Trainer about greenhouse, hydroponic and soilless agriculture

    

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Trainer about Greenhouse, Hydroponics and soilless agriculture

(Proc. Ref.: C7/2019)

 

 

Country:                      Republic of Lebanon

 

Project Name:             Climate Smart Agriculture: Enhancing Adaptive Capacity of the Rural Communities in Lebanon (AgriCAL)

 

Loan No./Grant No.: C-AF-1-LB

 

Assignment Title:       Trainer about Greenhouse, Hydroponics and Soilless agriculture

 

Reference No.:            C7/2019

(as per Procurement Plan)

 

 

The Republic of Lebanon represented by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has received a Grant from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) toward the cost of the Climate Smart Agriculture: Enhancing Adaptive Capacity of the Rural Communities in Lebanon (AgriCAL) Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds of this Grant for the recruitment of Consulting Services provided by an Individual Consultant: as part of the Post of Trainer about Greenhouse, Hydroponics and Soilless agriculture for the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI).  

 

The consulting services (“the Services”) include a training on “Greenhouse, soilless agriculture and hydroponic systems”. The training would enhance the knowledge of LARI staff on technological advances in greenhouse, soilless agriculture and hydroponic systems. It will be conducted in Lebanon (Rayak – Tel Amara) for at least ten (10) trainees from LARI, for a period of eight 8 days (4 hours/day).

 

The Ministry of Agriculture now invites eligible Individual Consultants/Trainers (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants/Trainers should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:

• Bachelor degree in agricultural engineering or any related field and at least 5 years of experience;
• At least 3 years’ experience in greenhouse, soilless agriculture and hydroponic systems;
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively with senior government staff;
• Fluency in written and verbal of English and Arabic is a must;
• Good communication and presentation skills.

 

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to IFAD’s policy on conflict of interest situations that must be avoided as described in IFAD’ Project Procurement Guidelines – September 2010.

 

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant Qualifications Selection (CQS) method set out in IFAD’ Project Procurement Guidelines – September 2010.

Further information can be obtained at the email address proc.agrical@gmail.com during office hours 08:00 – 15:00.

 

Expressions of interest in the form of Curriculum Vitae (CV) must be delivered in a written form to the email address proc.agrical@gmail.com with the job tittle in the subject not later than February 13th, 2020. Only short listed of qualified candidates will be contacted.

 

 

 

 

Terms of Reference

 

Name of the consultancy services: Trainer about greenhouse, hydroponic and soilless agriculture

Proc. Ref.: C7/2019

 

 

 

1. Background of the Project

The Adaptation Fund Board approved in June 2012 the Full Sized Project Grant entitled “Climate Smart Agriculture: Enhancing Adaptive Capacity of the Rural Communities in Lebanon (AgriCAL)” submitted by IFAD. The Project aims to increase community resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change in the Project Area. The objective of the Project is to support the implementation of climate change adaptation measures in the agriculture sector in the Project Area through four components: (i) increased water availability and efficient use through water harvesting and irrigation technologies; (ii) increased adaptation to climate change for crop production; (iii) increased resilience of shepherds and small ruminants to climate change through sustainable rangeland management; and (iv) climate index insurance initiated, policy influenced and lessons learned and shared through a knowledge management system.

The Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) is the responsible entity to implement the second component.

 

2. Scope of the work and expected outputs/deliverables

Within the context of the second component of the project, LARI is working on raising awareness on agricultural technologies that cope with climate change. Particularly, greenhouse soilless and hydroponic systems must be disseminated among farmers’ community because traditional agriculture faces challenges due to soil degradation, water scarcity, and urbanization. Soilless and hydroponic systems have the potential to generate high yield per unit area using limited land, water, and no soil.

LARI is seeking for a consultant to conduct a training on “Greenhouse, soilless agriculture and hydroponic systems”. The training would enhance the knowledge of LARI staff on technological advances in greenhouse soilless and hydroponic systems. It will be conducted in Lebanon (Rayak – Tel Amara) for at least ten (10) trainees from LARI, for a period of eight 8 days (4 hours/day).

LARI should provide the premises for the training and will take in charge all the operational costs of the training preparation (training room rent, catering, the presentation tools and any other miscellaneous logistics costs - printing training materials).

The work will be divided into two main phases:

Phase 1: Initial Assessment and Action Plan (4 days)

The consultant shall:

• Meet LARI’s staff in order to:
  • Assess the needs in training of the LARI staff
• Develop a tailored training program
• Prepare the needed materials for the training
• Plan for field visit and on site cases studies

At the end of Phase 1, the consultant shall submit a report clearly responding to the requirements mentioned above and listing any material and data requested by the consultant from LARI. When the Agenda of the training is approved by AgriCAL Project Coordinator and LARI focal point, the consultant shall deliver the training (Phase 2) as described below.

Phase 2: Training (4 days)

The consultant shall:

• Execute the training prepared in phase one (1)

The topics of the training should cover at least (among others) the following points:

1. Introduction to hydroponics.
2. Comparison between traditional and hydroponic systems.
3. The different types of hydroponic and soilless systems including the Nutrient film technique, the substrate culture (inert and organic types), etc. Advantages and limitations of each system must be explained, in addition to an overview of cost/benefits.
4. Hydroponic systems as agricultural technology that cope with climate change through reducing soil degradation and conserving water.
5. The elements needed to mount a hydroponic/soilless system: computerized system that has the duty of controlling, monitoring and distributing the nutrient solution, fertigation unit, injection pumps, how to prepare nutrient solution, needed benches and troughs, etc. (Heat control, Nutrient temperature control and lighting control).
6. A field visit to show soilless and hydroponic systems that are available on local market.

The Consultant should coordinate with LARI focal point the availability of the trainees for the training.

The Consultant should submit the Agenda to AgriCAL Project Coordinator and LARI focal point for approval. They have five (5) working days to send their comments to the Consultant. Any changes in the training content at any stage of the assignment should be submitted to the PCU for AgriCAL Project Coordinator.

 

The Consultant shall submit the following deliverables:

 

Report # 1: “Agenda and material of the training”

The Report shall include the following:

- Agenda of the training days/ day

- Detailed training outlines.  

- Any other supporting training material that may be found necessary during the training.

- Evaluation template to be filled by the trainees.

 

 Report # 2: “Report of the training”

The Report shall include the following:

- The signed list of attendees by day of the training.

- The observations and the discussions and their feedback.

- The findings and the results of the evaluation and recommendations of the training.

- The training material

- The photos of the training

 

3. Time FrameThe assignment shall begin upon IFAD No objection on the Terms of Reference. The Consultant shall work in close coordination with AgriCAL Coordinator and LARI focal point. The Consultant shall start the training maximum forty five (45) days after the contract signature. The Consultant shall submit in English the two (2) deliverables to the Ministry of Agriculture in three hard copies each in color and one digital copy each according to the following time frame:

- Report # 1: maximum 30 days after the contract signature.

- Report # 2: 10 days after the end of the training.

The deliverables/materials/reports submitted by the consultant shall not be protected by copyright and it will become the intellectual property rights of LARI.

 

4. Qualifications and Profile of the Consultant

• Bachelor degree in agricultural engineering or any related field and at least 5 years of experience;
• At least 3 years’ experience in greenhouse soilless agriculture and hydroponic systems;
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively with senior government staff;
• Fluency in written and verbal of English and Arabic is a must;
• Good communication and presentation skills.