Eyh Request For Consultant On Organic Chips Production

Background: Expand Your Horizons (EYH), a three year USAID-funded project, aims to build the technical and professional capacity of Lebanese organizations and their employees to play a more effective role in their community. This project is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development. The project aims to achieve this through: Strengthening the capacity of 150 organizations from various sectors and 400 of their employees in selected core skills and competencies through training and follow-on support activities. 2. Increasing communications and networking among participating organizations and individuals. EYH outsources trainings for the selected organizations to highly qualified training providers based on the needs identified in the project’s assessment phase. In order to do so, EYH issues Request for Training Proposals (RFTP) and completes a competitive procurement process. The purpose is to solicit proposals from qualified training providers who have the capacity to develop and deliver training in coordination with EYH staff. These trainings must be designed to support the development of skills and knowledge of professionals as guided and indicated in the details of the RFTP. 2. Training Topic and Objectives: EYH is commissioning an international or regional expert or consultant who has practical and top-notch experience in organic farming and organic food processing to work with a local Lebanese company specialized in organic farming and organic food production and processing on improving their organic handmade artisanal chips production for a four to five day in-house training. The purpose of this program is to assess with this company techniques being used in organic chips production and processing, and expose them to new ways or techniques that could help them in implementing changes to potato chips production (starting from the farming calendar of potatoes, preharvest preparation, harvest and potato crop control, post-harvest activities such as storage, temperature, and humidity level) and artisanal chips production and packaging that will ensure a longer shelf-life. Specific objectives to be covered by the training provider in technical training sessions (practical hands-on applications and workshops accompanied by tools/templates and take-away): - Assess with the farming unit of a Lebanese company working in organic farming and production techniques and technologies used in organic artisanal chips processing from farming stages to delivering to the customer. - Train this Lebanese company on new technologies and techniques used in organic potato farming in terms of preventing diseases and pest to potato crops, preserving quality of the potato harvest, and improving yield of its harvest, in addition to defining the best type or crop of potatoes for chips production. - Explore and train on post-harvest processes, especially for storage conditions. - Explain and expose this Lebanese company to new technologies and techniques used in organic potato chips artisanal processing and production (ranging from cleaning, to peeling, to cutting, to washing, to cooking, drying, seasoning, conditioning, packaging, etc.). - Assist the company in designing a packaging that will ensure a longer shelf life for the products. 3. Methodology: The methodology for this training should revolve around hands-on participatory adult education techniques. The training should not rely heavily on traditional teaching and instead should focus on practical issues and be activity-based. Each training session should be designed to convey clearly the identified training objectives. Training providers are expected to share in their training proposal an explanation of the training methodology to be used in each session to achieve the set objectives. Training materials developed and used should include up-to-date information and tools with practical examples and procedures that will aid the trainees in applying what they have learned within their organization. The selected training provider is expected to: Prepare and design modules of the training in line with the training objectives set by EYH; Share the outline of the training modules and a brief description of each topic with EYH for approval before the training; Share all relevant training materials, tools and templates with EYH prior to the training including handouts, PowerPoint presentations, and other relevant material; Deliver the training, equip trainees with relevant skills, knowledge and materials and work with trainees on developing Individual Development Plans (IDPs); Submit a training report at the end of the training; Be available for follow-up coaching of the participants on a limited basis as needed through email or phone calls for additional support within the period of three months post-training. 4. Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and Action Planning The IDP is an action planning tool completed by participants during the training which helps to measure progress and change within the individual and their organization afterwards. The IDP form, which participants are introduced to by EYH prior to arrival at the training will describe what each trainee expects to accomplish through training and how their new skills and knowledge will contribute to their organization’s development plan already prepared by EYH. Training providers are asked to hold daily check- ins at the end of the day and remind participants to consider ideas from the day to include in their action plans. At the end of the training the provider should also allocate adequate time and assistance to coach participants in completing a draft action plan to be handed in to EYH. 5. Trainee Background Trainees are up to ten technical and senior level professionals working in one of the leading organic farming company in Lebanon. 6. Language of Training Training delivery and training material will be provided in English. Neither interpretation nor translation is required for this training. 