Consultancy to Undertake Capacity Strengthening of Implementing Partners of EOA Initiative in Africa on Value Chain and Market System Development at Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT)

The project has 4 Objectives/Outcomes namely:

1. To increase documentation of information and knowledge (evidence) on organic agricultural products along the complete value chain and support relevant actors to translate it into practices and wide application (scaling up).
2. To systematically inform producers about the EOA approaches and good practices and motivate their uptake through strengthening access to advisory and support services.
3. To substantially increase the share of quality organic products at the local, national, regional, and global markets.
4. To strengthen inclusive stakeholder engagement in the development of organic commodity value chains by strengthening national, regional, and continental multi-stakeholder platforms to advocate for changes in public policy, plans and practices.

According to the Strategic Plan of the EOA Initiative implementation is through six strategies/pillars, namely:
Research, Training and Extension

This is a priority area that helps build scientific data for EOA. Led by actors in research and training institutes and universities; participatory, interdisciplinary, multi-cultural research will be conducted to inform stakeholder training. Knowledge and skill will be transferred to communities through extension
services. The pillar ensures that gender aspects in every innovation are considered so that farming technologies and practices consider the active participation of women and youth in farming.

Information and communication
This priority area is the vehicle through which EOA reaches out to a vast majority on the continent. Working closely with all the priority areas of this initiative, a formidable brand for EOA will be developed, national information and communication strategies designed, and information packaged in
appropriate formats to be communicated to various audiences and stakeholders on the value and practices of EOA.

Value Chain & Market Development
Efforts focus on three key areas along identified EOA product value chains: Stimulating the manufacturing of organic farm inputs (especially seeds & fertilizer) so that farmers can access and grow produce for target markets; encouraging value addition of EOA products to earn higher profit margins; developing sustainable markets to increase trade in EOA high value products both at domestic and export levels. Women and youth are specifically targeted under this initiative to ensure that they get involved in value addition activities and access markets for their products.

Networking & Partnerships
The priority recognizes that the EOA initiative does not have dedicated staff in every country and community to implement and therefore will rely heavily on partners and networks already in the industry. Engagement will be done through Partnership Agreements (PAs) and Memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with EOA. Networks and movements in Africa such as IFOAM, FARA, AFRONET and partners such as governments, farmers, private sector, civil society among others will be engaged to maximize impact, leverage experiences, and expand geographic reach and influence of EOA activities.

Policy & Programme Development
This is the priority area that helps EOA realize its goal. Working closely with priority area 1 and 2, empirical data will be packaged into appropriate formats for target audiences. Through lobbying and advocacy efforts, our national governments will be persuaded to develop and implement enabling
policies and programmes in support of EOA.

Institutional capacity development
This priority recognizes the nascence of EOA implementation institutions. Efforts will be made to establish, develop, and support these institutions’ organizational capacities as well as equip their professionals with skills and competences to promote EOA in Africa. In addition, these efforts are hoped to reduce exploitation by middlemen of the organic farmers in Africa.

OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAINING
The training will equip participants with the skills, knowledge, and mindset on how to analyse markets and optimize on operations of markets to benefit the smallholder farmers. By the end of the training programme, the participants should be able to:

1. Share experiences and successes amongst themselves on application of skills learnt from initial training
2. Address gaps and challenges that they have faced in the value chains and market systems development in the implementation of the project
3. Learn new approaches and applications in the value chains and market development

EXPECTED OUTPUTS OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Deliverables of the assignments include: –

1. Partners’ needs assessment report.
2. Training agenda / program.
3. Materials for the training package.
4. Five-day training workshop (in each region) on Value Chains and Market System Development. A total of 10 training days and 10 days for preparation (training needs assessment survey executing, programme development, training material preparations, report writing and traveling where applicable). Total number of days to be quoted should be 20 days.
5. A final training report to contain the information on the training course (agenda, participants, and materials) and training evaluation results.
6. A set of practical outputs for dissemination after the workshop representing learning on good practices / approaches / tools on working with the private sector in value chain development.

PROPOSED METHODOLOGY
The main task of the assignment is divided into three parts; (i) prepare, (ii) deliver and (iii) write a report. Training delivery should include a good mix of practical guidelines and tips backed by illustrations and case studies; interactive / participatory sessions. PowerPoint presentations, case studies, brainstorming exercises and group assignments and hand-outs are proposed to be used to deliver the trainings. The consultant will be expected to use an appropriate methodology for the recap sessions. The training will combine presentations from trainers and a participatory approach with sharing of experiences by the participants, as they are the main players, with frequent business challenges needing practical solutions.

CONSULTANCY PERIOD
The consultancy will be undertaken in October and November 2022. The total number of days will not be more than 20 days with 10 days for facilitation of the trainings and the remaining 10 days for undertaking the training needs survey, preparation of training materials, programme development and report writing.

The consultant will undertake 2 regional trainings, one in east Africa and one in west Africa. The east Africa training will be conducted in Mid-October and the west Africa training will be conducted in early November. The training hand-outs notes should reach the executing agency two weeks before commencement of the workshop in October and final materials and report are to be submitted by no later than Mid December 2022.

The Lead Facilitator should submit a proposed schedule of activities along with proposed durations and proposed support personnel to carry out the assignment based on but not limited to the following: –

• Training preparation
• Inception meeting with the BvAT EOA-I team
• Programme preparation and finalisation
• Preparation of all training materials
• Delivery of the training
• Final report writing and synthesis of materials.

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE
The Consultant will need to demonstrate the following credentials: –

• Proven track record of successfully organising, planning, and running training events, workshops and / or conferences in M4P / Value Chain Development / Markets based approaches and training.
• Experience of working with the private sector.
• Connections with the private sector and experience of working in and intimate understanding of engagements / partnerships between civil society, governments on one hand, and the private sector.
• Understanding of development / poverty alleviation issues, including issues relating to gender equity, youth, and other marginalised groups
• Understanding of enterprise / business development
• Excellent network of contacts to bring in support in preparing and / or delivering the training.
• Excellent / fluent English (spoken, written)