Expert on Clusters/Farmers associations

2.1 – Background AND FOCUS ON THE AREA OF INTERVENTION

 

In 2020 Lebanon faced multiple crises degrading the socio-economic context, and particularly affecting the agricultural sector and the livelihood capacities of vulnerable farmers and agro-food workers. Following the economic crisis, overall imports in Lebanon between January and August 2020 decreased by 41% in comparison to the same period in 2019 (excluding cereals), including a decrease of 22% for the importation of food products. The already tense economic context was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic , and the numerous lockdowns imposed by the Lebanese government to prevent an exponential increase of contamination in the country. In August the 4th 2020, the double explosion of Beirut’s port deepened the already existing crisis, and reduced Lebanon’s economic capacities.

Following these events, Lebanon currently faces the worst economic crisis of its history, illustrated by the devaluation of the Lebanese Pound (LBP) and the prices’ inflation. Over the past 12 months, the food price inflation rate reached 360%, while the consumer price index increased by 240%.

Akkar governorate has experienced during the last year an increase in production costs, scarcity of agricultural inputs and supplies, in addition to a weakening of end consumers’ purchasing power. According to a Rapid Need Assessment (RNA) conducted jointly by PUI and ACF in 2020, the costs of agricultural production in Akkar increased by more than 50% since 2019, and the average price of basic agricultural input increased by up to 400%. This high price of inputs was identified by 65% of the farmers interviewed as the main obstacle to the sustainability of their activity. To cope with this unprecedented situation, 87% of the farmers interviewed for the purposes of the RNA declared resorting to negative coping strategies including reducing production volume, relying on debts, reducing the number of workers employed and/or reducing the number of meals or quantity of food per day.

 

Moreover farmers across Lebanon are increasingly resorting to debt, and are moving to a low input system leading to a decreased production size. PUI field assessments also demonstrated a lack of knowledge regarding Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and fertilization techniques, among the farmers in its areas of intervention.  This lack of technical skills, in addition to the importation of most of the inputs used, further increases the costs of production, and thus reduces the farmers’ income generation capabilities.

 

Following the logic of intervention already developed and implemented under a grant funded by the French Embassy in Lebanon (CIAA), PUI is proposing to increase its support to vulnerable farmers and smallholders farmers in Akkar Governorate through the provision of in-kind assistance and capacity building. Support to farmers and producers in this peculiar economic crisis in Lebanon became a paramount importance in order to strengthen their resilience and increase their livelihood and means of subsistence.

 

Finally, with the COVID-19 epidemic, the Primary Health Care Centres’ (PHCCs) need for PPEs and medical equipment increased to ensure the safety and security of patients and health workers, as well as to prevent the propagation of the virus to the most vulnerable populations. Following field assessments and discussions with the CDCS, PUI will also provide PPEs, medical equipment and 2 molecules of chronic medicines to 15 PHCCs in Akkar and North governorate, to respond to the direct needs of the local population, and support the resilience of the Lebanese Public Health system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I2.3 – scope of work

The consultant will provide his/her  services to the goal of the CDCS funded intervention. He/she will ensure that the activity “Cluster reinforcement and provision of technical support” meets its targets and deliverables on-time and within budget.  He/she will closely work with farmers in Akkar and ensure accountability to PU-AMI’ policies and donor rules and regulations. He will assist PUI  Project Manager in the daily smooth running of the 2 clusters  of the CDCS  project in Akkar governorate.  The consultant will be responsible for working with small farmers to mobilize them into producers’ groups and adopt improved production and good practices.

1- Activity description:

PUI proposes to support the creation and development of small farmers’ groups in order to enable beneficiaries to set-up sustainable solutions to cope with the crisis and build their resilience.

By gathering under small informal groups, farmers will be able to negotiate better prices with suppliers and grocers, apply to loans and prospect new markets.

Two small groups of farmers have already been formed by 8 to 10 members in September 2021. Each group met only once so far to discuss the main objectives, to set internal rules and regulations, and to elect an executive committee. A charter was also drafted for a more structured group work.

The expert, with the support and supervision by the PUI project manager, will be responsible for the facilitation of the groups development: steering committee and general assembly meetings facilitation, support with the development of internal rules and regulations, support in communication and business development, technical capacity building in farmers group management, increasing the number of members, group’s strategies etc.

An expert in this field will be contracted by PUI to provide the necessary technical support to the steering committees and facilitate communication between members in order to improve the functioning and sustainability of the farmers’ groups.

The assignment for the consultant will be from January 2022 to April 2022.

