CONSULTANT FOR MARKETING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (CURRICULUM) FOR AGROECOLOGICAL FARMERS

BACKGROUND:

Mada is seeking a qualified Business development and marketing consultant to develop a business training curriculum for women agroecological small-scale farmers under the project entitled “Strengthening the Resilience of Vulnerable Women, Young Adults, and Men in Lebanon through Livelihood Improvement and Increased Food Security” funded by the German Cooperation (BMZ) and implemented by Mada Association in partnership with arche noVa.
The project supports the transition to agroecology and improve access to food by strengthening the resilience of vulnerable women, young adults and men in Lebanon by improving livelihoods and increasing food security. The project aims to build a more resilient, economically stable, and food secure communities in the project regions by addressing livelihood and food security challenges through a comprehensive approach. 
The aim of the mission is to develop a comprehensive curriculum for pre-existing 5 training sessions in powerpoint format that focus on enhancing the marketing and business development skills of these farmers, supporting them in transforming their agroecological practices into viable businesses. The curriculum will include both theoretical and practical components, with exercises, and will consist of no more than five sessions. 
The mission is expected to be participatory, with input gathered directly from farmers in close coordination with Mada.

Objective of the mission:

To develop a comprehensive, participatory, and context-adapted curriculum of 10 sessions for women farmers, based on the existing 5 developed training sessions, covering:
•    Business thinking and planning
•    Marketing strategies and agroecological value
•    Branding, differentiation, and pricing
•    Product, place, and promotion
•    Growth, sustainability, and collective planning

The curriculum should be locally relevant, visually engaging, and rooted in agroecological principles and real market challenges faced by women agroecological farmers in Lebanon.

Main tasks and Responsibilities:

•    Revise and expand each session of the curriculum based on the provided 5 training sessions. Additions or changes must be submitted to Mada for review and approval under the form of updated outline.
•    Organize a meeting with Mada’s technical team within one week of receiving the 5 pre-developed training material to address questions and clarify feedback.
•    Conduct a meeting with farmers (if needed) to validate and adapt the content based on their input, ensuring local relevance and practicality.
•    Provide elaborated tools and supporting materials (e.g., templates, visuals, worksheets) as annexes to the curriculum.
•    Ensure the curriculum includes:
o    A trainer's first page introducing the module and its use
o    A clearly structured outline with session objectives and flow
o    Detailed session content and elaboration
o    A section summarizing the key messages to be delivered to participants
o    Pre- and post-training tests to measure learning outcomes
•    The final curriculum must be well-designed and organized for printing, with clear formatting to facilitate use by local trainers.
•    Coordinate with Mada’s team for feedback and content validation through two feedback rounds per session.
•    Submit a final version of the curriculum in English and Arabic and in an editable Word format.

Final deliverables:

•    Updated outline for the 10 sessions curriculum with changes or additions. 
•    A comprehensive curriculum in both Arabic and English consisting of 10 sessions, designed to equip women agroecological farmers with practical marketing and business development skills. The final curriculum must be user-friendly, adaptable and practical for the agroecological context. It should be delivered in word format in both English and Arabic, with clear headings, and sub-headings. Each training session should not exceed 3 hours.

QUALIFICATIONS

•    Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Agricultural Economics, or a related field.
•    Previous experience in developing business development, marketing, or entrepreneurship training curriculum. 
•    Proven experience working with farmers, cooperatives, or agroecological/agricultural projects.
•    Strong knowledge of agroecology principles and the challenges/opportunities in marketing agroecological products.
•    Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with a focus on interactive and inclusive approaches.
•    Ability to assess the participants' needs and adapt the curriculum accordingly.
•    Experience working with women farmers.
•    Fluency in Arabic and English.

Eligible Applicants:
•    Applications can be submitted by an individual expert, a team of more than one expert, or a company. If submitted by a team, one of the experts will be considered Lead Expert and be signatory. 
•    The contract will be signed with a single entity, whether an individual or a consultancy institution, outlining clear terms of engagement.
The selection process will consist of two steps: a pre-selection based on technical experience and qualifications, followed by in-person or online interviews with the shortlisted candidates.

Timeline:
The consultant is expected to submit the draft curriculum within six weeks of the start date. 
The final version of the curriculum, along with supporting materials, should be delivered within two weeks after receiving feedback on the final draft.