Consultancy Service for Capacity Building for Cooperatives and Vegetable Growers on Business and Marketing (ECODIT)

SCOPE OF WORK

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR COOPERATIVES AND VEGETABLE GROWERS ON BUSINESS AND MARKETING

I. BACK GROUND

The USAID Green Annamites Project is a $24 million project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (“USAID”) and implemented by ECODIT LLC (“ECODIT”) in partnership with provincial governments in Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue provinces. The objective of the Project is to support Vietnam’s transition to a climate-smart, low emission, and resilient economy that protects people, landscapes, and biodiversity in Vietnam’s priority forested provinces.

The program’s vision for change is that If USAID Green Annamites improves the sustainability of the livelihoods of the forest-dependent communities, and supports implementation of low emission land-use practices, then forests and biodiversity will be conserved over time and communities will be more resilient to a changing environment. The Program is developing economic opportunities for the target communities, such as value chains and provision of technical assistance, using a combination of private and public funding.

The Project’s activities are implemented in 3 thematic areas: (1) increase low emissions land use practices, (2) strengthening biodiversity conservation, and (3) Increased resilience to climate change amongst vulnerable rural communities.

Quang Nam plants more than 12,520 hectares of vegetables annually. The total output of vegetable produced in Quang Nam province in 2017 reached 278,362 tons and valued at 1,258,759 million VND. Vegetables in Quang Nam have been mainly sold in local markets, local vegetable stores and in some nodal markets in Da Nang City. There are some dozens of vegetables species produced in Quang Nam, belonging to some groups such as fruits, leaves, roots, flowers.

There are 6 co-operatives producing around 19 hectares of vegetables in Phu Ninh District. Some of them received VietGAP certificate with the area of ??14 hectares. In general, the cooperatives have been managing the value chain from inputs provision, production, process and selling their products. Main distribution channels include the channel via food shops in Tam Ky and the door to door delivery via online orders from some hundreds local households. Notably, Truong Thanh Cooperative and Phu Ninh Clean Food Cooperative, now, have over 600 online customers. However, around 15 agricultural cooperatives in Phu Ninh and Dai Loc districts do not have almost services such as input provision, quality control and marketing to support production and consumption of vegetable products from farmers toward VietGap standard. They mainly cooperated with local technical agencies or organizations to organize technical training courses on vegetable cultivation for farmers. The farmers buy inputs from local markets and grow vegetable individually; as a result, the production cost is high. The main supply channels are operated through local traders in the Dai Loc and Phu Ninh districts. In Dai Loc the local traders buy almost vegetables and sell in nodal markets in Da Nang city. Traditional markets still play an important role in distributing vegetables. Prices for these products freely depend on market demand. In general, the cooperative’s capacity is still weak.

With above mentioned reason, it is necessary to improve capacity on business planning, production management, and value chain development for 15 cooperatives in Phu Ninh and Dai Loc districts so that they can become a main factor to provide better supports to farmers in vegetable production and consumption to increase added value for farmers. This activity contributes to achieving the indicators under task 1: increase application of low-emission land use practices and sub-task 1.3: improve sustainable livelihood for local communities (Indicators 1* and 8**).

II. OBJECTIVE/PURPOSE OF THE SCOPE OF WORK (SOW)

The purpose of this consultancy is to develop the vegetable value chains in Dai Loc and Phu Ninh district through strengthening capacity on business planning, production management, and value chain development for cooperatives in Phu Ninh and Dai Loc districts; and improving market linkage between the cooperatives with potential customers;

Through implementation of this activity, Cooperatives also help farmers apply trained knowledge and skills of Climate Agriculture Practice into their production to improve the quality of vegetables and reduce greenhouse gas emission, contributing to achieving indicator 1.

III. TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Business and Marketing consultant shall conduct all activities and prepare deliverables under the overall supervision of the Chief of Party (COP) and direct supervision of the Livelihood Development Officer (LDO) based in Da Nang, Vietnam. Specifically, the consultant will:

• Prepare a detailed work plan in cooperation with the GA staff and relevant district authorities;
• Conduct a Rapid Training Need Assessment (TNA) for cooperatives and vegetable growers in Phu Ninh and Dai Loc districts and prepare a TNA report;
• Review, design and develop (if necessary) relevant training manuals on management skills, business planning, value chain analysis and marketing development for cooperatives in Phu Ninh and Dai Loc districts;
• Conduct 02 training courses on management skills, business planning, including value chain analysis for 50 cooperative staffs, private sectors and related public officials (25 participants/training);
• Conduct 02 training courses on marketing development for 50 cooperative staffs, private sectors and related public officials (25 participants/training);
• Conduct a market survey and organize 2 workshops on market linkage between cooperatives with potential customers in Dai Loc and Phu Ninh districts;
• Prepare reports on (i) management skills, business planning, including value chain analysis; (ii) marketing development; (iii) market survey and 2 workshops on market linkage; (iv) final evaluation.

IV. EXPECTED OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES

The Business and Marketing Consultant shall submit the following deliverables electronically in MS-Word and in English and Vietnamese:

• Training Need Assessment report for cooperatives and vegetable growers in districts of Dai Loc and Phu Ninh conducted;
• Training manuals on management skills, business planning, value chain analysis and marketing development for cooperative prepared;
• Reports on (a) trainings on management skills, business planning, including value chain analysis; (b) marketing development;
• Detail business plans of the cooperatives link with the supporting to vegetable growers on values chains in Phu Ninh and Dai Loc districts developed;
• Report on market survey and workshop on market linkage, including purchase contracts signed between the cooperatives with potential customers produced;
• Final completion reports on fulfilment of this consultancy assignment prepared.

V. LEVEL OF EFFORT (LOE) AND TIMEFRAME

Table 1 below provides tasks/deliverables, estimated LOE allocation, and due dates for this SOW. The total LOE of Business and Marketing consultant for these activities is not-to-exceed 32 days. Any additional tasks/deliverables to be carried out by the Consultants in addition to the activities described in this SOW will be developed by ECODIT in coordination with the Consultants and elaborated in an amendment to this SOW.

VI. QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

• University degree or higher in Economics, Finance, Business Management, or related field;
• At least 5 years of experience in a role related to business management, value chain development, and marketing;
• Good experience in conducting similar trainings for and supporting private sector or cooperatives in development of business model, production organization, financial management, value chain analysis, and market linkage.
• Previous demonstrated experience in opening new markets and entering into marketing agreements for agricultural products.

Location: The assignment will be conducted in Dai Loc and Phu Ninh districts, Quang Nam province.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should send application including:

• A cover letter and latest
• Curriculum vitae (CV) in either English or Vietnamese, and
• Three references in either English or Vietnamese

By October 14th, 2019 to the following address: Recruitments.op@ecodit.com.vn

No phone contact please. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview.
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* Indicator 1: Greenhouse gas emissions, estimated in metric tons of CO2 equivalent, reduced, sequestered, and avoided as a result of USG assistance
** Indicator 8: Number of people receiving livelihood co-benefits (monetary or non-monetary) associated with the implementation of USG sustainable landscapes activities

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