EXPRESSION OF INTEREST Job at Farm Africa - 2015

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST ON FOREST COFFEE VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS OF DEVELOPMENT OF FOREST COFFEE VALUE CHAIN PROJECT IN OROMIA

Forest coffee value chain project is implemented in two zones of Oromia region, namely K.Wallaga and Illubabor. The project is funded by BARR Foundation and implemented jointly by the Oromia Bureau of Agriculture as well as Forest and Wild Life Enterprise with joint facilitation and coordination role of Farm Africa.

A)Overall objective of the project and the consultancy assignment

The overall objective of the project is to identify and address constraints associated with forest coffee value chain to help farmers benefit from lucrative high value forest coffee value chain. It also identifies and address constraints associated with women integration into different spaces in the value chain. Overall, it aims to contribute to poverty reduction in the project woredas through establishing efficient and profitable forest coffee value chain development.

The main objectives of this assignment are:

To carry out field-level economic scoping of potential economic activities. To conduct deep value chain analysis (VCA) for the forest coffee focusing mainly on upstream (Woreda level) data and linking with downstream data from secondary sources To develop a business plan template that can be used by households (HHs) for woreda specific business plan development. To use the same business plan template to develop a sample business plan for at least three business ideas for each woreda for the identified businesses. To come up with clear recommendations of intervention and leverage areas, including business models.

 The specific assignments are:

Forest coffee value chain mapping with focus on targeted woredas indicating: trade flows from the functional areas of production to different market segments (in and outside the region) in different channels outlays-number of enterprises/actors performing certain function (production to consumption and support) according to gender Names and full address of principal/key value chain actors in the sub-sector per function Added value/prices build up Simplified gross margin Identify market segments (rank according to size and growth over the last three years) Estimated demands in these markets in terms of volumes and prices Identify critical success factors (CSFs) for accessing final market segments in relation to market characteristics and delivery factors; cutting intermediaries who do not add value. Assess gap between suppliers’ and buyers’ perception of the CSFs (assess the capacity of producers to “hear” their final markets). Establish benchmark for production and quality improvement efficiency, market linkages and benefit sharing, functional support services internally vis-à-vis major suppliers to major markets (e.g., cost competitiveness, quality, volume, lead times, flexibility, etc.); Select and prioritize market segment to focus on where developing it is realistically achievable Identify key “governor/s” in the chain (power relations) and provide analysis on the governance of the chain; Assess and appraise the existing partnerships and linkages towards reaching the markets or deepening the achievements of the set project objective. Identify relatively unique attributes & competencies of the forest coffee value chains (comparable and competitiveness) upon which upgrading of the chain can be built on, and determine enablers and blockers in upgrading of the chain. The upgrading (process, function, product innovation, other segment) strategy to be applied to address conditional critical success factors and competitive critical success factors (how to beat the competition) Analysis of the various support structures to markets (services, regulation, transaction risks factor) Analysis of general constraints and opportunities in the value chain. Analysis of chain support services and enabling environment (policy, institutional set-up, infrastructure, etc.) Propose strategic VCD interventions to address critical VC bottlenecks and advice on practical ways to seize opportunities. Determine the investment requirements of the proposed interventions including their financial, technological and socio-cultural sustainability. Advice on the implication of the strategies identified and recommended. Identify and list potential niche markets for organic forest coffee Identify & list viable options to provide up to date market information at grass root levels Identify and list potential certification companies such as Rainforest alliance, Trade fairs, etc with their requirements – and recommend the most suitable for wild forest coffee. Gap analysis for only women farmers in business engagement Collect data on the number of HH’s who have access to sufficient food.

B)   Deliverables

The consultant will provide the following deliverables to Farm Africa within the timeframe stated:

i) Inception Report; ii) Preliminary report and presentation; iii) Second/revised version of the report submitted; iv) Second/revised version of the report presented; v) Last version of the report submitted 

Requirements

The competing firm and the team it deploys for this particular assignment should possess the following competency and academic qualifications:

• A profound experience in agricultural VCA in the rural Ethiopian context in recent past

• An in-depth knowledge of working with the private sector, cooperatives and unions

• Experience in pro-poor value chain analysis & sound analytical & technical competence

• Fluency in English and local languages (Oromifa) is an asset. 

• Mix of staff to be deployed with qualified sector specialists and substantial record in the proposed value chain areas.

• Integrity, timeliness, openness to learn, & willingness to have long term engagement.

• The lead consultant as well as the consulting team members should possess minimum master’s degree in the areas of Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, Development Economics, Agribusiness Development and Business Management with bases for small micro enterprise (SME) Development.

• The team members should also possess:- At least 6-10 years of sector-relevant experience in the coffee or selected agricultural commodity (crop) value chains; Experience in agro-business development; Experience in identifying and designing business plan development for smallholder coffee producer farmers; Diverse understanding and clear knowledge of agro processing sector

• Knowledge of and contacts of the major value chain actors and supporters in the forest coffee value chain, both locally and nationally.

Source link