Job Description

Mercy Corps Machinery Consultant (Kenya Catalytic Jobs Fund) Job in Kenya 2019

Organization: Mercy Corps Kenya

Project / Program: Kenya Catalytic Jobs Fund

Job Assignment: Machinery Consultant 

1. Programme Background

About Kenya Catalytic Jobs Fund: Through the Kenya Catalytic Jobs Fund, the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) is looking to test and support innovations with the potential to stimulate large-scale job creation.

The Kenya Catalytic Jobs Fund (KCJF) is a 4-year catalytic jobs fund that will, through a mix of technical assistance and grant support, test competitively selected innovations that have potential to unlock market constraints and create jobs, including for the most vulnerable, e.g. people living with disability.

The programme contains a strong emphasis on learning and evidence. It seeks to generate knowledge, data and evidence on ways of addressing barriers to job creation and disseminate findings to relevant stakeholders, including potential investors.

Mercy Corps is implementing the pilot phase of the KCJF programme.

About Savanna Circuit Tech: Savanna Circuit Tech is a manufacturing and last-mile distribution company based off West Pokot. The company provides dairy farmers and cooperatives with portable solar milk chillers, quality control equipment and farmer management systems that give real-time data from milk collection points while cutting milk post-harvest losses for maximized profits through its leasing model.

Savanna Circuit manufacturers MaziwaPlus, a solar-powered, portable milk chiller. The company operates a leasing model where it leases out MaziwaPlus to dairy farmer cooperatives and acts as a collection agent for the cooperatives.

Currently, Savanna Circuit mounts MaziwaPlus on motorbikes to facilitate milk collection from smallholder dairy farmers across West Pokot. On collection, farmers receive an SMS notification on the amount of milk collected with payment made by the cooperatives.

The company works with 3 dairy milk cooperatives: Lelan Highland Dairies (5,100 members), Muruny Farmers’ Cooperative Sacco (1,400 members) and Kaptabuk Farmers Cooperative Sacco (3,300 members).

Additional information on the manufacturing process is as captured on the manufacturing process sheet (available on request).

2. Purpose of engagement

Savanna Circuit is looking to scale its operations and expand its solution within its current market in the short term and to new markets in the long term.

Towards this and with support from Kenya Catalytic Jobs Fund (KCJF), the company is working on enhancing efficiency in its production process as a lever for scale.

With this goal, Savannah seeks to expand its production capacity by investing in new machinery.

Specifically, the company hopes to procure the following machinery over the next 6 – 9 months:

a) Cutting System

• Ability to cut any material (copper, stainless steel 201 laminated gauge 1.5MM and Food grade aluminum 2.0MM)


• Size bed able to cut sheets from size 8ft by 4ft


• Automatic programming of the cutting path of a desired part directly from a CAD drawing


• System ideal for mass production of parts with minimum waste


• Cutting capability with minimal thermal distortion (current cutting system causes porosity)


• Clean and smooth cut edges for food grade equipment


• Cut holes and shapes economically


• Ability to cut stacked blanks, cut sheets for ten chillers in a day


• Minimal need for material handling equipment


• Considerable labor and consumable costs e.g.: laser cutting assist gas


• Ability to use multiple heads to boost productivity


• Easy to learn new troubleshooting and maintenance techniques to minimize dependence post OEM after sales support

b) Rolling machines

• Ability to roll metal from 1MM thickness (stainless steel 201 laminated gauge 1.5MM and Food grade aluminum 2.0MM)


• Produce regular warping with no cracks even through punches


• Maintain smooth surface no scratches


• Ability to roll multi segment arc especially for tricycle/truck capacity chiller


• Easy and quick material removal process from machine


• Ideal for high volume parts and steady quality


• Tooling can be changed to fit diameters of 80CM for Aluminum sheet and 90CM stainless steel


• Easy to clamp for MIG welding of the metal sheets

The ideal choice of machinery will be as itemized below.

