Consultant for Training Programme on Inclusive Business

TERMS OF REFERENCE

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR INCLUSIVE AGRI-VALUE CHAINS

1. BACKGROUND

VECO is an international NGO with more than 40 years of experience in partnering with farmer organisations and food chain actors across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Active in 15 countries, our activities are carried out by eight regional offices worldwide, including VECO Vietnam. In line with the global VECO vision and mission, VECO Vietnam envisions a world with production and consumption systems that allow poverty and hunger to be eradicated and that do not burden our planet more than it can bear. Therefore, VECO enables and supports smallholder farmers to take up their role in rural poverty alleviation and to contribute to feeding a growing world population in a sustainable way.

In 2017 VECO Vietnam started a new programme named “Development of Sustainable and Inclusive Value Chain for smallholder producers in Vietnam” (2017-2021). The programme focuses on chain development of rice, and safe vegetables in Phú Th?, V?nh Phúc, Hà Nam, Ha Noi, ?à N?ng, and An Giang province. Inclusive business is one of the key components of -VECO’s strategy based on the ‘win-win plus’ principle by which we facilitate the participation of and strengthen the benefits for all partners involved in business relations. We view inclusive business as partnerships developed between value chain actors, such as enterprises, farmer organizations, and consumers to produce and market agricultural products, and to source inputs and financial resources for the production and flow of those products in the chain. Inclusive partnerships promote the integration and participation of farmers, especially smallholder producers, and their organizations into value chains and enhance their mutual benefits from their engagement, taking into account gender equality. Inclusive partnerships also strengthen producers’ and businesses’ commitment to providing ‘safe and healthy’ foods to markets in order to improve consumers’ access to safe food.

Necessary and sufficient conditions for these partnerships include empowered farmers and farmer organisations, committed enterprises willing to adapt their business policies and practices, and an enabling environment with favorable public policies and good governance. Under the inclusive business component of its programme, VECO will organize a training programme on ‘Inclusive Business’ for both its staff and partners. A qualified consultant (or a team of qualified consultants) will be recruited to undertake this assignment.

2. METHODOLOGY AND OUTCOMES OF THE TRAINING PROGRAMME

1. Expected outcomes:

The consultant will closely work with VECO Vietnam in order to achieve the following expected outcomes:

• Trainees are able to effectively develop and implement inclusive business (IB) projects/relations within their scope of work under VECO interventions;

• A group of master trainers, organized in a network, is developed and capable of conducting IB trainings for farmer organisations and business partners involved in VECO interventions;

• A training curriculum is developed in Vietnamese language and distributed to trainees. The training curriculum will include theoretical documents, practical tools, and training proceedings with elaborated steps/guidance;

• Good training reports in Vietnamese are submitted in time, and

• A set of recommendations is developed to improve VECO Vietnam’s IB approaches and their integration in VECO’s programme.

2. Timeline for programme design and overview of contents

3. Training approach

The programme will use a participatory training approach (PTA) which ensures the central position of learners during the learning process. The approach aims at promoting learning and sharing among participants, encouraging initiatives, and creating collaboration and a friendly environment. PTA is an active training method that focuses on learners and adopts a holistic approach to learning. It supports knowledge generation by participants based on their own experiences and - encourages them to actively participate in the exploration of new ideas and knowledge.  The trainer does not only play the role of a knowledge provider, but also the role of a supporter and facilitator who creates opportunities for learners to exchange knowledge and discuss innovative ideas. The trainer should help learners to recognize that they are able to make active and long-lasting changes.

In addition, VECO’s IB training programme will consist of both theoretical and practical components. The theoretical component will provide knowledge related to IB approaches as well as tools for developing IB relations between farmers and businesses. A series of training course will be conducted using a combination of class lectures and discussions, individual and group exercises, and trainees’ presentations. The practical component will create opportunities for trainees to apply the theoretical knowledge and practical tools in developing and implementing IB projects/relations under VECO’s interventions. With the facilitation and coaching of consultants, trainees will design IB projects/relations during the training courses and carry out these projects. Experience and lessons learnt from these projects will be used for improving VECO’s IB training curriculum.      

4. Training participants:

About 25 - 30 participants from:

• VECO Vietnam,

• Public partners (for example, Phu Tho agricultural Extension Center, Phu Tho Quality insurance Department, An Giang Farmers’ Union, Vinh Phuc Farmers’ Union, Vinh Phuc Plant Protection Department, Women’s Union in Ha Nam, Ha Nam Quality insurance Department, Da Dang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, etc.),

• Farmer organizations (for example, Luong Lo Cooperative, Tan Thuan Collaborative Group, Tu Xa Cooperative, Trac Van Cooperative, etc.)

