BBRSO162930:Cassava Value Chain Market Development Consultant

Contract

This is a International Consultant contract. More about International Consultant contracts.

Background

ADMINISTRATION

To apply, interested persons should upload the combined* Technical Proposal/Methodology (if applicable), CV and Offeror’s Letter to “UNDP Jobs” by navigating to the link below and clicking “APPLY NOW”, no later than the date indicated on the “UNDP Jobs” website. Applications submitted via email will not be accepted**: -

UNDP Job Site – https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=103991 (cut and paste into browser address bar if the link does not work)

* PLEASE NOTE: The system allows the upload of one (1) document ONLY – if you are required to submit a Technical Proposal/Methodology, this document along with your CV/P11 and Offeror’s Letter, MUST be combined and uploaded as one.

NOTE: The Financial Proposal should not be uploaded to “UNDP Jobs”**.

**Please email the password-protected Financial Proposal to [email protected]. The subject line of your email must contain the following: “BBRSO##### Financial Proposal – Your Name”

If the password for your Financial Proposal is required, it will be requested by the Procurement Unit.

Any request for clarification must be sent in writing to procurement.bb@undp.org within three (3) days of the publication of this notice, ensuring that the reference number above is included in the subject line. The UNDP Barbados & the OECS Procurement Unit will post the responses*** two (2) days later, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to: -

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=87001 (cut and paste into browser address bar if the link does not work)

A detailed Procurement Notice, TOR, and all annexes can be found by clicking the above link.

*** UNDP shall endeavor to provide such responses to clarifications in an expeditious manner, but any delay in such response shall not cause an obligation on the part of UNDP to extend the submission date of the Proposals, unless UNDP deems that such an extension is justified and necessary.

The UNDP Barbados and Eastern Caribbean Multi-Country Office (MCO) covers 10 countries and territories that include Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Within the Eastern Caribbean, UNDP aims to create an enabling environment to support national governments capacities for inclusive and sustainable human development; meet their regional commitments, and internationally agreed goals including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As part of UNDP Barbados MCO support to the Commonwealth of Dominica, a Project Office was established in 2017 to assist government with immediate response, recovery and reconstruction post Hurricane Maria. This included strengthening national recovery frameworks, disaster preparedness and climate and community resilience, as well as empowering women to take a more proactive role in emergencies. The Dominica Project Office, with 15 staff on the ground, has evolved its portfolio to include climate resilience, economic recovery and sustainable development initiatives.

Main Initiatives UNDP’s current work in Dominica includes a focus on recovery, resilience and sustainability. Strengthening national recovery frameworks, disaster preparedness and climate and community resilience is a part of that work, as is empowering women to take a more proactive role in emergencies. Top of Form

Bottom of Form

The project Strengthening Sustainable Livelihoods and Resilience in the Kalinago Territory (SSLR) aims to strengthen the livelihoods and resilience of the Kalinago Territory, by working with Government in delivering an integrated package of support to strengthen capacities to boost agricultural production and sustainable agricultural practices; design and implement community reforestation programmes to augment livelihoods and protect critical water catchment areas; develop a comprehensive Kalinago tourism strategy and brand that generates new income opportunities for the territory, and; boost institutional capacities of the Kalinago Council for improved decision making and planning.

The project is further embedded within Government priorities for the Kalinago Territory, complementing the strategic results of the participating ministries, and will support the sustainability of the following 4 results:

1. Strengthened capacities and skills to boost agricultural production and sustainable agriculture practices

The project will:

• provide equipment and materials to support the construction of a smart plant and indigenous tree propagation facility (Emphasis on indigenous trees such as Gommier and Larouma);
• provide technical assistance for product development and marketing of Cassava (the Kalinago community is well known for value added cassava products such as farine and traditional cassava bread, which are still very popular among consumers in Dominica and neighbouring islands);
• provide small grants to support Kalinago farmers with Cassava cultivation and cassava product development.

Emphasis will be given to:

• Securing that at least 55% of beneficiaries are women farmers;
• Introducing sustainable farming and production techniques, organized production, and market support and coordination assistance in collaboration with homeowners and farmers is expected to achieve the long-term goal of enhancing the value of agriculture at both the subsistence and commercial levels.

1. Through Community livelihoods and reforestation programmes to increase income and the protection of four critical water catchment areas

The project will:

• support the update of a reforestation strategy for the Kalinago Territory
• develop a community livelihoods programme for the reforestation of four water catchment areas to help conserve and protect the rainforests and traditional trees (particularly those facing extinction as a result of sapping and debarking).
• assist with sensitizing residents of the Kalinago Territory on issues of biodiversity.

