Interested and suitably qualified persons are hereby invited to tender their applications for consideration under the various project consultancies, guided by the following terms of reference:
- Post Title: Organic
Capacity Development and Business Planning
Description of required services
The Consultant, in collaboration with the National
Farmers’ Agro-Business Development Cooperation (NFAD), the Ministry of
Agriculture, Food Production, Fisheries and Rural Development, the National
Education Learning Unit (NELU) of the Ministry of Education and RISE project
consultants responsible for Public Relations, Policy Development; is expected
to develop and conduct a series of training workshops aimed at improving farmer
knowledge of and skills in organic farming, along with command of organic
agri-business. The workshops will provide business planning resources, as well
as hands on farming education and information on organic certification.
Given the time-frame for implementation of project
activities, the Consultant is expected to utilize and build on existing data,
knowledge and expertise available from project partners and other reliable sources.
Key Tasks
A. Development of Training Curricula as follows:
- Preparation
of training materials and curricula which will include:
a)
Introduction
to Organic Farming (definitions, stages, challenges and benefits)
b)
Presentation
of Market research from PR consultancy
c)
Presentation
of Crop zoning report and production plan from the Farmer capacity Assessment
consultant
d)
Presentation
on Business Model, Sales and Profitability estimates and diversification of
production chain; Pricing mechanisms
- Step by step process of certification
- Farming
techniques for Storage, transportation, selecting/purchasing supplies, marketing,
harvesting, post-harvest handling, packaging, labelling, pest management,
nutrient enhancement (fertilising)
- Introduction
to Organic Policy and Standards, and Food Testing Facility
- Develop
an Organic Farming toolkit using products from GEF SGP recipients and
other organic producers
B. Conduct of Training
Sessions:
- The
Consultants are expected to conduct training for 100 participants in
groups of 25 over a period of one week per group
- Deliver
Organic Farming toolkit using products from GEF SGP recipients and other organic
producers
- Design
and implement a monitoring and evaluation tool for assessing workshop
success
Selection Criteria
All tenders for the consultancy will be evaluated
based on the following:
·
Understanding
of services to be performed
·
Type
of approach and proposed methodologies
·
Qualifications
and Experience - Familiarity with organic agriculture and farming techniques
·
Ability
to work well independently and manage own time
·
Consultancy
fees
*******************************************************************************************************************************************
2. Post
Title: Organic Policy Development
Description
of required services
The consultant is expected to conduct an assessment of
current policies, laws, declarations and guidelines on agricultural production,
food quality and safety, food and nutritional security, dangerous goods,
phyto-sanitary procedures, pesticide and herbicide applications, import and export legislation, environmental
legislation, plant and animal health and quarantine, public health and other
related legislative tools. Existing organic policies – both regional and international
should be included in the review to provide best practices for organic
production.
The Consultants will be expected to collaborate with
the RISE project consultants to inform the way forward for future relevant
legislation.
Key Tasks
A. Review existing policies
and develop organic policy, bill and regulations:
- Conduct a literature review on organic
agriculture and relevant policies
- Utilize the technical expertise of the Ministry
of Agriculture and RISE St Lucia Inc. among others, to develop guidelines
for compliance with international organic certification standards
- Develop a national organic policy which builds on
existing local codes, standards and certification for organic production;
including the need for testing for assurance of food safety and
nutritional quality
- Survey of existing institutional structures and
requirements for future structures
- Develop National organic legislation (Bill,
regulations, guidelines)
- Liaise with the Bureau of Standards for guidance
as the official national standards- setting body
Selection Criteria
All tenders for the consultancy will be evaluated
based on the following:
·
Understanding
of services to be performed
·
Ability
to work well independently and manage own time
·
Familiarity
with (organic) agricultural processes
·
Type
of approach and proposed methodologies
·
Work
programs and execution schedule
·
Qualifications
and Experience
·
Consultancy
fees
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************
3. Post
Title: Organic Value Chain Assessment and Business
Plan Development
The consultant, in collaboration with the Ministry of
Agriculture, National Farmers Agro-Business Development Cooperation (NFAD) and
RISE project consultants responsible for Public Relations, Policy Development
and Capacity Development is expected to conduct an assessment of current
organic production. This will include an identification of reliable suppliers
for inputs, as well as producers of final products, challenges, strengths and
opportunities for strengthening the supply and production network. The information gathered will inform the development
of an Organic Agri-Business Model for replication around Saint Lucia.
Key Tasks
A. Organic Value Chain
assessment:
- Identify farmers currently
undertaking organic production
- Identify key products which
are high value and capable of securing ideal market prices
- Assess major challenges and
deficiencies in organic production (e.g. availability of equipment,
supplies, technical skills etc.)
- Determine base sale
price/value using costs of inputs, type of produce, cost of certification,
demand for goods (as informed by PR Consultant)
- Suggest possible export
markets
- Use crop zoning report to
identify best organic crops by geographical area
- Provide recommendations for
zonal crop rotation schedules
- Provide recommendations to
policy drafter for organic production in compliance with International
standards
B. Develop Organic
Agri-Business Model:
1. Develop an organic agri-business model which can be replicated on farms
island wide
2. Include projection of returns in years 1, 3 and 5
3. Provide list of reliable organic agricultural producers and suppliers of
organic inputs, local and foreign
Selection Criteria
All tenders for the consultancy will be evaluated
based on the following:
- Understanding of services to
be performed
- Ability to work well
independently and manage own time
- Familiarity with (organic)
agricultural processes
- Type of approach and
proposed methodologies
- Work programs and execution
schedule
- Qualifications and
Experience
- Consultancy fees
The Consultant(s)
will also be required to attend and contribute to organic policy related
meetings and consultations.