• Private partners (for example, Lotus Rice, Vinco, SATRA, etc.)

3. TASK DESCRIPTION

The consultant(s) will have to conduct the following activities:

• Revise the training action and working plan (including activities for each phases, timeline, and implementers) in consultation with VECO staff;

• Conduct a training need assessment to assess trainees’ skills and experience on IB facilitation;

• Based on the outcome of the assessment, design an appropriate IB training curriculum. The curriculum will include, but is not limited to, training material for (i) basic inclusive business approaches, (ii) advanced inclusive training approaches, and (iii) training of master trainers on IB approach, including tools on good facilitation and training methods;    

• Prepare and deliver a training course on ‘introduction to inclusive business approaches’, including the submission of a training report in Vietnamese (not exceeding 10 pages). The report should reflect the shortcomings of participants before the training and assess the progress that they have made after the training. It should also propose specific and practical measures aimed at further building facilitation capacity/skill for trainees;

• Prepare and deliver a training course on advanced inclusive business approaches, including the submission of a training report in Vietnamese (not exceeding 10 pages);  

• Facilitate and coach participants to implement their IB projects within the framework of VECO’s programme;

• Reflect and draw lessons learnt from this project for the further development of the IB training curriculum;

• Prepare and deliver a training for master trainers on inclusive business approaches, including the submission of a training report in Vietnamese (not exceeding 10 pages);

• Finalize and submit the training curriculum and final report, including lessons learned and recommendations for inclusive business development in VECO’s programme.

4. PERIOD OF CONSULTANCY ENGAGEMENT

The deadline for submission of proposals is 17 November 2017. The planned starting date of the engagement is the signing date of the contract, towards the end of November 2017. Subject to the satisfaction of VECO Vietnam, the deadline for the submission of the final training curriculum and report is close of business, Friday 14 December 2018.

5. SELECTION CRITERIA

1. Knowledge, Skills and Ability Requirements

• At least an MSc degree in business, economics or equivalent with expertise on participatory training approaches and value chain development;

• Very good knowledge of inclusive business approaches;

• Good understanding and practical experience/skills on applying tools for developing and implementing inclusive business projects/relations such as the LINK methodology;

• Good understanding of and practical experience with the Business Canvas Model;

• In depth understanding of the functioning of agrifood value chains from production to consumption as well as the sourcing policies of companies;

• Good knowledge of the rice and vegetable sectors and experience with engaging smallholder producers into agrifood value chain are desirable;

• Very good knowledge of Vietnamese and English both spoken and written;

• Good computer operation, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;

• Practical mind-set, result-oriented, creative in finding solutions, and good networker.

2. Work experience

• At least 5 years of working experience on inclusive business development;

• Hands-on experience with network building between producers and other chain actors;

• Solid experience in facilitating and coaching multi-stakeholder business partnerships;

• Hands-on experience with developing inclusive business relations, and CSR projects with businesses;   

• At least 7 years of working experience using participatory training approaches for training of (master) trainers;

• Experience on developing training curriculum for the Vietnamese context;

• Experience working on gender and youth inclusion in agricultural value chains is desirable.

6. FEES AND PAYMENT

The consultant will be paid in the following way:

• 40% at the signing of the contract;

• 30% after VECO’s approval of the training report on advanced inclusive business approaches;

• 30% after VECO’s approval of the final training curriculum and report.

7. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

Candidates shall submit the following documents in English:

• A letter of interest;

• A proposed working and action plan that includes activities for each phase of the assignment, a timeline, and a clear division of responsibilities among team members;

• An up-to-date CV of the consultant(s). In case the applicant is an organization, add an up-to-date portfolio of the organisation;

• A financial proposal for the entire assignment, including VAT;

• Examples of previous work undertaken that relates to this project, if any.

The deadline for submission of applications: close of business, 17 November 2017. VECO Vietnam will contact shortlisted candidates for personal interviews to be held on the last week of November. Proposals must be addressed to:

Ms. Ngo Thi Thu Phuong

VECO VIETNAM Coordination Office

House No.4, 249A Thuy Khue Compound

Thuy Khue, Tay Ho, Hanoi

Email: [email protected] [1]  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.