7. Outputs Expected outputs from the training include: Building capacity of Lebanese participants in artisanal organic potato chips production; Sharing with EYH the training materials; One IDP Action plan completed per trainee based on already developed EYH template; Final Training Report within two weeks after the completion of the training. 8. Training Provider/Consultant Profile EYH is looking for a training provider with a clear understanding of global standards, trends, products and services in the field of artisanal organic potato chips production, as well as a proven track record in the same field. The training provider can be a registered commercial company, an institution, organization, or an individual technical expert consultant with proven credibility within the field of training. The specific skills and competencies sought include: At least 5 years proven knowledge and experience in training delivery related to the artisanal organic potato chips production; Excellent writing and verbal communication skills in English; Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. During the training the provider should: Acknowledge and value diversity of experiences and operational environments; Encourage dialogue, sharing of knowledge and participation; Be supportive, rather than prescriptive, in building individual participants’ skills and expertise; and Encourage participants to be responsible for their own learning. Proposal Components 1. Technical Proposal:Please describe the methodology and approach that you will use to conduct the training. The technical part of your proposal should include the following and not exceed four pages: Your proposed methodology and preparations for conducting the training intervention; Your approach to conducting the three phases of the training intervention (preparatory, onsite, and follow-up coaching) including a brief description of the training modules and activities broken down for each of the days of the onsite portion; 2. Professional Qualifications:The training provider should provide the following: CV with a list of three references including names, organization, and contact information who can provide insights regarding skills, qualifications, and delivery of similar requested training services; A cover letter of no more than 1 page introducing the training provider’s background, qualifications, and how the skills and competencies described above are met with concrete examples from past training assignments. Please also use this cover letter to indicate timeframe availability; 3. Timeframe: It is envisioned that preparatory work with the target company would begin end of May 2015. Fieldwork however, is expected to commence during June, in line with the target company’s availability. Follow up offsite coaching may continue through September 2015 if needed. Please indicate in the appropriate bullet points in the cells of the table below as much information as possible based on the information we have provided you, including: A description of your work for each of the proposed steps of the program. Please note also that the Level of Effort should not exceed 12 working days total, spread over the indicated implementation period. Steps Description of work # working days Step 1 3 preparation days Step 2 4-5 onsite work days Step 3 2 distance follow-up coaching days Step 4 2 reporting days 4. Budget:Prices must be quoted in USDand include all expenses necessary to perform the contract. The training program budget should include the cost of up to three days of preparation, four to five days of in-house training, and two days for reporting. The training provider should also be available to provide up to two days of follow up coaching via email or phone calls as needed for the duration of 3 months post-training. Fee/day, however, should be the same regardless of whether work is performed inside or outside Lebanon. Traveling to/from Lebanon would be arranged and paid for by EYH separately. Per Diem will be given by EYH to the training provider to cover all lodging, meals & incidentals and ground transportation cost while in Lebanon. Responsibilities 1. EYH Provide bidder this RFP with supporting relevant information; Secure participation of the targeted institution in the training intervention; Manage and coordinate project resources; Liaise with stakeholders and USAID; Provide additional relevant information [pertinent to the targeted institution] during the preparatory phase; Arrange international travel for the training provider or reimburse international travel costs; Arrange lodging and per diem for the training provider during the onsite training phase. 2. Training Consultant Design schedule and approach to conducting the training intervention to be held with target company in Lebanon; Submit a Work Plan to EYH to be reviewed internally and with the target company for feedback; Conduct training intervention in line with the Work Plan; No later than two weeks post-training submit to EYH a Training Report; Provide up to two days of follow up coaching offsite to the target company as needed over three months post-training. Evaluation Criteria 1. Technical approach(see description under point 1 above): 40 points 2. Professional Qualifications(see description under point 2 above): 30 points 3. Timeframe(see description under point three above: 15 points 4. Budget(see description under point four above): 15 points Training Process, Deadlines, and Timeline The training is estimated to be conducted by June 2015. Action Due Date Responsibility of Deadline for submission of Training Proposal to EYH May 14, 2015 Training Provider Review applications/short list/service procured May 22, 2015 EYH EYH meeting (over Skype) with Trainer to agree on methodology and content Week of May 25, 2015 EYH and Training Provider Contract Signed Week of May 25, 2015 EYH and Training Provider Training Delivery June 2015 (TBD) Training Provider Training Report Submission June-July 2015 Training Provider Post-Training Coaching Support up to Two Days (online/phone) July-September, 2015 Training Provider Applicants not conforming to this model may be rejected. Questions and proposals should be emailed to info@eyhlebanon.org.