Technical Service Package on SRI Technology Promotion

Project: Sowing Seeds of Changes – Community Based Climate Change Mitigation through Sustainable Rice Production

1. BACKGROUND

SNV has been working in Vietnam since 1995. Using market based approaches, SNV is committed to reducing poverty by catalyzing environmentally sustainable solutions forthe poor in  agriculture, energy, water & sanitation, and REDD+. SNV is engaged in the agriculture sector implementing Value Chain, Inclusive Business and Climate Change adaption and mitigation activities.

From 2012, SNV has been developing and implementing the project “Sowing seeds of changes – Community Based Climate Change Mitigation through Sustainable Rice Production” which is unded by DFAT. Rice production systems are vulnerable to climate change impacts as well as being the major contributor to greenhouse gases (nitrous oxide and methane) emissions in the agriculture sector (IPCC 2006). The project aims to support small holder rice farmers in the north central (Quang Binh) and south central (Binh Dinh) provinces of Vietnam to improve their income, and to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from rice production. It works with local agencies to build their capacity and knowledge on climate change, on low cost and low emission rice production systems, specifically System of Rice Intensification; and to support these agencies to better support farmers and develop sustainable rice production plan. To ensure higher income from rice production systems, the project promotes inclusive business and value chain development to create growth and market linkages between different rice value chain actors for sustainable cooperation. In addition, the project is exploring bio-energy solutions that utilize rice residue (husk and straw) biomass to reduce GHG emissions and alleviate negative environmental impacts from rice residue waste disposal.

2. OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this consultancy is to provide the project implementation team including SNV and Partners’ staff (provincial DARD, PPD and cooperatives) with technical support for successful application, and later expansion, of SRI in the project area – Binh Dinh and Quang Binh province.

3. SCOPE OF WORK:

SRI systemizing

• Task 1: Conducting technical evaluation for SRI cooperatives in Quang Binh and Binh
• Dinh provinces;
• Task 2: Standardizing the SRI technical tools and principles;
• Task 3: Systemizing technical guidance of SRI application (farmers’ education, field practicing, coaching and monitoring, stakeholders involved and progress)

SRI capacity building and awareness raising

• Task 4: Training SNV and local partners on SRI, why SRI is recommended, its linkages with sustainable rice production, GHG emission and climate change adaptation;
• Task 5: Conducting TOT training and follow-up for local agriculture SRI facilitators (DARD, DPP, AEC, district agriculture division, cooperatives etc.)
• Task 6: Providing inputs for SRI training and development of materials for dissemination
• Task 7: Coaching and supporting SRI promotion and application at field (by SRI facilitators) in cooperatives.

SRI and local strategy

• Task 8: Supporting DARD to develop SRI up-scaling plan beyond 2014.
• Task 9: Designing and joining advocacy process towards MARD and local government on SRI model.
• Task 10: Supporting DARD to mainstream SRI as a sustainable (low-carbon and adaptive) rice cultivation methodology into Provincial agriculture development strategy 2015.

Sustainable* rice value chain

• Task 11: Advising on certification and development of sustainable rice value chain

4. DELIVERABLES:

1/ Evaluation report on 3 crops’ SRI application in the beneficiary cooperatives of Quang Binh and Binh Dinh provinces. The evaluation shall cover:

- Applied SRI process and associated factors: variety, water management scheme, cultivation supplements, materials etc.
- Guiding, coaching and monitoring process on SRI application and management.
- Farmers’ and local agriculture officials’ understanding on SRI and following of SRI principles and progress.
- Socio-economic results, in comparison to other SRI practices
- Advantages and limitations, roles of relevant stakeholders
- Recommendations for improvement of SRI application and up-scaling

2/ A guideline on Standardizing the SRI technical tools, principles and monitoring mechanism that will be further developed, or immediately used as training materials and guidelines for farmers, cooperatives, irrigation managers to apply SRI.

3/ A report on systemizing and recommending a process of promotion, education and technical guidelines to farmers for SRI application. The guidelines will indicate roles of stakeholders and progress (i.e. DPP, AEC, cooperatives, group leaders, farmers etc. in each step: field survey, variety selection, farmers’ education, field practicing, coaching and monitoring). This recommendation will be used for training for agriculture officials and local SRI facilitators.

4/ One-day training for SNV staff and key local partners of Binh Dinh and Quang Binh on SRI, why SRI is recommended, its linkages with sustainable rice production, GHG emission and climate change adaptation.

5/ Two-day TOT training course and follow-up for 50 local agriculture SRI facilitators (DARD, DPP, AEC, district agriculture division, cooperatives etc. - 25 participants per province). Training materials and report of the training.

6/ Inputs provided for SRI visualized materials (video clip, guidebook, record calendar, and other materials for dissemination).

7/ Field technical services to support SRI facilitators to coach/guide farmers/cooperatives to promote and apply SRI.

8/ Provincial SRI up-scaling plan beyond 2014 of Binh Dinh and Quang Binh to be developed.

9/ Designing and joining advocacy process towards MARD and local government on SRI model.

10/ A report on SRI to be mainstreamed as a sustainable (low-carbon and adaptive) rice cultivation methodology into Provincial agriculture development strategy 2015, which also supports branding initiatives for SRI rice.

11/Advices and technical services on certification and development of green rice value chain

12/ Final report.
All deliverables are to be submitted in English and Vietnamese

5. CONSULTANCY ASSIGNMENT

The assignment will be undertaken in the period from middle of Mar to December 2014, with maximum 240 consulting day.

6. REQUIREMENTS:

The consultants’ team shall consist of:
- A senior national agricultural expert (1 person) who specialized in SRI, low- carbon rice production and climate smart agriculture; and has proven advocacy capacity and agricultural network.
- A senior community based climate change dissemination expert (1 person) who has strong background and record of community dissemination on agriculture, climate change and development.
- Local experienced agriculture experts from 2 provinces Quang Binh (2 persons) and Binh Dinh (2 persons) who have strong knowledge and practical experience of SRI rice production system in Vietnam and provinces.

8. APPLICATION GUIDELINES:

Applications should consist of a cover letter which includes specific reference to prior relevant experience, technical and financial proposal, detailed work plan and the CV of the applicants.
Deadline for application is 5h30pm, Monday 16 March 2014 and to be sent to:

Mr. Bui Van Minh, SRI/Value Chain Advisor, SNV Vietnam
Email: [email protected]
And c.c to: [email protected]

(*): The concept of sustainable rice production may include concepts like ‘green rice’, ‘clean rice’ ‘low carbon emissions rice’, ‘safe rice’.