, HTTPS requests, and automated file transfers).
2. Support for the integration of this additional and expanded data and data sources into the system installed at RSA. Participate in a monthly and ad hoc required JF of the technical group (as defined in the operational plan) and report in writing (e.g., data in table format, bullet points) to the project’s steering group monthly or upon request.
3. Optimization of DISA interface for using applications on mobile devices and tablets. Provision of an option enabling individual user activity tracking, e.g. by adding a form that needs to be filled before using the application. 
4. Development and adjusting of a new forecasting model. Specifically, an application is to be developed to monitor and, if necessary, combat the corn pest ‘fall armyworm’ (Spodoptera frugiperda). This requires the provision of the relevant data and the forecasting model by partners. Consider any other already existing web applications for integration into DISA. 
5. Comprehensive open-source documentation of DISA implementation including applications in public repository, e.g. on github. 

Work package 2: Improvement of forecast models using locally relevant weather data

1. Integration of data from LoRaWAN sensors that record temperature, relative humidity at two altitude levels, leaf wetness, soil moisture and precipitation locally online. 
   The sensors are provided and installed by partners. The data are first processed locally and then integrated into the RSA system (DISA). Ensure integration and update of the specified RSA server. 
2. Visualisation of data and configuration of existing and, later, new applications with the aim of enabling farmers and their advisors to use the information as decision-making support and to directly demonstrate the impact of locally collected digital weather and climate data on agricultural production.
3. Establishment of a continuous monitoring workflow.
4. Enable collaboration with private weather station operators to use DISA services (specifically, the existing late blight application) through the development of a module enabling easy integration of their weather data. Integration of at least one private weather data provider. Enable the late blight application to run on a specific weather data provider’s data only. 
5. Weather data quality checks with available data, especially between sensor data and openly available weather data in particular from OpenMeteo to contribute to validating the usability of the existing late blight application in areas without local sensor data. Collaboration with RLP institutions on this question. 

Work package 3: Communication & Establishment of User Channels

1. Gathering integration requirements for the three most important user channels of the existing late blight application such as agricultural extension workers, digital advisory systems such as the Tunga farmer chatbot or applications by CGIAR organizations (e.g. CIP). Prioritization of two channels with RLP institutions and GIZ and implementation of required developments for the integration of the two prioritized channels. This may include the integration of the service into the extension workers’ usual tech stack incl. existing apps and the development of necessary tools such as a location finder in natural language for a possible integration with the Tunga farmer chatbot. Full integration will depend on partner collaboration and input. This may also include, for example, the development and testing of an affordable SMS system for push notifications for users who do not have a smartphone or other digital devices.
2. Supporting data flow in the development and running of the prioritized systems.
3. Assess feasibility of feedback suggestions and ideas from user groups to adjust and fine-tune the information system: Conduct user research and feedback analysis gathered during the off- and online workshop.

Work package 4: Training measures

1. Initiate and conduct technical training of RSA on new layers and applications.
2. ‘Train the trainer’: 

Support partners in the content-related training modules for peer groups and local trainers on the use of climate and weather data, soil parameters, land use, modelling for production systems, etc. 

Support for stakeholder training workshops and working meetings of agricultural sector experts on the use of forecast and monitoring data. 

  3. Participate and report results in up to three general stakeholder workshops and in technical meetings. 

Certain milestones, as laid out in the table below, are to be achieved during the contract term:

Period of assignment: from 15 January 2026 until 31 December 2026.

3. Concept

In the bid, the bidder is required to show how the objectives defined in Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed) are to be achieved, if applicable under consideration of further method-related requirements (technical-methodological concept). In addition, the bidder must describe the project management system for service provision.

Note: The numbers in parentheses correspond to the lines of the technical assessment grid.

Technical-methodological concept

Strategy (1.1): The bidder is required to consider the tasks to be performed with reference to the objectives of the services put out to bid (see Chapter 1 Context) (1.1.1). Following this, the bidder presents and justifies the explicit strategy with which it intends to provide the services for which it is responsible (see Chapter 2 Tasks to be performed) (1.1.2).

The bidder is required to present the actors relevant for the services for which it is responsible and describe the cooperation (1.2) with them.

The bidder is required to present and explain its approach to steering the measures with the project partners (1.3.1) and its contribution to the results-based monitoring system (1.3.2).

The bidder is required to describe the key processes for the services for which it is responsible and create an operational plan or schedule (1.4.1) that describes how the services according to Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed by the contractor) are to be provided. In particular, the tenderer is required to describe the necessary work steps and, if applicable, take account of the milestones and contributions of other actors (partner contributions) in accordance with Chapter 2 (Tasks to be performed) (1.4.2).

The bidder is required to describe its contribution to knowledge management for the partner (1.5.1) and GIZ and to promote scaling-up effects (1.5.2) under learning and innovation.

Further requirements (1.7)

The tenderer is required to describe how gender equality, inclusion and accessibility are being addressed throughout the assignment (e.g., equal engagement in workshops, feedback loops, evaluation sessions).

