Consultancy Service for Capacity Building for Cooperatives and Vegetable Growers on VietGap Standards (ECODIT)

SCOPE OF WORK
CAPACITY BUILDING FOR COOPERATIVES AND VEGETABLE GROWERS ON VIETGAP STANDARDS

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. The demand for quality (certified) vegetable products is growing rapidly in relation with industrial development, tourism development in Quang Nam Province and Da Nang City and potential exports opportunities for vegetables from Quang Nam Province.

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. 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 small and fragmented production area makes it difficult to transfer technology, VietGap standard registration, quality monitoring and management as well as not to ensure that the output is large enough to sign contracts with potential partners such as supermarkets.

With above mentioned reason, it is necessary to improve capacity on production management, and quality compliance on VietGap standards for vegetable growers in Phu Ninh and Dai Loc districts so that they can apply VietGap standards to increase added value through vegetable production and consumption. 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 production management, and knowledge and skills on vegetable production with VietGAP standards for the local vegetables growers in Phu Ninh and Dai Loc districts;

Through implementation of this activity, it also helps 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 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;
• Review, design and develop (if necessary) training manual for growing vegetable following VietGap standards vegetable grower participants in Phu Ninh and Dai Loc districts;
• Conduct 05 technical training courses for growing vegetable following VietGap standards for at least 150 farmers (30 participants/ training).
• Prepare reports on (i) technical training courses for growing vegetable; and (ii) final evaluation.

IV.    EXPECTED OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES

The Quality Compliance on VietGap Consultant shall submit the following deliverables electronically in MS-Word and in English and Vietnamese:

• Training manual for growing vegetable following VietGap standards prepared;
• Report on 05 technical trainings for growing vegetable following VietGap standards;
• 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 Quality Compliance on VietGap Consultant for these activities is not-to-exceed 20 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 in Agriculture or related field; majoring in crops is an advantage.
• At least 5 years of experience in crop management in general and vegetable production with VietGAP standards in particular, including VIETGAP auditing and certifying;
• Good experience in conducting training on vegetable production and assessment for vegetable production following VietGAP standards, with more than two service contracts on VietGAP assessment.

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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