Fodder Agriculture Training & Support

Terms of Reference

Fodder Agriculture Training & Support

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.  

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Operating since 2004 in Lebanon, DRC has addressed the needs and rights of vulnerable populations, working with both Lebanese and displaced communities, working initially with Palestinian refugees (since 2004), Iraqi refugees (2007-2010), Lebanese IDPs (during the 2006 conflict), migrant domestic workers (since 2009) and, since 2011, responding to the Syrian refugee crisis.

DRC Lebanon is currently delivering programming in protection, basic assistance, livelihoods, and community development interventions. DRC seeks to address the immediate needs of displaced populations and concurrently support vulnerable host populations. DRC has three offices spread throughout Lebanon in, Beirut, the Bekaa and North Lebanon.  For further information about DRC, please refer to our website: https://drc.ngo/

Objectives:

DRC, under a Danida funded project for supporting the existing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to maintain & improve their operations, is seeking to hire a highly qualified fodder crop specialist/firm that as a consultancy to provide training sessions to DRC MSMEs beneficiaries located in Ghazze & Mansoura. 

Responsibilities:

• Analyze the current fodder agriculture sector in the Bekaa valley, including: estimation of the quantities produced, fodder production gaps, the impacts of the climate changes, the development opportunities, the different types of fodder crops that can be planted in similar climates, recommendations
• Develop training sessions for business owners of fodder related businesses in order to improve their production skills and products quality
• The training sessions should include the types of the crops and their growth details, and the different ways to preserve the fodder productions for longer periods
• Provide the full training sessions for the MSMEs, in coordination with the DRC – Bekaa Economic Recovery Team 

Deliverables:

The consultant for Fodder Agriculture training is expected to:

• Conduct site visits to the planting estates (Three farmers) with the DRC EcRec Officer (1/2 visits with 3/4 hours per visit as needed). These site visits are located in the area of Ghazze & Manoura.
•  Report to DRC staff the challenges of these businesses & the required needs training sessions based on the conducted visits
• Prepare a detailed curriculum supported with a schedule
• Deliver the session(s) with a PP presentation and handouts to beneficiaries
• Conduct pre-post tests related to the general knowledge of the fodder agriculture
• Provide DRC with an achievement Report of the comprehended knowledge
• Action Plan report detailing the steps to be pursued after the delivery session(s) for each MSME

Sample Daily work plan design and stages:

Activity 1: Fodder Agriculture assessment questionnaire:

• Build a questionnaire tailored to the fodder agriculture and with respect to the selected MSMEs’ owners
• The questionnaire should include the MSMEs’ general fodder production cycle such as the types of the seeds bought, the fertilizers & the pesticides periodical application, crop watering consumptions, tools & crop equipment involved, etc... with a scoring indicator

Activity 2: Fodder Crop Cases & Problem Solving:

• Train the beneficiaries with providing several cases of growing fodder crops’ and their defined solutions for their occurring difficulties to reach better crop production
• The training should be in compliance with the MoA & international crop growth standards.

Activity 3: Fodder Crop Requirement:

• Train the beneficiaries about the different varieties of the fodder seeds (local & imported)
• Train the beneficiaries on the general fodder seeds requirements as for the climate & the types of soil
• Train the beneficiaries about the crop plantation & growth such watering quantities (rain-fed or require minimal irrigation), fertilizers, & pesticides for producing the local fodder feed and imported ones if applicable

Activity 4: Minimal Required Planting Tools:

• Provide a training session around the distinction between the basic & the advanced planting tools & equipment necessary for the fodder crop agriculture
• Provide a training session on the most feasible instruments & devices (like substitutes) to obtain better crops with reduced costs

Activity 5: Fodder Crop Preservative Methods:  

•  Provide a training session on the types of fodder crops requiring less costly preserving methods to the most expensive ones
• Train beneficiaries on the different methods of preserving the various types of fodder crops for longer periods taking into consideration detailing the process such as the chopping technique, the fermentation materials, preservative agents, and the storage specifications
• The training should be in compliance with the international agricultural standards for the preservation process and the MoA.

Documents to be submitted

Interested applicants should submit a technical proposal and a financial proposal.

The technical proposal must include:

 Detailed company profile and detailed CVs for individuals.

 Minimum response timeframe per service.

The financial proposal must specify the following:

• A detailed financial proposal for the services requested in the deliverables.
• The Daily Costs of the training & consultancy services should be provided in USD.
• For an individual applicant, the application should indicate their availability per month. For company applications, the applicant should indicate whether they have any minimum or maximum availability limits.

The Applicant shall be responsible for all taxes, national insurance, or other contributions, which are or may be payable out of, or as result of the receipt of, any fees or other monies paid or payable in connection with this Agreement. The Foreman shall accordingly indemnify and hold DRC harmless against all taxes (including VAT), national insurance or other contributions, costs, claims, penalties, interest, expenses, or proceedings arising out of or in connection with such taxes and contributions.

The Consultant should notify DRC of his/her registration for V.A.T. and provides V.A.T. invoices in respect of the Consultancy Services, if applicable.

Experience and technical competencies:

• Strong technical capacity in agriculture, fodder crops specifically in more than one area
• Extent & significance experience in working with farmers & fodder agriculturists
• Good Knowledge in MS office applications
• Ability to communicate very clearly with the beneficiaries
• Good organizational & presentation skills

Education:

• University degree in agricultural engineering
• Advanced university degree (Master's Degree), preferably with the specialization in the fodder agriculture
• Minimum 5 years of experience in the fodder production field

Languages:

• Arabic (Native).
• English (Fluent).

Key stakeholders:

• Fodder Agriculturists
• Farmers
• Fodder Traders
• Local authorities like MoA
• DRC - Bekaa EcRec Team

Location:

Based on the above timeframe for outputs and deliverables tables. The Consultant will be executing the needed tasks at DRC Bekaa office and in all required training & consultancy sessions.