The reforestation initiative will be linked to the smart plant and tree propagation facility ensuring a reliable supply of seedlings of the selected species. Through community plant nurseries, emphasis will be placed on the propagation of indigenous trees such as Gommier Trees (critical for building of the canoes used by the indigenous peoples for fishing) and the propagation of the Larouma (critical to the indigenous craft industry). This will be complimented by a livelihood programme which will provide an alternative means of income to support reforestation and will lead to the creation of bio-diversity protectors/participative community monitoring.

1. A comprehensive indigenous gender sensitive tourism strategy and Kalinago brand is designed and handed for its implementation to Government

The project will assist with the design of a gender sensitive tourism strategy for the Kalinago Territory, focusing on three areas: a). Design of a Kalinago Tourism Route; b). Design of a Kalinago Tourism Brand; and c). Design of a Kalinago gender sensitive tourism infrastructure Master Plan. These instruments will provide Government and the Kalinago Council with the necessary information and tools for decision making to deploy a comprehensive gender sensitive tourism intervention in the territory in support of the Government of Dominica Tourism Master Plan. The strategy development process will ensure the active participation of women, elder, youth and other vulnerable groups at all stages and in all activities. The Tourism Strategy will also guarantee the inclusion of initiatives that will empower and benefit women and girls.

1. Institutional capacities of the Kalinago Council are strengthened

This component will support the integration and participation of members of the Kalinago Council in international and regional seminars and forums on Indigenous Peoples, including the UN Permanent Forum of Indigenous Peoples.

In addition, it will provide technical experts to support the Kalinago Council with strengthening participative and gender inclusive decision-making processes and provide advice on policy documents and planning instruments (such as the Kalinago Development Strategy). A final activity will be the digitalization and conservation of Kalinago Council archives, which is currently available through physical means (part of it was lost during Hurricane Maria).

Duties and Responsibilities

1. SCOPE OF WORK, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ANALYTICAL WORK

Under the supervision of the Head of the UNDP Dominica Projects Office and the SSLR Project Coordinator, the Market Research Consultant’s main responsibility is to conduct a market assessment for the cassava native starch with specific emphasis for the Kalinago Territory.

The consultant should review and propose a holistic analytical framework including the identification of relevant markets including local and regional trade systems, trade map, trade competitiveness and business enabling environment as well as non-market factors (import policies, trade agreements, product standards, protectionism of domestic industries, ect). Below are key aspects to include:

• Market structure with action plans to improve linkage between farmers, processors and formal markets considering existing markets such as the French territories
• Business enabling environment with recommendations for business development support for the Community
• Target setting for local and export Markets
• Trade map for local and export products considering French market

Specific responsibilities are:

1

Conduct a review of value chain assessment including market analysis and cost of production profile as well as verify the existing markets for cassava and its by-products and conduct and facilitate cassava farmer-buyer workshops. Products will include markets for grated cassava and farine; new market opportunities for by-products from production and processing.

2

Prepare an action plan for cassava and cassava-based products to access local and regional markets, with a focus on the Kalinago Territory, including current cassava production, acreage, number and location of famers, main farming systems (including, information on gender disaggregation), costs of production and gross margins, prices, main buyers and different consumer target groups

3

Based on the market analysis and information available, develop and validate the main business models for cassava buying enterprises, processors and vendors, including source of raw materials, profiles of main cassava producers or groups (suppliers), buying enterprises business profiles, description on how transactions are done, etc and develop an upgrading strategy in consultation with the cassava value chain actors including relevant private sector partners

4

Organize cassava farmer-buyer workshops and determine critical success factors required to improve and sustain market supplies and business transactions, including possible supply agreements (contracts), and make recommendations to policy makers to improve the enabling environment considering business readiness of the Kalinago community

5

Develop recommendations for sustaining the cassava development and action plan, considering the establishment of a public-private sector value chain coordinating mechanism with Terms of Reference to support the Community and the industry development

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment;

Functional Competencies:

• Capacity to communicate effectively with different stakeholders (civil society, government authorities, indigenous communities and project staff
• Demonstrate openness to change and ability to receive and integrate feedback
• Strong time management to meet established timelines (in managing deliverables).
• Ability to use a variety of methods to understand the relationships between women and men, their access to resources, their activities, and the constraints they face relative to each other and incorporate this understanding in the actions proposed
• Computer skills: full command of Microsoft applications (word, excel, PowerPoint)
• Proficiency in English.
• The ability to communicate in French Creole dialect will be an asset

Required Skills and Experience

Master’s degree in International Business, Agricultural Economics, Market Research and Analysis, International Trade, or related field

At least 5 years practical experience in conducting market research and assessments (at the regional or international level)

Proficiency in English.

The ability to communicate in French Creole dialect will be an asset