• Efficient in the long term with considerable operations costs for a growing business


• Easy to maintain in case of breakdowns and spare parts


• Self-sufficient with less support from the OEM


• Ability to be used in a standard facility; no need for specialized rooms and safety gear


• Multiple tasks performance ability


• Minimal toxic waste or by product

Savanna Circuit is seeking a technical consultant to accomplish three objectives as highlighted below:

a) Review Savannah’s current production processes and advise on ways to increase efficiency and the quality of outputs of the manufacturing process while ensuring that Savannah’s solar-powered milk chillers meet industry standards

b) Analyze the current machinery and tooling needs and recommend the most suitable equipment that Savanna Circuit should procure to increase production efficiency. The consultant will provide a recommendation of the most suitable machinery and will be expected to provide recommendations along the following parameters:

• Sustainability – The most suitable machinery will be that which is up to date with industry standards and future trends.


• Durability – The most suitable machinery will be one which is able to last for a long time.


• Capacity – The most suitable machinery will take into account Savanna Circuit current and future projected production capacity.


• Tooling – The consultant will advise on the most suitable machinery taking into account the accessories/additional tools needed to complete the setup as well as any modifications of the tools to be done in the future.


• Consumables – The recommendation will take into account the local availability of consumables used to operationalize the machine.


• Servicing – The recommendation will take into account the supply, availability and affordability of local repair and maintenance options.


• Training requirements – The consultant will identify training needs for the recommended machinery and provide recommendations on upskilling or need for specialized or additional staff.


• Space and location – The recommendation will take into account Savanna Circuit existing space at the production facility and any necessary extension works/ fixtures (including power) required to optimize the location for the recommended machinery.


• Costs – The consultant will provide price estimates of the machinery based off local and international market prices.

More specifically, the service provider will be tasked with recommending the most suitable machinery for acquisition to improve the production process.

The service provider will provide detailed specifications of the machinery recommended for purchase as well as cost estimates for the recommended machinery.

While the preliminary view is that the machines to be procured will be a cutting system & a rolling machine, the final conclusion on this will be contingent on the assessment of the production process & existing machinery.

c) Guide Savanna Circuit in identifying and sourcing for potential suppliers of the recommended equipment to be purchased, by sharing contact and where possible connecting them to potential suppliers.

3. Deliverables:

The key deliverables from the project are:

1. A production report highlighting existing inefficiencies in the production process and recommendations on how to improve efficiency

2. A machinery purchase report highlighting the recommended machinery for purchase and the steps taken to arrive at the choice for the machine. The report should include a detailed analysis based on the parameters provided above, detailed specifications for the recommended machinery and as well as purchase cost.

3. A list of potential suppliers of the recommended machinery, including their locations and contacts

4. A 2-pager style thought leadership document that provides actionable recommendations on best practices around developing tech for agricultural supply chain. The recommendations will inform future decisions at Mercy Corps and even extend to industry-wide recommendations.

4. Application

To apply, provide a brief proposal of no more than 10 pages/ slides containing the following:

• Fit to technical specification

1. Detailed methodology/approach to be used in accomplishing each of the deliverables detailed in section 3 above


2. Work plan for accomplishing each of the deliverables in section 3 above


3. Concreate examples of recently completed similar ¬¬works

• Experience and quality of key personnel


• Independent verified references


• Detailed cost budget highlighting all associated costs of the engagement

Proposals must be sent digitally by 5:00 pm, Monday, 26th August 2019 to ke-pr@mercycorps.org

Proposals will be evaluated based on the criteria captured in the annex section. Shortlisted companies will be invited for a presentation.

5. Reporting Lines

The consultant shall work under the direct supervision of the COO, Savanna Circuit with strong liaison with the post investment and learning advisor, Kenya Catalytic Jobs Fund.

6. Ownership and control of work / publication

Ownership and control of all work products related to this scope of work and partner engagement shall belong to Savanna Circuit and learning outputs shall belong to Mercy Corps. Any use of material, learnings or publications derived from the work product will require prior written approval from Savanna Circuit and Mercy Corps.

7. Timeframes and Budgets

Kenya Catalytic Jobs Fund anticipates that the assignment will take up to 3 months.

The works shall be executed between 9th September and 29th November 2019.

The total costs of the assignment will be negotiated with the service providers.

Annex: Selection Criteria

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