4. Personnel concept

The tenderer is required to provide personnel who are suited to filling the position described, on the basis of their CVs (see Chapter 7), the range of tasks involved and the required qualifications. 

The below specified qualifications represent the requirements to reach the maximum number of points, so they represent maximum qualifications, not minimum qualifications. 

Key Expert 1

Tasks of Key Expert 1

• Overall responsibility for the service packages of the contractor (quality and deadlines) 
• Coordinating and ensuring communication with the project ‘Digital information system for sustainable and climate change-adapted agriculture in Rwanda’ (DISA), and partners involved in the project
• Regular reporting in accordance with milestones and deadlines

Qualifications of Key Expert 1

• Education/training (1.1.1): University degree (PhD) in Geography, Geospatial Engineering, Computer Science, or related field of study

• Language (1.1.2): Proficient skills in English (C1). Knowledge of German is an asset.
• General professional experience (1.1.3): 10 years of professional experience in the field of GIS
• Specific professional experience (1.1.4): 
  • 5 years of experience in GIS in agriculture or a related field
  • Strong experience with geospatial data analysis, mapping, and visualization tools and technologies such as ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Earth Engine and MapBox 
  • Expert knowledge of ArcGIS Desktop/Server applications including Collector, Survey123, and ArcGIS Dashboards or similar applications
  • Experience analysing agricultural patterns and natural resources using spatial statistics and modelling tools
  • Experience in training and supporting users of data mapping and data collection tools
  • Strong research expertise and understanding of agricultural or climate action related challenges in Rwanda
• Leadership/management experience (1.1.5): 5 years of experience in technical project management
• Regional experience (1.1.6): 5 years of experience in projects in Rwanda
• Development cooperation (DC) experience (1.1.7): 3 years of experience working in international development cooperation projects
• Other (1.1.8): 
  • Experience working with public and/or government institutions in Rwanda in a data-related capacity
  • 2 published research papers in the field of GIS with geographic relevance to Rwanda

5. Costing requirements

Specification of inputs

Workshops and training

The contractor is not responsible for the logistical organisation of workshops/training and therefore the costs do not need to be specified.

6. Inputs of GIZ or other actors

GIZ and/or other actors are expected to make the following available:

• GIZ will provide logistical support for the organization of workshops and the management of participants.
• For field visits with partners and the GIZ team there is the possibility to use a GIZ project vehicle
• Technical equipment for collecting weather and climate data from pilot regions are provided and data flow are monitored by partners DLR from Rhineland-Palatinate
• Suitable models of monitoring Fall Army Worm Population dynamics are provided by the technical expert group (RAB, TH Bingen, DLR Rheinpfalz and others as required)
• Final integration of DISA application on late blight with partner systems needs to be provided by respective partners 

7. Requirements on the format of the bid

The structure of the tender must correspond to the structure of the ToRs. In particular, the detailed structure of the concept (Chapter 3) should be organised in accordance with the positively weighted criteria in the assessment grid (not with zero). The tender must be legible (font size 11 or larger) and clearly formulated. It must be drawn up in English.

The complete bid must not exceed 3 pages (excluding CVs). If one of the maximum page lengths is exceeded, the content appearing after the cut-off point will not be included in the assessment. External content (e.g. links to websites) will also not be considered.

The CVs of the personnel proposed in accordance with Chapter 4 of the ToRs must be submitted using the format specified in the terms and conditions for application. The CVs shall not exceed 4 pages each. They must clearly show the position and job the proposed person held in the reference project and for how long. The CVs can also be submitted in English.

Please calculate your financial tender based exactly on the parameters specified in Chapter 5 Quantitative requirements. The contractor is not contractually entitled to use up the days, trips, workshops or budgets in full. The number of days, trips and workshops and the budgets will be contractually agreed as maximum limits. The specifications for pricing are defined in the price schedule.

Submission of offer: The Expression of Interest should contain the following:

Technical Proposal: 

• A cover letter expressing your interest in this assignment
• Technical Proposal (attached template for technical proposal MUST be used)
• Company registration certificate (RDB) 
• VAT-Registration Certificate 
• Latest tax clearance certificate 
• Up to date CV of proposed expert
• Self-declaration of eligibility

Financial Proposal: Financial offer indicates the all-inclusive total contract price, supported by a breakdown of all costs as described in the specification of inputs. 

Your EoI has to be submitted in 2 separated emails to RW_Quotation@giz.de until 15/12/2025

1.The technical offer has to be submitted in PDF format and as attachment to the email with the subject: Technical offer 83506010

2.The financial offer has to be submitted in PDF format andthe price must be in Rwandan Francs and VAT excluded (if applicable) and as attachment to the email with the subject: Financial offer 83506010

If the emails exceed the default email size of 30MB, offers can be exceptionally submitted through https://filetransfer.giz.de/

Offers submitted through any other sharing platform, as google documents or similar will not be considered.

Offers submitted in hard copy will not be considered.

GIZ reserves all rights. 

Annex: 

• Technical Proposal template 
• Technical assessment grid 
• Self-declaration of eligibility

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