National Consultant Specialized In Losses In The Fruit Value Chain

Vacancy Number : FVAC 15.006   Job Title: National Consultant Specialized in losses in the fruit value chain   Division/Department: FAO Representation Office in Lebanon   Programme/Project Number: TCP/SNO/3501 - Capacity Building for Food Loss Reduction in the Near East   Location: Beirut   Expected Start Date of Assignment: 1 July 2015 Duration: 90 days over a period of six months     Reports to:   Maurice Saade Jennifer Smolak and Mohamed AwDahir                 Title: FAOR in Lebanon Lead Technical Officers (LTO), FAO/RNE     General Description of task(s) and objectives to be achieved   Under the overall supervision of the FAO Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, the operational supervision of the Budget Holder as well as the FAO Representative in Lebanon, and in close collaboration with the Project Lead Technical Officer (LTO), National Project Coordinators (NPC) and the other project consultants, the national consultant will carry out the following activities:   1-     Collaborate with the Project Lead Technical Officer (LTO) for effective coordination of the consultant’s activities and inputs; 2-     Liaise with concerned departments at the Ministry of Agriculture to exchange information and generally facilitate collaboration, if needed; 3-     Submit all technical documents to the National Project Coordinator (NPC), FAO Representation and the FAO Lead Technical Officer (LTO) for review and clearance; 4-     Brief the FAO Representative and senior related staff of the MOA during meetings organized by the project; 5-     Undertake any activity that may be requested by the LTO in his fields of expertise; 6-     After completion of assigned duties during each mission, submit a report of activities to the National Project Coordinator, with copy to FAO Representation in Lebanon, and the LTO, in excellent English and in line with FAO’s official editorial guidelines to be found at: http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/004/AC339e/AC339e00.HTM   Specific Responsibilities (see Annex 1 for description of Services):   Carry out a review of the present status of fruit sector in the country, to understand the value chain and the problematic areas where food losses occur. Conduct a training needs assessment for target audiences in the fruit sector in Lebanon to determine capacity building needs. Design a curriculum, develop training materials and visual aids (posters, charts) illustrating improved practices for fruit commodities, prepare a tool kit and conduct a Value Chain Development Workshop, including classroom instruction, field visits and demonstrations on reducing food losses to be conducted for at least 24 managers, technical experts in the food industry, and extension agents.     key performance indicators   Expected Outputs:    Carry out a review of the present status of fruit sector in the country, to understand the value chain and the problematic areas where food losses occur. Conduct a training needs assessment for target audiences in the fruit sector in Lebanon to determine capacity building needs. Design a curriculum, develop training materials and visual aids (posters, charts) illustrating improved practices for fruit commodities, prepare a tool kit and conduct a Value Chain Development Workshop, including classroom instruction, field visits and demonstrations on reducing food losses to be conducted for at least 24 managers, technical experts in the food industry, and extension agents. Submit a final report of activities to the National Project Coordinator, with copy to FAO Representation in Lebanon, and LTO Required Completion Date:   August 2015   September 2015   November 2015 (Deliver drafts, circulate for comment and submit for clearance by September 2015 for Activities 3, 4, 5 in Annex)     December 2015     Activity 1: Undertake an assessment and a value chain analysis with regard to food losses of the fruit sector in Lebanon   Develop a methodology, including framework of analysis and specify data sources (secondary data, interviews with key actors, field or site visits, own experience and knowledge, key publications, or other sources as deemed relevant) to carry out a “rapid review” of food losses in the fruit value chain, specifically in the postharvest handling and storage, processing, and distribution phases.   Carry out the assessment and develop draft (20 pages maximum, including figures), circulate for comment, finalize and submit for clearance.   Activity 2: Based on Activity 1, assess the training needs for target audiences, in particular the knowledge and capacity gaps in the postharvest handling and storage, processing, and distribution phases of fruit value chains.   Carry out the assessment and deliver draft, circulate for comment, finalize and submit for clearance.   Activity 3: Design the curricula for the Value Chain Development Workshop on fruit sector including classroom instruction and demonstrations on improving food value chain and reducing food losses, for concerned stakeholders, operators and extension agents.   The training curriculum will include 3-4 days of classroom instruction, plus 1-2 days demonstrations/local site visits. The curriculum should consist of training based on the needs identified in Activity 2 (capacity development component), and should also prepare the participants to conduct their own training to at least 10 other people (training of trainers component).   Deliver draft of the curricula/agenda, circulate for comment and submit for clearance.   Activity 4: Create training materials and manuals with a focus on the fruit value chain management and strategies for food losses reduction. The materials should reflect the training needs identified in Activity 2, for example guidance on postharvest handling and packaging, pest management, processing, cold chain management, agribusiness management and marketing. The objective is to prepare training materials that are profound enough to provide a good basis of knowledge and versatile enough so that the materials in it can be used by as many trainers in their outreach efforts. The materials should be organized into modules in-line with the curriculum in Activity 3, case studies, explanatory text, graphics, or any other methods to communicate the material in a concise manner.   Deliver draft of the outline, circulate for comment.    Activity 5: Develop visual aids (posters, charts) illustrating improved practices in reducing food losses of fruits in order to increase the awareness on the negative impacts of food losses among all concerned stakeholders. These visual aids are to be used by trainees after the Value Chain Development Workshop when conducing their own training sessions for at least 10 other people.   Deliver draft of the curricula/table of content, circulate for comment and submit for clearance.   Activity 6: Prepare a Food Loss Prevention Tool Kit in relation to the fruits including the basic tools needed to assess food quality, and monitor shelf life of fruits along the value chain. The tool kit will be provided to trainees and demonstrated at the Value Chain Development Workshop.   The tool kit should adhere to any technical or budget specifications. Deliver draft of the curricula/table of content, circulate for comment and submit for clearance.   Activity 7: Conduct a Value Chain Development Workshop, including class room instruction and demonstrations on prevention and reduction of food losses, for at least 24 participants, managers, technical experts in the horticulture and food industry, and extension agents.   Collaborate with National Consultant, International Consultant, and TCP project team as needed to prepare and deliver the workshop. Conduct training in English (and Arabic). Prepare a CD or flash drive with all materials, agenda, supporting documents.