TERMS OF REFERENCE: BUSINESS ADVISOR FOR THE SAFE & ORGANIC FOOD FINDER (SOFF) – HANOI
VECO Vietnam is seeking a consultant to review the project documents and develop a social business plan for the SOFF platform, a website and app that helps consumers find safe and organic vegetables (S/OV) in Hanoi.
1. Background
VECO Vietnam is the Vietnamese country office of the Belgian INGO Vredeseilanden. VECO Vietnam’s main focus lies in sustainable agriculture and food safety. Food safety is a pressing issue in the mind of the Vietnamese consumer but sales of S/OV in Hanoi are still relatively low. Research shows that this is due to a number of reasons such as a lack of knowledge of the locations of stores that sell S/OV and a lack of knowledge about S/OV in general.
To help solve these issues VECO Vietnam developed and launched SOFF, the Safe & Organic Food Finder. The SOFF platform consists of a website (www.soff.asia [1]) and an Android (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=vn.org.veco.soff [2]) and iPhone (https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=10805... [3]) app. The platform allows consumers in Hanoi to find stores in their neighborhood that sell safe and organic vegetables.
In a nutshell, SOFF works as follows: three times per year VECO Vietnam, together with a consultant, conducts a survey of stores in Hanoi that claim to sell S/OV. Stores that can provide original and valid food safety certifications from a number of the most common certifications are included in the database and displayed on the platform.
The goals of the SOFF project are to increase sales and consumption of S/OV and increase consumer awareness of S/OV. This is done by providing a platform that helps consumers in finding stores that sell S/OV and that provides regular, interesting and educational information on safe food in Vietnam.
SOFF was launched in early 2016 and is currently funded by Vredeseilanden’s Innovation Fund. Additional funding is expected from October 2017. The total available budget for SOFF is expected to be about 56,770€ or 1,406,580,000 VND.
2. Objective
A baseline study carried out in July 2016 highlighted that SOFF is not yet well-known, nor used, by consumers and safe storeowners. In addition, it came out that one of the main issues preventing consumers from buying S/OV from the stores advertised on the platform is the lack of trust in certifications and shop owners, which poses a threat to the successful operation of the SOFF platform. In order to ensure that SOFF can be sustained after the end of our funders’ support, VECO wishes to attract a larger number of users, upgrade the platform and make it financially sustainable in the next 1 to 2 years.
Therefore, VECO is seeking a consultant to review and comment on the SOFF project proposal and business ideas and, based on these documents, propose adjustments of the business model and develop a social business plan that will include, among others, a sound business model, future business activities, a risk analysis, a marketing plan, a profit and loss analysis and a roadmap to financial sustainability (please refer to section 7 – deliverables for more information).
3. Geographic scope of work
The consultant can choose to work remotely or from VECO Vietnam’s premises. Visits to VECO Vietnam’s office are required for at least a discussion to ensure common understanding of the ToR, the signature of the contract, a discussion on the work plan and the presentation of preliminary results to VECO.
4. Period of consultancy engagement
The deadline for submission of the proposal is 19 September 2016. The planned starting date of the engagement is the signing date of the contract, 29 September 2016.
Presentation of preliminary findings to VECO is expected to take place on 21 October 2016. Subject to satisfaction of VECO Vietnam, the deadline for submission of all the deliverables is close of business, 27 October 2016.
Technical support: The consultant might be requested to provide ad hoc advice and clarifications via email or telephonic communications for the development of the SOFF project for an initial period of one year after delivering the social business plan.
5. Budget & payment
The Maximum budget for this consultancy is 85,657,000 VND or 3840 USD. The consultant will be paid in the following way:
a. 25% at the signing of the contract;
b. 75% following the approval of the final version of the social business plan and deliverables to VECO.
6. Administrative support
The consultant will receive support from VECO Vietnam staff when necessary. This support can include arranging contacts with partners in Hanoi and in the field, providing relevant backgrounds documents, and providing feedback and comments on the draft deliverables.
7. Deliverables
A. A concise review report on the current business model of SOFF and recommendations for adjustment;
B. A business plan for SOFF for the next 3 years that includes but is not limited to:
- Recommendations for income-generating business activities;
- A market analysis;
- An analysis of the current situation through SWOT and risks analyses, an outline of current problems and prospects, and risk mitigation measures;
- An organisational and operational model of the SOFF social business;
- A marketing plan that includes:
- Recommendations for consumer engagement;
- Recommendations for brand building and public relations;
- A profit and loss projection;
- A risk analysis and a description of risk mitigation options, focusing particularly on how to deal with consumers’ lack of trust in safe and organic certifications;
- A roadmap to financial sustainability / financial plan that encompasses:
- An action plan and a timeline for future SOFF interventions;
- A financial overview and recommendations for budgeting & financial planning
- An analysis of potential profits & losses
- Recommendations to maintain traffic on the SOFF platform (third week of September 2016)
- A Final Business Plan, incorporating the comments of the SOFF management team after the four-week period (fourth week of September 2016).
VECO Vietnam will be the sole owner of all the deliverables and the data generated through this consultancy.
8. Selection criteria
- A relevant master’s degree;
- A minimum of 5 years of experience in small business development, preferably social enterprises, business planning and marketing;
- Extensive experience with strategic planning;
- Demonstrated experience with online marketing;
- Excellent written and spoken English;
- Excellent knowledge of the Vietnamese context on food safety, particularly safe and organic vegetables;
- Excellent practical knowledge of the Vietnamese business context and institutional environment;
- Extensive experience in project management;
- Excellent communication skills;
- Flexibility, independence and adaptability
9. Submission of proposal
Candidates shall submit the following documents in English:
- A proposal that includes the financial and technical aspects of the consultancy, as well as a work plan that includes a comprehensive time schedule for carrying out the consultancy;
- An up-to-date CV of the consultant. In case the applicant is an organization, add an up-to-date portfolio of the organization;
- Examples of previous work undertaken that relates to this project
Deadline for submission of applications: close of business, 19 September 2016. VECO Vietnam will contact shortlisted candidates for personal interviews. Proposals must be addressed to VECO Vietnam Communications Officer, Ms. Charlotte Flechet, by sending an email to [email protected] [4] and [email protected] [5].