2- Essential tasks of the cluster expert:

 

• Agree with each group/cluster on the type of coaching/support needed;
• Facilitate  the development of the cluster’s internal decision making bodies (n.d.r steering committee, general assembly)
• Facilitate meetings of each clusters group assembly meetings or committee meetings;
• Support with the development of clusters’ internal rules and regulations;
• Support in communication and business development by helping each cluster on setting  a business plan and an adequate action plan. ;
• provide the required coaching to ensure the proper execution of the action points
• Provide technical capacity building in farmers group management;
• Conduct weekly or bi-weekly meetings for each group and provide them with all the support needed to have a sustainable group activity        
• Promote regular communication among members by facilitating discussions on their whatsapp groups
• Support PUI FSL team in developing any visibility and communication materials for the scope of the intervention (brochures, banners, collection of successful stories, etc).

Coordination with PUI FSL team:

• Weekly meeting with PUI Project manager on the progress of each cluster activities;
• Report immediately any delay, problem or other relevant information to PUI Project Manager;
• Participate in donor visits when requested by the PUI Project Manager;

Expected Deliverables:

• Toolkit including the proposed methodology and content, detailed curriculum, and relevant activity evaluation tools
• present a written final Report describing the coaching activities conducted per cluster,  the results achieved, the challenges faced and the relevant recommendations

 

Tentative Calendar:

Deadline to send offer: 12 December 2021

Deliverable 1 (Toolkit): one week after contract signature

Deliverable 2 (Final Report): one week after the ending of the last activity

The consultant needs to secure his/her own transportation means and office equipment. whereas PU-AMI will provide the meeting locations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum requirements and experience:

• University Degree, preferably a Master’s Degree in Agriculture, sustainable development, business development, economy or related fields;
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in farmers group development, cluster farming activities, business planning, sustainable agriculture practices, eco friendly practices and technical capacity building for farmers group management;
• Excellent written and oral working knowledge in English and Arabic;
• Have a clear idea about the main agricultural challenges of the farmers in the area of Akkar

• Technical/Functional Skills

 

• Ability to combine, synthesize and analyze information
• Excellent ability to facilitate group discussions 
• Proven skills of report writing and communication
• Experience in food security and livelihood activities.

 

Transversal skills:

• Well organized;
• Conflict resolution and diplomacy experience;
• Ability to analyze and suggest improvement;
• Ability to adapt or change priorities according to the changing situation within a mission or the organization itself;
• Autonomy, neutrality, hard worker;
• Able to manage stress and pressure.

• Other:

• Valid driving license;
• Excellent management and pedagogical skills at field level;
• Very good knowledge of the context of intervention and previous experience in Akkar (preferable);
• Orientation to problem solving;
• Ability to manage relationships in potentially tense situations.

 

• Interests: Strong motivation to help people in need

The selection committee will evaluate the Offers based upon their written technical and economic proposals. Interested Offerors must send the following documents in English to the address: lib.pm-fsl.akk@pu-ami.org

 

1. CAPABILITY AND TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE STATEMENT

Offeror will demonstrate capabilities and technical experience by providing the following: 

a.  CV

b.  Cover letter showing previous experience in the subject matter and in the area of intervention;

c. Technical proposal in response to the above requirements including an illustrative methodology and a timeline for

the needed work

 

2. ECONOMIC PROPOSAL

Offerors will submit a proposed budget with their proposals in a file via email, labeled “Budget Proposal.” The proposed budget will have sufficient detail to allow evaluation of elements of costs proposed.

Payment Terms:

‐ All invoices should be stamped and signed.

‐ Non‐Registered consultants will be subject to taxes deduction on payment settlement 7.5% for services as per Lebanese MOF regulations ( if the consultant is not Lebanese or non resident in Lebanon)

‐ Payments are processed via (a) Internal wire transfer, (b) Cash withdrawal request

‐ Payments will be issued within 15 to 30 days from date of invoice acceptance

-First payment will be paid after submission of the tool kit  and second payment will be paid after the submission of the final report.

 

PUI will evaluate proposals based on a best‐value determination; Offerors should submit their most competitive price

proposal. Proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria:

‐ Previous relevant experience in agricultural business development

‐ Previous experience working with NGOs;

‐ Highlighted technical experience coaching of farmers groups

‐ Proposed budget

‐ Impactful CV

-professional  references

The evaluation committee will review the technical proposal based upon the technical criteria listed above.    The cost

proposals will be reviewed to ensure they are complete and free of computational errors. The committee will also assess the

reasonableness of costs and the cost‐effectiveness of the budget and will determine whether the costs reflect a clear

understanding of project requirements. A contract will be offered to the winning Service Provider whose proposal follows the RFP instructions and who is  selected to be the most advantageous to PUI.