Organic Farming Training Consultant

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.

scope of work

Under the scope of this intervention, technical consultancy on organic farming will be provided in Akkar in order to promote a more sustainable agriculture that respects the environment and allow farmers and gardeners to mitigate the high costs of production by using natural methods and techniques for crop production.

The general objective of the consultancy is to increase  the awareness of Akkar’s farmers and smallholders farmers on more sustainable methods of production and promote environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

The consultant will deliver an interactive training on organic agriculture based on his/her expertise and demonstrate to the audience with practical demonstration in the field how to produce their own natural pesticides and fertilizers, as well as other techniques used in organic agriculture.  The consultant will also provide remote technical follow up  after the training to ensure the information is well transferred to farmers.

Main responsibilities of the consultant:

• provide 2-days onsite trainings per group for 6 groups of 30 farmers each; the training topics are, but not limited to, the following: (1) introduction on the concept of organic farming, (2) how to re - create organic inputs i.e. organic pesticides, organic fertilizers, (3) overview on the organic certification (steps, requirements etc..);
• identify  a site located in central Akkar for practical training delivery to targeted population;
• provide an initial report (toolkit) including the training curriculum (methodology, schedule, etc.) and the training material (training content, handouts to be distributed to the trainees, etc.)
• agree with PU-AMI on the  curriculum and material before the delivery of the sessions;
• provide remote consultancy to the trainees over a period of 2 weeks following the last session delivery;
• provide a final report to PU-AMI on the training provided, attendance, progress of the beneficiaries, impact of the training, challenges faced during the training sessions, specific areas of focus required for the skills development of the farmers and recommendations
• Participate with PUI FSL team to the initial info – sessions provided to the beneficiaries in the different communities;
• report any issue faced during the training to PU-AMI focal point;
• Support PUI 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 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:

• Training toolkit including training methodology and content, detailed curriculum, handouts, pre and post tests
• Present a written final Final Report describing the training delivered with all activities executed, the results achieved, the challenges faced and the relevant recommendations

Tentative Calendar:

Deadline to send offer: 12 December 2021 

Deliverable 1 (Training toolkit): 1 week after signature of contract

Deliverable 2 (Final Report): 2 week after last training session delivered

The consultant needs to secure his/her own transportation means, office/training equipment, and training location

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum requirements and Experience

• Master Degree or PhD in Agriculture or sustainable development, with specialization and practical experience in organic agriculture;
• 4 to 5 years of experience in delivering trainings in organic agriculture with practical demonstrations;
• Previous experience in organic agriculture, with extensive focus on sustainable agricultural techniques;
• Excellent written and oral working knowledge in English and Arabic;
• Excellent communication skills: ability to produce innovative/relevant training material and to communicate the information adequately to the  audience;

• Technical/Functional Skills

• Ability to combine, synthesize and analyze information;
• Good relational skills with people with different education level, and social and cultural background;
• Ability to meet tight deadlines;
• Proven skills of report writing and communication;
• Experience in food security and livelihood activities.

Transversals skills:

• Well organized;
• ;
• Ability to analyze and suggest improvement;
• Ability to take initiative to deal with difficulties encountered in daily work;
• 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.

• Others:

• 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: 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 (training site, training material, training delivery, transportation and reporting)

   

  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 organic agriculture, with extensive focus on sustainable agricultural techniques ;

  ‐ Previous experience working with NGOs;

  ‐ Highlighted experience in technical training delivery;

  ‐ Proposed budget;

  ‐ Impactful CV;

  - previous 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.